Staying in Interlaken, Switzerland: A Convenient Home Base for Exploring the Region
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We spent three days and two nights in Interlaken, Switzerland, using it as a home base for exploring the surrounding region. Located between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Interlaken made it easy to get around by train, bus, and boat without changing hotels every night.
We took day trips to St. Beatus Caves and Lauterbrunnen, rode a historic steamboat across Lake Brienz, watched paragliders drift over town, and even went swimming in the turquoise Aare River.
Another reason we chose Interlaken was cost. Switzerland is expensive, no matter where you stay, but we found that choosing a reasonably priced hotel and shopping at Coop helped us keep our expenses in check while still enjoying the experiences we came to Switzerland for.
Interlaken might not have the storybook village feel of some nearby destinations, but if you’re looking for a convenient base for exploring the region without spending quite as much on accommodations and meals, it’s worth considering.
Planning a trip to Switzerland? Save this pin for later to help you decide if Interlaken is the right home base for your adventure!
Where to Stay in Interlaken, Switzerland
Our Hotel Near Interlaken West
We chose the Central Continental Hotel because it was reasonably priced and centrally located, within easy walking distance of Interlaken West train station.
The hotel included a continental breakfast, which was a nice bonus, and offered luggage storage before check-in and after checkout. That made it easier to make the most of our time without worrying about our bags.
We could walk about a block to the train station and nearby bus connections, then use public transportation to reach the places we wanted to visit. We didn’t need a rental car for our plans.
The hotel has a Victorian style, with a bit of old-fashioned charm and a quirky, slightly dated feel. I enjoyed its character, though my family wasn’t quite as enthusiastic about the decor! It was a comfortable, convenient base for exploring Interlaken and the surrounding area without paying to stay in a tiny mountain village. For our itinerary, the location and value made it a good fit.
Another bonus was the beautiful Aare river running right out front.
How We Saved Money on Food in Interlaken
Switzerland is expensive, and food can add up quickly when you’re eating out for every meal. We weren’t trying to travel on the absolute cheapest budget, but we did want to be thoughtful about where our money went.
Shopping at Coop and occasionally eating at its cafeteria-style restaurant gave us a few easy ways to spend less on meals without giving up the day trips and experiences we really wanted.
Grocery Shopping at Coop
One of the easiest ways to save money in Switzerland is to buy some of your meals and snacks at a grocery store. We found Coop particularly useful.
Many Coop stores have ready-to-eat options in addition to regular groceries. Depending on the store, you may find hot sandwiches, filled pastry pockets, and other prepared foods that make an easy lunch when you’re out exploring.
Picking up groceries and a few ready-made meals helped us keep food costs down so we could spend more on excursions and experiences.
It’s not the most glamorous part of a Switzerland vacation, but little savings like these can make a difference when you’re traveling in an expensive country.
Eating at the Coop Restaurant
Near Interlaken Ost train station, there’s a large Coop supermarket with a Coop restaurant upstairs.
It’s a cafeteria-style restaurant where you choose what you want and pay for your selections, then find your own seat. It’s a practical option if you want a casual meal without paying restaurant prices for table service.
For budget-conscious travelers, combining grocery shopping with an occasional meal at the Coop restaurant is worth considering. It won’t make Switzerland cheap, but it can help keep everyday expenses manageable.
Best Things to Do in Interlaken and Nearby
One of the biggest advantages of staying in Interlaken is how easy it is to explore the surrounding region. The town sits between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with waterfalls, mountain villages, and outdoor adventures within reach.
We used Interlaken as our base and relied on public transportation for our outings. Here are some of the things we enjoyed during our stay.
1. Visit St. Beatus Caves Along Lake Thun
St. Beatus Caves are a short bus ride from Interlaken, near the shores of Lake Thun. We visited on a hot day, and stepping into the cool caves was a welcome break from the heat.
