Interlaken is located in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is a popular tourist attraction for travelers to Western Europe who want to take in the unique and breathtaking sights and attractions of this gorgeous town. World-class skiing, hiking, hang gliding, and windsurfing, as well as the obvious natural wonders such as the Swiss Alps and Lake Thun, draw tourists from around the globe.

Interlaken is situated between (and takes its name from this positioning) Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. Tourists are awestruck on their Interlaken vacation when they glimpse the majestic, sparkling blue waters of the two lakes, with the imposing Alps rising up in the distance. Quaint Swiss chalets line the riverbanks, and are located throughout the foothills, leading up into the great mountains. The views of the houses sitting on Lake Thun with the Alps in the background look as though they belong on a postcard. The beauty of the Interlaken region is as stunning as any other place in Western Europe.

Interlaken is the unofficial capitol of Bernese Oberland. There are a variety of outstanding lodging options for any Interlaken vacation, from luxury Swiss villas, to resorts, suites, and hotels. There is a host of fine dining options at unique restaurants as well, where tourists enjoy French, German, and Swiss cuisine. Many people visit this part of Switzerland because of the sheer number of things to do in Interlaken. This gorgeous alpine town set against the massive Alps is a fantastic point from which to begin exploring the central region of the Bernese Highlands. Tourists take cable cars from Interlaken to many of the best peaks and points to view the gorgeous mountain vistas. This is a great feature of Interlaken, in that visitors are able to get to many of the Interlaken attractions, and other surrounding areas by cable car or train. World-renowned outdoor sports, fine dining, exquisite shopping, and lots of entertainment await the eager tourist here.

Switzerland Map

The Jungfrau is one of Switzerland’s most amazing natural wonders. It is one of the main peaks rising out of the Bernese Alps. Jungfrau translates from German as “virgin,” or “maiden.” This snow-capped summit extends beyond the clouds and is located between the Swiss cantons of Bern and Valais. The Jungfrau is actually the highest and westernmost peak that shadows the Lauterbrunnen Valley and Grindelwald. There are other popular summits in this massive wall of mountains, like the Eiger and the Monch. However, Jungfrau is taller, and certainly more widely recognized throughout the world. It is one of the most stunning and intimidating of all the north-facing peaks of the great Alps. No Interlaken vacation would be complete without exploring, whether on a hike or through a scope, the wonder of Jungfrau. The natural beauty of the massive summit rivals that of the Matterhorn.

The Jungfrau now has a train of its own (the Jungfraubahn) running inside the mountain providing tourists with previously unreachable access to the southern glaciers that are a distinctive and popular feature of the overall region. Interlaken can be reached via train from other popular tourist attractions in Switzerland such as Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. The distinctive mixture of diverse topography, like Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, the Jungfrau summit, the glaciated southern region, and the great Bernese Alps in general, make any Interlaken vacation a seeming once-in-a-lifetime experience.