Interlaken

Interlaken has been on my top list to travel when I’m in Switzerland and this August I got a chance to go there. Interlaken is located in between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. It is sad that I didn’t get to visit Jungfraujoch, Wengen, Grindelwald, Meiringen, Lauterbrunnen that surrounded Interlaken because I only got nine hours to discover Interlaken by foot.

Wear the most comfortable shoes you have if you’re planning to walk a lot.

I would recommend you who want to do summer activities such as paragliding, skydiving, river rafting, and even bungee jumping to look at on the internet in advance and book. Check the weather as well because when I was visiting Interlaken, it was raining all day. I was quite surprised to the fact that Interlaken is very international, and what I mean is that they prepared all the multi-language menu, flyers, even the employees are speaking mandarin to make it easy for the tourists. You can say that Interlaken is pretty crowded with people around the world.

Unfortunately, I cannot recommend which accommodation to stay in, but based on location, I would recommend Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel located in the center of Interlaken and near the Casino Kursaal. It’s a five-star hotel and I’m sure it’s pretty expensive but hey it’s Switzerland, everything is expensive. Beau-Rivage Hotel and Hotel Royal St. Georges are famous hotels in Interlaken as well.

I saw plenty of watches shop which most of them are Swiss Made. Not only watches, there are various shops and even a tax-free due to popularity among the tourists. I wouldn’t recommend shopping as Interlaken has so much to offer more than just shopping. Visit Jungfrau Park, swim in the Lake Thun or Lake Brienz, rent a bike, do the extreme sports and eat cheese fondue!

My starting point was near the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel and we walked to the train station in Interlaken Ost and then we just walked and walked until we got to Heimwehfluh-Bahn, the funicular that will get you to Heimwehfluh and you can eat in Panorama Restaurant with Interlaken beneath you.

Restaurant Panorama seems like a typical old Swiss restaurant. Well, it is. The building and the interior seem outdated. However, the food is as good as the view. I ordered four courses meal from the August complete menu; Bouillon mit Backerbsen (broth soup with bouillon), Gemishchter Salat (salad), Kalbssteak an Morchelsauce Röstikroketten (veal steak with morel sauce and fried potato croquettes) and Coupe Danemark (vanilla ice cream) and a rose wine. All of those delicious dishes and the wine only for CHF 40.

I wouldn’t be satisfied if I didn’t see one of the lakes. From the Bahnhofstrasse in Interlaken West to Lake Thun by walking through Weissenaustrasse and then Seestrasse. You can go to the lake by bus but if you are down to beautiful scenery and don’t mind to walk 40-60 minutes, you can always walk. It is quite tricky to get to the lake as there is a lot of camping lot where you cannot pass by unless you are staying there. While you are still in Seestrasse, there is a little river, Lombach river, and a little path that takes you to Lake Thun. And from there, welcome to the little paradise with the bluest lake.

Next time, I will definitely go to the villages; Lauterbrunnen, Meiringen, Wengen, Jungfraujoch. Thank you to AMY, who walked with me from Interlaken to the lake and waited for me while I took 50% of blurred pictures. You’re the best!