Staying in Interlaken was wonderful! During our route through Switzerland this was a favorite stay. The city is located in the middle of lakes Thun and Brienz. It’s magic! So Sleeping in Interlaken is a great option to get to know the Bernese Alps area. There are many excursions in Interlaken, so it is very important to choose your base of operations well. These are the best areas and hotels to stay in Interlaken. Furthermore, we leave you 25 cool things to do in Interlaken and its surroundings.
Our hotel in Interlaken
Contents of this article
WHERE TO STAY IN INTERLAKEN: BEST AREAS AND HOTELS
If you plan to go to Interlaken we recommend you sleep a minimum of four nights to know the most important attractions. Although if you have more time, you will surely not lack things to see. Everything is beautiful! Furthermore, you must consider that In Interlaken most of the attractions are excursions to mountains and lakes, so you will need time to recover after so many walks. Your itinerary better not be so tight in this city.
The first thing you should know before finding the ideal hotel to stay in Interlaken is that the city has two seasons: the east and the west. But why are they so important? In Interlaken You are going to do many excursions. The city is beautiful but the best is in its surroundings and It is essential to take a thousand trains to discover it.
1. Interlaken Ost (East), the most practical area to sleep in Interlaken
The east station is the most important and where you will surely have to go to catch most of the trains.. So we believe that its surroundings are the most practical area to stay in Interlaken. To give you a reference, to go to the Jungfraujoch, Schynige Platte or Brienz you will have to exit through this station. In Swiss They always go very early, you will surely have to get up early. And if you can squeeze in a few more minutes in bed by sleeping near the station, it is always appreciated.
The disadvantage of sleeping here is that The hotel offer around the station is quite limited.. Although staying in Interlaken is expensive, you will find options for all budgets: from luxurious hotels to comfortable hostels.
Anyway, if you can’t sleep as close to the station as possible, If you stay halfway between the two it won’t be a problem either.. In fact that’s what we did! To go from one to the other it will only take 20 minutes on foot.
Best accommodations near Interlaken Ost:
Interlaken Ost is the best area to stay in Interlaken because…
✅ It is close to the east train station, which takes you to the most important excursions
✅ It is relatively close to the center of Interlaken
❌ The hotel offer is very limited
2. Interlaken West, one of the best areas to stay in Interlaken
As we have said, between one station and the other there is not a huge distance. Even so, this is the area that is closest to the pure center of Interlaken. So the hotel offer is greater around the west station. It’s good news! In addition, you will find more shops, supermarkets and restaurants. This was the area that we chose and we ended up very happy.
Interlaken West is also a very important station. Especially because it will connect you with Thun, its lake and surroundings, the beautiful Kandersteg lakes and many more places. You will probably use it less, but sleeping nearby is also a good plan. The plus point of this area is that it is cheaper than staying in Interlaken Ost.
Our recommendations in Interlaken West:
Interlaken West is the best area to stay in Interlaken if…
✅ You want to be closer to the center of Interlaken
✅ You need to be close to shops, restaurants, supermarkets
❌ It is far from the eastern train station, which will take you to the best excursions
3. Lauterbrunnen, a magical place to explore the Jungfrau
The Jungfrau is one of the most famous and beautiful mountain ranges in Switzerland. And also the highest peak, so you won’t lose sight of it! Sleeping in Interlaken is a great option to explore it well. But if you stay one night in Lauterbrunnen it’s even better!
It is a small town located at the foot of the Jungfrau and it is pure magic. Beautiful meadows full of wooden houses, imposing waterfalls falling from the mountainsides and surrounded by snow-capped peaks. It looks like a movie set!
The train you must take to go up to the Jungfraujoch passes through Lauterbrunnen. Although you can also go via Grindelwald. So, if you sleep in this town you will avoid getting up so early, you will enjoy a beautiful sunset and sunrise in Lauterbrunnen.
It is a small town with barely 2,500 inhabitants and yet it is very touristy. because everyone passes through there to climb the Jungfraujoch. The bad news is that there is not much hotel offer. But at the same time it makes the town not as saturated and bustling as Interlaken. At night there is a calm and magical atmosphere.
If you want to explore the Bernese Oberland it is much better to stay in Interlaken. But if you are looking for a different experience, spending a night in Lauterbrunnen will be unforgettable.
