Switzerland

Interlaken & the Jungfrau Region

Set between the turquoise lakes of Thun and Brienz, Interlaken is the gateway to the Bernese Oberland's greatest theatre: the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau above the cliff-hung Lauterbrunnen valley. Grand nineteenth-century hotels, car-free mountain villages and Swiss-precision railways make the high Alps unusually effortless.

Best areas to stay

Interlaken

The lakes-between town itself offers belle-époque grande dames, the Höhematte lawn's Jungfrau views and every rail connection upward.

Grindelwald

The liveliest mountain base sits beneath the Eiger's north face, with the Eiger Express gondola speeding access to the high country.

Lauterbrunnen, Wengen & Mürren

A waterfall-laced valley flanked by two car-free terrace villages, reached by cog railway and cable car, with balcony views across to the great peaks.

Lake Thun shore

Spiez and Thun add castles, vineyards and lakeside swimming to the mountain programme, minutes from Interlaken by boat or train.

Dining & nightlife

Dining spans fondue chalets, lake-fish restaurants on Thun and Brienz and polished hotel tables in Interlaken. Nightlife is modest — mountain villages wind down early — with hotel bars carrying the evening.

Travelling as a family

Cog railways, the Trümmelbach Falls inside the mountain, summer toboggan runs and boat trips give families a full programme without long walks. Car-free Wengen and Mürren are especially relaxing with children.

Travelling as a couple

Couples take the railway through the Eiger to the Jungfraujoch, ride first cable cars ahead of the crowds and dine above the clouds at Schynige Platte or Harder Kulm. A lake-view suite in a belle-époque palace completes the picture.

Cultural highlights

The Jungfraujoch railway, tunnelled through the Eiger to Europe's highest station
Lauterbrunnen's cliff-line of waterfalls, including Staubbach Falls
Ballenberg open-air museum of Swiss rural architecture
Paddle steamers on Lakes Thun and Brienz

When to visit

June to September brings open trails, running waterfalls and lake steamers in full service, while December to March is ski season in Grindelwald-Wengen and Mürren. May and late autumn are quiet, with some lifts and hotels pausing between seasons.

Alpine climate where valley warmth and summit snow coexist; conditions can shift quickly, so check mountain forecasts before committing to the top stations.

Practical notes

Fly into Zurich (ZRH), Geneva (GVA) or Bern; trains reach Interlaken Ost with a change at Bern or Spiez
The Swiss Travel Pass or regional passes offset the cost of mountain railways
Wengen and Mürren are car-free; luggage moves by train and cable car
Currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), and prices sit well above eurozone norms

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