Beautiful Places To Visit In Interlaken And Jungfrau Region
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While Switzerland is a tiny country, one cannot simply underestimate the beauty that lies within it. From the perfectly architected city of Bern to the charming town of Lucerne, Switzerland is packed with amazing places to visit, especially when it comes to nature and adventure! They’re everywhere in the country.
What’s more amazing? You don’t have to visit multiple regions of the country to see different natural wonders and try various adventures. You simply have to visit the beautiful Jungfrau Region. It’s one of the top destinations in Switzerland. Home to turquoise lakes, spectacular peaks, gigantic glaciers, thundering waterfalls, idyllic alpine countryside villages, and heaven-on-earth valleys, this region is absolutely a must-visit. There’s so much to do that four days in the Jungfrau region might feel not enough to fully explore and enjoy it.
If you’re planning a visit, the region’s most accessible town is Interlaken, which is usually only one or two train rides away from Switzerland’s major cities. It is also the favored home base for its central location and convenient public transportation to the highlights of the region. Now, let me share with you the beautiful places you can quickly reach from Interlaken (arranged from nearest to farthest).
Good to know
Where is the Jungfrau Region?
The Jungfrau Region is a part of the Bernese Oberland in the heart of Switzerland. Located in the canton of Bern, it’s one of the beautiful day trips that you can do if you’re staying in Bern.
From Bern, Interlaken is just an hour away if you’ll be traveling using public transportation. It’s a 56-kilometer journey, should you decide to go there by car. The Jungfrau Region is also close to Lucerne, which is another beautiful destination in Switzerland. If you’re coming from Lucerne, the train journey to Interlaken is approximately 2 hours using the fastest train option. By driving, however, it’s just a 68-kilometer road trip, lasting for approximately 1 hour. And suppose you’re flying to the Jungfrau Region, Zurich is the best option. Both Lucerne and Bern are just an hour away from Zurich by train.
Author’s Message
The beauty of the Jungfrau Region has deeply fascinated me, and I’d love to share all that I know with you. But first, let me share something about myself…
Fantasy movies set in medieval times are my sources of travel inspiration. They’re the reason why my imagination is always drawn to Europe. With scenes that are completely different from where I grew up, these movies never fail to spark my sense of wonder. Out of all the movies I’ve seen, J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of The Rings is the one that really ignites my wanderlust. I can’t help but daydream about the incredible locations in the film that we just don’t have back home. The dwarves’ majestic mountains, the humans’ charming villages, and the elves’ enchanting vale … you mention!
If we share the same fantasies, visiting the Jungfrau Region will make your dreams a reality. It’s this part of Switzerland that looks the closest to the most beautiful places in the world of Lord of The Rings! There’s no doubt about it, as one of the places in the Jungfrau Region was J.R.R. Tolkien’s inspiration for his novel.
In my list of beautiful places around Interlaken in the Jungfrau Region, you’ll see what I’m referring to.
1. Harder Kulm
Let’s say you like traveling through trains and you just arrived at Interlaken OST (the main terminal of the town), then you are literally a few minutes away to the first beautiful destination in the Jungfrau Region — Harder Kulm.
More about Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm, a mountain peak above Interlaken, is a beautiful destination because of the sweeping views it offers of the Jungfrau Region; one of the most breathtaking vantage points in the Jungfrau Region. From here, you can see a panorama that includes not only the famous mountains but also the two turquoise lakes on either side of Interlaken. It also boasts a charming castle-like restaurant where you can savor the food and the moment, dining with a view of Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau.
What makes Harder Kulm more interesting is the viewing deck that extends a few meters from the mountains. It’s called the Two Lakes Bridge, and from it, you can take in stunning views of the lakes and mountains with a thrill. At the tip of the viewing deck, there’s nothing beneath you but meters of emptiness!
Getting to Harder Kulm involves a 10-minute funicular train ride. The station is within walking distance from Interlaken OST.
The viewing deck, named “Two Lakes Bridge,” is so called because it offers a view of two lakes visible from Harder Kulm: Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. These two stunning locations are the next must-visit destinations from Interlaken.
