Interlaken
Interlaken Switzerland
Interlaken is captivating and a must for every Swiss visit ! The small town between the cristal-clear lakes of Thun and Brienz is surrounded by Alpine pearls such as sparkling streams, fantastic falls and extraordinary mountain scenery including the famous peaks of the Eiger, the Moench and the Jungfrau. Already in the 18th century, mountaineers attracted by these and other peaks have been stoping in Interlaken, and also poets, painters and musicians have been fascinated and inspired by the natural beauty of the amazing region. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1790) or Lord Byron (1816) and Felix Mendelssohn (1822) have spent some time in the Bernese city, and with their work generated more interest in visits to the Jungfrau Region. In the 2nd half of the 19th century several hotels were built and with the construction of mountain railways, Interlaken quickly became – and still is – a popular holiday destination.
The area around Interlaken presents a wide variety of attractions and activities, both during winter and summer. The nearby mountains attract sportive people such as climbers and hikers in summer, and during winter skiers and snowboarders. But also more relaxed mountain excursions are very popular to enjoy great views of the valleys and Alpine peaks from the summits. The city also is ideally situated to undertake daily excursions to other cities such as Lucerne, Bern or Thun. Of course, the town of Interlaken offers numerous options to spend a couple of days – don’t miss strolling along the famous “Höheweg” promenade that links the urban center of Interlaken West with the much more scattered Interlaken East. It is one of the best locations in Switzerland for souvenir and watch shopping, and offers superbe views of the Jungfrau mountain range.
Interlaken is centrally located in Switzerland in the Bernese Oberland. At 568 m (1,863 ft) above sea level, Interlaken lies between two lakes (Lake Thun and Lake Brienz) where it is bordering the city of Unterseen and the village of Boenigen forming the 3 politically independent communities of the “Boedeli”.
