TIME EFFICIENCY of my plan – LAUTERBRUNEN or INTERLAKEN?
 

I am planning to spend five days in the Berner Oberland, including a round trip from Zurich. I prefer to stay in Lauterbrunen. However, since the time is very short, I’ll stay in Interlaken if it is going to save me time for transportation, taking the following into consideration (* staying in Lauterbrunen):

I’ll have 3 full days and (1-2) half days in the area. I intend to:
(a) Spend 2 (or 2&1/2) days in the Jungfrau-Lauterbrunen valleys: visit the Jungfrau (Kline Schidegg), Shilthorn, 5-6 towns, waterfalls, Schynige Platte, First; (Less trips*)
(b) Spend 1 (or 1&1/2) days in the lakes area: Brienz, Ballenberg and/or Thun + towns/castles, and /or St. Beatux Hohlen, Harder Kulm, Unterseen (Extra trips*), and
(c) Transportation coming from and going to Zurich (Extra 2 trips; change train? *).

Will staying in Interlaken save me time?

Have you seen the swiss threads by PalenQ? Put "swiss" or "switzerland" in the search and perhaps info in those threads will help you decide until someone answers.

It really doesn't take long to get from Lauterbrunnen to the lakes, so I would opt for Lauterbrunnen. But in what season will you be there? However, I'm not sure about the 5 or 6 towns in the Valley. There are only villages, and not the main attraction. Regarding (b), you certainly won't fit all that into one day, but I note the "or".

We did a similar trip and stayed in Interlaken. Everyone on this board hates Interlaken and it sure can be touristy/tacky but it is VERY convenient for doing different trips. We spent several days in the mountains, but also wanted to do a day on the lake and a day in Bern and Interlaken was perfect for that. We stayed in a nice B&B/hotel close to the train station but not on the main hotel street. www.lotschberg.ch/pages/deutsch/willkommen.php The beauty of this plan is that you can plan each day depending on the weather. If it's very cloudy, which it was for us several of the days, there is not much sense going up into the mountains, so those are the days we went to Bern, etc. The hotel staff is well aware of the forecast and advises people accordingly. On the main street of town there is a webcam that shows what it looks like up in the mountains so you can judge for yourself if it's worth it that day. The days we did go into the mountains the train ride is only slightly longer than if you stayed in Lauterbrunnen. There are also more food options in various price ranges in Interlaken (Switzerland can be very expensive).

Hi Tuli,

I'm one of those who doesn't much like Interlaken -- it is touristy and tacky. For the sake of, what, 20 minutes twice a day, you can spend your entire afternoons and your morning hours in a peaceful and beautiful place.

And a note of real caution. You haven't said when you're going, but if it's in July or August, please avoid Interlaken at any cost. The town is literally lined with tour busses and throngs of the passengers -- they crowd the sidewalks and gather at every souvenir shop. It is really not a very good atmosphere.

(I personally favor one of the car-free villages that sit up IN the mountains rather than Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen. I don't like the cliffs that overhang Lauterbrunnen, but I believe I'm in the minority on that.)

Have fun!

s

I don't think it makes much difference where you say, and by the way Interlaken is not that tacky, busy is the summer but lively.
One day trip I would take (from either location )or via Lauterbrunnen to Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg up to Jungfraujog, then down the other side to Grindenwald.
Next day I would to up to St. Mirren (via Lauterbrunnen) and take cable to the top of the mountain, can't remember the name - James Bond film was filmed there.
It's a beautiful area, so take your time.

Hi again,

I know that tacky is in the eyes of the beholder -- but there is a Hooter's restaurant in Interlaken. And lots and lots of souvenir shops. And honestly one August I couldn't walk on the sidewalk because of the throngs of tourists off the busses.

In contrast, the car-free villages were serene and quiet when I went up (with my mom) for lunch. I learned my lesson!

If you want to google some of the places mentioned in the post just above, here are some better spellings:

Jungfraujoch
Grindelwald
Mürren or Muerren

And the mountain where the Bond movie was filmed is the Schilthorn.

Have fun!

s

Not everybody hates Interlaken. Considering you want to visit Brienz and Thun, it seems a good location.

> Next day I would to up to St. Mirren

That's Mürren (and no St.) as Swandav above zrote.

<i>"The beauty of this plan is that you can plan each day depending on the weather. If it's very cloudy, which it was for us several of the days, there is not much sense going up into the mountains."</i>

The same can be said for staying UP in the mountain region. If it's socked in with clouds, you can take a trip DOWN to the lakes.

Cloudy days should not discourage you. The area is truly so vast and there are so many ways to make the best of bad weather days. For instance, an early morning walk thru the Lauterbrunnen Valley can be lovely, as the mist begins to unveil the majestic cliffs above.

On those days when the sun is shining and the skies are clear, be prepared to have your breath taken away when you open your curtains in the morning. You'll be so glad you're already there!

Happy travels!

If you like souvenir shops, then I guess Interlaken is attractive. It was a waste of a day trip from Gimmelwald for us. More time in the mountains would have been time better spent.

Central Interlaken is busy and touristy and verging on tacky - but the outskirts have quiet and charming spots, e.g. Bonigen, on the shores of Lake Brienz, where I stayed a couple of years ago, which was 10 minutes by bus and c. half an hour's walk from Interlaken Ost station, yet peaceful and pretty, or Wilderswil (a similar distance).