Read full article: Visiting Harder Kulm: Here’s What to See, What’s to Expect
2. Lake Thun
Lake Thun is located on the western side of Interlaken. If you are currently at Harder Kulm, you can see it to your right. Among the beautiful places you can visit from Interlaken, Lake Thun is the most unique. It has scenic lake views and five time-transporting castles that provide a special experience for those who visit them.
There’s much to see in Lake Thun. (Don’t miss this part)
I even call Lake Thun “the Fairytale Lake of Switzerland” because of its castles! Definitely, if you’re looking for a romantic getaway in the Bernese Oberland, you should not miss Lake Thun.
My favorite castle in Lake Thun is Oberhofen Castle. It is famous for its water tower, which you can photograph with the Bernese Alps in the backdrop. If you’re into photography, architecture, and discovering unique things, I think you’ll love visiting Oberhofen Castle.
If you have plenty of time to spend, I suggest you start exploring Lake Thun from Thun. Thun, the small city perched on the northern tip of Lake Thun, is beautiful for its charming old town and two castles. Indeed, it is a perfect destination for you if, like me, you are interested in nature, history, and old-world architecture.
When you visit Thun, include the most picturesque places in Thun Old Town, Thun Castle, and Thun Panorama in your itinerary. Make sure you don’t miss Schadau Castle, which is the most magical part of Thun! You can check my map of Thun to see the exact location of the tourist attractions in the town.
Please know that Lake Thun has more places of interest other than Oberhofen Castle and Thun. It’s the reason why Lake Thun is so much worth visiting! Some that I should mention are the Spiez Castle, Sigriswil Panorama Bridge, Mount Niesen, Niederhorn, Saint Beatus Caves, and more.
There are different ways you can move around in Lake Thun. You can take the buses (#21) to explore Lake Thun’s northeastern shore, where you can find Oberhofen Castle, Saint Beatus caves, and Sigriswil. On the other hand, Lake Thun’s southwestern shore, where you can find Mount Niesen and Spiez, has a train service.
Of course, you can cruise and use the boat to travel to different parts of Lake Thun. There are several ferry stations on Lake Thun, and you can start cruising from anywhere. However, if you want to start from Interlaken, go to the Interlaken West terminal, where the Lake Thun boats depart and arrive.
If you like to spend a whole day in Lake Thun and travel by boat, use this unlimited boat ride day pass for convenience and to save money. You can also use the pass to ride the boats in Lake Brienz.
Read detailed article: Is Lake Thun Worth Visiting: 10 Beautiful Places To Visit
3. Lake Brienz
Are you interested in seeing something truly spectacular, just by looking at a lake’s surface? Well, look no further than Lake Brienz. As far as I know, it’s the lake in Switzerland with the brightest turquoise color – so bright, in fact, that you can spot it from space on Google Earth!
Every beautiful things you can expect and see around Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz is the lake to the east of Interlaken, and it’s a beautiful place you can visit right away if you arrive in Interlaken by train at Interlaken OST. That’s because the bus/train/ferry station to Lake Brienz is also at Interlaken OST. You can use the trains and buses connecting the villages and attractions around Lake Brienz.
However, if I were you, I wouldn’t miss the boat ride because it’s undoubtedly the best way to enjoy Lake Brienz’s scenic beauty. If you like, you can try cruising the nostalgic Lötschberg paddle steamer, which dates back to the Belle Époque period.
Similar to Lake Thun, a trip around Lake Brienz lets you have a mixed experience, not only about nature. Visiting the villages around Lake Brienz, you can discover a part of Swiss culture in the countryside.
For example, if you wander around Brienz, the town on the northeastern tip of Lake Brienz, you can stumble upon charming chalets, local woodcrafts, and many rustic home decorations that are all wanderlust-satisfying! Brienz is only a 20-minute train ride from Interlaken and also a 22-minute bus ride (#151) to the Ballenberg Swiss Open Museum. It’s an unmissable museum, especially if you want to get a glimpse of life in the Swiss countryside 200 to 300 years ago.
Do you also love discovering unique architecture? Some of the most beautiful and best-preserved Swiss traditional houses are in the museum. Among the beautiful places around Lake Brienz, Iseltwald must be on top priority. This village is one of the most charming in the Jungfrau Region, because of the scenery of Lake Brienz with Seeburg Castle.
