Three full days making the most of Interlaken, the adventure town wedged between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and the gateway to the Bernese Oberland. You climb Harder Kulm for the twin-lake panorama, ride deep into the Jungfrau region beneath the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau, walk the Lauterbrunnen valley to the thundering Trummelbach Falls, and finish with a tandem paraglide over the valley, the sport this town is famous for. It is enough variety for a confident, active traveller, with real named viewpoints, trails and railways at every step, and none of the long technical approaches of a bigger mountaineering trip.
Trip highlights
- The twin-lake panorama from Harder Kulm, with the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau beyond
- Kleine Scheidegg directly beneath the Eiger north face, in the heart of the Jungfrau region
- The Lauterbrunnen valley and the Trummelbach Falls, glacier meltwater thundering inside the mountain
- A tandem paraglide over Interlaken, floating between the two lakes
- Lake Brienz by boat to Iseltwald, or the vintage Schynige Platte ridge railway
About this trip
Interlaken takes its name from its position, inter lacus, between the lakes, sitting on the strip of flat land that separates Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in the Swiss canton of Bern. It is the natural gateway to the Bernese Oberland and the Jungfrau region, one of the most spectacular corners of the Alps, and it has reinvented itself over the years into Switzerland's adventure-sports capital. On a summer afternoon the sky above the town is dotted with paragliders drifting down from the surrounding heights, and the railway station is a constant flow of travellers heading up into the mountains and back.
What makes Interlaken such a good base is how much sits within easy reach by Switzerland's superb trains, boats and cable cars. The great trio of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau rises just to the south, reached by cog railways that climb to Kleine Scheidegg and on to the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe. The deep Lauterbrunnen valley, with its cliffs and waterfalls, lies one way; the classic viewpoint of Harder Kulm rises directly above town the other; and the two lakes offer boat trips, swimming and paddling at the valley floor.
This three-day itinerary is designed for a confident, active traveller who wants the region's highlights done well rather than a single sport pursued hard. It threads together the twin-lake panorama, the heart of the Jungfrau region beneath the Eiger, the drama of the Lauterbrunnen valley, and a tandem paraglide over the town, with real named railways, trails and viewpoints at every step. It moves around the region each day and makes good use of the trains, so a regional travel pass and a flexible eye on the weather both pay off.
Who this is for
- Confident, active travellers who want variety over a single sport
- Couples and friends after a scenic, bucket-list long weekend
- First-time visitors to the Bernese Oberland who want the classic highlights done well
- Anyone who wants a tandem paraglide without committing to a whole flying course
Who it is not for
- Travellers looking for technical mountaineering or serious high-altitude climbing
- Anyone on a very tight budget, the Jungfrau railways and air sports are premium-priced
- Visitors who want to stay in one spot, this plan moves around the region each day
Season and conditions
Interlaken has two very different seasons. From late spring to early autumn, roughly May to September, the valleys are green, the high trails are clear of snow, the lakes are warm enough to swim, and paragliding, hiking and boat trips are all in full swing; this is the season this itinerary is built around. The shoulder months of May and October are quieter and often beautiful, though some high routes and lifts may not yet be open or may be winding down. Winter, from December to March, transforms the region into a ski destination, with the nearby resorts of Grindelwald and Wengen offering slopes for all levels; in that season you would swap the paragliding and valley walks for skiing days, and lift and train access to the high points can be affected by heavy snow. Whatever the month, mountain weather in the Bernese Oberland changes quickly, and paragliding in particular is weather-dependent, so keep the flight flexible within your three days and have the boat cruise or the Schynige Platte railway ready as a fair-weather alternative. The Jungfrau railways run year-round but are premium-priced, so it pays to plan which one or two rides you most want.
Day length matters too. In high summer the long Alpine evenings leave time for a late boat trip or a lakeside swim after a full day in the mountains, while in the shoulder months of May and October the light is softer and the crowds thinner, though some higher lifts and paths run reduced hours or have not yet opened. Book the marquee railway rides and the paraglide for the clearest forecast days, and keep the lake trips and the Harder Kulm funicular, which run in almost all conditions, as flexible fillers you can slot in whenever the weather cooperates.
