Interlaken is a German-speaking resort town in the Bernese Oberland, set on the narrow strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. It is Switzerland's adventure capital and the main gateway to the Jungfrau region, with views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, lake cruises, paragliding and trains to Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Prices are high, but the town is compact, walkable and very well connected by rail.
Accommodation overview
Interlaken sits on the Aare between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, and its hotels cluster in a few compact areas. The Höheweg promenade and the streets around Interlaken West station hold the grand hotels and most three- and four-star rooms, with the Höhematte meadow and the Jungfrau in view. Unterseen, across the Aare, offers older small hotels on Hauptstrasse and Seestrasse, while Matten is the backpacker quarter with several hostels. Interlaken Ost station, for trains to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and the Jungfraujoch, has a youth hostel and river-side lodges. Wilderswil, Bönigen, Ringgenberg, Iseltwald and Beatenberg give quieter village or lakeside stays within a short train, bus or boat ride. Prices rise steeply in July and August and at Christmas and New Year.
- Budget
- CHF 40-90 (~$49-111) for a hostel dorm bed; CHF 90-220 (~$111-271) for simple one- to two-star rooms and guesthouses
- Mid-range
- CHF 140-450 (~$172-554) per night for three- and four-star hotels around Bahnhofstrasse, Jungfraustrasse and Matten
- Luxury
- CHF 250-1,500 (~$308-1,845) per night for the grand hotels on the Höheweg
- Where to stay
- Höheweg and the Interlaken West station area for walkability; Matten for budget; Interlaken Ost for early Jungfraujoch trains
Hotels by budget
Find accommodation that fits your travel budget.
Budget-friendly
Hotel Merkur West Station
Hotel on Bahnhofstrasse near Interlaken West station.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Aarburg Hotel & Café
Two-star hotel of about 10 rooms with a café on the Unterseen bank of the Aare.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Alphorn
Small hotel of about 13 rooms in a residential street south of the centre.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Harder-Minerva
Two-star hotel with restaurant, built in 1891 and renovated in 1998, near the congress centre.
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Two-star hotel and restaurant in the Unterseen old town.
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Small hotel with apartments in Matten, with about 10 rooms.
Check rates on Booking.comBasicRooms Interlaken
No-frills two-star rooms in Matten, run from the same address as the Alpina Hotel.
Check rates on Booking.comWaldhotel Unspunnen
Two-star hotel of about 29 rooms on the wooded hillside above Matten.
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Long-established backpacker hostel and campground in Matten with dorms and private rooms.
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Backpacker hostel in Matten, run together with the Mattenhof Resort.
Check rates on Booking.comBackpackers Villa Sonnenhof
Backpacker hostel in a villa between the Höhematte and Interlaken Ost.
Check rates on Booking.comAdventure Hostel Interlaken
Backpacker hostel in Unterseen, west of Interlaken West station.
Check rates on Booking.comHappy Inn Lodge
Guesthouse and backpacker lodge of about 19 rooms near the Höhematte.
Check rates on Booking.comLazy Falken Backpackers
Backpacker hostel of about 15 rooms in Unterseen beside the Aare.
Check rates on Booking.comInterlaken Youth Hostel
Swiss Youth Hostels property of about 60 rooms directly by Interlaken Ost station.
Check rates on Booking.comRiverLodge Hostel
Hostel on Brienzstrasse near Interlaken Ost station and the Aare.
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Guesthouse with an Indian restaurant on Brienzstrasse, marketed as The River Village.
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Bed and breakfast on Parkstrasse near the Höhematte.
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Village hotel in Wilderswil, next to the Hotel Alpenblick.
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Village hotel and restaurant in Wilderswil.
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Hotel and restaurant on Kirchgasse in Wilderswil.
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Village hotel on Kirchgasse in Wilderswil.
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Hotel on the Bönigen quay, steps from the Lake Brienz boat landing.
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Hotel of about 19 rooms in Ringgenberg on Lake Brienz.
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Hotel and restaurant on the main street of Ringgenberg.
