My husband and myself are going to be in Interlaken next month for 4 days. I've read so much about what you can do there (boat rides, hiking, trains up the mountains...etc). Can someone share an experience or give us some pointers. We both fairly active people. Thanks.
Posted by
Pearland, TX, USA
852 posts
Hi Janet,
... at the train station in Interlaken called "Interlaken-Ost" you can get a train to Grindelwald... you get great views of Eiger, Moench and Jungfrau peaks. Also, at Grindelwald you can get an excursion train all the way up to the Jungfraujoch... Gute Reise! P
Posted by
San Clemente, Ca.
408 posts
Janet,
The Ballenberg outdoor museum in Brienz is really a nice place to spend some time and walk around. We spent the morning there then took a steamer on the lake at Brienz and then the train back to Grindelwald last year. It was all covered with our Swiss pass. Check out the Swiss pass and the Jungfrau pass for great savings before you go.
Posted by
Shoreline, WA
216 posts
Ballenberg is worth more than a couple of hours - we spent almost a day exploring the different homes and park-like settings of this outdoor museum. A great place to exercise and educate yourself!
Posted by
Elk Grove, CA, USA
6898 posts
As mentioned above, the Swiss pass is great if you plan on being on some type of train, boat, bus or gondola over the 4 days. The pass will cover you completely from Interlaken into Lauterbrunnen and up to Gimmelwald, Muerren, Wengen and the train or gondola from Interlaken to Grindelwald. To go higher, the pass covers 50% of the journey. This would include the top of the Jungfrau, Kleine Scheidegg and the cog train from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald. It also includes the funiculars up to the top of the Shilthorn. The travel up to the Jungfrau and Shilthorn is quite expensive so the pass really helps.
There is also a Swiss 1/2-fare card that costs 99CHF (about $100). With this card, you get half off of all travel in Switzerland for 30 days.
Posted by
Avondale, PA, USA
35 posts
Is the Swiss pass something I should buy before I go? How do i purchase it? I will be traveling from Paris to Interlaken and then onto Austria. Will the pass cover my trip from Paris or to Austria, or any part of that trip?
Posted by
Lodi, California, USA
149 posts
Hi Janet, Here is a fun thing to do if the weather is warm enough. You can rent a raft in Thun and float down the Aare River to Bern. Many local people do this in the summer. We rafted with our teens and some friends from Bern and had a great time. Here's a website for raft rental: www.aarebootsvermietung.ch/pages/english.html
Charlie, Lodi, California
Posted by
New Paltz, NY
9110 posts
The Swiss Pass can be purchased at the railpass section of this web site.
Posted by
OP
Toronto
4 posts
Thanks everyone for the great tips. I've been looking at the Swiss Pass and it seems to be a good deal. Once we're back, I'll let you know how the trip went.
Thanks again,
Janet
Posted by
Naperville, IL, USA
296 posts
Agree 100% with what Larry/Perry stated: The pass will cover you completely from Interlaken into Lauterbrunnen and up to Gimmelwald, Muerren, Wengen and the train or gondola from Interlaken to Grindelwald. To go higher, the pass covers 50% of the journey. This would include the top of the Jungfrau, Kleine Scheidegg and the cog train from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald. It also includes the funiculars up to the top of the Shilthorn. The travel up to the Jungfrau and Shilthorn is quite expensive so the pass really helps. HAVE A BLAST. Shilthorn is heart pumping beauty.