Things to Do in Interlaken in August
August weather, activities, events & insider tips
High Season · Book Early
August Weather in Interlaken
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
74°F (23°C)
High Temp
56°F (13°C)
Low Temp
5.7 inches (145 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
⚠ Afternoon lightning risk above 2,000m (6,560 ft). Descend by 2pm or shelter in hut. Storms strike quickly. No exceptions.
⚠ UV exposure intensifies at altitude. Sunburn possible in 15 minutes without protection. Apply SPF 50. Reapply often.
Is August Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + August alpine lakes hit 20°C (68°F). Warm enough to swim in Lake Thun and Brienz without turning blue. Jump in. The cold shock never comes.
- + Paragliding thermals are strongest now. Flights stretch 30-45 minutes instead of the usual 15-20. You stay airborne twice as long. Book early.
- + Mountain huts keep full kitchens open through August. Hike hut-to-hut without carrying food. Just bring appetite. The rösti tastes better at altitude.
- + The Harderbahn funicular runs until 10:30pm. Winter shuts down at 7pm. Catch sunset from Harder Kulm at 8:45pm. The sky burns orange over the lake.
Considerations
- − The Jungfraujoch railway will be packed. August sees 7,000 daily visitors versus 2,000 in May. Queue early. Or skip it.
- − Afternoon thunderstorms roll in around 3pm 40% of days. Summit plans die after lunch. Start early. Be below tree line by 2pm.
- − Hotel rates jump to peak pricing. What costs CHF 180 in April hits CHF 280-320 for the same room. Same bed. Different season.
Best Activities in August
Top things to do during your visit
Lake Thun Stand-Up Paddleboarding
August lake temps hit 20°C (68°F) at the surface. Warm enough to fall in without gasping. Morning glass-off conditions (7-9am) give mirror reflections of the Eiger north face. The water is warmer than the air most August dawns. You paddle in steam rising off the lake while paragliders circle overhead like vultures.
Booking Tip: Book the night before through any Interlaken hotel reception. They'll hold boards at the lakefront near Höhematte Park. Aim for 8am start. Boat traffic chops the surface later.
Mürren Via Ferrata
The K6 Mürren-Gimmelwald route stays dry in August. Higher routes get afternoon lightning. You're clipping onto cables bolted to limestone cliffs 600m (1,970 ft) above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Think vertical hiking with consequences. The route faces southwest. Morning shade keeps the rock cool enough to touch without burning.
Booking Tip: Licensed operators provide harnesses and helmets. Book 2-3 days ahead. August slots fill fast. The via ferrata takes 3 hours. That includes the 20-minute cable car up from Stechelberg.
Interlaken Night Sledding with Fondue
August might sound wrong for sledding. They run plastic sleds on the summer bobsled track at Allmend. The 2km (1.2 mile) track drops 350m (1,150 ft) through forest lit by tiki torches. You're sledding in shorts under constellations you can't see from light-polluted cities. Finish with cheese fondue at the mountain hut where the track ends.
Booking Tip: Runs Thursday and Saturday nights only. Book by Wednesday for weekend slots. The 7pm departure gives you dusk views. 9pm is full darkness. Bring a jacket.
Schilthorn Sunrise Photography
August sunrises at 6:15am hit the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau with horizontal light. The snow turns peach-gold. The 4:40am cable car from Stechelberg means you're alone on the summit platform for 45 minutes. Tour buses arrive later. Temperature inversion common in August puts the peaks above cloud seas. You'll shoot 360° alpenglow photos that look CGI.
Booking Tip: First cable car requires advance reservation. Do it the afternoon before at the Stechelberg station. Bring layers. 5°C (41°F) on top versus 18°C (64°F) in the valley.
Lütschine River White-Water Rafting
August snowmelt from the Jungfrau region feeds the Lütschine with Class III-IV rapids. These don't exist in October. The river drops 12m (39 ft) per kilometer through the Interlaken gorge. You're paddling through chocolate-milk glacial water. Hot air balloons drift overhead. Water temp is 6°C (43°F) but they give you full wetsuits.
Booking Tip: Morning trips (9am) have higher water. Afternoon irrigation diversions reduce flow. Choose operators that include the 1km (0.6 mile) section through the Interlaken canyon. Not all do. Ask first.
Where to Stay in Interlaken in August
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for August travellers.
Public Holidays in August
Dates that affect opening hours, transport and crowds
Bundesfeier
Known in English as Swiss National Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Maria Himmelfahrt
Known in English as Assumption of the Virgin Mary. A public holiday in these regions only: CH-LU, CH-UR, CH-SZ, CH-OW, CH-NW, CH-ZG, CH-FR, CH-SO, CH-AG, CH-TI, CH-VS.
Bundesfeier
Known in English as Swiss National Day. Observed nationwide as a public holiday.
Maria Himmelfahrt
Known in English as Assumption of the Virgin Mary. A public holiday in these regions only: CH-LU, CH-UR, CH-SZ, CH-OW, CH-NW, CH-ZG, CH-FR, CH-SO, CH-AG, CH-TI, CH-VS.
Packing Checklist
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Climate-specific gear, brand recommendations, and what to leave at home.
View Interlaken Packing List →Essential Tips
Insider knowledge and common pitfalls to avoid
Insider Knowledge
The 6:13am train to Lauterbrunnen is filled with cleaners and hotel staff. It's half-empty compared to the 7:13am tourist train. You get the same early-mountain advantage. Quieter too.
August 15 is Swiss National Day (observed). Everything closes except tourist attractions. Fireworks over Lake Thun from Höhematte are better than Geneva's. Bring a jacket. The show starts late.
Coop supermarket at Interlaken West station marks down sandwiches after 6pm. Good for next-day hiking lunches. Stock up. Save francs.
The free 'Guest Card' from your hotel gives you 10% off cable cars after 3pm. August's afternoon storms make this the smart time to go up anyway. Double win.
Avoid These Mistakes
Booking Jungfraujoch for midday. Go before 9am or after 4pm to avoid the 2-hour queue at the top station. Midday crowds crush. Early or late wins.
Wearing cotton t-shirts hiking. August humidity hits 70%. You'll be soaked with sweat AND rain by lunchtime. Cotton kills. Avoid it.
Planning outdoor activities after 2pm. Lightning risk peaks 3-5pm when storms build over the peaks. The mountains don't care. You lose.
Ignoring the 'last cable car down' times. August evenings stretch late but some routes stop at 5:30pm. Stranded hikers sleep in huts. Or worse.
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