Bernese Oberland & Interlaken, switzerland
Attractions Guide

Just south of Bern is an area of outstanding natural beauty known as the Bernese Oberland (or Bernese Highlands) located along the northern edge of the Alps. The Bernese Oberland hosts many gorgeous waterfalls, lakes, mountains, castles, and much more to explore.

The most well-known city of the Bernese Oberlands is the centrally located city of Interlaken, which sits in a valley between the long Thunersee and Brienzersee Lakes. Other significant cities hosting popular attractions include Thun (on the western end of Thunersee Lake), Brienz (on the eastern end of Brienzersee Lake), and Meiringen (near Thun).

Between Thun and the neighboring town of Oberhofen you'll find three lovely castles. In the city of Thun is the majestic white 12th century Thun Castle which towers above the city. Between the cities os the quaint lakefront Schloss Hunegg that you can tour, which features a beautiful art nouveau castle and spectacular views over the lake from its elegant gardens.

The most popular of the three castles is the 13th century Oberhofen Castle in the town of Oberhofen. This castle sits on the water and features stunning intricate architecture as well as decadent interiors, along with lakeside gardens and views.

A fourth castle you might consider visiting is the Schloss Spiez, which is located across the Thunersee Lake from Oberhofen. This small medieval castle looks charming set aside the lake, but is best admired from outside in its picturesque setting.

Near the city of Interlaken along the Thunersee lake are the gorgeous St. Beatus Caves, which feature a highly photogenic structure built atop waterfalls that fall down into the lake below. Here you can take in excellent views of the surrounding scenery and tour the caves, which feature incredible indoor waterfalls and mini-lakes inside them.

From the town of Wilderswil (next to Interlaken) you can take the train up to the Schynige Platte railway station in the mountains. Up here you'll have great views over the area as well as access to hiking trails through the lush meadows. Here you can also explore the beautiful Alpengarten botanical garden.

To the south of Interlaken you'll find two great waterfalls and two great peaks of the Swiss Alps, all accessible from the village of Lauterbrunnen. From town you can view the very tall Staubbach Waterfall, with the option of hiking closer all the way to a cave behind the waterfall if you like.

On the southern outskirts of town are the Trummelbachfalle, a series of stunning gorge waterfalls you can view via a fun winding cavernous trail.

Taking the rail to the top of the massive Jungfraujoch mountain is a very popular activity in this region of Switzerland. The Jungfraujoch railway station is the highest in Europe and features stunning views of the much taller neighboring 13,600 foot (4,200 m) Jungfrau Mountain. Jungfraujoch is frequently referred to as the Top of Europe, where you can take in amazing views over glaciers and mountains from the Sphinx Observatory.

Other attractions atop Jungfraujoch include the Jungfraujoch Ice Palace, a frozen wonderland of ice sculptures within an ice cave. Among the most impressive sights that you can admire from atop Jungfraujoch is the Aletsch Glacier, which is the largest glacier in the European Alps, with a massive length of about 14 miles (23km). This glacier stretches deep into a valley on the backside of Jungfraujoch and is quite a sight to behold.

You can reach Jungfraujoch by taking the rail from the village of Wengen. Wengen can be reached quick and directly from the town of Lauterbrunnen via rail.

There's also the option of taking the gondola lifts up the opposite side of the valley to Schlithorn Peak for great views of the surrounding mountains. This mountain peak can be reached by rail from the village of Murren, which is located just south of Lauterbrunnen.

On the western side of Schlithorn and to the south of Thunersee you'll find two gorgeous lakes. These lakes include the breathtakingly clear blue Blausee, as well as the Oeschinen Lake (Oeschinensee), a beautiful deep blue lake surrounded by heavenly mountain peaks. Oeschinensee can be reached by taking the gondola lift from the town of Kandersteg and then walking 1 mile (1.6 km) each way to the lakeshore.

Once at the lake you can explore along the shore, or perhaps take a 3.7 mile (6 km) round-trip hike up to the striking Frundenschnur viewpoint overlooking the alpine lake from high above. This trail follows along the lake leading up to a cliff that towers above the other side of Oeschinensee.

Another beautiful lake you might consider visiting located quite far away along the eastern highway pass around Jungfraujoch (southeast of Brienz and Meiringen) is the Gelmersee Lake. This serene blue glacial lake is accessible via rail on the famous rollercoaster-like Gelmerbahn Funicular, which departs from Gelmerbahn station below the lake. Adjacent to the Gelmerbahn rail station you'll find the Handeckfall Suspension Bridge which spans a small canyon of the Aare River below.

If you'd like to take a scenic walk around Gelmersee you might consider the 2.7 mile (4.3 km) round-trip trail which follows along the lake's shore as well as along the dam which holds it up. From the dam you can take in views overlooking the lush valley below.

To the east of Interlaken on the other side of the Brienzersee lake you might consider exploring the Ballenberg Swiss Open-Air Museum, which portrays traditional houses and furnishings in a rural Swiss setting.

Near the lake you might also consider the short hike to view the Giessbachfalle, a series of waterfalls surrounded by lush scenery. Also in the area be sure to stop at the Lungern Viewing Point Schoenbuehel along the road just east of Brienz to take in views over Lungernersee lake.

Further east near the town of Meiringen you can take the funicular up to view the striking Reichenbachfall waterfalls.

Also near town you can hike through the stunning Aare Gorge, a river gorge with beautiful scenery along its 1.7 mile (2.8 km) round-trip path.