Interlaken - Top Tourist Attractions
Located between the lakes Thun and Brienz, Interlaken is the best starting point to explore Central Switzerland. It is surrounded by magnificent scenery, boasts of thrilling train and funicular rides, and has some of the best holiday resorts in the country.
In fact, you’ll never run out of great experiences in this beautiful Swiss town. But if you want to enjoy the best of what Interlaken has to offer, you should include these top attractions on your list:
Hohematte Park
Located in the heart of Interlaken, Hohematte Park used to belong to an Augustinian convent but was acquired by a group of 37 private individuals and hotel owners to be left as open space.
Today, the park is a landing spot for hang gliders and you can also explore the 14-hectare properly through a horse-drawn carriage where you can see the Kursaal, the 150-year old Victoria Jungfrau Hotel and the Garden of Friendship, the first Japanese garden in the country.
Harder Kulm
If you want to get the best views of Interlaken, you should head to Harder Kulm, a viewpoint rising at 1,321 meters above sea level and one of Interlaken’s most visited top attractions. Here, you can see both the towns of Interlaken and Unterseen as well as the two lakes.
But the climb is already an adventure in itself where you get to ride the Harder-Kulm funicular that climbs at a 64-degree gradient to the top of the Harder.
Here, you can dine at the panorama restaurant that allows you to enjoy spectacular views of Jungfrau, the lakes and Interlaken. You can also go to the 1,116-meter lookout pavilion or visit the memorial for Weber, Mendelssohn, and Wagner at the Hohbuhl pavilion.
Lake Thun
Located on the west side of town, Lake Thun is best explored through one of the many cruise boats that operate all year-round. While you’re at it, make sure to stop by the medieval Old Town where there’s a lakeside castle that’s now turned into a historical museum of 14th-century artifacts.
Schynige Platte
If you’re up for a unique adventure that lets you see some panoramic views of the Alps, take the five-minute walk from the Interlaken Ost railway station where you can take a one-hour rack-railroad ride that will carry you to the Schynige Platte.
As you go up top, you’ll get to enjoy views of the Monch, Eiger and Jungfrau peaks, and Lake Thun. You can also take a 45-minute panoramic trail that least to an alpine garden boasting over 600 species of high-altitude plants and flowers.
Of course, you can’t miss stopping by the romantic ruins of Unspunnen Castle, a 1.5-kilometer walk from the Wilderswil train station and one of the top attractions of Interlaken.
This castle was said to have inspired Lord Byron to write his poem “Manfred” and although you can only see its ruins, you’ll easily see why this castle used to be a sight in Interlaken. You can also explore the ruins of nearby Rothenfluh Castle that was built on the side of a cliff.