Day by day
Day 1 · Hiking
Interlaken and Harder Kulm
Settle into town between the two lakes, then ride Harder Kulm for the view that sums up the whole region.
Arrive in Interlaken, at either Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West station, and get your bearings on foot. Walk the Hohematte, the big protected central meadow, and along the Aare river that connects Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, watching the paragliders drift down over town all afternoon. It is an easy, pleasant way to shake off the journey and orient yourself. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, this is the moment to confirm it covers the trains, boats and some of the lifts you will use over the next two days.
Take the Harder Kulm funicular from the edge of town, a steep ten-minute ride of about thirty-eight francs return, up to the viewing platform that juts out over the valley on a slender steel walkway. From the top both lakes lie below you in different shades of blue and green, and the great trio of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau lines up on the skyline to the south. The panorama restaurant at the summit, built in a mock-castle style, is a fine place to sit with a coffee and take the whole region in before you head into it.
Back in town, dinner is a good moment to plan the Jungfrau day over a map. Try a Swiss classic like fondue or raclette at a table such as Restaurant Taverne, where a main runs around twenty-five to forty francs, or shop the local Coop for bread, cheese and charcuterie if you are keeping costs down. Decide which railway rides you most want; they are the trip's biggest single costs, so it pays to choose well rather than try to do everything.
est. CHF 40 to 70
Estimated
Local operators launching soon
Day 2 · Hiking
Into the Jungfrau region
The classic loop up to Grindelwald and Kleine Scheidegg under the Eiger, then down through Lauterbrunnen.
Take the train to Grindelwald and continue up the cog railway to Kleine Scheidegg, the high saddle that sits directly beneath the fearsome Eiger north face, with the Monch and Jungfrau rising alongside. This is the heart of the Bernese Oberland, and simply standing here under the great grey wall of the Eiger, watching climbers' stories come alive, is worth the trip on its own. Strong walkers should add the classic ridge path from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, an easy, roughly four-and-a-half-kilometre high traverse of about two hours with the Jungfrau massif in view the whole way; reach the start by the cable car up from Wengen for around twenty-five francs.
Descend into the Lauterbrunnen valley, one of the most beautiful in the Alps, a deep U-shaped glacial trench walled by cliffs and hung with seventy-two waterfalls. Walk to the Trummelbach Falls, ten glacier-fed cascades that thunder and spiral inside the mountain itself, reached by a lift and a series of galleries and tunnels cut into the rock; entry is around twelve francs. It is an unforgettable, slightly wild, spray-soaked contrast to the serene ridge you stood on in the morning.
A quiet evening in Lauterbrunnen or back in Interlaken, legs pleasantly tired. Stay up the valley in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen if you want an earlier start and a village feel, or return to town for more choice of restaurants. If the next day's forecast looks clear and calm, this is the moment to confirm your paragliding flight, as good-weather slots fill fast in summer.
est. CHF 120 to 200
Estimated
Local operators launching soon
Day 3 · Paragliding
Flight over the valley and Lake Brienz
The reason many people come to Interlaken: a tandem paraglide over town, then an easy afternoon on Lake Brienz.
Meet a licensed tandem pilot for a paraglide over Interlaken, the activity the town is famous for and one of the most popular places in the world to do it. After a short safety briefing you run a few steps off a grassy launch above town and then you are flying, silent and steady, over the rooftops and fields with the two lakes on either side and the Jungfrau massif filling the horizon. Flights include a short briefing and around twenty minutes of air time, and typically run from about a hundred and eighty francs; it is the highlight of many people's trip.
Wind down with the water and the scenery. Take the boat out on turquoise Lake Brienz to the pretty lakeside village of Iseltwald, a relaxing cruise through some of the region's best colours, or rent a paddleboard or kayak for thirty to fifty francs and get on the lake yourself in the calm of the afternoon. If you would rather stay high, ride the vintage Schynige Platte rack railway up to its ridgetop panorama and alpine botanical garden instead. Any of them is a gentle, scenic way to round off three full days in the Bernese Oberland.
est. CHF 180 to 280
Estimated
Local operators launching soon
Estimated trip cost
| Day 1 Hiking | est. CHF 40 to 70 |
| Day 2 Hiking | est. CHF 120 to 200 |
| Day 3 Paragliding | est. CHF 180 to 280 |
| Estimated total per person | est. CHF 340 to 550 |
All prices on this page are researched estimates based on typical rates for this region and season. They are not quotes. Verified operator pricing appears here as local partners join the platform.
