Are you tired of looking at websites and all the activities supposedly in Interlaken are actually in surrounding towns that take an hour to get to? Me too!!!!! That’s why after visiting the area, I have created this list of activities to do that is all within Interlaken. Many are only a 10 minute drive from the city center and you can do multiple in one day. Keep scrolling to find the secret hidden gem and comment if you find it! Let’s jump in!

1. St. Beatus Cave and Waterfall

The cave and waterfall are roughly 10 minutes from the center of the city. At the bottom is some parking area and a parking meter. Or you can pay at the reception desk inside. This is also where you can buy your tickets for the cave and for the museum. If you enjoy a combination of myths and geology, this is the place for you! They also have a restaurant, snack shop, and souvenir shop. Once we arrived, we got tickets no problem on a week day. There are guided tours available as well. There were a couple in process that we had to move around. I’d recommend good shoes (it’s slick) that are not white…oops. Also bring a jacket as it is very cold inside the cave.

Cost: 19 CHF per adult

Time: 1.5 to 2 hours – this included going to the museum, the hike up and going through the cave.

Address: Staatsstrasse 30, 3800 Sundlauenen

2. Stroll around Unterseen

Unterseen is the old town area of Interlaken. There are beautiful bridges and cafes that look out over the water. All of the architecture is adorable and so are the little shops. If you are wanting to do some shopping, keep walking through town and there is an area that is more modern with shops.

Cost: Free if you are just walking around – we stopped for lunch by the river.

Time: However long you want! It isn’t super big and this was only a short stop so we stayed for around 1.5 hours.

Address: 3800 Unterseen

3. Visit castle ruins at Burgruine Unspunnen

This was such a fun, unexpected stop. There was an hour before we could check into our accommodations so we stopped here! We parked by the brewery and walked the short way to the ruins. I climbed around on them for quite awhile. There is boards with historical information. The castle was built in the 1200s!!! I recommend taking the path all the way around and down to the other side. Once you do this, you can head towards the hidden gem! There will be signs directing towards Wilderswil. Keep following this and there is a slide off to the right side of the trail! It appears to possibly be part of the hotel located in that area, but there was no one around when we arrived. Keep going and you will find one of the most amazing views! It is not too long of a hike and there are plenty of benches to take in the view!

Cost: Free

Time: 1 hour – we took our time.

Address: 3812 Wilderswil

4. Visit the Rugenbraeu Brewery

If you are planning to visit the ruins, stop by the brewery for a drink! There was a small shop that had snacks and beer with outside seating. According to the website it is also possible to take tours inside of the brewery.

Address: Wagnerenstrasse 40, 3800 Matten bei Interlaken

Website: Rugenbraeu Brewery

5. Take a boat ride on the lake

Lake Thun and Lake Brien are on either side of Interlaken. Both lakes have options for boat rides. If you aren’t big on cruising around the lake, there are plenty of walking paths near the lakes as well as restaurants.

Here are some links for boat and kayak tours:

Transportation

While in Interlaken, we rented a car. This was so we could get to Grindelwald and Murren without any difficulty. A great part of Switzerland is there are so many forms of public transportation. This has its pros and cons. The good is that you don’t have to have a car and try to find parking. The bad is the strong possibility of getting lost and the extra time it takes when using public transport (sometimes doubles your travel time). The other issue is open and close times. Always check the times for furniculars and cable cars before planning your trip. If you arrive too late in the day, sometimes as early as 5:30, they may already be closed.

Here is a link for renting a car – Rent a Car.

Are you planning a trip to Switzerland? We would love to connect! Planning for a different part of Europe? Here are some of our favorites — Paris Tourist Tricks for the Best Experiences or Hidden Gems of London for a Unique Experience.

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