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

In this compact yet geologically diverse nation, mere miles separate the glaciers and Alpine meadows of Switzerland from her sparkling lakes and swaying palm trees.

The Swiss Travel System — an impressive network of trains, boats, and buses — is what connects the dots. In fact, this first-rate transportation resource is an apt symbol of the country’s vaunted friendliness, efficiency, and intelligence.

Year-Round Attractions in Switzerland

Regardless of the season, there’s always something new to travel to see in Switzerland. Annual spring events include Snow & Symphony in St. Moritz, set against a backdrop of still-white Alps.

Every April, Zurich’s traditional Sechselaeuten is held: Guild members parade through the streets in historical costumes, eager to torch Boegg, an effigy who represents winter. In June, Art Basel – dubbed the “Olympics of art world” by The New York Times — brings together masterpieces and avant-garde works from the world’s most prestigious galleries.

July marks the yearly Montreux Jazz Festival, which today hosts blues, rock, world music, and soul performances as well as classical jazz sets. Hear more beautiful sounds in beautiful surroundings during the annual Music Summer in Gstaad and at Lucerne’s International Music Festival.

Basel’s Autumn Fair, a celebration dating back to 1471, declares the arrival of the colorful season. The Lugano Wine Festival features parades of flower-bedecked floats and tasty cuisine.

Come November, Bern’s annual Onion Market engulfs that city in foods fragrant from the bulb while jesters dressed as onions add a welcome note of silliness. Winter revelry surrounds Ash Wednesday, at carnivals in Lucerne and Basel alive with parades, masked balls, and other high-spirited celebrations.

Museums of Switzerland

Visitors who travel around a country come to understand what it venerates by what it conserves in its museums. Switzerland’s range from the artful to the historic to the downright quirky. Whatever your interest, you’re likely to find a fascinating place to explore it.

The fun and enlightening Swiss Transport Museum in Lucerne features interactive displays, the Zeiss Longines Planetarium, Cosmorama, IMAX Theater, and St. Gotthard Tunnel multimedia show. And its HiFlyer — a helium-filled balloon seating up to 25 people — floats 360 feet above the museum for a bird’s-eye view of the surrounding Alpine panorama.

The Olympic Museum in Lausanne captures the most moving moments of Games past in riveting presentations, while the Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg reveals what the country was like before the industrial revolution. It features working artisans, original buildings (many are centuries old), horse-drawn carriages, and serves farm-made fare.

With a BaselCard (available at a 20 percent discount to Swiss Pass holders), you can explore not only the city’s world-class museums; you can also take a city tour, attend the theater, dance performances, and concerts, and get into many other performances free or at reduced rates.

Sporting Life in Switzerland

With more than 2,000 miles of biking paths, Switzerland is a haven for bicyclists of all levels. But you needn’t bring your bike to travel on two wheels: Many Swiss train stations are stocked with current models available for rent.

The price includes insurance, and a Swiss Travel System ticket entitles you to a special rate. Designed for convenience and to help you get rolling, many trains feature special compartments to transport bikes. Rented bikes can be stashed for free, and there’s a minimal charge to carry ones that are not property of the Swiss Travel System.

Since many visitors travel to Switzerland intending to ski the world-famous peaks (at altitudes above 3,000 feet, there’s perennial snow cover), Swiss Rent-a-Sport offers the latest gear, ranging from skis to snowboards.

Magic Mountains

The soaring Alps have challenged some of history’s greatest explorers and athletes. Although Europeans shunned the peaks for centuries (fearing them to be inhospitable realms of icy terror that harbored dragons, witches, and demons), locales such as Davos, St. Moritz, Gstaad, Interlaken, and Zermatt are today choice destinations for skiers, sight-seers, and sophisticates. Each has distinct charms.

The name Interlaken means “between the lakes,” and water flows from its clear mountain streams to waterfalls that spill into Thun and Brienz lakes. Since the early 19th century, this village has been the tourist hub of the Bernese Oberland, and through the ages visitors have admired the awesome views of the Jungfrau Massif.

