10 Unmissable Things To Do In Interlaken Jungfrau Region
This post might contain affiliate links.
Planning a trip to the Jungfrau Region can be overwhelming. Despite being just a small part of Switzerland, the range of experiences you can have here is unbelievable.
In my estimate, you’d need at least a week just to see the most beautiful places in the Jungfrau Region.
And note, that’s only the beautiful places. It does not yet include some of the unmissable experiences in the Jungfrau Region, which I highly recommend for a truly unforgettable trip. Once-in-a-lifetime experiences!
From a valley that looks like heaven to the otherworldly glacial scenery, I believe these must-see places are experiences you’ll cherish for life.
Let me share with you the attractions and experiences that I think you should not miss during your trip.
Good to know
While I suggest these as ‘unmissable,’ it does not mean that you have to try everything.
One or two of these should be enough, considering their similarities and how expensive some of them can be. Not all are expensive, though, don’t worry.
In fact, some of them are free!
If you have the time and money to visit as many unmissable attractions or experiences in the Jungfrau Region as possible, Interlaken should be the best town to serve as your base. Interlaken is centrally located and offers convenient access to the destinations in the region.
If you only plan to try select activities, you may find other villages in the Jungfrau Region like Wengen or Mürren to be good alternatives as a home base.
Visual Summary
Note: The resources section of this post contains link to help you plan your visit to the Jungfrau Region. Read until the end! 🙂
1. See the Gateway to Jungfrau Region from Harder Kulm
Arriving in Interlaken, you are literally minutes away from Harder Kulm — the unmissable tourist attraction you can visit right after arriving in the Jungfrau Region’s transportation hub.
I think Harder Kulm is an unmissable place to visit in the Jungfrau Region because it’s one of the best viewpoints of this spectacular region.
In Harder Kulm, you get a sweeping view starting from the turquoise lake Brienz all the way across Interlaken to Lake Thun.
You might find this article helpful:
You might find these interesting!
2. Explore the Heaven On Earth Lauterbrunnen
Did you know that J.R.R. Tolkien found inspiration for Rivendell, the home of the elves in his fantasy novel, in the Jungfrau Region?
The place is called Lauterbrunnen, and it’s a must-visit destination in the Jungfrau Region that is free to visit.
You might find this article helpful:
3. Visit Wengen and Behold the View from Wengwald
The village of Lauterbrunnen is only one of the places you can go to admire the awe-inspiring Lauterbrunnen Valley.
For more breathtaking views, visit Wengen and Wengwald.
These places are located northeast of Lauterbrunnen village and are a must-visit as they offer the best views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Elevated and overlooking the valley where it begins, Wengen and Wengwald provide a scenery like no other.
You might find this article helpful:
Why Visit Wengen? The Reasons, Experiences, and Expectations
4. Take in the Jungfrau Region’s 360 Degrees View from Männlichen
When it comes to places with marvelous mountain views, the Jungfrau Region offers plenty of choices.
But among them, Männlichen is my favorite, and I think it is also one of the Jungfrau Region’s unmissable places to visit.
For me, Männlichen is a must-see place in the Jungfrau Region because it gives the most panoramic views of the Jungfrau Region.
A 360 degrees view.
You might find this article helpful:
5. Marvel at the Otherworldly Scenery in Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch is an unmissable place because it’s the ultimate destination in the Jungfrau Region.
It offers several experiences, and a few of the most remarkable things in the Jungfrau Region are found here: train ride to the highest station in Europe, Aletsch Glacier, and Ice Palace (tunnel inside a glacier).
There are two ways you can get to Jungfraujoch, either by Jungfrau Railway from Kleine Scheidegg or by cable car from Eiger. Learn more and check the ticket prices below.
6. Once-in-a-Lifetime Lunch at Piz Gloria in Schilthorn
Jungfraujoch isn’t the only unique mountaintop attraction you can visit in the Jungfrau Region.
Another is Piz Gloria, a restaurant perched at the summit of Schilthorn (a 2970-meter-tall mountain overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the western portion of the Jungfrau Region).
It’s easy to understand why Piz Gloria is an unmissable tourist attraction in the Jungfrau Region: dining in a REVOLVING restaurant on a mountaintop is an absolutely unique experience!
You might find this article helpful:
Getting to Piz Gloria from Interlaken involves several steps.
- From Interlaken, take the train to Lauterbrunnen.
- In Lauterbrunnen, you can find buses (#141) going to Stechtelberg. Ride that bus and alight at Schilthornbahn in Stechelberg.
- In Schilthornbahn, hop on a cable car to Schilthorn, passing Gimmelwald, Mürren, and Birg. Piz Gloria is the last station.
Here’s where you can check the prices of the tickets and tours to Piz Gloria or Schilthorn.
7. Discover Jungfrau Region’s Most Idyllic Village: Gimmelwald
If we are alike — the type of traveler who loves to wander, introspect, and find beautiful little gems of a destination — Gimmelwald is undoubtedly the destination for you.
It’s the perfect place to discover authentic Swiss countryside in the Jungfrau Region.
