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Ideas for Switzerland

  • August 9, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 178 views
F

To the Interrail community,

I’m planning on spending around 4-5 days in Switzerland, probably using Interlaken as a base. I would appreciate any recommendations for things to do - I was planning on doing a couple of nice hikes, maybe go for a swim somewhere in nature and take a gondola up the mountains. I was thinking of visiting Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald but other suggestions would be welcome.  

I’m on a budget and do not drive so places that are fairly accessible by train would be helpful. I’m also into sustainability so would prefer to avoid lots of tourists - I realise this is harder to do during the summer!

Thanks,

Felix 

Best answer by Dagi

Not having been there myself in summer, I have the impression that Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald and few tourists, doesn’t go well together. They seem to be on the bucket list of every non European tourist.

Anyway Interlaken surely is a good base to get to (maybe) a bit less touristy and equally beautiful locations.

Along the train line Interlaken-Luzern:

  • Brienz: lake, wood carving museum, mountain railway to Brienzer Rothorn
  • Lungern: gondola to Turren, you could do the hike from Turren to Brienzer Rothorn 
  • Alpnachstad: mountain railway to Mt.  Pilatus, you can do some hikes up there and/or go down with a gondola to Lucern, if you want to.

Thun is a very nice city with lots of possibilities to take a swim in the lake

Schynige Platte: you can go up by mountain railway, and do some hiking up there 

I’m sure there is a lot of other things to do, but that’s what comes to my mind

 

5 replies

D
Full steam ahead
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  • Dagi
  • Full steam ahead
  • Answer
  • August 10, 2025

Not having been there myself in summer, I have the impression that Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald and few tourists, doesn’t go well together. They seem to be on the bucket list of every non European tourist.

Anyway Interlaken surely is a good base to get to (maybe) a bit less touristy and equally beautiful locations.

Along the train line Interlaken-Luzern:

  • Brienz: lake, wood carving museum, mountain railway to Brienzer Rothorn
  • Lungern: gondola to Turren, you could do the hike from Turren to Brienzer Rothorn 
  • Alpnachstad: mountain railway to Mt.  Pilatus, you can do some hikes up there and/or go down with a gondola to Lucern, if you want to.

Thun is a very nice city with lots of possibilities to take a swim in the lake

Schynige Platte: you can go up by mountain railway, and do some hiking up there 

I’m sure there is a lot of other things to do, but that’s what comes to my mind

 

Z
Engin-ius
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  • zagmund
  • Engin-ius
  • August 11, 2025

Look for a town or region that supplies a gaste karte (guest or visitor card) to people who stay a number of nights in the region.

This one isn’t particularly close to Interlaken, but it’s just to give you an idea of what you can get - https://www.engadintourismus.ch/fileadmin/user_upload/dokumente/publikationen/LOW_SOMMER_OEV__Ga___e__steInfo_Flyer_DE_EN.pdf.  We were in the region in July and used this to take local trains, buses, cable cars, funiculars, and even a chair lift.

Many gaste kartes also include other local services such as free access to public swimming and museums.

I wouldn’t base my holiday on a good gaste karte that I found, but I would certainly research what I can get for free once I have identified the region I want to go to.  Some of the lifts can cost €30, €40 or more per trip so you can save a lot of money with these cards.

Nieke
Full steam ahead
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  • Nieke
  • Full steam ahead
  • August 22, 2025

Depending on how long you would like to travel on a day:

 

Zurich (2hours)

  • Chines Garden (free), it lays inside a park.
  • Botanic Garden (free)
  • Old city

 

Lucerne (2hours)

  • Chapelbridge, very touristic but nice to see.
  • Old city with great lookout point (Schirmertorweg area) 

 

St. Beatus caves (25min busride from Interlaken Ost)

  • The garden/waterfall outside the cave already looks amazing to see
  • Caves ticket CHF20 

 

Harder Kulm (1,5hour walk / or 20min trolley)

  • startpoint is Interlaken station, nice walk to a look-out point
  • Harderbahn takes you up the hill in 20 minutes
  •  

Valley vieuw point in Lauterbrunnen (for some touristic views)

  • Nice hiking area
  •  

Interlaken Ost - Montreux GoldenPass Express

  • This unique train will take you on a paronamic ride trough the mountains and valley.
  • https://www.gpx.swiss/en/ for prices and so

 

I could go on for ever, Switzerland is so beautiful 

 

 

Not working for Interrail, but I would iff I could.
E
Railly clever
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  • eurocity101
  • Railly clever
  • August 22, 2025

And don’t forget the stunning old town of Bern. Just a 1h train ride from Interlaken away.

I'm NOT working for Interrail/Eurail.
Nieke
M
Keeps calm and carries on
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  • Marvin Heer
  • Keeps calm and carries on
  • August 23, 2025

In case you did not know this: The ships opearated on lake Brienz, and lake Thun can be added to your interrail pass just like trains: https://benefitsportal.eurail.com/benefits/bls-lake-cruise/ 

Also regarding the golden pass express, the reservations are not mandatory just recommended(and from my experience not needed if you travel alone) . But my visits there were towards the end of summer.

Regarding Harder Kulm, you can do it as afternoon hike and take  Harderbahn for the way down, as it runs till the evening. You also get 50% off with interrail.

Nieke
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