Interlaken, Switzerland at a glance
Interlaken lies between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and it is the starting point for trips into the Jungfrau region. That makes it a base for two very different kinds of days: easy ones on and beside the lakes, and longer ones into the high mountains. The lakes and the high mountains are separate excursion areas, so plan them as separate days rather than one long loop.
This page walks through the Interlaken lake options, the Harder Kulm viewpoint, the activities that start in town and the way to reach it by train. It is a short overview of places to visit in Interlaken, and it links to the detailed pages for paragliding, tours and the wider Bernese Oberland. All prices are in Swiss francs (CHF).
Our picks: Interlaken on the water and above it
Pick the jet boat for a short ride on Lake Brienz, the day pass for longer lake trips, or the Harder Kulm ticket for a view over the town. The Lake Brienz part of the pass applies only from early April to mid-October.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide and Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Scenic jet boat ride on Lake Brienz
- 45-50 minute jetboat ride
- Life jacket
- One free photo
A splash jacket is provided as required. The boat runs on Lake Brienz.
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Day boat pass for Lake Thun and Lake Brienz
- Day boat pass on Lake Thun
- Day boat pass on Lake Brienz
The Lake Brienz pass applies only from early April to mid-October. Check the timetable for your boarding point.
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Harder Kulm round trip by funicular
- Return rail ticket to Harder Kulm, if selected
- Viewing platform, if selected
This ticket has no reviews yet. The season runs until 29 November 2026.
Check availability →Interlaken tours and activities
Day trips, scenic train journeys and activities in the Swiss Alps, with live prices and availability.
Lake Thun and Lake Brienz
Boat trips on both sides of town.
An Interlaken boat tour can mean a ship on Lake Thun, a ship on Lake Brienz or a fast jetboat. The ship timetable for 2026 is valid from 14 December 2025 to 13 December 2026, but a lake may not be served on your travel day. Look at the timetable for your travel date before you plan a cruise.
The boat day pass for Lake Thun is valid for 1 day, which is a validity and not a length of trip. It includes a day pass on Lake Thun and a day pass on Lake Brienz, and the Lake Brienz part applies only from the beginning of April to mid-October, so it does not apply today. Food and drink are extra, and so is entry to sights. Boarding points follow the timetable.
The jetboat ride on Lake Brienz starts in Bönigen and lasts 45 to 50 minutes. It includes a life jacket, a splash jacket if needed and one free photo. Tips, hotel pick-up and food are not included.
Harder Kulm
A viewpoint above town reached by railway.
Harder Kulm lies at 1,322 m and the railway from Interlaken takes about 10 minutes. The operator names a season from 3 April to 29 November 2026. Summer evening hours are not the same as the November timetable, so check the hours for your day.
From 1 November to 29 November 2026 there is a combined offer: a return ticket including a 25 CHF consumption voucher costs 44 CHF, or 34 CHF with Half Fare, GA, the Swiss Travel Pass or the child discount. No registration is needed. It is a combination offer and not a year-round railway fare.
A return Harderbahn ticket is also sold as an activity. It lists the return ride from the valley station to Harder Kulm. Check that your selected option includes the return rail ticket and viewing platform. It has no reviews yet, so read the option description closely. Do not treat Harder Kulm as an easy walk up on foot. If you want to walk, read our hiking guide first, and ride the railway if you want a short trip.
What to do in Interlaken
Activities that start in town.
Interlaken is known as a place for adrenaline activities, and tandem flights over the lakes are the most familiar example. How a flight works and what it includes is on our paragliding in Interlaken page. Guided day trips, mountain tours and train-based days are collected on our tours page. For the villages and waterfalls of the region, our Bernese Oberland guide is the place to start.
Canyoning
Guided canyoning trips start from a base in Wilderswil. What the trips include is described on our tours page.
Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch
The high mountain trip from town.
The Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 m, with a view of the Aletsch Glacier. You can go via Grindelwald Terminal and the Eiger Express, or by the traditional route via Kleine Scheidegg, which takes about 90 minutes from Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen. For tickets and the visit itself, see the Jungfraujoch from Interlaken.
A seat reservation of 10 CHF was compulsory from 1 May to 31 October 2026, so check the rule for later dates. The quick ascent does not replace acclimatisation, so go back down if you feel a headache, dizziness or nausea.
Getting to Interlaken
By train from Lucerne and from the airports.
The Lucerne to Interlaken Express takes about 1 hour 50 minutes to Interlaken Ost and runs every hour. It runs on a normal rail ticket, and the Swiss Travel Pass and the GA are valid. Check the timetable for your day. Our Swiss Alps train guide explains the reservation and the other scenic routes. For airports, driving and transfers, see our getting there guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Interlaken?
Interlaken lies between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and is the starting point for the Jungfrau region.
Does the boat day pass cover both lakes?
The pass includes Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, but the Lake Brienz part applies only from the beginning of April to mid-October. Check the timetable for the day you travel, because service differs between the lakes.
How long does it take to reach Harder Kulm?
The railway takes about 10 minutes from Interlaken and Harder Kulm lies at 1,322 m. The season runs from 3 April to 29 November 2026.
Can I walk up Harder Kulm?
Do not count on an easy walk. Take the railway for a short trip, and read our hiking guide if you want to walk.