Views From Above in Interlaken

Disclaimer: Included in this post are links to tours I have personally taken, booked for clients or would recommend to clients on Viator. If you book these tours thru the links in this post, as a travel agent, I will receive a small commission.

Located about an hour from the Swiss capital of Bern is the town of Interlaken. The name Interlaken means between lakes as the town is located in between two big lakes, Lake Thun to the west and Lake Brienz to the east. Along with these lakes, the river Aare also flows thru the town.

Interlaken is conveniently located on the Golden Pass Line. This beautiful train route will take you from Lucerne in Central Switzerland south to Montreux, along the shores of Lake Geneva. The entire route involves taking three different trains and takes about 5.5 hours. The train from Lucerne to Interlaken, Luzern-Interlaken Express, takes about 2 hours, so it’s a nice stop along the Golden Pass Line.

The Luzern-Interlaken Express provides you with panoramic viewing windows to take in the sights along the way. You will pass by beautiful blue lakes, waterfalls, country villages and the greenest pastures. Switzerland is a country full of mountains and this panoramic train ride will take you by many mountains and thru the stunning Brunig Pass which is at an altitude of 3,307 feet. The views during this part of the train journey are nothing short of amazing.

After ascending the Brunig Pass, the train will utilize the cogwheel track, which was first constructed in 1888, to head down 1,355 feet to the valley below. Soon, the first leg of the Golden Pass train line is complete, and you will arrive in Interlaken.

Town of Interlaken

Some things to do right in the town of Interlaken include:

• Hoheweg – This main street in Interlaken is a great spot to take a stroll and enjoy the views of the surrounding mountains, grab a bite to eat or do some shopping in the many shops along Hoheweg.
• Hohematte Park – Along Hoheweg is this beautiful town park. This is a great spot to walk, run or ride a bike. You can also take a horse-drawn carriage ride thru the park or enjoy a picnic. Paragliding is a popular activity in Interlaken and Hohematte Park is where many of them land. This makes it an ideal spot for those of us less adventurous people to watch the paragliders.

Harder Kulm

The most popular and must visit spot for those visiting Interlaken is Harder Kulm. Located over 4000 feet above the town of Interlaken, this viewpoint offers stunning views of the town of Interlaken, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and the Bernese Alps. Whether you are staying in Interlaken or just passing by on your travels between locations in Switzerland, Harder Kulm is worth a visit.

Located just a short walk from the Interlaken Ost train station, is the Harder Kulm funicular. This historic funicular, which is over 100 years old, will take you up to the top of Harder Kulm which is located at 4,334 feet. The funicular operates between April and November each year and runs every half hour for the 10-minute ride up to the top. You can get tickets here. The ride in the funicular will be your start to the great views as you ascend to the top.

Pro tip – sit in the first row looking towards the bottom for the best views as you ascend to the top.

Once you arrive at the funicular station at the top of Harder Kulm, you will then take a short walk along a path which features cute little statues featuring things from Switzerland’s culture. Some of these include yodelers, a man with an alphorn and a man holding the swiss flag. Side note – Did you know there are only two countries in the world that have a square flag? Just Vatican City and you guessed it Switzerland!

These statues are a fun way to take your mind off the walk uphill. And you will also have the stunning views in the background as well.

After the short uphill walk, you will reach the top where you can partake in the following activities:

• Two Lakes Bridge – Take a walk out to the viewing platform to take in the stunning panoramic views of Lake Thun on your right and Lake Brienz on your left. You can also see the town of Interlaken in between these two lakes and the surrounding mountains. The viewing platform may look a tad intimidating if you have a fear of heights, but it’s not too bad, just be prepared it can be quite windy on the platform.

• Sunset Viewing – While the views are stunning during the day, if you happen to be in Interlaken in the evening, it’s a great spot to see the sunset. I am a big sunset lover, so I really wish I had been there to see the sunset, but I have heard it is more than worth it. Guess I’ll need to plan a trip back there.
• Hiking – If you are up for a hike, there are many trails to choose from. A popular hike is the circular trail. This intermediate hike will take you about an hour to do the less than 2-mile trail with about 375 feet of elevation. It’s a nice trail to see more views of the two lakes and surrounding mountains.

• Watch the Paragliders – In the town of Interlaken you can see the paragliders landing, but up at Harder Kulm, you can see them gliding thru the air high above.
• Playground – If you are traveling with children, there is a playground at Harder Kulm for them to enjoy.
• Have a picnic – There are many picnic tables if you would like to bring a picnic with you up to Harder Kulm. Who doesn’t love a picnic with a view?
• Panorama Restaurant – If you prefer a nice sit-down meal over bringing your own picnic, the Panorama Restaurant is open daily. They offer delicious Swiss dishes like fondue, raclette and rosti along with soups, salads and meat dishes. The restaurant offers both indoor and outdoor seating all with a stunning view.

• Snack Stand and Gift Shop – Outside of the restaurant there was also a small snack stand and gift shop as well as ample seating.

A visit up to Harder Kulm is a must if you happen to be in the area of Interlaken even if you only have a few hours to spare. The view alone makes it more than worth it!

Interlaken makes for a great little stop in your Switzerland travels. Stay tuned for my next blog post as I continue my journey on the Golden Pass Line to the cities of Lausanne and Montreux along the shores of Lake Geneva.

In the meantime, make sure to check out my other posts from my trip to Switzerland:

Zurich,

Rhine Falls

Lucerne

My stop in Interlaken was part of an 8-day train tour that I took thru Switzerland. For more information or to book this great tour, please contact me at Beyond The Miles Travel

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