Interlaken Tours &
Things to Do
Discover the best Interlaken tours, the adventure capital of the Swiss Alps set between two turquoise lakes: tandem paragliding over the valley, the breathtaking train to Jungfraujoch — the “Top of Europe” — the storybook villages and waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, canyoning and rafting in alpine rivers, scenic cruises on Lakes Thun and Brienz, and the Harder Kulm viewpoint. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Switzerland trip.
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Explore Interlaken by interest
Whatever brings you to Interlaken — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Paragliding
Soar over the Alps.
ExploreJungfraujoch
Top of Europe.
ExploreGrindelwald & Lauterbrunnen
Valleys and waterfalls.
ExploreCanyoning & adventure
Adrenaline thrills.
ExploreLake cruises
Thun and Brienz.
ExploreHarder Kulm
Interlaken’s viewpoint.
ExploreLauterbrunnen Falls
72 waterfalls.
ExploreLucerne & Bern
Scenic city trips.
ExploreTop attractions in Interlaken
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Jungfraujoch
Top of Europe.
Paragliding
Soar over the Alps.
Lauterbrunnen
Valley of waterfalls.
Grindelwald
Beneath the Eiger.
Lake Brienz
Turquoise waters.
Harder Kulm
Panoramic viewpoint.
Eiger, Mönch & Jungfrau
The famous peaks.
Lake Thun
Castles and shores.
Interlaken in 1 day
- 1Paragliding flight
- 2Harder Kulm views
- 3Lake stroll
- 4Lauterbrunnen
Interlaken in 2 days
- 1Day 1: valleys & paragliding
- 2Day 2: Jungfraujoch
- 3Top of Europe
- 4Glaciers and ice
Interlaken in 3 days
- 1Day 1: valleys & paragliding
- 2Day 2: Jungfraujoch
- 3Day 3: adventure or lake
- 4Peaks, thrills & lakes
Train awayJungfraujoch
Top of Europe.
20 min awayLauterbrunnen
Valley of waterfalls.
30 min awayGrindelwald
Beneath the Eiger.
Lakeside awayLake Brienz
Turquoise cruise.
Funicular awayHarder Kulm
Panoramic viewpoint.
2 hrs awayLucerne
Lake city and Pilatus.
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Interlaken visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
June to September brings the warmest, clearest weather — the prime time for paragliding, hiking, the valleys and lake cruises.
Summer (Jun–Sep)
Warm and green with long days, ideal for adventure sports, hiking and cruises; the peak season, so book ahead.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Snowy and magical, with skiing in Grindelwald and Mürren, festive villages and Jungfraujoch in full winter glory.
Spring & autumn
April–May and October are quieter and good value, with green valleys or autumn colour; some high activities may be limited.
Jungfraujoch year-round
Jungfraujoch is snowy and spectacular all year; check weather for clear views before you go.
For paragliding
Summer offers the most reliable flying weather, though paragliding runs year-round when conditions allow.
One day
Paragliding and the Lauterbrunnen valley.
Two days
Add the train to Jungfraujoch.
Three days
The sweet spot: valleys, peaks and adventure.
Four to five days
Add Lucerne, Bern, more hiking and lakes.
Alpine base
Interlaken is the perfect base for the Bernese Oberland.
Travelling with kids
Mix lake cruises, funiculars and trains.
Scenic trains
Switzerland’s superb cogwheel and mountain trains connect Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Jungfraujoch and beyond, a highlight in themselves.
On foot
Interlaken’s town centre, between its two stations, is compact and easily walked.
Lake boats
Cruise boats on Lakes Thun and Brienz connect lakeside villages and castles scenically.
Tours & transfers
Day tours include transport for Jungfraujoch, the valleys, Lucerne and adventure activities.
Swiss Travel Pass
Passes like the Swiss Travel Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass can save money on the region’s trains, boats and cable cars.
Getting there
Interlaken is about 2 hours by train from Zurich or Geneva airports, on scenic routes.
Swiss francs
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF); cards are widely accepted, but it’s an expensive destination, so budget accordingly.
Jungfraujoch weather
Check the live webcams and forecast before heading to Jungfraujoch — clear days give the best views of this premium-priced trip.
Consider a travel pass
Passes can save money if you’re doing several trains, boats and cable cars; compare the Jungfrau and Swiss Travel passes.
Layer up
Mountain weather changes fast and Jungfraujoch is freezing year-round — bring warm layers, sun protection and good shoes.
Weather and flights
Paragliding, skydiving and some activities are weather-dependent, so allow flexibility in your schedule.
Pre-book popular tours
Paragliding, Jungfraujoch and canyoning fill up in summer — book ahead.
Paragliding
Tandem flights have limited daily slots — book ahead.
Jungfraujoch
Top of Europe trips are popular — reserve early.
Canyoning & rafting
Adventure tours fill up in summer — pre-book.
Valley tours
Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald trips are in demand — book ahead.
Lake cruises
Scenic cruises are popular in peak season — reserve early.
Summer peak
June–September is busy — plan ahead.
Paragliding
Around €150–220 for a tandem paragliding flight.
Jungfraujoch
About €120–250 for a Jungfraujoch trip (train fares are high).
Valley tours
Roughly €45–120 for a Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen tour.
Canyoning
Around €120–180 for a canyoning or rafting adventure.
Lake cruise
About €35–70 for a Lake Thun or Brienz cruise.
How to save
Use a travel pass, join group tours, and travel in the shoulder season.
Interlaken through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
- Best for
- Adventure, hiking, lakes.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal; book ahead.
- Best for
- Skiing, snowy Alps.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Magical; cold.
- Best for
- Green valleys, value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Some snow up high.
- Best for
- Autumn colour, quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Cooler; fewer crowds.