Free Things to Do in Interlaken
The best experiences that won't cost a thing
Free Attractions
Must-see spots that don't cost a penny.
Höheweg Promenade Free
One mile of gardens, horse chestnut trees, and uninterrupted Jungfrau views links Interlaken West to Interlaken Ost. On clear days the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau line up like a postcard from end to end, this is the town's social spine. Walk it slowly, then do it again. Morning light throws one mood, evening throws another. Same mile, different story.
Harder Kulm Summit Hike (Free Version) Free
Skip the CHF 36 return funicular to Harder Kulm. The hiking trail from Interlaken Ost to the same 1,322-metre viewpoint is completely free. Takes 1.5 hours. Same spectacular view over both lakes and the three famous peaks everyone else paid for. Arrival feels better for the effort. Trail starts near the funicular base station on the north side of the Aare.
Unterseen Old Town Free
Unterseen isn't even on most maps. Yet this medieval village sits five minutes from Interlaken West station and feels centuries away from the souvenir chaos of Höheweg. The Untere Gasse still has 17th-century timber-framed houses leaning like old friends, a church tower that begs for photos, and zero tour buses. You'll see what Swiss small-town life looks like, no filters, no crowds.
Lake Brienz Shoreline Walk Free
Lake Brienz doesn't wait for an introduction, it flares turquoise-green the instant the town ends. Glacial flour, suspended in the meltwater, paints the lake like a backlit opal. Walk east toward Ringgenberg or just drift along the shore near Interlaken Ost. The path costs nothing and delivers everything. On windless mornings the Brienzer Rothorn clones itself in that improbable water, perfect, ridiculous, impossible to sell to friends who weren't there.
Lake Thun Shoreline (West End) Free
Lake Thun's deeper blue slams against the town's western edge. Brienz's turquoise sits across the plateau, close, but not the same. The walk from Bödeli toward Neuhaus gives you the full show: Spiez glinting back at you, Niesen's pyramid cutting the sky. Locals outnumber visitors here. The pace crawls compared to the promenade.
Goldswil Castle Ruins Free
Goldswil Castle's modest ruins crown Ringgenberg village at Lake Brienz's eastern end. One stop from Interlaken Ost on the regional line, Ringgenberg train stop drops you at the base of a short steep walk. The ruins themselves aren't dramatic. But the position above the lake is exceptional. You'll likely have the place entirely to yourself. It rewards travelers who look slightly beyond the obvious.
Free Cultural Experiences
Immerse yourself in local culture without spending.
Stadtkirche Interlaken (Former Augustinian Monastery) Free
Most travelers blow right past it. The 13th-century church on the former Augustinian monastery grounds is Interlaken's oldest surviving structure. They don't stop. They're chasing paragliders and canyon swings instead. The cloister garden stays open during daylight hours. You'll find real quiet there, rare in this tourist-heavy town. Next door, Schloss Interlaken still stands. It isn't a castle anymore. Government workers fill the offices now. The building gives you the scale of what the original complex must have looked like.
Interlaken Farmers' Market Free
Tuesday and Friday mornings in summer, mark your calendar. A small market develops in the town, nothing fancy, just local produce, Bernese Oberland cheese, fresh bread, and the odd craft stall. Don't expect large aisles. This is compact, real, a decent window into everyday local life. Stock up on picnic supplies here; they're fresher and often cheaper than supermarket shelves. The cheese selection? Consistently excellent.
Casino Kursaal Park and Gardens Free
The park and gardens surrounding Casino Kursaal are free, no charge, no catch. The Victorian-era building is famous for its gaming floor, sure. But the real draw? Well-maintained grounds with direct Jungfrau views, plus that ornate 1850s main building. Examine it from the outside. Total worth it. This is the era when Interlaken became a resort destination for European aristocracy. That context explains why the town looks the way it does.
Free Outdoor Activities
Get outside and explore without spending a dime.
Rugen Forest Trails Free
Tourists march straight past the Rugen Forest. They shouldn't. The woods blanket the Bödeli plateau west of town, laced with signed walking and running tracks most visitors never notice. Under the canopy it is hushed, the footing is easy, and you are instantly clear of the Höheweg circus. Keep going and a few trails punch through to Lake Thun's western shore, an 8-km loop if you want the full circuit.
Aare River Walk and Swimming Free
The Aare River connects Lakes Brienz and Thun through Interlaken, and the riverside paths on both banks offer flat, easy walking with open mountain views. In summer (roughly June through August) the clean, cold water is popular for swimming, locals wade in upstream and float down, which costs nothing and is among the more memorable outdoor experiences available in the Bernese Oberland. The current is steady and the water is remarkably clear.
Bödeli Plain Walking Routes Free
The flat Bödeli plateau between the two lakes hides a web of signed footpaths, one leads straight through working farmland to Matten bei Interlaken. Walk it. Even on foot, the loop from Interlaken West toward Neuhaus beach and back clocks in under two hours and hands you the whole landscape in one sweep. Jungfrau views from the open fields beat the promenade hands-down; no trees, no buildings, just mountain.
Beatenbucht Lakeside Path (Lake Thun North Shore) Free
Skip Interlaken's crowds. A 10-minute train or boat ride lands you in Beatenbucht on Lake Thun's north shore. Boom, suddenly you're alone with limestone cliffs plunging into glacier-blue water. A flat lakeside path threads through woodland. Turquoise water laps right below your feet. The scenery is unexpectedly dramatic. Few visitors come here. The walk itself? Free once you've made the short journey there.
Budget-Friendly Extras
Not free, but absolutely worth the small cost.
Migros or Coop Picnic Lunch on the Höheweg ~$7-10 / CHF 6-9
Skip the café queues. Migros and Coop sit right on or beside the Höheweg, and they'll sell you everything for a proper Swiss picnic: local Emmental, a loaf of Bernese bread, fruit, plus a small beer or a carton of Swiss apple juice. Total damage: CHF 6-9 (~$7-10). Walk to any free bench with Jungfrau views, unwrap, and eat. This is, honestly, one of the better lunches you can have in the region, and it costs less than a tourist café coffee.
Local Bakery Pastry (Bäckerei) $2-4 / CHF 2-4 per item
Grab a CHF 2-4 croissant in Interlaken and you won't forget it. These bakeries, both in Interlaken and Unterseen, turn out fresh Gipfeli, Nussgipfel, and Butterzopf every morning. One bite of a properly laminated Swiss croissant on a bench facing the Alps delivers joy far above the price tag. The Unterseen shops charge a bit less and draw far fewer tourists than the main drag.
Strandbad Interlaken (Municipal Outdoor Pool) $7-9 / CHF 6-8
For CHF 6-8 (~$7-9) the outdoor lido near Interlaken Ost gives you pool access with a direct mountain backdrop. July or August heat makes the cold water, open lawn, and Jungfrau sightlines unbeatable. Local families, not tour groups, fill the place. The water is clean. The facilities are well maintained.
BLS Lake Boat Short-Hop Segment $5-9 / CHF 5-9 for a short segment
Skip the pricey circuit. The BLS boat services on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz sell single-stop tickets for CHF 5-9 depending on distance, a steal compared to the full loop. One hop from Interlaken to Neuhaus on Lake Thun or to Bönigen on Lake Brienz clocks in at roughly 20 minutes on the water. You'll see the mountains and valley from a completely different angle. Swiss Travel Pass holders ride both lakes for free.
Tips for Free Activities
Make the most of your budget-friendly adventures.
Our guide covers the best areas to stay in Interlaken for every budget.
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