Attractions Nearby Interlaken, Day Trips and Excursions

(Interlaken, Berne, Switzerland)

A huge choice of half-day or full-day excursions present themselves in Interlaken and tourists will find many very different attractions close by. A number of large Swiss cities are conveniently close to Interlaken, such as Basel, Berne and Lucerne, and their attractions are connected by either road or rail.

Considerably closer, the St. Beatus Caves are very popular and from Interlaken, you can reach the caves by boat, bus or even on foot, a 90-minute walk along the Pilgrims' Path. There are also a number of outlying mountain villages, often reached by cable car rides, whose attractions are extremely seasonal and become vibrant winter resorts when the snow begins to fall in December.

Basel

Famed for its popular Fasnacht festival during the spring, Basel is relatively close to Interlaken and lies around 146 km / 91 miles to the north. Easily close enough for a day trip, Basel lies around the Rhine River and is home to numerous fountains, seasonal trade fairs, historical attractions, and more than 30 different museums. The medieval city walls are a particular highlight, along with the ancient Spalentor Gate.

Berne (Bern)

Whilst Berne may not be the biggest city in Switzerland, it is the proud capital, due to its central situation. Central Berne is quite a sight, with row upon row of red rooftop, crammed in around a sharp bend of the Aare River. Attractions in Berne include its 15th-century cathedral (Münster), the Houses of Parliament (Bundeshaus), and the House of Einstein (Einsteinhaus), where world-famous scientist Albert Einstein once lived.

Geneva (Genève)

The third-largest city in Switzerland, Geneva has grown to become a truly noteworthy international city, being the seat of the League of Nations. The city stands next to Lake Geneva (Lac Léman), where the Jet d'Eau is a very important attraction and one of the world's tallest fountains, spouting water nearly 150 metres / 492 feet high. An excursion to Geneva from Interlaken will take around two hours, 20 minutes, with regular trains being the easiest way to reach this city.

Lausanne

A beautiful city filled with hills, Lausanne can be found alongside the vast Lake Geneva, residing on the lake's northernmost shores. Tourists will find many impressive attractions around its medieval centre, which is presided over by the Gothic-style Cathédrale de Notre Dame. Lausanne is around 160 km / 99 miles south-west of Interlaken and the city's lakeside district of Ouchy becomes a hive of tourist activity during the summer months, offering cruises, museums, waterfront hotels and many quayside restaurants.

Lucerne (Luzern)

Situated on the edge of Lake Lucerne and straddling the Reuss River, the attractions of Lucerne are extremely close to Interlaken an can be reached in just over an hour, being around 67 km / 42 miles to the north-east. Due to its extreme proximity, Lucerne lends itself to day trips and those arriving in this city should definitely bring a camera, being treated to spectacular sights such as the wooden Chapel Bridge (Kapellbrücke), which dates back to the early part of the 14th century and features its very own gabled roof. Also worth looking out for in Lucerne is the Spreuer Bridge (Spreuerbrücke), the Cathedral of St. Leodegar, and the Lucerne Art Museum (Kunst und Kongresshaus Luzern), where many famous Swiss artists exhibit their works.

Zurich

Although Zurich was once a rather staid banking city known for its financial standing, Zurich is now a much more lively and enticing tourist hot spot, enjoying a scenic location either side of the River Limmat. Tourist attractions are spread all over Zurich and around the city's 12 main districts, each of which is numbered. Zurich is approximately 170 km / 106 miles to the north-east of Zurich and contains many very family-orientated attractions, which include the Strandbad Mythenquai beach resort, the city's Zoological Gardens, and guided tours around the Sprüngli Chocolate Factory.

St. Beatus Caves (St. Beatus Höhlen)

Tel: +41 (0) 33 841 16 43
Email: info@beatushoehlen.ch
Website: www.beatushoehlen.ch
Lending itself to an afternoon excursion, St. Beatus Caves are extremely close to Interlaken and known locally as the St. Beatus Höhlen. It is said that during the 6th century, these caves provided shelter for St. Beatus, as he passed by. Complete with huge stalagmite and stalactite attractions, and even some dramatic waterfalls and underground lakes, the St. Beatus Caves also contain a museum and an interesting reconstruction of a settlement in prehistoric times.
Open hours: March to October, daily - 09:30 to 17:00
Admission: charge

Mountain Villages

There are many picture-postcard mountain villages outside of Interlaken and these include Brienz, Gimmelwald, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and also Murren. Brienz is especially popular and famed for its detailed woodcarving. Those heading for the village of Gimmelwald will find this resort completely traffic-free and only reach by using either a funicular railway or cable car. In the winter months, Grindelwald is transformed into a superb ski resort, along with the resorts of Lauterbrunnen and Murren.