If the wind is barely blowing during your visit to Iseltwald, you can see an image of Seeburg Castle reflected by the turquoise surface of Lake Brienz. The scenery of the Jungfrau Region lakes can already satisfy your eyes craving for some pleasing sights. But it’s just the tip of the overall beauty that you can take in from this spectacular place. You’ll believe me when you arrive at Lauterbrunnen.
Learn more: 7 Things to Do in Lake Brienz with Tips and Visiting Info
4. Lauterbrunnen
For me, Lauterbrunnen is the most beautiful place in the Jungfrau Region that you can reach quickly from Interlaken. You can skip any place, but not Lauterbrunnen. Did you know that Lauterbrunnen served as the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien’s Rivendell (the home of the elves in LoTR)? That pretty much explains it. I mean, if you want to be inspired to create something that also inspires, Lauterbrunnen is the place to be!
Discover Lauterbrunnen
Getting to Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken is simple. From Interlaken OST, you can catch a direct train ride to Lauterbrunnen, which is a 30-minute journey.
But what exactly is Lauterbrunnen? In the simplest terms, Lauterbrunnen is a place many call the ‘closest you can get to heaven on Earth.’ Its name, ‘Lauterbrunnen,’ originates from the trough-shaped valley that boasts 72 waterfalls. In direct translation, Lauterbrunnen means ‘many fountains.’ Lauterbrunnen can sometimes be confusing. It’s a village, a valley, and a commune composed of more lovely alpine villages. However, visiting the village alone should be enough to see the beauty of the Lauterbrunnen valley.
There’s not much to do in Lauterbrunnen village other than to appreciate the heavenly scenes. Although visiting Lauterbrunnen village is primarily about sightseeing, it’s absolutely worth it because it’s paradise.
The most famous view of Lauterbrunnen village is in front of Chalet Pironnet, where you can see the angelic Staubbach Waterfall, like silk in the air, plummeting down behind the church of Lauterbrunnen. It’s also the best place to take a selfie for your photo souvenir of your time in the Jungfrau Region.
If you visit Lauterbrunnen, you should also see other viewpoints in the village for more unique, awe-inspiring scenery.
Must Read: 7 Lauterbrunnen Viewpoints & Photo Spots (With a Map)
5. Wengen
Wengen is another destination from Interlaken, known for its beautiful scenery overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley. From its streets and hiking paths, you can clearly see the trough shape of the valley, which looks absolutely stunning.
A quick summary about Wengen
On a map, you can find Wengen perched above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, to the northeast of Lauterbrunnen Village. If you examine the topography of the area, you’ll realize that Wengen is akin to a viewing point for the valley, naturally created by nature itself. Getting to Wengen from Interlaken is simple: it’s just a two-part, 40-minute train journey, with a transfer in Lauterbrunnen.
When you visit Wengen on a sunny day, I’m sure you’ll marvel at its spectacular scenery. The view manifests an unimaginable creativity of nature, and you might even wonder how such a place is even possible. For the best view, head to Wengen’s Evangelisch Reformierte Kirche. It’s where you can find an unobstructed view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Discover: Why Visit Wengen? The Reasons, Experiences, and Expectations
6. Männlichen
One cable car ride from Wengen lies a beautiful place called Männlichen. It’s a 2343-meter high mountain peak on the ridge that separates Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, known for the 360-degree view of the entire Jungfrau Region it offers.
Interesting things about Männlichen
For me, Männlichen is the most stunning viewpoint of the Jungfrau Region because from here, you can literally see every beautiful part of the region. The panoramic scenery includes overlooking views of Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Grindelwald, and the three famous peaks of the Bernese Oberland. Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau appear as if they’re a sleeping giant right in front of you!
With the 360-degree panorama of the Jungfrau Region, you’ll feel like royalty overseeing your vast, breathtaking kingdom. The summit of Männlichen has a crown-shaped viewing deck that will make you feel like a king or queen.
If you have spare time, consider hiking down to Kleine Scheidegg after taking in the stunning view from the summit of Männlichen. The hiking trail between Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg is called the Panorama Trail. As its name suggests, it’s a hike with some of the most remarkable views in the Jungfrau Region.
