Things to Do in Interlaken Ost (East)

Interlaken Ost feels like the engine room of a beautiful machine, a place where the practical business of getting into the mountains happens. You hear the low, rhythmic hum of a train pulling into the station, the sharp hiss of air brakes, and the echoing clatter of hiking poles being gathered. The air carries the crisp, mineral scent of the Aare River, which flows a startling turquoise green just a few steps from the platform, and you can often feel the cool downdraft from the surrounding peaks. It lacks the ornate hotel facades of the west end, trading them for functional travel agencies and shops selling last-minute sunscreen and maps. This is the Interlaken where journeys begin, where you'll see backpacks lined up on benches and overhear conversations in a dozen languages about train schedules to Jungfraujoch or the best path up the Schynige Platte. Interlaken Ost has a no-nonsense charm, a sense of purpose that comes from being the primary way into the high Alps, and it's this constant, forward-moving energy that defines its character. People don't come to linger here for its own sake, but you'll almost certainly pass through, feeling the palpable buzz of anticipation from fellow travelers about to head up into the clouds.

Interlaken Ost is the central transport nexus. From here, you board the trains for the Jungfrau region, including the famous journeys to Grindelwald and Wengen. The local bus network radiates from the station forecourt, with regular services to Interlaken West and the outlying villages. Fares for mountain railways are a splurge. But the local buses within Interlaken are relatively budget-friendly. A key tip is to always check the electronic departure boards inside the station hall for platform numbers, as they can change, and to validate any paper tickets at the small, orange machines before boarding.