Höheweg Promenade, Kursaal and Victoria-Jungfrau

The Höheweg is the 19th-century resort boulevard of Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland of Switzerland, running about a kilometre between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost stations. It was laid out when the town became one of the first Alpine tourist destinations, and it still carries that atmosphere, lined with plane trees, flowerbeds, fountains and grand hotels. The Grand Hotel Victoria-Jungfrau at Höheweg 41 is the best-known building, a 19th-century palace hotel whose facade faces the Höhematte meadow and the Jungfrau. The Casino Kursaal at Strandbadstrasse 44 stands at the eastern end of the gardens and hosts concerts, folklore evenings and gaming, and its formal gardens, with seasonal floral displays, are open to all. Along the promenade, shops sell Swiss watches, chocolate, knives and souvenirs, and cafes and restaurants spill onto the pavement in summer. The Tourist Information office is a short walk away and provides maps and timetables. A walk along the full length takes 45 to 90 minutes, depending on how many stops are made, and it connects naturally with the Höhematte and the monastery district. The promenade is open at all hours, and shop and Kursaal hours vary, so evening visitors should check ahead for specific venues. The best time for a stroll is evening, when the Jungfrau can glow in the last light and the hotels are lit, while midday on sunny summer days brings the largest crowds of day trippers. In winter the avenue is quiet, with festive lighting around Christmas. Visitors can reach it on foot in 10 minutes from Interlaken West, or by bus from Interlaken Ost to the Höheweg stops.