You might find this article helpful:
8. Experience Adrenaline Rush Adventures In Grindelwald
What’s the unmissable place in the Jungfrau Region for some crazy fun outdoor activities?
Well, it’s no other than Grindelwald — a famous mountain resort village in Switzerland, north of the Jungfrau massif.
It is known for outdoor activities in all seasons, which make it a must-visit destination in the Jungfrau Region.
You might find this article helpful:
9. Photograph a Famous Lake, Bachalpsee
Do you have wallpaper-downloading apps on your smartphone too?
I used to have them on my phone and would often come across a breathtaking picture of a lake that perfectly reflected the mountains above it.
Every time I saw it, I was amazed and wondered where the photographer had found such a beautiful spot. Years passed, and I developed a passion for mountains. And it was only during that time I discovered that Bachalpsee was one of those places where the photographers create those masterpieces.
Yes, Bachalpsee is an unmissable destination in the Jungfrau Region simply because it’s one of the most picturesque lakes in Switzerland.
Do you want to see Bachalpsee? Getting to Bachalpsee from Interlaken is simple although it requires an hour of a hike.
- Take the train to Grindelwald (40 minutes)
- Hop on the cable car to First (25 minutes)
- Hike to Bachalpsee (60 minutes)
10. Spend A Day In A Beautiful Lake
Jungfrau Region and Bernese Oberland have several beautiful lakes which you can reach from Interlaken within a day, like Bachalpsee, Grauseeli, Blausee, and Oeschinensee.
Some of these lakes are picture-perfect and absolutely worth seeing. But again, there’s a caveat: it takes hours and effort to reach them from Interlaken.
However, you don’t have to look far to find beautiful lakes if you’re in Interlaken.
The name of the town suggests that there are lakes beside it.
Directly translating ‘Interlaken’ to English, it means ‘between lakes.’
If you visit Harder Kulm and take in the breathtaking panorama of the Jungfrau Region, you’ll see that Interlaken is really sandwiched between two lakes! What are the lakes that sandwich Interlaken?
They are Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and they’re two unmissable places to visit from Interlaken.
The first reason why I think Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are must-see places is that they’re gorgeous lakes and very accessible from Interlaken. You wouldn’t want to miss a beautiful opportunity to see calming and magical scenery that virtually needs no effort to do.
My second reason why these lakes are unmissable is that they offer a mixed and unique experience for your Jungfrau Region trip.
Lake Thun is a must-see for tourists looking for a fairytale-ish experience with the mountains. Along its shores, 1 charming town and 5 fairytale castles await you. I really like Thun Castle for the view of the Bernese Alps, Oberhofen Castle for its picture-perfect appearance, and Thun Old Town for its charming streets.
On the other hand, Lake Brienz is a must-visit for travelers wanting to discover life in the Jungfrau Region and a few hundred years ago. Another fascinating thing about Lake Brienz is its bright turquoise water, which looks so magical and best observed from Iseltwald.
You might find this article helpful:
10 Attractions in Lake Thun That Make the Lake Worth a Visit
You can use the trains, buses, and boats to travel around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass or this One-Day Unlimited Boat Pass, you no longer need to worry about buying multiple tickets to use public transportation.
Resources
I hope this list helped you find the must-see places in the Jungfrau Region and must-do activities from Interlaken that suit your preferences.
Below you can find the links which you can use to plan your day(s) in the Jungfrau Region.
- Grindelwald-First adventures – Here’s where you can learn more about Grindelwald First Flyer, Glider, Trottibike, and Mountain Cart.
- Webcams in Jungfrau Region – Before you come to different unmissable mountaintop destinations in the Jungfrau Region (Harder Kulm, Piz Gloria, Mannlichen, and Jungfraujoch), make sure to check first the live view. It’ll help you decide whether it is currently worth it to visit these tourist attractions or not.
- Jungfrau Region Cable Car and Funicular Operating information & Schilthorn Cable Car Schedule – Not all funiculars and cable cars operate the whole year in the Jungfrau Region. Also, the cable cars’ and funiculars’ first and last ascend and descend vary per season. Before you travel to unmissable places, double-check the public transportation schedule.
- Lake Thun and Lake Brienz Boat Timetable – If you plan to explore Lake Thun or Lake Brienz by boat, here’s where you can check the boat schedule.
- List of Hiking Trails (with status) – In case you will be hiking in the Jungfrau Region, I recommend you check the status of the hiking trails before going. Example: Grindelwald First to Bachalpsee. The website indicates whether the path is open or not. Most importantly, all the details about a hiking trail (elevation profile, turn-by-turn instructions, etc.) are found on this website.
- Train and bus schedule checker (sbb.ch) – Traveling outside Jungfrau Region? Check the timetables here.
Plan Your Trip Now
Here are my recommended services
Besides the Jungfrau Region, Bern and Lucerne are two destinations you must also visit during your trip to Switzerland. Lucerne is one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland, and Bern undoubtedly offers the best city views.
You should see the Chapel Bridge and Zytglogge, which are among Switzerland’s most recognizable landmarks and are located in these cities.
