Interlaken travel guide

Interlaken Tourism | Interlaken Guide

You're Going to Love Interlaken

With a population of 5,067, Interlaken is a must-see destination in Bern, Switzerland. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Interlaken deserves at least 2 full days for you to see its main sights.

When to visit Interlaken

Interlaken in January
Estimated hotel price
$274
1 night at 3-star hotel
Interlaken in January
Estimated hotel price
$274
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Interlaken in July, when the average temperature is 62.6 °F, and the highest can go up to 73.4 °F. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 24.8 °F, with an average temperature of 30.2 °F. You’re likely to see more rain in August, when precipitation is around 5.7″. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Interlaken, with an average rainfall of 3″.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Interlaken

Plane

Although Interlaken doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Basel All airports (EAP), which is located 62 miles from Interlaken. Zurich Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from SWISS, United Airlines, Lufthansa and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest flight to Interlaken from the United States departs from New York and takes around 7h 35m.

Train

SNCF is the most popular train carrier serving Interlaken, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Interlaken to Basel takes 0h 53m and costs around $20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Paris, expect to pay about $53 for a 4h 04m trip. Located 0.4 miles from the city center, Interlaken Ost is the busiest station in Interlaken. Another popular train station is Interlaken Interlaken West, located 0.6 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Interlaken is to pick up a car rental from Zurich, which is about 57 miles from Interlaken. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Zurich.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Interlaken, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and STUDENT AGENCY. From Stuttgart, the bus ride to Interlaken takes 190 miles and will cost you around $17. From Strasbourg, the ticket costs about $14 for a journey of 205 miles.

Plane

Although Interlaken doesn’t have its own airport, you can fly to Basel All airports (EAP), which is located 62 miles from Interlaken. Zurich Airport is the most popular, with regular flights from SWISS, United Airlines, Lufthansa and other airlines departing from the United States. The shortest flight to Interlaken from the United States departs from New York and takes around 7h 35m.

Train

SNCF is the most popular train carrier serving Interlaken, followed by AccesRail. The train journey from Interlaken to Basel takes 0h 53m and costs around $20 for a one-way ticket. When coming by train from Paris, expect to pay about $53 for a 4h 04m trip. Located 0.4 miles from the city center, Interlaken Ost is the busiest station in Interlaken. Another popular train station is Interlaken Interlaken West, located 0.6 miles from the center.

Car

Another option to get to Interlaken is to pick up a car rental from Zurich, which is about 57 miles from Interlaken. You’ll find branches of Hertz and Budget, among others, in Zurich.

Bus

Several bus lines operate bus routes to Interlaken, including FlixBus, BlaBlaBus and STUDENT AGENCY. From Stuttgart, the bus ride to Interlaken takes 190 miles and will cost you around $17. From Strasbourg, the ticket costs about $14 for a journey of 205 miles.

Airports near Interlaken

Airlines serving Interlaken

Lufthansa
Good (4,690 reviews)
KLM
Good (838 reviews)
SWISS
Good (956 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,653 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,239 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,573 reviews)
Austrian Airlines
Good (488 reviews)
Iberia
Good (1,601 reviews)
Air France
Good (985 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,108 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,420 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,994 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (6,020 reviews)
Brussels Airlines
Good (228 reviews)
Finnair
Good (860 reviews)
LOT
Good (678 reviews)
Scandinavian Airlines
Good (802 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (933 reviews)
TAP AIR PORTUGAL
Good (1,173 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (840 reviews)
Show more

Where to stay in Interlaken

Average rates range from around $258 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $532 and up for a 5-star experience. If you’re on a budget, well-reviewed accommodations include Post Hardermannli and Hotel Blume / El Azteca.

Where to stay in popular areas of Interlaken

Most booked hotels in Interlaken

Gasthof Bären
3 stars
Excellent (8.9, 520 reviews)
$147+
Hotel Interlaken
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, 2052 reviews)
$268+
Interlaken Youth Hostel
1 star
Excellent (8.5, 2727 reviews)
$73+
Salzano Hotel - Spa - Restaurant
3 stars
Excellent (8.5, 575 reviews)
$333+
Dorint Blüemlisalp Beatenberg/Interlaken
4 stars
Excellent (8.3, 2721 reviews)
$316+
Hotel Weisses Kreuz
3 stars
Excellent (8.2, 1803 reviews)
$190+

Renting a car in Interlaken

Renting a car in Interlaken costs $136 per day, on average, or $273 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 44% more expensive than at Zurich.

Expect to pay $7.99 per gallon in Interlaken (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $95.85 and $127.80. Intermediate (Class Intermediate Car or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Interlaken, while also 64% cheaper than other types, on average.

Renting a car in Interlaken costs $136 per day, on average, or $273 if you want to rent if for 2 days.

You’re likely to save money by renting your car at the airport: locations in the city are, on average, 44% more expensive than at Zurich.

Expect to pay $7.99 per gallon in Interlaken (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your rental car, filling up the tank will cost between $95.85 and $127.80. Intermediate (Class Intermediate Car or similar) is the most popular car type to rent in Interlaken, while also 64% cheaper than other types, on average.