Things to Do in Interlaken in January

Strap on snowshoes to venture into the silent, snow-laden forests and alpine meadows above Interlaken, where your only companions are the tracks of wildlife and the occasional soft thud of snow sliding from a pine bough. This guided adventure takes you off the beaten ski runs into a world of profound stillness, where you will hear the creak of your bindings and feel the burn in your calves as you break trail through fresh powder.

An electric-assisted bicycle lets you cover surprising ground along the nearly flat paths that trace the shores of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, passing frozen reed beds and grand waterfront estates with their gardens sleeping under frost. You will feel the cool wind on your face as you pedal past the medieval stone bulk of Schloss Oberhofen, its turrets reflected in the cold lake water, and smell the damp earth of the riverside trail.

This complete tour by vehicle and cable car delivers the well-known panoramas of the Bernese Oberland, from the glaciated might of the Jungfrau massif to the deep, snow-filled cleft of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. You will see the sheer rock walls of the Eiger's north face, hear the rumble of a distant avalanche, and step out into the thin, biting air at a high-altitude viewpoint where the world below Interlaken falls away.

This small-group journey winds by train and foot into the heart of the Jungfrau region, visiting the car-free ski village of Grindelwald located under the looming Wetterhorn, the Kleine Scheidegg pass surrounded by towering peaks, and finally the vertical cliff amphitheater of Lauterbrunnen. You will smell the distinct aroma of train brake dust and cold steel at the stations, feel the contrast between the sunny, open slopes and the deep, shadowed valley, and taste the sharp, dry air at altitude.

This guided e-bike tour follows a curated route through the postcard-perfect countryside immediately surrounding Interlaken, taking in views of the Aare River's emerald waters, traditional timbered farmhouses with snow piled on their wide eaves, and manicured parks lined with skeletal winter trees. You will hear the gentle whir of the electric motor as you climb a gentle hill to a viewpoint, see the orderly rows of dormant vineyards on the hillsides, and feel the invigorating chill as you coast down a quiet lane.

A local photographer leads you on a walk through Interlaken to uncover the angles and moments that most visitors miss: the way morning light hits the frescoes on a historic hotel, the perfect symmetry of a bridge framing a mountain, or the quiet corner of a café that captures the town's cozy winter essence. You will learn to see the play of mist on the river, the texture of old stone against fresh snow, and the compelling details that tell a deeper story of Interlaken.