Where to Stay in Interlaken
Your guide to the best areas and accommodation types
Best Areas to Stay
Each neighborhood has its own character. Find the one that matches your travel style.
The Höheweg is Interlaken's grand central promenade, slicing between the two train stations with the Jungfrau massif looming overhead. This strip is the town's pulse. Hotels, restaurants, adventure-tour operators, and the main shopping strip—all within a short walk. First-timers: this is your easiest, most photogenic base. When travellers ask where to stay in Interlaken, they usually mean right here.
- Five minutes flat. That's all it takes to reach either station on foot—Interlaken becomes your launch pad for Jungfrau excursions and day runs to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.
- This strip packs more restaurants, shops, and adventure tour operators into six blocks than anywhere else in the region.
- Höhematte park delivers the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau—straight up, no filter—right from the street.
- The most expensive area in Interlaken — budget travellers will find meaningfully better value elsewhere
- Can feel busy and heavily tourist-facing during peak summer and winter seasons
Interlaken Ost station anchors the eastern end of town—this is where you'll start the Jungfrau Railway and catch boats on Lake Brienz. The hotels here sit in a pocket that's slightly quieter than the central strip, yet you're still two minutes from the lake shore. The Harder Kulm funicular leaves from a base station just a short walk away; locals call it the best quick viewpoint above town and the standard answer when tourists ask how to reach Harder Kulm from Interlaken.
- Interlaken Ost station gives you direct access to Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald, and Lauterbrunnen — the gateway. Ideal. Build your interlaken itinerary around these mountains.
- Closest area to the Harder Kulm funicular base station and Lake Brienz boat piers
- Mix of price points including some of the best-regarded hostels in Switzerland
- Slightly further walk from the main Höheweg restaurant and shop strip
- The immediate vicinity of the station lacks the charm of the central promenade
Interlaken West station anchors the practical end—less glamour, more grit. This cluster handles trains toward Thun and Bern without fuss. Everyday shops and supermarkets sit within a two-minute walk, good for travellers who'd rather save francs than pose for selfies. The town's most famous backpacker institutions still squat right here.
- Interlaken's west side slashes your nightly bill. Rates drop well below central and east Interlaken—smart money for anyone staying more than one night.
- Interlaken West station hands you direct rail links—Bern, Thun, Lake Thun shore towns.
- Home to Balmer's Hostel — one of the most storied backpacker hubs in Switzerland
- Least scenic of the main areas — more functional than atmospheric
- You'll hoof it 10–15 minutes—or hop the train for two stops—to reach the Höhematte, central Höheweg, and every tour operator.
Cross the Aare river and you’re in Unterseen—Interlaken’s historic old town, the only neighbourhood that still feels Swiss. Cobbled lanes, a medieval church, an old tower: five minutes from the tourist scrum yet a world apart. Small guesthouses, B&Bs, family-run hotels dominate. They’re often meaningfully cheaper than equivalent central options. A refuge. You’ll see what Interlaken looked like before the adventure-tourism boom.
- Interlaken's most characterful neighbourhood—photogenic, lived-in, real. The historic old-town feel here is genuine, something the main tourist strip simply doesn't have.
- Quieter. Calmer. That is the whole story—for light sleepers who've had enough of backpacker nightlife, this is gold.
- You'll pay less—every time—for a room that matches what you'd get downtown. Same quality, lower bill.
- You can't dodge the walk. Cross the Aare bridge—then you're on the main Höheweg, both train stations, and most tour operators.
- Don't expect dinner on your doorstep. The neighbourhood itself offers very few dining options—you'll head into central town for most meals.
Find Hotels in Interlaken
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Accommodation Types
From budget-friendly hostels to luxury hotels, here's what's available.
Interlaken keeps its luxury hotels scarce—just a handful line the Höheweg, all relics of the 19th-century Alpine gold rush. Expect full spas, several restaurants, and concierge desks that'll book your Jungfrau trip or sort any adrenaline fix. The town limits supply on purpose; size stays small, luxury stays exclusive.