Most rail lines in this part of Switzerland lead to Interlaken. That makes traveling here convenient and provides easy access to nearby resort area for day trips. Europe’s highest railway, the Jungfrau railway weaves through Interlaken’s Alpine meadows, then plunges into a stone tunnel on its ascent to permanent snowfields and spectacular sights. Other excursions include the Schilthorn aerial cable car, the Schynigge Platte cogwheel railway, and the Brienz-Rothorn-Bahn with its antique steam-driven locomotives.

Ski the Swiss Alps

Also located in the Bernese Oberland, Gstaad is a Swiss resort of fairy-tale and grown-up fantasies, renowned for luxury hotels, shopping, heel-clicking service, and the bevy of international stars it attracts as guests. At night the town’s Palace Hotel is beautifully illuminated, and every little village chalet twinkles with light.

The epitome of ski-scene elegance, St. Moritz is a true winter-sports wonderland. In addition to downhill and cross-country skiing, tobogganing, ice skating, snowboarding, and winter hiking, there’s an unrivalled menu of uncommon diversions. Looking for a new experience? Play winter polo, golf, or cricket in the snow.

Dress warmly (and stylishly) if you’re planning to overnight in an igloo, ride a horse-drawn sleigh, go dog sledding, curling, ice climbing, or ice sailing. You won’t be alone in your newfound passion.

Trains depart from Zurich for St. Moritz frequently, bringing adventurers and bold-face names to the mountain. Après-ski, take your cues from the glitterati: Sip cafe fertig (coffee with a shot of schnapps)… shop at Armani and Cartier…dine at the famous La Marmite…and meet up with fellow sophisticates at the majestic Badrutt’s Palace hotel.

Below the famous Matterhorn, Zermatt is a pristine Alpine village that offers glacier skiing year-round. Since no cars are allowed, you can only arrive in town by narrow-gauge railway or horse-drawn sleigh. The 12,500-foot cable car ride will lift you to the summit of the Klein Matterhorn.

The ultimate challenge for skillful skiers, Haute Route is a back-country circuit connecting Zermatt with Chamonix, France. It crosses some 20 glaciers with a total ascent and descent of more than 25,000 feet and can be hiked in late summer or skied in spring.

Those who prefer their scenic mountain views from the safety, warmth, and comfort of a train will appreciate a journey on The Glacier Express, the “slowest express train in the world,” which connects St. Moritz and Zermatt in just under eight hours. Between them lie 291 bridges, 91 tunnels, and the 6,700-foot-tall Oberalp Pass. Narration provided by STS points out some of the most spectacular scenery in Europe: dense forests, snow-peaked caps, rushing mountain streams, and centuries-old villages.

While scenic Alpine regions are a must for any visit, Switzerland’s cosmopolitan cities are also well worth a visit.

Most incorporate Old Town districts with well-preserved scenic squares, ancient churches, and handsome monuments that attract walkers, picture-takers, and history-lovers. Bustling markets (especially around holidays) keep these areas lively — and especially tempting to shoppers.

Among the most notable: Basel, Switzerland’s only port, has a 15th-century city center that serves as the backdrop for its daily market. Architectural gems from that era include the Town Hall and Basel Cathedral, a symphony in pale red sandstone topped with Gothic towers.

Train travelers to Bern, Switzerland’s capital, arrive in one of the country’s most vibrant and modern train stations. It belies the historic city that stands above it. Thanks to its perfectly intact Old Town, Bern was designated a UNESCO landmark in 1983.

Zurich, at the edge of Lake Zurich and surrounded by forests, is Switzerland’s largest metropolis and a haven for shoppers. Large department stores, small boutiques, flea markets, and world-class auction galleries all contain treasures. Like most big cities, it has museums and galleries, dance clubs, bars, and cultural events to keep visitors entertained. Zurich West is the trendy neighborhood to see.

If you want to explore Zurich on foot, start from the train station, a focal point thanks to its central location and proximity to the wealth of shopping on Bahnhofstrasse. Then head for the Old Town. Climb the hill to arrive at historic Lindenhof plaza, originally settled by the Romans. Its three distinguished churches include the Fraumünster, whose fanciful stained glass windows by Marc Chagall delight and inspire.