Check rates on Booking.comLake Lodge Iseltwald
Adventure lodge and hostel in Iseltwald on Lake Brienz.
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Guesthouse in Beatenberg on the hillside above Lake Thun.
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Group and youth house in Beatenberg above Lake Thun.
Check rates on Booking.comMid-range
Swiss Dreams Hotel du Nord
Four-star hotel on the Höheweg promenade between the central parks and Interlaken Ost.
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Four-star hotel of about 35 rooms on the Aare near Interlaken Ost station.
Check rates on Booking.comCarlton-Europe Hotel
Three-star hotel of about 75 rooms on the Höheweg, marketed as an adults-only vintage hotel.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Splendid
Hotel on the Höheweg promenade close to the Höhematte meadow and Interlaken West station.
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Four-star, 44-room hotel directly on Bahnhofstrasse by Interlaken West station.
Check rates on Booking.comBoutique Hotel Bellevue
Four-star boutique hotel on the Marktgasse near the Unterseen old town.
Check rates on Booking.comStella Swiss Quality Hotel
Four-star Swiss Quality hotel of about 30 rooms close to the Höhematte.
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Three-star hotel at the corner of Jungfraustrasse and the Höheweg.
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Three-star Minotel of about 22 rooms on Jungfraustrasse.
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Three-star hotel of about 15 rooms south of the centre, marketed as an action and relax hub.
Check rates on Booking.comThe HEY Hotel
Large three-star city hotel of 191 rooms near Interlaken West station.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Bernerhof
Three-star Best Western hotel of 43 rooms beside Interlaken West station.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Central Continental
Hotel on Bahnhofstrasse in Unterseen, a short walk west of Interlaken West station.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Lötschberg
Three-star hotel of about 19 rooms in a quiet street south of the centre.
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Hotel and apartments south of the centre.
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Hotel with seminar and banquet facilities on Alpenstrasse.
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Three-star hotel of about 50 rooms near the Rugenpark.
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Three-star hotel on Seestrasse in Unterseen, on the way to Lake Thun.
Check rates on Booking.comSalzano Hotel Spa Restaurant
Three-star hotel with restaurant and spa on the road to Lake Thun.
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Three-star hotel of 44 rooms on the Lake Thun shore at Neuhaus, next to a golf course and lake beach.
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Three-star hotel of about 40 rooms on Obere Goldey, a short walk from Interlaken West station.
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Three-star country inn of about 20 rooms in Matten.
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Three-star hotel of about 22 rooms in Matten.
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Resort-style hotel of about 63 rooms in Matten, run alongside the Funny Farm hostel.
Check rates on Booking.comHapimag Belvédère
Four-star holiday apartment complex of about 104 units on the Höheweg, run by the Hapimag membership resort group.
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Lakefront hotel on the Bönigen quay on Lake Brienz.
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Three-star family-run lakeside hotel in Ringgenberg.
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Small hotel in the lakeside village of Iseltwald.
Check rates on Booking.comLuxury
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa
Five-star grand hotel on the Höheweg with 216 rooms and the 5,500 square metre Spa Nescens; restaurants include Radius by Stefan Beer and La Terrasse Brasserie.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Royal St Georges Interlaken MGallery
Historic four-star superior hotel with 93 rooms on the Höheweg, operated in Accor's MGallery collection.
Check rates on Booking.comGrand Beau-Rivage Interlaken
Large hotel with 101 rooms on the Aare side of the Höheweg, with La Vallée SPA and the restaurants L'Ambiance and La Petite Suisse.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Metropole Interlaken
Four-star high-rise with 96 rooms, 84 of them with Jungfrau views, and a restaurant on the 18th floor.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Interlaken
Historic four-star hotel on the Höheweg, one of the oldest hotels in town.
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Gourmet hotel in Wilderswil with a one-Michelin-star restaurant under chef Richard Stöckli, near the Schynige Platte railway.
Check rates on Booking.comBest neighborhoods to stay
Choose your base based on your interests and travel style.
