Interlaken -- Gateway to the Mountains

Interlaken features great shopping, fine dining, nightlife, beautiful parks, and a casino -- something for everyone!! Breathtaking mountains are just a short train trip away. Shoppers can pick up souvenirs along the Bahnhofstrasse while watching paragliders land in the park. Stretch your money with a meal at the restaurants in the Migros grocery stores. Visit the Victoria Jungfrau, Interlaken's grand dame hotel, a wonderful classic dating back to the 1800s. For great views, consider a drink at the lounge atop the Metropole Hotel, the tallest building in Interlaken. Try your luck at the casino. Save time by taking steamer trips on Lake Thun to Thun to see the castle, Lake Brienz to the Ballenberg Open Air Museum (a lot like Williamsburg), as well as to enjoy mountain excursions. When the tourist crowds get to be too much, head for the mountains just a short train ride away. The nearby Lauterbrunnern Valley is the prettiest spot in the world, nestled at the base of sheer rock cliffs with a tall waterfall tumbling down the rock face. Take a cable car up to Murren and hike down to Gimmelwald, visit Trummelbach Falls, which thunder inside a mountain -- all less than an hour away.

Quick Tips:

*The journey is the destination. Relax, bring a picnic, and enjoy the trains.
*Allow more time than you think you need. Plan for rainy days.
*Before taking an expensive trip up to the Jungfrau or Schilthorn, check television monitors for good weather.
*Sometimes it's cloudy in the valley and you can burst through clouds into sunshine.
*From Zurich, consider taking the train to Thun and then a leisurely steamer trip the rest of the way to Interlaken. Sunshine beats jet lag.
*If you're spending a few days in the region, get a Swiss Pass, not a Eurail. The Swiss Pass covers many cable cars that the Eurail doesn't. Special excursions, such as the Schilthorn or Jungfrau, are extra still.
*For specialty trains, such as the Glacier Express, there's a small supplement (around ) with a Swiss Pass. You'll pay much more with a Eurail pass.
*Second-class rail is fine in Switzerland.
*Swiss Pass includes transportation on buses and steamers.
*With a free family card (must be requested with your passes), children under 16 travel free on Swiss trains.
*The tourist bureau is easy to find – it’s next to the Metropole Hotel, the tallest (and ugliest!) building in Interlaken. They are very helpful.

Best Way To Get Around:

Interlaken is a compact city, easily explored by foot. You'll definitely want your Swiss Pass, though, to explore the surrounding magnificent Bernese Oberland region. With your Swiss Pass, you'll have your choice of leisurely lake steamers, cable cars that take your breath away, steep funiculars, and trains. Remember: you can use your Swiss Pass on the bus if you want. In Switzerland, pedestrians have the right of way crossing the street. Yes, drivers will stop for you (as long as they are Swiss).

For a special occasion or a luxurious splurge, consider a stay at the Victoria Jungfrau, the grande dame of Interlaken hotels, dating back to the 1800's. This elegant and luxurious 5 star property is know for its phenomenal spa - considered by many to be the best in Switzerland. A wonderful massage to relax your muscles after a day in the mountains is the perfect way to pamper yourself.

The hotel's location is perfect, facing the large park in Interlaken. Rooms facing the Jungfrau are the most expensive; however if you have a balcony overlooking the park you can amuse yourself watching the paragliders land just steps away. In the fall, when the cows are down from the mountains, you'll also actually see cows grazing across the street in the large park.

Even the mid priced rooms are large and feel luxurious. A fresh orchid plant on the desk was a nice touch. You'll melt into their soft, comfortable beds and sleep like a baby under the puffy down comforters (a Swiss classic at most hotels).

The large, if pricey, breakfast buffet will easily carry you until dinner with just a light snack mid day. Service is refeshingly friendly and not stuffy as it often is at upscale hotels. I was welcomed warmly despite my jeans and travelers backpack.

You can spend your days in the small mountain villages above Interlaken (easily accessible by train) and still enjoy gourmet dining with 5 star service in the evening. Blue jeans by day and elegant, or casual elegant dress in the evening. Great combination! For evening dining, men would want a jacket. However, if you're not the jacket type, there are many casual restaurants right outside your door.

