Things to Do in Interlaken in May
May weather, activities, events & insider tips
Low Season · Budget Friendly
May Weather in Interlaken
Temperature, rainfall and humidity at a glance
65°F (18°C)
High Temp
46°F (8°C)
Low Temp
4.8 inches (122 mm)
Rainfall
70%
Humidity
Is May Right for You?
Weigh the advantages and considerations before booking
Advantages
- + Alpine meadows ignite. Purple gentians and white narcissus carpet the Lauterbrunnen Valley in a bloom you will not catch after June. Walk early. The color fades fast.
- + May delivers the year's most stable thermals. Paragliders stay airborne 20-25 minutes, almost double the 12-15 minutes you get once summer arrives. Book the morning slot.
- + Hotel rates drop 30-40% below July-August peaks, and rooms sit empty at mountain hotels like Mürren's Belle Epoque properties. Grab a balcony room.
- + Hiking trails above 1,800 m (5,900 ft) unlock mid-month, minus the July parade that turns the Eiger Trail into a subway platform. Start early, finish smiling.
- + The Jungfrau Railway rolls out vintage 1950s coaches on select mornings, a perk reserved for shoulder season. Ride up, feel the era.
Considerations
- − Weather swings hit hard. You can begin in a t-shirt at 9 AM and hunt for gloves by 3 PM when a cold front skids across the Bödeli plain. Pack layers.
- − Cogwheel trains to Jungfraujoch shut for maintenance 2-3 days per week, usually Tue-Thu, so keep a backup plan ready for those bucket-list views. Check first.
- − Many high-alpine restaurants keep doors locked until June, so your Harder Kulm visit ends with instant coffee instead of proper espresso. Bring your own flask.
Best Activities in May
Top things to do during your visit
Interlaken in May is a place of transition. The lingering chill of the valley night gives way to afternoons that feel almost summery. With average highs reaching 18 degrees Celsius, the air carries the cool freshness of snowmelt from the higher peaks, mixed with the damp, earthy scent of frequent spring rain. You will see the lush, almost electric green of the meadows in the Hasli Valley. You will hear the amplified rush of the Aare River as it channels the seasonal runoff. You will feel the occasional warm sunbeam break through the variable cloud cover. Locals are tuning up mountain bikes. They are preparing cable cars for the summer season. They are watching the snow line retreat up the faces of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. This is not the deep winter wonderland. It is not the packed summer playground. May in Interlaken has a quieter, more contemplative pace, where you can witness the landscape itself awakening. The weather is the defining character of an Interlaken visit this month. You should plan for everything. Crisp, clear mornings show the limestone faces of the mountains etched against a blue sky. Afternoons bring low clouds clinging to the pine forests and a steady, soft rain pattering on the cobblestones of Unterseen. With nearly five inches of rain typical for May, waterproof layers are as essential as a camera. This variability rewards the flexible traveler. A shrouded view at noon can become a spectacular, sunny panorama by mid-afternoon, with the light catching the last brilliant patches of snow in the high cirques. The rhythm here is set by the mountains and the sky, not by a festival calendar. Each day in Interlaken is a direct engagement with the elements.
Snowshoe Adventure in the Swiss Alps
otherA rare May opportunity to walk silently across lingering spring snowfields, with the valleys far below already turning green. You will hear only the crunch of your snowshoes. You will feel the cool, thin air at altitude, while looking across a sea of peaks that still hold their winter white.
It is a chance to experience the alpine winter's last act, with the increasing daylight and milder temperatures of May making the exertion more accessible than in deep winter.
Insider tip: The snow conditions are highly dependent on recent weather. Aim for a morning departure when the snowpack is still firm from the overnight freeze for easier walking.
This month: Snow cover at typical snowshoeing altitudes becomes more variable and patchy as May progresses, so routes may be adjusted by guides to find the best conditions.
Best of Bernese Oberland Tour from Interlaken
guided_experienceA complete introduction to the region's geography, taking you from the floor of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, where you can smell the damp moss on the cliff walls, to high passes with views over glaciers. You will see the well-known north face of the Eiger from multiple angles. You will hear the distant rumble of avalanches on warmer afternoons.
This tour efficiently connects the monumental landscapes that define the Bernese Oberland, offering context and scale that independent travel can sometimes miss.