The caves are especially interesting because underground streams and waterfalls run through the system, alongside reflecting pools and unusual rock formations. You can explore the caves in about an hour, although you’ll want to allow extra time to enjoy the surrounding area.
There’s also a restaurant near the entrance with beautiful views over Lake Thun.
One thing to know before you go: reaching the caves involves a fairly steep uphill walking path, which may be challenging for some visitors.
Read more about our visit in my St. Beatus Caves visitor’s guide.
2. Take a Day Trip to Lauterbrunnen and Its Famous Waterfalls
About 20 minutes by car from Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen is famous for its dramatic valley, towering cliffs, and waterfalls. It’s often called the Valley of 72 Waterfalls, and it’s one of the most recognizable landscapes in Switzerland.
We spent a full day exploring the valley on a private guided tour. We saw Staubbach Falls, which was running a little low during our visit, walked through Trümmelbach Falls, and took a gondola up to Mürren.
Trümmelbach Falls was a highlight for us. These glacial waterfalls thunder through a series of rock formations inside the mountain, making for a very different experience from seeing a waterfall outdoors.
We also loved visiting Mürren, a car-free mountain village with incredible views of the surrounding peaks.
You can visit Lauterbrunnen independently by public transportation, or consider a guided tour if you’d like someone else to handle the logistics.
Read more about our guided tour of Lauterbrunnen and the surrounding villages, or book our same tour here.
3. Watch the Paragliders Over Interlaken
Interlaken is known for its outdoor adventures, and you don’t have to book an activity to see some of the action.
Look up during the day and you’ll often spot paragliders floating above town, with the mountains and lakes providing the backdrop. It adds a fun sense of adventure to an otherwise ordinary walk through Interlaken.
If watching from the ground leaves you wanting to try it yourself, you can book a tandem paragliding experience in Interlaken here.
I’ll admit that watching from below was enough for me!
4. Go for a Swim in the Aare River
The Aare River runs right through Interlaken, and its beautiful turquoise water is hard to miss. In fact, the river ran right past our hotel, and my husband was determined to go for a swim.
Some locals pointed us toward a good swimming spot a few blocks away. We walked over and found a charming neighborhood with a shallow stretch of river where he could get in.
The water was cold, the current was fast, and the setting was beautiful. It was one of those little travel experiences that wasn’t on our original itinerary but ended up being memorable. Well, for him, anyway. The rest of us just took pictures.
A note about swimming: The Aare can have a strong current, so don’t treat it like an ordinary swimming pool. Only enter where swimming is appropriate, pay attention to local conditions and advice, and be realistic about your swimming ability.
5. Take a Scenic Boat Ride on Lake Brienz
One of the things I wanted to do in Interlaken was get out on the water. We took a ferry from Interlaken Ost across Lake Brienz, stopping at Iseltwald before returning.
The boat is part of the public transportation network, so it can be a practical way to experience the lake without booking a separate excursion. We thought it would be a fun, relatively inexpensive way to enjoy the gorgeous turquoise water.
We also lucked out: our sailing happened to be on a historic steamboat. We hadn’t planned it that way, as the steamboat only operates on certain departures, but it made the trip extra special.
The railings were crowded in places, and we sometimes had to wait for a spot with a better view. Still, seeing the lake from the water was well worth it.
Our Iseltwald Castle Misadventure
We got off the boat at Iseltwald because I really wanted to see the castle there. The dock was busy, with a long line of people waiting to take photos at the spot featured in the Korean drama Crash Landing on You.
My husband, daughter, and I headed off to find a view of the castle instead.
Friends, I had not done my research.
I didn’t realize that you can’t actually see the castle from the boat stop. We should have continued one stop farther on the ferry to get a view of it from the water. The castle sits on private property behind gates, so we couldn’t simply walk up to it.
Darn! After all that, I’ve still only seen the castle in pictures.
