Just do a search on Interlaken and you will find tons of advice and information on the Interlaken area. <BR> <BR>Hint: It's not really the town Interlaken that is so wonderful but the Jungfrau mountain region itself. Also search the towns of Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen. Also note that you will be there during ski season.
Danielle, I was in Interlaken this past summer and found it to be a nice quaint little town. I'm sure there is a big difference between when I was there in the middle of July as to when you will be there in December..., SKI SEASON! The Jungfrau mountain region is spectacular! There is a website for Interlaken, www.interlakentourism.ch, when you get to the site you will be able to change it to English if you need to. <BR> <BR>I'm not sure what other info I can tell you, but I'm sure the site will answer most of your questions. Have a great time.
I was disappointed in Interlaken. It was too crowded, too many cars and buses, too touristy and too far from the mountains! As Christine mentioned, it is the Interlaken area -- the Jungrau region that is gorgeous. But stay in one of the towns she mentioned: Wengen, Grindelwald, Murren is wonderful. There are no cars.
Have been there a few times, on the way to Grindelwald for skiing vacations. Interlaken is both a beautiful location in its own right and is the jumping-off point for many opportunities in the Jungfrau region. The train trip from Bern to Interlaken runs along the Thunnersee with many wonderful vistas to the surrounding mountains. In Interlaken you can switch to the Berner Oberland Bahn, affectionately known as BOB, a narrower-gauge cog railway that runs a loop up to Grindelwald, thence to Kleine Scheidegg, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen and eventually back to Interlaken (or, obviously, the reverse) with numerous stops at interesting places. <BR> <BR>From Grindelwald, you can access the mountains via the First gondola to the west, or the Mannlichen gondola to the east. Both lead to mountain inns/restaurants, hiking trails (even in winter) and the ski trails (pistes), and, of course, the scenery that most people think of when they think of Switzerland. Continuing along to Kleine Scheidegg, you can transfer to the Jungfraubahn, which drills through the Eiger (rent the Clint Eastwood movie "The Eiger Sanction" first), eventually arriving at Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe. <BR> <BR>From Lauterbrunnen, you can ride the tram or funicular to reach Murren, just about everyone's choice for the prettiest town in Switzerland, and then continue on via tram to the revolving restaurant (Piz Gloria) on top of the Schilthorn at about 10,000'. You can see that area in the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". <BR> <BR>All of this comes with great food and drink and the friendly Swiss people. I honestly can't think of anywhere else in the world I'd rather be.
Interlaken is very central for visits to the mountains for either hiking or skiing. But it is not quaint or little. It is quite a big town, very bustling. If you're looking for beautiful, I would try some of the other places mentioned above, or Kandersteg. But if you stay in those places you are a little more committed to a certain section of the Jungfrau. It's a tradeoff, but a nice one.
Interlaken is a great little town. We stayed at Hotel Weisses Kruez, which was very nice. The Bucherer watch store is the best--from purchasing a watch there to ordering by catalog and receiving items for Christmas, it was a pleasant experience. The trip up the Jungfrau was scenic and interesting.
Guest
Hi, <BR> <BR>You do not say how old you are, or how you will be traveling, but, if you are young or young at heart, check out Balmer's Herberge at <BR> <BR>http://www.balmers.ch/ <BR> <BR>I think you have to be pre-thirties to enjoy it - it's fun, but they really pack 'em in. Very clean, cheap, movies, laundry facilities, great people, fun atmosphere, you can always find a ton of people to go hiking with, etc etc etc. But they really pack 'em in - at night they clear out the tables & put down mattresses if they can't fit 'em in the rooms. <BR> <BR>I stayed there once, over 7 years ago, when I was on a backpack around Europe before going back to get another degree type trip... great fun, I would do it again in a heart beat if I were 26 again... maybe not now though.
A little bit of info on me. I am 20 and so is my friend that I am going with. We are actually going to stay at Balmers. I love busy tourist place, yes I am crazy!
And I am hopeing that there is a fun night life there. We will be staying there for about three days. Thanks for all of your replys!!
And I am hopeing that there is a fun night life there. We will be staying there for about three days. Thanks for all of your replys!!Supplemental information for 20-yr olds looking for fun night life. Take BOB to Kleine Scheidegg, head to the Tepee bar (yes, it's actually in a huge Tepee) - you won't need directions, it's not that big a place. Don't bother waiting for actual "night" - no one else does.
Visited the very beautiful Jungfrau area from Interlaken. Stayed at the Hotel du Lac, just by Lake Brienz (and the railway station). The vistas around the lake were gorgeous. Interlaken the town is a main centre for the mountains around about. Not too touristy or too many tourists in October.
i second the vote for interlaken and Balmers!!! <BR>Balmers is the best of your freshman dorm and summer camp rolled into one...if you are not young, you will hate it, if you are you will love it. <BR>ps, i am 29, was last there when 22 and am on the fence as to whether i am too old for it. but i'm not big into roughing it these days, so others may feel differently. <BR>
Hi Beth <BR>You sound like the person to talk to. Right now I am planning a trip to Switzerland to see my friend who is living there for a year. I am going Dec. 27th to Jan 15th. But In August I will be meeting my friend again, and we plan to go backpacking around Europe for about three months. Tell me about you trip. What places did you really enjoy, any you didn't you like? I would be really interested in any advice that you, or anybody else who has been on this kind of low budget trip, has to give. <BR>Thanx