Whether you stay here or not, it's definitely worth a drink at one of the bars and a walk through the hotel to admire the artwork. This is a classic!

Hotel Lotschberg is truly a gem! I struck gold when I found this hotel on my first trip to Interlaken West train station. Later I learned it's a property highly recommended by Rick Steves. It's listed on the hotel board right outside the Interlaken Ost station, so if you haven't prebooked you can simply call from the hotel board.

The Hotel Lotschberg (think restored Victorian style large home) is conveniently located about a 5-7 minute walk from the train station through a lovely residential area. When you open your windows and look out, you see typical Swiss houses, not busy shops and restaurants. Above the houses, in the distance, you'll see the mountains, just waiting for you to explore!

Hotel Lotschberg is convenient to everything but with a relaxed, removed from the hussle of Interlaken, feel. A plus is the Migros grocery store on the corner not far from the hotel.

Rooms vary in size from small to large. All rooms are more than adequate in size and no different from most European style rooms. There are 19 rooms in different sizes.The larger room I stayed in last is great for a family with room for an extra bed. Traveling solo? The single room at the top of the stairs, with a good sized bed, has a mini balcony. It's a great choice when available. If you need a hairdryer or alarm clock, the front desk can accommodate you.

Susie, Fritz and their friendly staff will treat you like family. If you've been traveling a while, you'll appreciate the washer and dryer available for a reasonable cost. Internet access is one computer in their sunny breakfast room. While enjoying that last cup of coffee you can catch up on your emails. For an adrenaline rush, consider a dual hang gliding experience with Fritz.

The website is www.lotschberg.ch. This property is a good value for families, travelers on a budget, and backpackers looking for a little bit of a splurge, something above a hostel.

If you're a backpacker under 25 looking for the party scene, Balmer's is for you. However, if you actually want to get a good night's sleep, you might think about staying somewhere else. Another option is to stay somewhere more low key and spend your evenings partying and meeting people at Balmers. Everyone is welcome at the bar.

Balmers is a good walk from the train station; however the Balmers van is usually circling through and can pick you up. Also, if you check the hotel board outside the train station, you'll find you can simply call the hostel and they will pick you up.

While reservations are always a good idea in the summer, many backpackers like to travel without firm plans and Balmers usually has space. If the hostel is full, they offer accommodations in a huge tent located between Interlaken and Winderswil. Room options include: dorm style, double, triple, and quad. Dorm rates begin around 16 euros and rates do include breakfast.

If you're looking for a place to hang out and party, Balmer's Metro Bar is definitely it and even has a happy hour with special drink prices from 9pm - 10 pm every night. For your munchies, there is a bar cafe with a good selection of bar food that is fairly tasty. You can choose from onion rings, soup du jour, bruschetta, beef stew, chicken pie, or even Swiss fondue.

Balmers offers summer and winter activities, coordinated through local tour operators. Prices are on their website and are competitive. Whether you are a thrill seeker who wants to parachute, an adventurist excited to try canyoning for the first time, or the more laid back traveler who wants to take a scenic flight or just do some rafting, you can arrange it all with confidence at Balmers. Winter options, of course, include ski and snowboard packages with lifts and equipment.

So stay at Balmers; you'll meet tons of interesting people! Spend your days hiking or enjoying adventure activities in the Bernese Oberland and your nights partying at the Metro. Just don't come if you're looking for a quiet, chill atmosphere! Head to Lauterbrunnen and Valley Hostel in that case!

You certainly won't miss this property; it's the tallest building in Interlaken easily visible from the rail station or anywhere else in Interlaken for that matter since it's height dominates the Interlaken skyline.

Hotel Metropole certainly wouldn't be my first choice for lodging in Interlaken (though the rooms have great views). Nor is it necessarily my first choice for an excellent dinner out. Yet, it's the perfect place to at least go for cocktails. You see, much to the chagrin of the Swiss who favor quaint little chalet type buildings, the Hotel Metropole is an 18-story cement monstrosity built in 1978 offering incredible views of all Interlaken and the mountains surrounding the city.

