Interlaken
The Holiday Region Interlaken lies in the heart of the Bernese Oberland in central Switzerland, between the deep blue waters of Lake Thun and the turquoise Lake Brienz. The region blends lively, cosmopolitan Interlaken with spruce mountain villages, tidy towns and rural hamlets ringed by the peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. It is a landscape of lakes, rivers and waterfalls, with high mountains and accessible summits reached by mountain railways, alongside placid alpine lakes and gushing falls. The area is culturally vibrant, with historic castles around Lake Thun, museums, traditional customs and festivals, while the town of Thun anchors the western end of the region. Interlaken itself is the central hub and an ideal base for excursions across the Bernese Oberland and the rest of Switzerland, offering a mix of nature, adventure and hideaways.
Summer activities
Summer in the Holiday Region Interlaken is defined by its two lakes and the surrounding mountains. Lake Thun and Lake Brienz offer kayaking, canoeing, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, wakesurfing, jetboat rides and leisurely cruises, while the Lütschine river provides rafting and canyoning. Hiking trails range from lakeside paths to summit ascents, and mountain railways such as the Harder Kulm, Schynige Platte, Niesen, Niederhorn and Brienzer Rothorn open up panoramic viewpoints. Mountain bikers and e-bikers can explore varied terrain, and adventure parks, scooter bikes and paragliding add to the outdoor offer.
Winter activities
Winter in the Holiday Region Interlaken offers a compact mix of snow sports and atmospheric activities. Small but well-prepared ski areas such as Axalp above Brienz, Beatenberg (Niederhorn) and Diemtigtal provide pistes of every difficulty, along with ski tours and cross-country trails. Sledging is popular, including night sledging by starlight on the Niederhorn, while snowshoe tours and winter hiking trails cross the alpine landscape. Beyond the slopes, visitors can enjoy winter kayaking on Lake Brienz, winter cruises on Lake Thun, and wellness oases or wood-fired hot tubs on the Brienz quayside.
Culture and entertainment
The Holiday Region Interlaken is culturally rich, anchored by the town of Thun and its art museum, and by a dense network of museums, village museums and specialist collections around both lakes. Five historic castles around Lake Thun, including Thun Castle and Spiez Castle, tell the region's history. Traditional customs thrive, from alphorn and yodelling to the Unspunnen Festival and the autumn cattle drives with the centuries-old Chästeilet cheese ritual in the Justistal. A lively events calendar spans open-air theatre such as the Thunerseespiele and William Tell, music festivals like Greenfield and Seaside, and numerous concerts and exhibitions.
