Things to Do in Höheweg Promenade, Interlaken

Atmosphere

Grand. Unhurried. The place carries itself like old money—150 years of impressing travelers means it doesn't have to try anymore.

Price Level

$$$

Safety

excellent

Höhematte Park

Fourteen hectares of meadow sit smack in the promenade's heart—Interlaken's great green lung. Paragliders drift down with casual grace. Day-trippers chew sandwiches on the grass. The unobstructed view south toward the Jungfrau massif from this spot is the classic Interlaken shot, and it earns every bit of its fame. Here's the twist: a 19th-century legal covenant still blocks any development on this land, which is why the view hasn't been swallowed by a hotel.

Tip: Plant yourself dead-center in the meadow—skip the promenade edge—for the widest frame of all three peaks. Before 8am, the view is yours alone. By 10am, selfie-stick chaos.

Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel

Skip the the room. The 1865 palace hotel's façade alone halts traffic. That wedding-cake symmetry pins the whole promenade. Walk in like you own the place—the lobby is open. Marble underfoot, carved ceilings overhead, staff in period uniforms. Belle Époque excess, still intact. One glance shows why Interlaken once belonged to kings and literary figures.

Tip: Afternoon tea at the hotel's Terrasse restaurant (CHF 55 per person) is steep. No question—CHF 55 per person is steep by most standards. But you won't be stuck on the pavement with a camera. You'll be planted inside the scene.

Casino Kursaal

1859. That's when the ornate Kursaal complex locked down the eastern end of the promenade. Therapeutic bathing hall turned casino and events venue—same bones, new skin. Wrapped in landscaped gardens. No entry fee. Even if you can't tell blackjack from begonias, walk the grounds. The flowerbeds are trimmed with Swiss precision. The midsummer rose garden delivers quiet beauty.

Tip: No ID, no entry. The casino won't budge. CHF 5 slots are the cheapest way past the door. Once you're in, skip the tables—head straight up. Terrace bar. Same view as the promenade cafés, half the crowd.

Paragliding Landings on the Höhematte

Paragliders drop from Beatenberg ridge between noon and 5pm—every summer day, like clockwork. They land in the meadow ahead of you. Locals barely glance up; it's that routine. The descent takes 25 minutes from launch. Time it right and you'll watch the full arc. Operators from Beatenberg and Niederhorn both use this landing zone.

Tip: Skip the hotel desk racket. Book direct with Skywings Paragliding or AlpinAir—the same pilots, CHF 20-30 cheaper. You'll pay CHF 170-190 for a tandem flight.

Unterseen Old Town (10-minute walk)

Cross the Aare river at the western end—you're in Unterseen's old town now. Separate municipality from Interlaken. Noticeably quieter. Timber-framed houses lean together like old friends. A medieval church tower rises above them, stone against sky. Market square looks designed for cinema yet predates film by centuries. Most promenade visitors skip this ten-minute detour. You'll probably have it largely to yourself.

Tip: CHF 4. That's all. The Touristik-Museum der Jungfrauregion on Obere Gasse charges CHF 4—cheap. It punches above its weight. Alpine tourism from the 1800s. More interesting than it sounds.

Mystery Park (Former Jungfrau Park)

Kids 8-14 never forget this place. The theme park—built around ancient mysteries and unsolved phenomena—perches just off the promenade near Interlaken Ost. Families with kids, or anyone hunting eccentric Swiss roadside stops, should pull over. It's weird. The park doubles down on its odd premise, and production values punch above expectations. Reviews divide sharply. Still, kids in that 8-14 range leave recalling every room.

Tip: Skip the queue—CHF 28 adult, CHF 18 child online. Walk-up? You'll pay extra. Rainy-day lines crawl; the roof keeps you dry.

Restaurant Schuh

Swiss café and confectionery, Höheweg institution

Specialty: Forget the boxed truffles. Schuh's loose pieces are the only chocolate that counts. The Rösti—crowned with a fried egg and melted alpine cheese—runs CHF 24 and never misses. Same goes for the view. Snag a terrace table on the covered terrace facing the Höhematte if you can.

Benacus

Italian, Höheweg 4

Specialty: The tagliatelle with truffle cream (CHF 28-32) is why you'll come back. House-made pasta, properly al dente, beats most places in Italy—let alone tourist traps. Wood-fired pizzas run CHF 20-26 and arrive blistered and smoky. The room doesn't look busy from the street; inside, it's chaos. Book dinner ahead—you'll thank yourself.

El Azteca

Mexican, Jungfraustrasse (one block south of Höheweg)

Specialty: The burritos aren't half bad. Neither are the nachos. In a town that never claimed Mexican roots, this joint has turned into a refueling station for travelers who've spent too long staring at Alpine peaks. Mains CHF 18-28. The margaritas? Strong enough to explain the permanently cheerful crowd.

Café de Paris

Swiss brasserie, Höheweg 53

Specialty: The fondue here is the real deal—CHF 26-30 per person, minimum two—and the dining room doesn't scream tour bus stop, a rarity on this stretch. Raclette appears only in autumn and winter. Skip dinner crowds; lunch is your best shot.

Memories Restaurant (Victoria-Jungfrau)

Fine dining Swiss-French, Höheweg 41

Specialty: CHF 135-165 per person. That's the tariff for the tasting menu—and it's the lone serious cooking on the promenade, period. Expect lake fish, mountain herbs, cheeses aged within sight. French technique shapes every plate. Worth it? Absolutely—save it for a milestone. Jacket required. Book at least seven days ahead in summer.

Balmer's Tent Bar & Grill

Casual international, Hauptstrasse 23 (five minutes from promenade)

Specialty: CHF 16-22 at the open terrace grill buys burgers and grilled meats—cheap for Interlaken. Backpackers and hostel kids crowd the tables; the vibe stays loose while promenade places stay stiff. Pulled pork on the chalkboard? Grab it.

Casino Kursaal Bar

Skip the backpacker bars. The casino bar doesn't bother with thumping playlists—just low stools, low voices, and couples who've already seen the sunrise once. Hotel guests drift in, locals follow; everyone wants a drink they can taste. Cocktails run CHF 16-22. Summer nights stretch longer—the terrace keeps pouring until the lake goes black.

Sedate, well-dressed, unhurried

Buddy's Pub

You'll land at this English-style pub on Höheweg—count on it. Draught beers pour while sports flicker across screens. A mix of nationalities bonds over surviving Swiss prices. Loud. Unpretentious. The kitchen stays open until midnight.

Backpackers, sports fans, lively

Balmer's Herberge Bar

Since 1980, one hostel bar has ruled the backpacker trail. You'll spot it one block off Interlaken's main promenade—worth every extra step. Theme nights. Cheap drinks—by Swiss standards, anyway. That wild, instant social mixing you lose the second hotels push hostels aside.

Young, international, reliably chaotic

Hotel du Nord Terrace

Skip the crush at the big hotel bars—Höhematte terrace stays half-empty even at sunset. You'll get an unobstructed view and a server who isn't juggling 20 tables. Swiss wines by the glass? They've got plenty.

Low-key, local-leaning, civilised