Meaning ‘between two lakes’, Interlaken lies sandwiched between lakes Thun and Brienz in central Switzerland, not far south of Bern, the capital. The town is well known as a popular base for visiting the Bernese Alps. The town is overlooked by the majestic Jungfrau Mountain and offers superb skiing and hiking.

Key attractions in pedestrian-friendly Interlaken include the charming Höheweg (the town’s main tourist thoroughfare), ancient Unterseen (the oldest part of town), and the nearby deep Aare Gorge. Other highlights within the town itself include the Touristik Museum, Mystery Park, and Interlaken’s fabulous setting beneath the Jungfrau and Eiger.

Although Interlaken has a string of impressive attractions within the confines of the city, the best of it is just outside and a few thousands of metres up a mountain. The sublime Alpine Garden is within easy reach of town via the cogwheel railway and displays striking flora, while Saint Beatus Caves above Lake Thun are also impressive.

Add to that the highest railway station in Europe, the Jungfraujoch, which lies at 3,400 metres and provides access to the Ice Palace; the Schilthorn Piz Gloria (revolving restaurant) also at altitude; and the super-high Harder Kulm gazebo. All of these delights are superbly complemented by the views of the Bernese Alps.

The spectacular landscapes of Interlaken also present the visitor with an array of sporting activities, both in the summer and in the winter. In the summertime there is horseback riding, windsurfing, sailing, fishing, golf, mountain biking and some of the best hiking anywhere, while wintertime sees some of the best ski resorts in the world open up.

Within the town leisure time is spent between the plethora of fancy souvenir shops along the Höheweg, the many pavement cafés, and the cosy bars and restaurants. If you get bored with all this, you could head out of town to the nearby resort of Wilderswil.

Hotels in Interlaken range from four-star luxury hotels to cosy bed and breakfasts and most of them can be found within the town centre, meaning everything is within walking distance. The problem with Interlaken is it gets extremely busy both in the summer and winter, meaning booking ahead of time is an absolute must.

By far and away the best way around this is to book ahead online where you can easily scan over price and availability and pick up a decent bargain in the process.

If you can get a flight to Bern-Belp Airport, the nearest international airport to Interlaken, this is the most convenient option as it is only about 48 kilometres away. If not, Zurich and Geneva airports are each around 160 kilometres away and tend to have better flight options and prices. All airports are well connected to Interlaken by road and rail.

With its positioning on a large isthmus between lakes Thun and Brienz, Interlaken’s sub-alpine climate is quite mild despite its altitude. The lakes, nearby glaciers and forests all help to keep temperatures from falling horrendously low in the winter, while summer days are sunny and pleasant.

Apart from skiers, most people head to Interlaken in the summer, when temperatures can reach the mid-20s°C and average around 17°C in July and August. Unfortunately this time of year also attracts the most rainfall in Interlaken although it is usually moderate. Wintertime is also busy in Interlaken from November to March (ski season), mainly owing to the resorts at nearby Jungfrau and Mönch to the south.