The notorious north face of Eiger will be in view throughout the 1.5 hours you’ll be hiking on the trail. It’s truly a sight to behold.
Read my guide and tips: How to Reach Männlichen and Make the Most of Your Trip.
7. Grindelwald
The Jungfrau Region is worth visiting for several reasons. Aside from the picturesque natural scenery, it also offers exciting activities where you can create fun, memorable moments to cherish for a lifetime. If you want to see breathtaking places and have fun adventures in the Jungfrau Region, Grindelwald is the place to be.
What to expect in Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a resort village located north of the Jungfrau massif. It’s a 45-minute train ride away from Interlaken. I often refer to it as the adventure center of the Jungfrau Region due to its wide range of outdoor activities. These activities span from mountain-top fun to adrenaline-rushing canyon adventures.
Among the outdoor activities in Grindelwald, the most accessible ones are located on Mount First. These include the Cliff Walk, Flyer, Glider, Mountain Cart, and Trottibike. The mountain features a cable car, with its valley station conveniently situated right beside the main street of the Grindelwald village. Visitors are transported to the summit 30 minutes after departing from the village.
However, they have the option to alight at different cable car stations such as Bort, Schreckfeld, or First. This is where the outdoor activities begin. The only drawback to these adventures is the cost. For more information about these outdoor activities, you can check the official website of Jungfrau, which is linked in the resources section of this post.
Of course, you don’t need to pay for everything in Grindelwald to have fun outdoors. The most beautiful places in Grindelwald are free! They include the First Cliff Walk and Bachalpsee. The First Cliff Walk is a metal pathway located beside the First cable car station. It’s attached to the cliff of the mountain and overlooks Grindelwald. It’s quite similar to Harder Kulm, but offers more thrill due to its hanging bridge and extended viewing deck.
On the other hand, Bachalpsee is an alpine lake within hiking distance from First. It’s one of the most picturesque high-altitude lakes in the Jungfrau Region. It’s often photographed with an inverted image of the surrounding peaks reflected on its surface.
Make the most of your visit to Grindelwald: Free Things To Do In Grindelwald (1-Day Budget Itinerary)
8. Gimmelwald
If Grindelwald is the best place to have both adventure and picture-perfect scenery, then Gimmelwald is the village to visit for introspection and a peaceful encounter with nature. Gimmelwald is the smallest village in the Jungfrau Region, located at the farthest end of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and that pretty much gives a clue as to why Gimmelwald offers a unique, potentially life-changing experience.
What to expect and how to visit Gimmelwald
In my opinion, Gimmelwald is a beautiful destination due to the authentic Swiss countryside experience one can gain from visiting the village. The village overflows with rustic charm, which you’ll surely notice as you stroll through it. I believe that most Gimmelwald residents rely on livestock for their livelihood, and they do so in an artistic manner. The Swiss cheese huts, barns, and buildings where they prepare Treichel (cowbells) are incredibly charming and seem straight out of a movie!
Reaching Gimmelwald from Interlaken requires a bit more effort compared to other villages in the Jungfrau Region. However, it’s definitely worth it, especially if you’re seeking an authentic Swiss countryside experience. The journey involves three steps:
- Ride a train to Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken OST.
- Hop on bus #141 to Stechelberg.
- Ride the cable car in Schilthornbahn.
The first station of the cable car is Gimmelwald.
Gimmelwald lies west of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Another village you can visit in this part of the Jungfrau Region is Mürren, and it’s only one able car journey from Gimmelwald.
Read full article about Gimmelwald: 5 Things To Do In Gimmelwald (Beautiful Reasons To Visit)
9. Mürren
Of all the villages in the Jungfrau Region, Mürren is the most elevated. It is perched on a 1650-meter-high cliff top on the western part of the Jungfrau Region, overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Situated above the middle part of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Mürren offers its visitors a spectacular view of the craggy west face of Schwarzmönch mountain.
