Interlaken holidays

Lake Brienz is a popular spot for bathing. There are natural and manmade lidos on the shore and some have inflatable water trampolines. There's even a heated outdoor swimming pool. Burgseeli Natural Lido has a sunbathing meadow too.

Lake Thun has lots of bathing areas around the shoreline that are very popular in summer. The easiest one to get to is at Neuhaus. There's a bus there or you can walk - it takes about an hour.

Shopping in Interlaken is diverse, but for high-street buys, the Oberland Shopping Centre will be your best bet. Höheweg is also home to a range of middle-of-the-road shops, selling a variety of typically Swiss goods, including wood-carved children's toys, Swiss army knives and the most important product of all – chocolate.

It wouldn't be Switzerland without watches. The Höheweg is the main shopping street in town and is where you'll find all the prestigious jewellers and watch merchants, from Rolex and Tissot to Omega and Swarovski.

There are plenty of bars and cafés that are a bit more laid back in Interlaken. Or you can just have a stroll around the town after dinner and reflect on your day.

Partygoers will find a selection of lively bars and clubs either down south on Hauptstrasse, or to the west of Interlaken on Rosenstrasse. The locals, though, usually head over to Matten. For a more cultural atmosphere, make sure you're around for one of the various music, art and theatre festivals that take place throughout the summer, or tag along to a gig at one of the local venues.

Interlaken is said to have the widest selection of traditional and regional cuisines in the whole of Switzerland, lots of them on Marktgasse and the streets that surround the central roundabout. Try Unterseen, the old town of Interlaken, with its picturesque town square dotted with cafés and restaurants - here you'll find Restaurant Bèren, a wooden chalet-style restaurant serving classic mountain dishes. Or dine from above at the Harder Kulm Panorama restaurant with fantastic views and a wide range of culinary styles.

In a beautiful building on Marktgasse is the Café de Paris, offering traditional French cuisine with a few local twists. You can enjoy dinner outside under the canopy, or inside for a more intimate experience. Tartare de boeuf is a speciality dish here, among other brasserie-style options.

Both Interlaken East (Ost) and West have bus stations. Buses run every 30 minutes between 8am and 8pm and can take you around the town to Höheweg, to both lakes and to Unterseen and Matten. You can get free use of local buses with your guest card and your Swiss Half Fare Card that you get as part of your holiday gives you up to 50% off buses further afield too.

Ferries are available on both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. They depart around once an hour and travel to villages like Iseltwald and Oberhofen. It takes 1 hour and 20 minutes to reach the far side of Lake Brienz, so on the way you’ll be able to take in the beautiful scenery and waterfalls. Ferries on Lake Thun do not start until 11.10am.

You can catch the Niederhornbahn from Beatenberg, which takes under 20 minutes to reach the top of the Niederhorn Mountain where you might spot an ibex – a wild mountain goat.

Interlaken has two railway stations - East (Ost) and West. From these stations you can access mountains and major cities and towns. Trains that run up to the Jungfrau region depart every 30 minutes from Interlaken East, and intercity and regional trains run between 6am and 1am. There’s also a tourist train that operates around Interlaken, departing every 30 minutes from outside the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel, opposite the casino entrance. And take advantage of your Swiss Half Fare Card that you get as part of your holiday for up to 50% off Swiss train journeys during your stay.

Take a relaxed walk on the waterfront of Lake Thun or Lake Brienz, or stroll up Höheweg, which links the urban Interlaken West with the quieter Interlaken East.

Nestled in the Bernese Oberland region, Interlaken is a flat, walkable town that makes an ideal base for exploring the Jungfrau region. Strollers will love the gentle paths to Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, both of which offer stunning scenery. There are also specialised guided walks, such as the Story of Switzerland and the Food and Culture tours. Those with a head for heights should take the funicular to Harder Kulm, Interlaken’s highest peak, for breathtaking views and access to a handful of marked trails. Really keen walkers might prefer to head to Grindelwald or Wengen and use the gondolas to reach a wider range of trails – such as those to Lake Bachalp and the Panorama Trail.

Get to know the town and its surroundings with this easy route. From Interlaken Ost boat station, wander past the dock and follow the path along the river. It usually takes around 45 minutes to reach Bönigen and the shores of Lake Brienz. After spending some time enjoying the scenery, it’s up to you whether you walk back, or catch the bus or ferry.

A longer route to really stretch your legs, this one is just as gentle. From the boat station at Interlaken West, head along the Kanalpromenade – a really scenic path that will take you past the Weissenau ruins, a former moated castle, and through the Weissenau nature reserve. When you reach Neuhaus you can stop for lunch or even go for a swim or paddle to cool down. Then walk back to Interlaken along the Lombach river to Unterseen, or catch the bus or ferry instead.