Interlaken town & Höhematte

Where it is & how to get there

• By train: About 2 hours from Zurich, 1 hour from Bern; stations Interlaken West and Ost.
• On foot: The centre between the two stations is flat and walkable.
• Passes: Regional passes cover many trains, boats and cable cars.

The story of Interlaken

Interlaken, meaning "between the lakes", lies on the flat land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. It became a resort in the 19th century, when grand hotels were built facing the snowy Jungfrau.

The Höhematte, a large open meadow in the centre, is kept free of buildings to protect the view, and paragliders land on it all day. The town is the gateway to the Jungfrau region and many adventure sports.

Best time to visit

Tips before you go

• Walk the Höhematte park for mountain views.
• Try a tandem paraglide landing on the Höhematte.
• Use Interlaken as a base for day trips to Jungfraujoch and Lauterbrunnen.

What's around Interlaken

• Harder KulmFunicular viewpoint.
• Lake BrienzTurquoise lake east of town.
• Lake ThunLake with castles to the west.
• Lauterbrunnen20 minutes by train.

Questions travellers ask