Best base for 3 days: Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen ?

We stayed in Lauterbrunnen. From there you can walk the valley and see the waterfalls, and you can easily go to Murren and Wengen and Grindelwald. We did have to go down valley towards Interlaken to Wilderswil get the cog train to Schynige Platte.

Watch some vlogs and read up on Interlaken, you'll soon discover it is less than beloved. It's considered a convenient place to sleep at night, and to not be there otherwise.

My favorite story is that there was a business dispute so a landowner put up a Hooters right outside a property he was not allowed to purchase.

I would stay in Murren or Wengen because the views are beautiful and it doesn’t take that long to get from one point to another in that area.

Last time we stayed in Interlaken was 1996 😂 but it felt very touristy and at the same time very overpriced. There was a snafu with our hotel reservation and we had to find an alternate the first night, which turned out to be away from the main drag, quaint with a lovely view. When we moved to our original hotel the next night (closer to the centre) it was a step up in price and a step down in atmosphere (felt like a modern college dormitory room). If we return I think we'll consider Lauterbrunnen or elsewhere nearby.

Lauterbrunnen or Murren. I would not stay in Interlaken.

We stayed in the gorgeous Lauterbrunnen valley where it was quick and easy to get anywhere in BO. I would only stay in Interlaken if I didn't plan on seeing BO.

Thank you… All of you, for chiming in on the opinions and suggestions. :-).

I spent 4 nights in the area last fall and struggled with the same question. I finally picked the Hotel Interlaken in Interlaken and was very happy with my choice. The BO is gorgeous, no question. Interlaken gets little love in the RS world, but it's very pleasantly situated in a valley along a river between 2 lakes. Very easy train access, a short and pretty train ride to the BO, a great grocery store with takeout items. (But then, I like Avignon over Arles, and thought Killarney was fun, so I'm probably in the minority here 😅) Switzerland is great, have fun!

I had some great experiences in Interlaken in 2022 and agree with Pippin. As a hub to several valleys it is convenient. In 2025 we stayed in Grindelwald. Once off the main street it was quiet and closer to the mountains. It is the price of lodging that has turned me away from Interlaken. It is not right that you can stay in better places in both Grindelwald and Zermatt than Interlaken.

Claire,

Definitely stay in Lauterbrunnen, Mürren or Wengen and enjoy the fantastic scenery and other attractions of that area. That will also put you closer to many of the sights in that area, such as the Schilthorn and the Jungfrau.

Thanks all!!

If you do end up in Interlaken, the Hotel du Nord was a great stay for us last time. Close to both Interlaken train stations, and a bus runs just a block up from the hotel. It's on the corner of the park, so you can watch the paragliders land, and there are beautiful sunsets on that side.