Things to do in Interlaken

Interlaken sits between the Thun and Brienz lakes in the Bernese Oberland, roughly 2h30-3h from Geneva by train with a change in Bern or Spiez, so it works better as an overnight or multi-day base than a rushed day trip. The town itself is modest — a handful of streets and lake views, not a place with much to hold you for a full day.

Its real role is as a launch point for the Jungfrau region and for outdoor activities such as paragliding, hiking and whitewater sports.

Budget separately for altitude excursions: the cogwheel train up to Jungfraujoch is expensive and not included in any base fare, and Interlaken draws heavy international tourist traffic year-round, so trains and cable cars can be busy even outside peak summer weeks.