A short summary about Mürren
If you visit Allmendhubel, a plateau above Mürren, you’ll see a unique perspective of the Jungfrau Region’s superstar trio. Allmendhubel, still a part of Mürren, is within hiking distance from the village. Alternatively, you can reach Allmendhubel quickly via a 5-minute funicular train ride from Mürren. The funicular station is conveniently located in the middle of the village.
Assuming you’re already in Mürren, don’t rush to Allmendhubel. Take some time to explore the village of Mürren first. It’s a must-see for its lovely streets, charming chalets, and picture-perfect viewpoints. Before you assume that Mürren is boring, I must mention that one of the most adventurous activities in the Jungfrau Region is located here! It’s the Via Ferrata, which starts from Mürren and leads down to Gimmelwald. You can find a description of this activity in the resources section of this post.
See what makes Mürren worth it: 10 Experiences and Attractions That Make Mürren Worthwhile
10. Oeschinensee
Oeschinensee (Oeschinen Lake) isn’t exactly located in the Jungfrau Region. However, it is situated within the UNESCO World Heritage region of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (Bernese Oberland) and is quite accessible from Interlaken. You can find this unreal lake in Kandersteg, which is in the Kander Valley, west of the Jungfrau Region. If you’re traveling from Interlaken, reaching Oeschinensee involves a 1.5-hour journey on two trains (from Interlaken to Spiez and from Spiez to Kandersteg), followed by a short hike from Kandersteg.
What makes Oeschinensee a beautiful destination is simply that it’s one of Switzerland’s most gorgeous lakes. Come to Oeschinensee to be inspired to take hundreds of photos! Oeschinensee is a mix of Lake Brienz and Bachalpsee. It resembles Lake Brienz because of its turquoise water, and Bachalpsee because it’s at a high elevation with picture-perfect scenery.
However, as much as I believe that Oeschinensee shares characteristics with Lake Brienz and Bachalpsee, it’s quite obvious that it’s unique compared to the two. Oeschinensee has a craggy mountain face above it, which looks stunning, especially when reflected on its turquoise surface.
When you arrive at Oeschinensee, you can just hang out at its shores and appreciate the views. However, I encourage you to spend some time hiking around the lake for more spectacular angles. Check out the loop north of the lake; for me, it’s the best area to hike. It can be done on a roundtrip, starting from Rodelbahn. You can learn more about the hiking trails in Oeschinensee (and how to visit Oeschinensee) from its official website, linked in the resources section of this post.
Interlaken Beautiful Destinations Resources
That concludes my list of 10 beautiful places in the Jungfrau Region that are easily accessible from Interlaken. As promised, I’ve provided links below that you can use as references for some of these stunning locations near Interlaken.
- Grindelwald First – Top of Adventure – start discovering the adventures in Grindelwald First here.
- Via Ferrata (Mürren-Gimmelwald) – Here you can find the information about the Via Ferrata from Mürren to Gimmelwald
- Oeschinensee – Official website of Oeschinensee: Visiting information and hiking trails
Tip: If you are planning a 3-day to a week-long Jungfrau Region trip, take advantage of the Jungfrau Travel Pass. It gives you free and unlimited use of nearly all kinds of public transportation in the Jungfrau Region. Learn more about the Jungfrau Travel Pass here. Don’t forget to have unlimited 4G internet so you can check the live webcam, public transportation schedules, and more online services in Switzerland during your trip. For more ideas on what to do in the Jungfrau Region or Bernese Oberland check out it here.
Are you planning a trip to Interlaken but haven’t found accommodations yet? Take a look at my partner’s hotel search and booking platform. They offer fantastic hotel deals, including free cancellation and reward points. Please note that this is an affiliate link. If you book through their site, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. It’s a win-win for both of us! Your booking will help me continue writing helpful articles like this one. I greatly appreciate your support.
For more ideas on how you can explore Switzerland, check out my 4-day Switzerland Itinerary. It’s perfect for an extended weekend trip to Switzerland, focusing on Lucerne, Mount Pilatus, Bern, and Lake Thun. This itinerary lets you experience different aspects of Switzerland in just a few days. If you’re interested in destinations outside Switzerland that offer a blend of experiences, I suggest going to Salzburg. It’s a city in Austria that’s literally straight out of a movie. Check it out!
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