What the hotel lacks in style it makes up for with the scenic panoramas you can enjoy while leisurely sipping a cocktail or two in its restaurant located up high. During the day you can entertain yourself watching parasailers as they lazily float to earth, landing in the park right by the hotel. If you dine or drink at sunset you'll be rewarded with breathtaking views as the mountains slowly change from pristine white to golden or purple.

Food is typical Swiss German and certainly isn't the best Interlaken has to offer. The view, though, is absolutely unbeatable and well worth the cost of a couple drinks.

Bonus tip: if you're looking for the tourist office, it's right next to this tall structure so you'll find it easily. Wherever you are in Interlaken, you won't be able to miss the Metropole if you look up!

For a change from the outdoor activities in the Bernese Oberland, consider a lazy day tour of Lake Thun. Steamers depart Interlaken, from the dock behind the Interlaken West station. Either your Swiss or Eurail Pass is valid for transit on Lake Thun, which is about 10 miles long.

On a sunny day you'll be rewarded with spectacular scenery: Lake Thun surrounded by rolling hills dotted with quaint Swiss chalets, and majestic mountain panoramas. p>Ferries are a wonderful form of transportation. In typical Swiss tradition, ferries are timed so you can combine train and ferry travel. Coming in from Zurich, a great way to beat jet lag is to take the train to Thun, instead of Interlaken. In Thun cross the street, and board the ferry that will be waiting for a leisurely cruise to Interlaken. Being outside in the sun on a ferry breaks up the journey and the sunshine help fights jet lag. It's a great way to begin a trip.

Lake Thun is 10 miles long. From Interlaken, it's about a 1.5-hour ferry, with stops at charming little villages along the way. If you find one that suits your fancy, just get off the ship, explore the town, enjoy a drink waterside, and catch the next ferry.

Be sure to pack a picnic lunch and snacks. You can even uncork a bottle of wine and enjoy it with your lunch. The Migros grocery store across from the train station has everything you need for a delicious picnic. Bread, cheese, chocolate, pastries, and you'll be set!

Thun, with 40,000 inhabitants, is worth a few hours. You'll enjoy a marvelous well-preserved old town featuring cobblestone streets and buildings that date back to the Middle Ages. One of the highlights is Schloss Thun, a castle built in 1200 featuring a historical museum with five floors of exhibits. Schloss Thun is located on the lake, up a hill, with wonderful views in all directions.

Another interesting stop is Oberhofen with its 13th-century castle right next to the boat dock. Schloss Oberhofen hosts a collection of artifacts documenting life in the Bernese Oberlands from the 16th to 19th century. The medieval chapel and gorgeous gardens are definitely worth a visit.

While a trip on Lake Thun is spectacular on a sunny day, it's a great way to spend a cloudy or rainy day, too. If you don't want to go up the Jungfrau only to find yourself in a gray cloud, a lazy steamer day is an excellent choice.

So, pack a picnic and prepare to relax, surrounded by some of the most magnificent scenery in Switzerland!

Interlaken is nestled between the mountains, with a lake on each side: Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Either makes a wonderful, relaxing day trip. Both Swiss Passes (highly recommended for value on mountain excursions) and Eurail passes are valid on the steamers. You can simply hop on and off at any quaint village that interests you. Pack yourself a picnic luncheon and make a day of it!!

A great way to arrive in Interlaken from Zurich is to take a train to Thun, instead of Interlaken, walk across the street, catch a ferry (timed perfectly to leave about 10 minutes after your train arrives) and arrive in Interlaken via a leisurely steamer from Thun. On a sunny day, sitting on the day, sun on your face, marveling at the mountain panorama in front of you, is the perfect way to beat jet lag! If you want to explore the castle in Thun, you can leave your bags (if you've packed light) in a locker at the train station, explore the town and the castle, and simply catch a steamer a couple hours later. Thus is at the north end of the lake and is quieter and less touristy.

Another stop on Lake Thun is Schloss Oberhofen, a castle dating back to the 13th century. Again, if you want, you can get off the steamer, explore a bit, and catch the next one that comes by.