It’s a good reminder to check the boat stops and viewpoints ahead of time if there’s something specific you want to see. Even so, we enjoyed our time on Lake Brienz, and the unexpected steamboat ride was a highlight.
Is Harder Kulm Worth Visiting?
Unfortunately, we never made it up to Harder Kulm, Interlaken’s famous viewpoint, so I can’t give you a firsthand review.
The photos looked gorgeous, and I had hoped to go up for sunset and perhaps have dinner there one evening. But the only night we had free was cloudy and rainy, which didn’t seem like the best time to pay for a viewpoint.
If you have clear weather during your stay, Harder Kulm may be worth considering for the panoramic views over Interlaken, Lake Thun, and Lake Brienz. I’d check the forecast before deciding when to go.
It’s still on my list for another visit!
Is Interlaken a Good Home Base for Exploring Switzerland?
For our trip, the answer was yes. Interlaken gave us a convenient place to stay while we explored several different parts of the region.
Getting Around by Public Transportation
We used trains, buses, and boats throughout our stay. Being close to Interlaken West made it easy to get started on our day trips, and we didn’t need to rent a car.
If you’re planning to visit several destinations, it’s worth mapping out your intended excursions before choosing where to stay. Interlaken worked well for our plans, but the most convenient base will depend on which places you want to see.
Is Interlaken More Affordable Than Other Swiss Destinations?
Switzerland is expensive, so let’s set realistic expectations. Staying in Interlaken isn’t going to turn a Switzerland trip into a budget vacation.
However, we were able to find a reasonably priced hotel and keep some food costs down by shopping at Coop. We also liked having one base rather than moving between accommodations every night.
If you’re comparing Interlaken with smaller mountain villages, it’s worth checking hotel prices for your actual travel dates. You may find a better deal in Interlaken, although that isn’t guaranteed. Consider transportation costs and travel time, too, rather than comparing accommodation prices alone.
For us, Interlaken offered a good balance of convenience and cost. We could spend our money on the experiences that mattered most to us without paying a premium just to stay in a particularly picturesque village.
How Many Days Do You Need in Interlaken?
We spent three days and two nights in Interlaken, and I wish we’d had at least another day or two to explore the region.
Between the lakes, mountain villages, waterfalls, and outdoor activities, there’s plenty to do nearby. With more time, we could have explored at a slower pace and tried to fit in Harder Kulm as well.
If you’re planning a longer stay in Switzerland, Interlaken can be a useful base for several excursions, especially if you prefer not to change hotels every night.
Is Interlaken Worth Visiting?
For me, Interlaken is less about the town itself and more about its location. Sitting between two beautiful lakes and within easy reach of waterfalls, mountain villages, and scenic excursions makes it a convenient base for exploring this part of Switzerland.
I’d read plenty of recommendations to stay in one of the smaller, more charming villages instead. I can certainly see the appeal of waking up surrounded by mountain scenery. But those villages can also make it more complicated to get to other destinations, depending on your plans.
We appreciated being able to use public transportation, stay in one hotel, and explore in different directions each day. Choosing a reasonably priced hotel and shopping at Coop also helped us manage costs.
Of course, let’s be realistic: budget-friendly in Switzerland is a relative term. Interlaken wasn’t cheap, but we found ways to spend a little less without sacrificing the experiences we traveled there for.
For our trip, Interlaken was a good compromise between convenience, cost, and access to the surrounding region. If you’re planning several day trips and would rather have one central base than move between mountain villages, I’d definitely consider staying here.
Planning Your Trip? Read Next: ✈️
- 5 Days in Switzerland -A First-Timer’s itinerary
- Visit St. Beatus Caves – A quick excursion from Interlaken
- Lauterbrunnen Tour Review – A closer look at our guided valley tour
- Lucerne For First Time Visitors – What to See and Do
- Golden Round Trip to Mount Pilatus – Our scenic mountain day from Lucerne
- Viking Rhine River Cruise Itinerary – Our day-by-day journey along the Rhine