Lift passes, accommodation and food ranges are seasonal and vary by booking window.
Before you go
- Interlaken is reached by train from Zurich in about two hours, and easily from Bern and Lucerne, arriving at Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West
- Consider a Swiss Travel Pass or a regional pass, the Jungfrau railways and lake boats add up quickly
- Book your tandem paraglide with a licensed local operator and keep it flexible for a clear, calm window
- Base in Interlaken, or up the valley in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen, or the quieter villages of Unterseen and Matten for better value
- Carry some cash and a card; mountain restaurants and small shops vary in what they accept
- Check the forecast each morning and be ready to reorder your days around the best weather
What to bring
- Comfortable, broken-in walking shoes or light hiking boots
- Layered clothing, mountain weather shifts fast even in summer
- A waterproof jacket for sudden showers and spray at the Trummelbach Falls
- Sunglasses, sun cream and a hat, the alpine sun is strong at altitude
- A small daypack with water and snacks
- A camera or phone with plenty of storage, the viewpoints are relentless
- A swimsuit if you fancy the lake in summer
Good to know
- Interlaken sits between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, the gateway to the Jungfrau region
- The Harder Kulm funicular is about thirty-eight Swiss francs return for a ten-minute ride to the viewpoint
- Tandem paragliding flights run from roughly one hundred and eighty francs with licensed local operators
- The Trummelbach Falls in the Lauterbrunnen valley cost around twelve francs to enter
- A Swiss Travel Pass can cover trains, buses and lake boats and quickly pays for itself on a trip like this
- The Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg ridge path is about four and a half kilometres and two hours, an easy add-on with big Jungfrau views
- A Lake Thun boat day pass is around fifty francs and links lakeside towns like Spiez and Thun if you want a slower half-day
- Beyond this plan the region also offers canyoning from around one hundred and fifty francs and lake paddleboarding for thirty to fifty
- Guide requirement: ski touring and glacier terrain in this region require a certified IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide. Ski schools can provide lessons and resort guiding, but are not permitted to guide glacier or backcountry terrain without one. Any off-piste, touring, or glacier day here must be booked with a certified mountain guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be fit or experienced to do this itinerary?
No special experience is needed, just a reasonable level of fitness for walking. The viewpoints are reached by funicular, train and cable car rather than long climbs, and the paragliding is a tandem flight where a licensed pilot does the work, so you simply enjoy the view.
When is the best time to visit Interlaken?
Late spring to early autumn, roughly May to September, is ideal for hiking, boat trips and paragliding. Winter is for skiing at nearby Grindelwald and Wengen. May and October are quieter shoulder months, beautiful but with some high routes not fully open.
Is the paragliding safe, and what if the weather is bad?
Tandem paragliding with a licensed local operator is a well-established, professionally run activity here, and Interlaken is one of the world's most popular places to do it. It is weather-dependent though, so keep it flexible within your three days and use the boat cruise or Schynige Platte railway as a fair-weather alternative.
How do I get to Interlaken?
By train from Zurich in about two hours, and easily from Bern or Lucerne, arriving at Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West. Swiss trains are frequent, punctual and scenic, and a Swiss Travel Pass makes point-to-point travel simple.
Are the Jungfrau railways worth the cost?
They are premium-priced, so it pays to choose the one or two rides you most want rather than trying to do everything. The run up to Kleine Scheidegg beneath the Eiger is a superb, more affordable centrepiece; the trip all the way to the Jungfraujoch is spectacular but the most expensive.
Where should I stay?
Interlaken itself is the most convenient base, with the widest choice of restaurants and easy access to both train stations. For better value or an earlier start in the mountains, consider Lauterbrunnen or Wengen up the valley, or the quieter villages of Unterseen and Matten.