Serious without being stuffy, Geneva is home to the European headquarters of the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and many other global organizations. While it’s common to see their representatives hobnobbing in hotel lobbies, the view few can ignore is Mont Blanc, the continent’s highest mountain.

Closer in, Jet d’Eau, a 420-foot-tall water geyser, streams into Lake Geneva. Inline skaters, lovers strolling arm-in-arm, and entire families licking ice cream cones are all drawn to the waterfront parks. The young – and young-at-heart – visit the bistro by the beach for a snack and to watch mouettes (small boats) sail between the banks.

Geneva’s shopping district, with its luxury boutiques and markets, occupies the Left Bank. A waterfront park sprinkled with sculptures and the world’s largest flower clock completes the picture. Its Old Town is dotted with antique stores, art galleries, and small boutiques. And do take time to visit the Watch & Clock Museum.

Sunny communities nestled between Lake Geneva, Montreux and Vevey sport lush vegetation not usually seen in these latitudes, such as palm trees and magnolias, and fig and almond trees. A 9.4-mile lakeside promenade connects the two locales, which are favorite vacation destinations that boast hotels dating back to the Belle Époque and world-class cultural events.

Since these areas’ mild climate yields wonderful wines, pause for a tasting. Vineyards can be explored on foot or by bicycle. Their well-marked trails afford spectacular views, and pleasant beaches invite you to test the waters. A number of train excursions bring visitors to the nearby mountains. The MOB train Golden Pass connects Montreux to Gstaad and continues further to Lucerne.

Beside a lake surrounded by mountains, picture-book-pretty Lucerne is yet another easy-to-reach Swiss city. Its lakeside promenade; historic, car-free Old Town; museums; and cultural events all inspire guests to linger. If you set out on a walking tour, stop and marvel at the covered Chapel Bridge that spans Reuss River.

In the afternoon, take refuge in one of the town’s ten museums – including the Swiss Transport Museum and the Picasso collection. Scenery lovers can hop a steamboat and tour Lake Lucerne, or take a nostalgic mountain railway to one of the surrounding summits. Life looks better, and the air is sweetest, at such aeries.

The Jungfrau (German: “maiden/virgin”) is the highest peak of a mountain massif of the same name, located in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, overlooking Wengen. The other two peaks are the Eiger (3,970 m) with its famous north face, and the Mönch (4,099 m).

The summit of the mountain was first reached in 1811 by the Meyer brothers of Aarau. Once difficult to access, the Jungfraubahn cog railway now runs inside the mountain, up to the Jungfraujoch railway station at 3,454 m (11,332 ft), the highest in Europe.

The train into the mountain leaves from Kleine Scheidegg, which can be reached by trains from Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. The train enters the tunnel running eastward through the Eiger shortly after leaving Kleine Scheidegg.

It runs close behind the Eiger’s north face, stopping at Eigerwand, where there is a window about 8 m long and a metre high, halfway up the face. The windows have been placed in holes used to remove excavated rock from the tunnel during construction, and are also occasionally used as access points to rescue climbers. This window was used for one of the final scenes of a Clint Eastwood spy movie the The Eiger Sanction. There one can get off the train to admire the view before the train continues five minutes later. The tunnel then turns west, heading towards the Jungfrau. There is a second stop at a window looking out on the Eismeer (“Sea of Ice”) before the train continues to the Jungfraujoch. The tunnel was constructed between 1898 and 1912; it is about 7 km (4 mi) long, with gradients of up to 25%. The journey from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch takes approximately 50 minutes including the stops at Eigerwand and Eismeer; the downhill return journey taking only 35 minutes.

A large complex of tunnels and buildings has been constructed at the Jungfraujoch, mostly into the south side of the Mönch. There is a hotel, two restaurants, an observatory, a research station, a small cinema, a ski school, and the “Ice Palace”, a collection of elaborate ice sculptures. Another tunnel leads outside to a flat, snow-covered area, where one can walk around and look down to the Konkordiaplatz and the Aletsch Glacier, as well as the surrounding mountains.

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