The composer Felix Mendelssohn wrote: «If you haven’t seen the Interlaken contryside, you haven’t seen Switzerland.» The fashionable holiday resort with village character and a spacious park nestles between Lakes Thun and Brienz at an altitude of 570 metres above sea level and boasts a fantastic view of the Jungfrau Massif. The “Höheweg“, a 700-metre-long boulevard, is Interlaken’s promenade wooeing passers-by with windows of exclusive boutiques, watch and jewellery shops and luxurious hotels.

The most famous hotel along the Höheweg is without any doubt the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. The beautiful view of the Jungfrau and the extravagant spaciousness of the appropriately furnished rooms are a reminder of the heyday of the «Belle Epoque».

Summer

Trains to the Jungfrau region in the direction of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen with connections to the railways to Mürren and from there to the Schilthorn as well as via the Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch depart from the Interlaken Ost railway station. A fleet of ships, including one historic paddle-steamer on each lake, cruises on Lakes Thun and Brienz. Interlaken is located on the «Golden Pass» panorama route from Montreux on Lake Geneva past the luxury holiday resort of Gstaad to Interlaken and from there across the Brünig Pass to Lucerne.

Just ten kilometres away from Interlaken, on a sunny south-facing slope, lies Beatenberg-Niederhorn, a paradise for paragliders. For hikers there is an extensive network of hiking routes. The Niederhorn also provides a habitat for ibexes, chamois and marmots.

Winter

In winter visitors benefit from the central location of Interlaken and the associated opportunity to every day pick their favourite among the ski regions of the Jungfrau Top Ski Region (Mürren/Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen and First) or the family-oriented ski region of Beatenberg. Over 45 mountain railways, aerial cableways, chair and ski lifts take athletes to 200 kilometres of pistes. Cross-country skiers and toboggan riders also are well catered for in the vicinity. And there are over 220 kilometres of winter walking trails in Interlaken, Beatenberg, Habkern, Wilderswil and the Jungfrau region.

Highlights

• Schynige Platte near Wilderswil – nostalgic rack-railway, fascinating view of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, Alpine garden with about 500 plant species and a lot of hiking possibilities.
• Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn – the rides by rack-railway to the highest railway station in Europe and the cableway to the Piz Glora revolving restaurant: two top mountain experiences in the Bernese Oberland.
• Harder Kulm – a cableway takes passengers up to Interlaken’s „house mountain“ which affords a view of the health resort and the whole Jungfrau region. The Alpine wild animal park near the valley station is an experience for children.
• Heimwehfluh – a nostalgia funicular provides transport to the vantage terrace with a restaurant, all-weather toboggan run, model railway display and large playground.
• Jungfrau Tourism Museum in Unterseen – the regional tourism museum shows 200 years of tourism in the Jungfrau region.
• St. Beatus Caves – one kilometre of lit limestone caves with stalagmites, impressive halls and waterfalls accessible by boat, car, bus or on foot on the historic pilgrims way.

Top Events

• Greenfield Festival – over 40 international and Swiss bands bring three days of open-air festival atmosphere to the airport area of Interlaken (June).
• Interlaken Classics
• Jungfrau Music Festival
• Internat. Trucker- & Country-Festival
• International Jungfrau Marathon – about 3500 runners complete the 42-kilometre-long race at an altitude of 1823 metres above sea level (September).
• Tell Open-air Theatre – amateur acters have been performing the heroic epos «Willhelm Tell» by Friedrich Schiller on a natural stage near Interlaken for almost 100 years now (June-September).

How to get there

Public Transport:

Direct trains every hour from the largest Swiss airports as well from all major Swiss cities to Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost.

• from Zürich HB 1 hour 45 min., Zürich Airport 2 hours
• from Geneva 3 hours
• from Basel 2 hours
• from Lucerne on the Panorama route of the Brünigbahn (Brünig train), via Brünig Pass along Lake Brienz to Interlaken Ost, 2 hours. 15 min.

By car:

• from Basel, Zürich or Geneva on the Autobahn via Bern to Interlaken, exits Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost
• from Luzern via Brünig Pass and along Lake Brienz to Interlaken

Other/Air:

Zürich Airport / all major airlines
Train: Distance 198 km / driving time 2 hours 25 min.
Road: Distance175 km / driving time 2 hours 15 min.