Visit Jungfraujoch from Interlaken
Good accommodations in Lauterbrunnen:
Lauterbrunnen is the best area to stay in Interlaken because…
✅ It is closer to visit the Jungfraujoch
✅ It is a super quiet town and not at all bustling
❌ Not suitable if you are interested in visiting the Bernese Oberland
4. Unterseen, an economical alternative to sleep in Interlaken
Unterseen is also a good alternative where to stay in Interlaken. Although it may seem like the same city, it is not. Unterseen is located northwest of Interlaken and is really pretty. The main advantage of sleeping in Unterseen is the prices.
Although the offer is more limited, accommodations are cheaper. Plus, it only takes about 10 minutes on foot to get to Interlaken. Another advantage is that Unterseen is very close to Interlaken West Station. Then, It is also a practical and smart area to sleep in Interlaken.
Good accommodations in Unterseen:
Unterseen is the best area to stay in Interlaken for…
✅ Sleep in a super cheap hotel
✅ Be close to Interlaken West Station
❌ There is not much hotel offer
5. Bönigen and surroundings of Lake Brienz, ideal for a special stay
Interlaken is charming wherever you look at it. But If we talk about Lake Brienz and the turquoise color of its water, we are left speechless.. We dream of a house on its shores! And since this option is not so feasible, we would settle for spending a night in a hotel on the shores of the lake.
Being able to see the sunset over the lake from the terrace of one of the hotels there must be an unforgettable experience.. We experienced it from the boat and were amazed. Imagine yourself with a glass of wine and relaxing music from your room. It will be a moment to remember!
This is not the most practical area to stay in Interlaken, especially if you are interested in getting to know the city and its surroundings. So, If your priority is to see as much as possible, we only recommend spending one night there and the rest in Interlaken. Basically to be well connected by train.
If what you want is to sleep on the banks of the Brienz you have many options to choose from. The most economical is to go to Brienz and kill two birds with one stone. It’s a beautiful town! The hotel offer is wide, so the prices are better. Although if you are looking for tranquility, in Isetwald or Bönigen you will be like a king. In addition, it is relatively close to Interlaken.
The best hotels around Lake Brienz:
Bönigen is the best area to stay in Interlaken if…
✅ You want to celebrate a special occasion in an accommodation with beautiful views
✅ Are you looking for a quiet area
❌ It is not practical to get to know Interlaken and its surroundings
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE TO STAY IN INTERLAKEN
Below we answer some frequently asked questions to summarize which area is best where to stay in Interlaken. If you have any other questions, write us a comment.
What is the cheapest area to stay in Interlaken?
Unterseen is where you will find the cheapest accommodation. There is not much hotel offer in this area so it will be advisable to book in advance. It is important to clarify that Unterseen is next to Interlaken, but it is a different town, even so, You will be 10 minutes walk from Interlaken.
And if you prefer to stay within Interlaken, we recommend sleeping in Interlaken West, it is much cheaper than the east side of the city. The price difference is probably due to Interlaken Ost is best served by trains that take you to the best excursions near Interlaken. On the west side there is also a station, but with different destinations. Even so, between one train station and another it is about 20 minutes on foot.
What area do we recommend to visit the Jungfraujoch from Interlaken?
If the main reason for your visit to Interlaken is to climb the Jungfraujoch, then it will be optimal to sleep in Lauterbrunnen. It is a small and picturesque town located at the foot of the mountain. Staying here will save you from getting up very early for the excursion. The disadvantage is that there is not much hotel offer, so it will be better to reserve your room in advance. Plus, walking through this charming little town is incredible. The place looks like something out of a fairy tale!
Best area to stay in Interlaken for special stays or honeymoons?
In case you have a special occasion to celebrate during your stay in Interlaken, We recommend you spend at least one night in Bönigen, on the shores of Lake Brienz. Sunrise and sunset with this landscape is a true spectacle. The lake has a unique turquoise color that would even look fake. It’s a dream place!
In short, what is the best area to stay in Interlaken?
If we have to stay with only one area, We opted for Interlaken Westwhich in fact was where we slept during our visit. There are good prices, a wide hotel offer. Plus, you’re inside the city, there’s one train station nearby and you’re just a 20-minute walk from the other. As if that were not enough, in the surrounding area you have a variety of restaurants and shops. So staying in Interlaken West is convenient, comfortable and affordable.
LOCATION OF THE BEST AREAS AND HOTELS TO STAY IN INTERLAKEN
On this interactive map you will be able to see marked best areas and hotels to stay in Interlakenin addition to its main stations.
Source: https://lostraveleros.com/donde-alojarse-en-interlaken/