Insider tip: Since May weather can shift rapidly, choose a tour date early in your stay to allow flexibility for a reschedule if a day dawns with very low clouds obscuring the views.
Grindelwald -Kleine Scheidegg-Lauterbrunnen Small Group Day Trip
day_tripCondenses three classic destinations into one journey, letting you feel the different atmospheres of each: the open, sunny bowl of Grindelwald, the historic, railway-era bustle of Kleine Scheidegg, and the deep, waterfall-lined trough of Lauterbrunnen. You will taste the clean, cold spray from Staubbach Falls on the breeze.
It provides a structured comparison of the distinct valleys that radiate from Interlaken, all under the same towering mountain massif.
Insider tip: On clear days in May, the morning sun illuminates the Wetterhorn peak above Grindelwald most directly, making an early start good for photography.
Scenic E Bike Tour Interlaken
adventureLets you cover more ground than walking, feeling the cool wind as you glide along the flat paths beside the turquoise Aare River or challenge yourself on the rolling hills through villages like Matten. You will smell the scent of freshly cut grass. You will hear the cheerful ringing of cowbells from pastures coming to life.
The electric assist opens up the surrounding valleys to cyclists of most abilities, making the pastoral landscapes immediately accessible from Interlaken's center.
Insider tip: The network of small roads and dedicated bike paths between Interlaken and Lake Brienz is less crowded in May than in summer, offering a more peaceful ride.
Discover Interlaken's most Photogenic Spots with a Local
otherTo learn where the soft May light falls on the historic facades of the Hotel Beau-Rivage or how to frame the distant Jungfrau through the blossoms of the Höhematte park. You will see the play of shadow and stone in the old town of Unterseen that most visitors miss.
A local guide can lead you to compositions that capture the essence of Interlaken beyond the postcard stands, tailored to the specific conditions of the day.
Insider tip: Request a tour that starts in the late afternoon. The sun sets behind the mountains relatively early in Interlaken's deep valley, creating a long, golden hour good for photography.
Alpine Dairy Farm Visit and Cheese Making Workshop
otherEngages all the senses: you will feel the warmth of the milk vat, smell the sharp, tangy aroma of aging cheese in the cellar, and taste the resulting product, its flavor shaped by the spring herbs the cows are now grazing on.
It is a hands-on immersion into a working agricultural tradition that defines the culture of the Bernese Oberland.
Insider tip: The workshop activity is indoors, making it an excellent and engaging option for one of May's predictably rainy days in Interlaken.
Where to Stay in Interlaken in May
Hand-picked hotels across price tiers for May travellers.
May Events & Festivals
What's happening during your visit
Mid May
Interlaken International Music Festival
Chamber orchestras fill the 12th-century Schlosskirche. Stone acoustics push Bach's cello suites straight into your chest. Concerts begin at 8 PM, yet locals arrive at 7 PM to claim pews still warm from afternoon sun.
Late May
Alpine Cheese Market in Wilderswil
Farmers herd cows down from mountain pastures to sell cheese aged in stone cellars since September. Bergkäse (mountain cheese) carries the flavor of wildflowers that bloomed beneath the cows. You taste May in the meadows.
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
Hotel owners in Interlaken usually cut prices 15-20% for walk-ins after 6 PM. May's low season hands you bargaining power.
The Coop supermarket at Interlaken West stays open until 9 PM, while others shut at 6:30. Stock up for dawn mountain departures.
Locals hike the Harder Ridge Trail on Wednesday evenings. Join the group at 6 PM from the Harder Kulm station for sunset without headlamps.
The best fondue hides on the Seilpark Interlaken terrace. They melt local Bergkäse over open fire, open to non-climbers after 5 PM.
Avoid These Mistakes
Avoid booking Jungfraujoch tickets more than 3 days ahead. May's maintenance closures demand flexibility to swap dates.
Never wear cotton t-shirts hiking. They stay wet for hours when a cold front slams in, while synthetics dry in 20 minutes.
Ignore wind chill and you'll shiver. That "warm" 65°F (18°C) day drops to 45°F (7°C) at 3,000 m (9,840 ft) once 30 mph (48 km/h) gusts hit. Pack layers. Always.
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