Lake Brienz is the small of the two lakes. Brienz, a small woodcarving community, is located at the small end of the lake. You can watch woodworkers and buy hand made souvenirs.Accessible by post bus (Swiss pass valid) from the Brienz station is the Ballenberg Open Air Museum, a wonderful open-air museum a lot like Williamsburg where you can observe traditional Swiss craftsmen working, see traditional Swiss houses, etc. It's another great sunny day excursion. You can either eat in one of the restaurants or pack a picnic.

Since Interlaken is rather large and definitely a tourist center, you'll find many dining options to suit any budgets. Besides traditional Swiss cuisine, you'll find everything from McDonald’s (yes, they are everywhere these days!!) to Italian to Chinese to Mexican.

Be sure, though, to experience typical Swiss cuisine. Rosti, a hash brown potato type of peasant dish, is wonderful and there are many variations. If you have a rosti at lunch, you'll just need a light dinner. Typically, rosti is a roasted, grated potato dish that is finished off in the oven. Some think of it as a Swiss potato pancake. Like many traditional Swiss dishes, it was probably developed to fuel farmers who worked hard in the fields all day. You can get your rosti just plain, topped with vegetables, cheese, or many other variations. My favorite is topped with raclette cheese.

That leads into another typical Swiss peasant dish that is much better than it sounds. Raclette is a typical dish found in most Swiss restaurants. Raclette is a special kind of cheese that is either served to you as a portion of melted cheese, with small new potatoes and gherkins, or you'll be given a small raclette grill, which holds a hunk of cheese that melts against the heat source. You scrape the cheese off as it melts and eat it with the potatoes and gherkins. It's wonderful! Of course, the Swiss classic -- Swiss fondue: a cheese fondue served with bread -- is found everywhere.

Don't be put off by the commercial look and feel of downtown Interlaken. Yes, Interlaken is tourism at its finest and its worst. Fine shopping options include gorgeous gold jewelry, expensive, but well made Swiss watches and cuckoo clocks, and fine Swiss linens and lace. Its worst include cheap plastic magnets that aren't very pretty, multitudes of cow souvenirs ranging from plastic cows to cow dishes and dishtowels, and poor plastic renditions of cuckoo clocks. Enjoy the variety, look everywhere and shop where the goods speak to you. If nothing else, with so many shops the selection is wonderful.

Celebrate Interlaken for what it offers and enjoy your shopping. One best value is, of course, Swiss army knifes. You'll find a much greater variety than in the States and pricing is somewhat better. If you're interested, look hard for the green knives; that's the one color not sold in the United States.

Swiss linens trimmed in exquisite Swiss lace are wonderful souvenirs to bring home. Remember, though, that you're buying quality and don't expect a great bargain but rather a quality product. Several shops along the main street specialize in linens and Swiss lace. Be sure to look at all before making your selection.

Another great memento to bring home are the round lace window hanging decorations. You can find everything from a great selection of Christmas motifs (Santas, angels, sleigh and reindeer, etc) to typical Swiss scenes, animals, etc. that can be left up all year.

Of course, Swiss chocolate is the ultimate Swiss souvenir! Yes, it really does taste much better than what's available in the States. It's so much creamier and the flavor is generally more intense. Remember that when you buy the prepackaged chocolates with the pretty Swiss scenes on the little chocolates, you're paying for packaging. If it's actual chocolate you want, consider saving money and enjoying a wide selection by doing your shopping at the local Coop or Migros grocery stores. Migros has its own brand of mocha flavored chocolate bars that is especially wonderful -- for about 1.80 CHF per bar.There are even some brands that have Swiss scenes on them to satisfy the tourist in you as well as the chocaholic. You'll get a lot more chocolate and can still enjoy the Swiss scene packaging.

Yes, shopping when abroad can be challenging. I'm always careful not to buy anything that I wouldn't buy if it were for sale at home. It's all too easy to get caught up in the destination and buy something you'd normally consider a waste. I find that pretty magnets for my refrigerator, depicting where I've been, and Christmas ornaments always make great mementos. Enjoy!!