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.

Kids can get in on the mountain of summer and winter activities available to tourists in Interlaken. While many people come here for the excellent skiing, if skiing isn’t to your fancy, there are many other activity-based things you can do including hiking and sledging.

The top sight in Interlaken is the Jungfrau Mountain, which can be seen from numerous points in town, but best of all from Höhematte. Within the town are excellent museums and some interesting walking and window shopping, although the best of town is from outside looking in, namely from the mile-high Alpine Garden and the Harder Kulm mountain gazebo.

Interlaken actually has its own airport right in the city centre, although Bern-Belp is the nearest international airport to Interlaken. Flights here are minimal when compared with Zürich International Airport and Geneva-Cointrin Airport, however, which are about equidistant from Interlaken. Facilities at all international airports are excellent.

Banks: 08:30 to 16:30, Monday to Friday
Post Offices: 07:30 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday; 07:30 to 11:00, Saturday
Government Offices: 08:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday
Business Centres: 08:00 to 12:00 and 14:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday
Shops: 08:00 to 12:15 and 13:30 to 18:30, Monday to Friday; 09:00 to 16:00, Saturday; 11:00 to 16:00, Sunday - major shops