Höheweg and the Höhematte
The central promenade between Interlaken West and Ost with the grand hotels facing the Höhematte meadow and the Jungfrau.
Best for: First-time visitors, views, luxury
Bahnhofstrasse and Interlaken West
Mid-range hotels beside Interlaken West station, with trains to Thun, Bern and the lake boats.
Best for: Rail travellers, Lake Thun boats
Unterseen
The old town on the left bank of the Aare with small hotels on Hauptstrasse and along Seestrasse toward Lake Thun.
Best for: Quieter stays, old-town atmosphere
Matten
Village quarter south-east of the centre with the backpacker hostels and budget hotels on Hauptstrasse.
Best for: Budget travellers, backpackers
Interlaken Ost and the Aare
Hostels, the youth hostel and river-side hotels near the Ost station for the Jungfrau region and Lake Brienz.
Best for: Early departures, Jungfraujoch day trips
Wilderswil
Village at the foot of the Schynige Platte and Jungfrau railways with gourmet and family hotels.
Best for: Hikers, Schynige Platte, quiet nights
Bönigen, Ringgenberg and Iseltwald
Lake Brienz villages with lakefront hotels, a boat landing and swimming spots.
Best for: Lake views, relaxed stays
Beatenberg
Hillside village above Lake Thun with guesthouses and group houses.
Best for: Walkers, mountain views
Our top picks
Handpicked recommendations for every type of traveler.
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa
Five-star grand hotel on the Höheweg with 216 rooms and the 5,500 square metre Spa Nescens; restaurants include Radius by Stefan Beer and La Terrasse Brasserie.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Royal St Georges Interlaken MGallery
Historic four-star superior hotel with 93 rooms on the Höheweg, operated in Accor's MGallery collection.
Check rates on Booking.comGrand Beau-Rivage Interlaken
Large hotel with 101 rooms on the Aare side of the Höheweg, with La Vallée SPA and the restaurants L'Ambiance and La Petite Suisse.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Metropole Interlaken
Four-star high-rise with 96 rooms, 84 of them with Jungfrau views, and a restaurant on the 18th floor.
Check rates on Booking.comHotel Interlaken
Historic four-star hotel on the Höheweg, one of the oldest hotels in town.
Check rates on Booking.comSwiss Dreams Hotel du Nord
Four-star hotel on the Höheweg promenade between the central parks and Interlaken Ost.
Check rates on Booking.comBooking tips
Get the best deals and avoid common mistakes.
Book 3-4 months ahead for July, August and the Christmas to New Year period; the best-located hotels and hostel private rooms sell out first.
Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost are both SBB stations; stay near Ost for the earliest Jungfrau-region and Lake Brienz departures, and near West for Thun and Bern trains and the Lake Thun boats.
Cheapest sleeps: Balmer's Hostel (Hauptstrasse 23, Matten, +41 33 822 19 61), Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof (Alpenstrasse 16, +41 33 826 71 71) and Interlaken Youth Hostel (Bönigstrasse 3a, +41 33 826 10 90) from about CHF 40 (~$49) for a dorm bed.
Hotels in Wilderswil, Bönigen and Ringgenberg are often cheaper than the Höheweg for the same dates and are a short train, bus or boat ride from Interlaken.
A seat reservation is required on Jungfraujoch trains in the summer season; the Jungfraujoch return from Interlaken Ost costs roughly CHF 224-261 (~$276-321) depending on season (jungfrau.ch).
A small tourist tax per person per night is normally added at check-out in addition to the room rate, so confirm whether the quoted price includes it.
Many small hotels staff reception only part of the day: phone ahead with the arrival time, especially for late train arrivals.
Alternative accommodations
Beyond traditional hotels, consider these options.
Guesthouses
Family-run guesthouses offer authentic local experiences and often include home-cooked meals. Great for cultural immersion.
Serviced apartments
Ideal for longer stays or families. Kitchen facilities help save money and provide flexibility.
Hostels
Budget-friendly option for solo travelers. Dorms and private rooms available with social common areas.