Geneva Cointrin / all major airlines
Train: Distance 226 km / driving time 2 hours 40 min.
Road: Distance 186 km / driving time 2 hours 30 min.

The probably most romantic part of Brienz is the Brunngasse which, having once been awarded the title «most beautiful street in Europe», is well-known abroad. Most of the houses in the street date from the 18th century and are decorated with wood carvings. Brienz, which is well-known as the “village of carving” has a long tradition in wood processing and to this day has a school for carving and violin-making.

Summer

A walk along the traffic-free lake promenade, past small boat ports and playgrounds, is a refreshing experience. In summer locals and visitors come to enjoy a swim. The view of the lake with ever-changing moods is a unique experience. And for an even more intense lake experience, we recommend a cruise, for example on board the historic salon paddle steamer «Lötschberg».

The two railway stations are just a short distance away from the ship embarkation point: Brienz is located on the narrow-gauge railway line which links the famous holiday destinations of Interlaken, Meiringen-Hasliberg, Brünig, Lucerne and Engelberg. The other station is the small base station of the steam rack-railway up the Brienzer Rothorn panorama and hiking peak.

At the Ballenberg Open-air Museum a look into the kitchens, chambers, living rooms and workshops of the authentically reconstructed houses and farms of agricultural Switzerland dating from the 16th to the 19th century prove that this museum is not about showing off a collection of dusty rareties but instead is dedicated to treating visitors to a real experience.

Winter

Those in search of winter sports pleasures will strike lucky in nearby Axalp, where there is a small, family-friendly winter sports area – complete with the «Axiland!» learning and experience slopes for children – away from the hustle and bustle. For more experience snow sports enthusiasts there is the Meiringen-Hasliberg ski region which is also easily and quickly accessible.

Highlights

• Ballenberg Open-air Museum – 100 centuries-old buildings from all parts of Switzerland, farm animals, gardens, workshop demonstrations and cosy guesthouses.
• Brienzer Rothorn – 2350 metres above seal level with a wonderful panorama view – accessible by way of the only rack-railway in Switzerland which is regularly powered by steam.
• Lake Brienz Shipping – steam cruises on the most close-to-nature lake in Switzerland.
• Swiss School of Wood Sculpting – examples of this art – in the shape of figures or signposts – are dotted around the whole village.
• Giessbach Falls – thundering waterfalls in a forest setting, accommodation or coffee and cake at the restored Jugenstil Grandhotel**** Giessbach.

Top Events

Ballenberg Open-air Theatre – in summer the Verein Landschaftstheater Ballenberg performs plays in the open air at the Ballenberg Open-air Museum (July and August).

How to get there

Public Transport:

• Direct trains via Interlaken and Lucerne.
• Hourly train connection to Zürich Airport and all important Swiss cities.
• Daily connections to Interlaken by ICE from Frankfurt-Braunschweig-Berlin and by EC from Karlsruhe-Mainz-Köln-Düsseldorf-Amsterdam.

By car: Best road connection from Basel/Zürich – Lucerne – Brünig Pass or via Bern – Interlaken.

• 90 min. from Zürich
• 45 min. from Lucerne
• 60 min. from Bern
• 90 min. from Basel

Other/Air:

• Airport Zürich, all major airlines; 100 km
• Airport Geneva, all major airlines; 250 km
• Airport Bern-Belp, Swiss and regional airlines; 90 km
• Airport Basel, European airlines; 200 km

Lake Thun Season 2008
Summer (June 1 – Sep 7, 2008):
Generally, hourly connections between 8.30 am and 6.30 pm
Spring and Autumn (Apr 6 – May 31 and Sep 8 – Oct 19, 2008):
3 – 4 connections daily

Lake Brienz Season 2008
Summer (June 1 – Sept 7, 2008):
5 connections daily
Spring and autumn (April 6 – May 31 and Sept 8 – Oct 19, 2008):
2 – 4 connections daily

Apart from this, brunch is served onboard on the boats on Lake Thun on Sundays between Apr 6 and Oct 19, 2008. On Saturdays between July and August 2008 there are as well dreamboat tours.

Routes:
Thun – Interlaken West
Interlaken East – Brienz