Interlaken travel guide: wild adventures in the Swiss Alps

Interlaken sits pinned between the deep emerald of Lake Thun and the surreal turquoise of Lake Brienz, the exact spot where I always base myself to tackle the Bernese Oberland. A wall of legendary, snow-capped alpine giants hems you in, and the sheer volume of trails practically forces you to lace up your shoes and get moving.

Some days, I want to grind out a punishing vertical ridge run; other days, I just grab an e-bike to chase the high alpine with an assist. Either way, this pocket of the Alps delivers. If you want to get your boots dirty and experience the region at its absolute best, here is how I do it.

Riding the funicular to Harder Kulm, Interlaken’s best view

Harder Kulm is a gorgeous spot for a pick-me-up with a view.

From the viewing platform perched 1,322 meters above sea level, you directly down at the twin lakes —Thun to your right, Brienz to your left— each with their imposing mountainscapes. Straight ahead, the legendary giants of the Bernese Oberland—the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau—stand guard.

Plus, the aptly-named Panorama Restaurant looks less like a standard eatery and more like a fairytale castle dropped into the peaks.

To get there, hop on the historic Harder Railway funicular for a steep, 10-minute ride that scales a dizzying 64% gradient. Blink, and it feels like you’ve been teleported to the top of the world.

Interlaken e-bike tour

I’m a firm believer that the best way to explore the valleys is on two wheels. We spent a morning tracking the countryside with Frank, the dynamic guide and owner of Flying Wheels. Frank is an energetic German import whose enthusiasm could motivate even the laziest of riders—though the sleek, easy-to-use electric bikes certainly help.

Unlike North American outskirts, the backyard here isn’t lined with sprawling shopping centers or massive warehouses. Instead, the Bernese countryside consists of bucolic, paved paths leading straight into the foothills of the Alps, sprinkled with old-fashioned wooden chalets and active dairy farms.

Within minutes of picking up our e-bikes, we were surrounded by Nature with a capital N—breathing crisp mountain air and riding to the rhythmic clank of heavy cowbells. Because the e-bike lets you adjust the motor support based on your fitness level, you can cruise up these historic mountain paths without sweating a single drop. It is a genuine, slow-travel Swiss postcard.

Hop on the cable car to Mount Schilthorn

Swiss engineering always blows me away, but their latest feat is next level. In spring 2026, the massive Schilthornbahn redevelopment finally wrapped, swapping the old aerial trams for ultra-stable “Funifor” cable cars that slice through mountain winds with zero hesitation.

Stepping into this upgraded network launches you straight to the 2,970-meter summit of Schilthorn – Piz Gloria. From the revolving terrace—famous as the Bond villain’s lair in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service—I can track a 360-degree skyline of 200 Alpine peaks, stretching all the way to France’s Mont Blanc and Germany’s Black Forest.

If you want a real adrenaline kick, step off at Birg Station like I did to face the Thrill Walk—a 200-meter steel and transparent glass walkway bolted directly into a sheer, vertical cliff face.

Hiking in Lauterbrunnen, the valley of 72 waterfalls

For a grounded, meditative trek, head into the spectacular Lauterbrunnen Valley. The name literally translates to “Valley of Thunderous Waterfalls,” an extraordinarily fitting title considering the vertical limestone cliffs are draped with hundreds of tumbling cascades.

A relatively flat, five-kilometer trail connects the car-free mountain village of Mürren down toward the valley floor. Here, you are inhaling the purest, freshest alpine air imaginable. Depending on the month, you’ll hike past glacial valleys covered in wild daffodils while gazing up at the mythical silhouette of the Jungfrau mountain.

On your way back, do yourself a favor and stop by the very traditional Hotel Steinbock. Their leafy, flower-lined terrace makes for an enchanting setting to sit back and sip a glass of regional Swiss wine.

Paragliding in Interlaken

If staring up at the peaks isn’t doing it for you, the only logical next step is to jump off one. Interlaken is essentially Europe’s capital for paragliding, and the local crews here have the tandem routine down to a flawless science.

The whole experience is a trip. You ride a funicular straight up the mountain face, get strapped into a harness with your pilot, and then comes the moment of truth: you just run. You sprint down a steep, grassy slope until the ground simply gives way beneath your boots. One second you’re running, the next you’re floating over the deep emerald shock of Lake Thun, drifting completely weightless before touching down right on the green in the middle of town. It’s wild—equal parts terrifying and completely serene.

Planning your Swiss Alps trip: know before you go

Getting to Interlaken and more useful travel tips

• Trains in Switzerland: the country is home to the world’s densest public transit systems; furthermore, it’s also one of the most punctual and efficient. The Swiss Travel Pass allows travellers to explore Switzerland by train, cable car, boat, and funicular over 3, 4, 8 or 15 days, in addition to offering free or discounted entry to over 500 museums across the country.
• Where to stay in Interlaken: The best thing about Hotel Krebs is just how ridiculously convenient it is. If you’re using Interlaken as a base to get up into the mountains, being a four-minute walk from the West station saves your legs after a long day on the trails. The vibe inside is surprisingly modern given the old-school, classic facade, but it’s completely unpretentious. It’s just a solid, comfortable spot to drop your bags, grab a beer on the terrace, and recharge before heading back out into the peaks the next morning.
• Whatever your thrilling activity of choice, you’ll appreciate the proximity to Restaurant Laterne, whose famous cheese and champagne fondue (!) is available year-round.