Interlaken is one of the most famous destinations in Switzerland. It is a fairytale town situated in a valley surrounded by the Bernese Alps. Its name means “between the lakes”, as it is located on the edge of 3 regions which are Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the Jungfrau region. Due to its geographical location, it is one of the most dreamy places to visit in Swtzerland, but also it gives easy access to many wonderful places. So, it is the perfect place to base yourself and then take day trips to the other parts of Switzerland ! In this article, you will find everything you need to know about the 7 best day trips to take from Interlaken.
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Things to know before visiting Interlaken
First things first, before going on any trip in Switzerland, you need to organize everything. It is an expensive country with countless beautiful places to visit and outdoor activities to try. So, you will need to plan your day there carefully and book almost everything in advance. There are 3 specific things to well-organize, transport from one place to another (more about it later), accommodation and mobile data. More specifically, Switzerland is not part of the free mobile data usage. This means that even if you are from Europe, you cannot use roaming there. That is why we strongly recommend purchasing a digital e-SIM card online to save a lot of money and time.
Switzerland is one of the most visited countries in the world all year round. Although accommodation costs a lot, you can find great places to stay and good deals. However, you must book your hotels in advance to have a chance of more availability at great prices ! We recommend choosing Interlaken as your base, because it is a bigger town compared to the other nearby places. From Interlaken, you can easily visit the famous Swiss Alps or the Swiss Riviera.
How to get to Interlaken ?
The easiest ways to get to Interlaken are by train or by car. You can fly directly to Bern or Zurich which are the nearest airports and then drive or take the train to Interlaken. The most affordable and most convenient way to get around Switzerland is by public transport. In our case, which includes several day trips from Interlaken, we can’t recommend enough to buy the Swiss Travel Pass which gives you unlimited travel by train, bus and boat.
Of course, you always have the option of renting a car which you should know is not the most affordable thing to do in Switzerland. However, as big road trip enthusiasts, we highly recommend taking road trips in the Swiss Alps. To be honest, our last road trip through the Swiss Alps is one of the best travel experiences we have had till to date. Once you arrive in Interlaken, you can easily rent a car and start your road trip. However, we recommend taking day trips to the other nearby places and using Interlaken as your base. It is always better to stay in bigger places, especially if it is your first time in a country.
Are day trips from Interlaken worth it ?
Our answer is so simple, a big “YES”. For us, it is the best way to enjoy as many places as possible without having to spend a month in Switzerland. All the surrounding places are small towns or villages that you can easily explore in just one day. So, get ready for wonderful days in this dreamland.
Best day trips from Interlaken
1-Lauterbrunnen
We couldn’t start this list of the best day trips from Interlaken without mentioning Lauterbrunnen. This fairytale village is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, just 20 minutes from Interlaken. The first moment you arrive in this village, you will be amazed by its unique landscapes. Everything is so beautiful in Lauterbrunnen. Perhaps the most interesting thing about this little mountain paradise is the 72 waterfalls is has ! There are some restaurants and cafés to have a nice and relaxing time there. Of course, you can try something more special like an e-bike tour with a picnic.
2-Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch is the highest accessible railway in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. That’ why it attracts thousands of tourists ! It is home to some impressive attractions like the Ice Palace, the Lindt Swiss Chocolate etc. We visited it a few years ago and what surprised us the most is the breathtaking views we had up to Jungfraujoch. Keep in mind that it is one of the most expensive places to visit, mainly due to maintenance costs. So, for your day trip there, we highly recommend taking an organized day trip instead of paying for each ticket. You will save a lot of money and time by not organizing everything yourself. Plus, it is a safer way to get to Jungfraujoch.
3-Grindelwald
Grindelwald is located in the heart of the Bernese Alps close to Lauterbrunnen (approx. 20 minutes) and Interlaken (approx. 25 minutes). It is considered a paradise for adventure lovers ! It is one of the best places for skiing in winter and hiking in summer. Of course, there are many amazing outdoor activities to do in Gridelwald, especially in the summer. Getting to First Mountain by taking the famous gondola (a 6-person cable car) is not to be missed. It only takes 30 minutes to the top ! Once you get to First Mountain, there is a restaurant that serves delicious Swiss meals.
4-Iseltwald
The small village of Iseltwald is the closest place to Interlaken, only 10 minutes. The fastest way to get to Iseltwald is by bus and the most spectacular way is by boat. The boat trip takes about 35 minutes and is one of the best things to do near Interlaken. Because it’s so close to Interlaken, we recommend taking a full-day tour of the entire area to properly visit all its hidden gems. All the little places will leave you speechless with their unique beauty. Just bring comfortable clothes and shoes to enjoy these special travel moments to the fullest !
5-Lake Blausee
You can’t be in Interlaken and not visit the dreamy Lake Blausee as a day trip. Located in the Naturpark of Blausee, just 30 minutes from Interlaken. You can get to Blausee either by car or by bus. Once you arrive, there are plenty of activities to do, from enjoying a coffee or meal to taking a quick boat tour to learn more about its history. The deep blue color of the lake and the amazing surrounding mountains create a unique scenery that you don’t want to miss. However, in case you want a well-organized day trip, you can easily book a tour from Interlaken that includes the Beatus Caves, Lake Blausee and Lake Thun.
6-Montreux
Another wonderful region in Switzerland is the area along Lac Léman located near Geneva. The entire region is known as the Swiss Riviera. The lake views, the snow-capped Alps and countless colorful flowers create a magical scenery ! Montreux is approximately 1 hour and 50 minutes by car or 2 hours and 30 minutes by train. Although it is not very close to Interlaken, you can still visit it as a day trip ! Starting your day early, you can wander around this beautiful place admiring the charming landscapes. Montreux is also a great place to visit to learn more about Swiss wine from the Lavaux vineyards. If you want a relaxing activity in Montreux, we recommend taking a Riviera cruise. The views will reward you and leave you in awe.
7-Château Chillon
The last day trip you could take from Interlaken is Château Chillon. This fairytale castle is located on a small island on the shores of Lac Léman and is a real gem. It was dated back to 14th century. We visited in April and were left speechless by the mix of winter and spring vibes. There were flowers and greenery and at the same time we had an amazing view of the mountain. The castle itself is very charming and well-preserved. But, it is also an important tourist attraction of the region. So, if you want to avoid the long queues, you better book your entrance tickets online !
Final Thoughts
Visiting all these gorgeous places will leave your with the best impressions and unforgettable experiences. Having visited Switzerland many times over the last few years, we have explored various places. But, these spots around Interlaken remain by far our favorites. Just book everything in advance and bring your camera everywhere !
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