Best for: Honeymooners, special-occasion travellers, and those chasing a classic Swiss grand-hotel experience
Interlaken's hotels form its backbone. Three- or four-star properties line the Höheweg—you'll find them within a few minutes' walk of it. Each offers private en-suite rooms, breakfast options, and staff who've mastered adventure and Jungfrau itineraries. Quality runs high by Swiss standards. These hotels deliver the best value proposition for most independent travellers.
Best for: Couples, families, and solo travellers who want a private room that feels good—without paying the luxury markup.
Excellent hostels, right here. Interlaken hosts the most celebrated ones in Switzerland—Balmer's Hostel and Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof lead the pack. You've got options. Party hubs. Quiet, design-led spots. Private rooms if you need them. The hostel scene isn't new—it's been building since Interlaken cemented itself as Europe's premier backpacker base.
Best for: Solo travellers, backpackers, budget visitors—they meet others like them everywhere.
Skip the big-box chains. Unterseen and the residential edges of Matten are stuffed with family-run spots that punch way above their price. Fewer rooms, zero corporate gloss, and rates that undercut the main hotels—often by 20-30 CHF a night. You’ll wake up to breakfast that is Swiss: crusty bread still warm, alpine cheese sliced that morning, and cold cuts that’ll power you up the trail faster than any hotel buffet.
Best for: Couples, repeat visitors, and travellers who'd rather skip the hotel circus for something quieter—these are the people who'll book the same guesthouse twice.
A limited but useful segment in Interlaken—found mainly on Airbnb and Booking.com. Families or groups staying several nights will get the most value. They'll cook their own meals. Eating out in Switzerland drains wallets fast. A kitchen slashes the total trip cost. This matters most for multi-day Interlaken itinerary stays.
Best for: Families, groups, and budget-conscious travellers staying three or more nights
Booking Tips
Insider advice to help you find the best accommodation.
Interlaken hotels run out fast. The town is small and the stock is finite. July and August—gone. Christmas–New Year—gone. Major event weekends like the Greenfield Festival in June—booked months ahead. Fixed dates? Lock in your bed before you lock in your flight.
Interlaken Ost is where nearly every Jungfrau excursion launches—plus all day trips to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. If you're here for the peaks—and most people are—sleeping near Ost skips the daily trudge or the extra train hop. Arrive from Bern or Thun and want Lake Thun on your doorstep? Then base yourself at the West end.
Interlaken hotels often throw breakfast in. Those that don't look cheaper—until you pay CHF 18–25 for a Swiss hotel breakfast. That spread is excellent. Filling. Worth every franc before a mountain day. Always compare the total cost, not the headline rack rate.
Interlaken's hotels hand you a Jungfrau Region Guest Card at check-in—no request needed. The card slashes prices on buses, boats, and select mountain railways. Ask when you book. After several days, those discounts eat a real chunk of your transport bill.
Skip the booking sites. Unterseen's smaller guesthouses and Matten's family-run hotels often slash prices on their own sites—or when you email directly. A two-line message asking about availability and direct rates takes 30 seconds. Do it. Three nights or more? You'll save real money.
When to Book
Timing matters for both price and availability.
July and August? Lock in beds 2–3 months early. Christmas to New Year and the February school ski-holiday week demand 3–4 months—no exceptions. The best hostels and most popular mid-range properties vanish as fast as luxury hotels during these windows. Late booking isn't safe at any tier.
Three to six weeks. That's all you need. May–June and September–October give you breathing room—no six-month scramble. Popular properties still jam up on weekends, sure, but the rest of the week stays open. This is Interlaken at its sharpest. Weather holds steady. Prices drop. Queues for Jungfraujoch shrink to a whisper. Every summer activity runs at full tilt, no cutbacks.
November to early December and most of March–April outside school holidays deliver the easiest booking conditions and the year's lowest rates. Some smaller properties and hostels cut capacity or shut in November—always confirm availability before locking in your accommodation.
Weekend slots vanish fast. For a destination this small and this globally popular, earlier is always better. A useful working rule: if you're booking a weekend stay in peak season and it's already six weeks out, you're probably looking at limited choices.
Good to Know
Local customs and practical information.