Switzerland
City guide · Switzerland
Interlaken
About Interlaken
Interlaken is a resort town in the Bernese Oberland, set on a strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. It has welcomed travellers since the 19th century and is the main gateway to the Jungfrau region, with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau rising to the south.
The great excursion is the railway to the Jungfraujoch, home to Europe's highest railway station at 3,454 metres. Other highlights include Harder Kulm by funicular, the Lauterbrunnen valley with its waterfalls, Grindelwald and First, the Schilthorn above the car-free village of Mürren, and cruises on both lakes.
Two to three nights are recommended, to allow for changeable mountain weather. Bern is under an hour away by train, Lucerne about two hours on the Luzern–Interlaken Express, and Zurich about two hours.
The films of Yash Chopra made this region familiar to Indian audiences, and a statue of the director stands in Interlaken. The town is particularly welcoming to Indian families and groups.
Practical Information
Useful to know before your group arrives in Interlaken.
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Interlaken lies at about 570 metres, while the excursions go much higher, where it is always colder.
- Summer (June–August): highs around 22–24°C in town; the Jungfraujoch stays around or below freezing.
- Autumn (September–November): cooling from about 18°C to 7°C.
- Winter (December–February): highs around 2–4°C, frost at night and snow in the mountains.
- Spring (March–May): highs from about 10°C to 18°C.
June to September is best for mountain excursions. Bring warm layers, gloves and sunglasses for high altitude, plus a rain jacket; in winter pack thermals.
- Arriving: Zurich Airport is about two hours away by train, usually changing in Bern; Geneva Airport is around three hours. The town has two stations, Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost.
- Getting around: the centre is walkable, and local buses link the two stations. Overnight guests usually receive a visitors' card that includes local buses.
- Mountains: trains from Interlaken Ost serve Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald for the Jungfrau region. The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains to these villages and gives discounts on higher mountain railways.
- Groups: coaches reach Interlaken easily, but Mürren and Wengen are car-free and reached by train or cable car.
Switzerland is not in the EU, so an EU data plan may not cover it. Indian travellers usually save by buying an eSIM or data plan before departure that clearly includes Switzerland, rather than using Indian international roaming packs. Local prepaid SIMs are sold in shops; a passport is needed to buy one.
Free Wi-Fi is common in hotels and cafés. The power supply is 230 V with Type C/J sockets; Indian Type D plugs do not fit, so bring a universal adapter.
For a small town, Interlaken has a notable number of Indian restaurants, reflecting its popularity with Indian travellers. Vegetarian food is easy to find, while halal options are limited to a few take-aways. Jain meals should be requested in advance through the DMC or the restaurant, and packed snacks help on long mountain days.
Swiss dishes that suit vegetarians include cheese fondue (traditionally made with white wine), raclette and rösti (ask whether it is cooked with bacon or lard), followed by Swiss chocolate. For supplies, Coop, Migros and Denner are the main supermarket chains.
