Interlaken is a tourist town in Central Switzerland, in the region of the Bernese Oberland. It is located between two magnicent lakes, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, surrounded by towering mountains.
It’s a great place to base yourself on a family holiday in Switzerland due to its location near many famous mountain attractions, including Grindelwald, Sychnige Platte, and Lauterbrunnen Valley. It’s also a great base if you don’t have a car, as it is a transport hub and connects many of the must-see destinations by rail and bus.
We always normally base ourselves near Interlaken when we come to Switzerland, staying at Camping Manor Farm, on the shore of Lake Thun.
If you are staying in Interlaken, here are the top things we love to do with the kids.
Spend time on the Lakes
The kids love to spend time in the water, and each of the two lakes near to Interlaken have their own unique look and feel. We love both the lakes and, more often than not, spend a day at each when we are here.
Lake Thun (Thunersee)
Lake Thun has a more opened up feel than Lake Brienz, with a wonderful scenic road that hugs the lake and climbs up along the cliff side, and through the mountain on the eastern side of the Lake.
There are plenty of swimming spots with places to park up, and often, there is a little play area, barbecue area, and refreshments kiosk in these spots as well. The waters are cool and clear and on a hot day they are very popular with lots of families coming to swim in the waters. Just bring your towel and pull up anywhere that looks inviting!
There are also plenty of little cafes and restaurants dotted along this side of the lake, which we enjoy trying out, all with an inviting view of the beautiful mountains and Lake.
There are 5 castles located around the shore of Lake Thun, which can be visited if you are looking for trips nearby. Although we have not visited them yet, they all seem to offer children’s trails and outdoor playgrounds. Read more about the castles of Lake Thun and their facilities. A good choice if you are looking for something a bit different, perhaps.
Lake Brienz (Brienzersee)
Lake Brienz is the larger of the two lakes, and is long and narrow with mountains towering above on both sides, making it feel quite fjord like. It’s very pretty with its turquoise waters and imposing mountains.
There is a lovely promenade along the Lakeside here, complete with deckchairs, and several play zones dotted along the way, including a water play zone.
There are steps leading down to the lake from the promenade to access the water for swimming, but be careful as it is instantly deep.
You can also rent kayaks in Brienz and choose either a family tour on the lake or an independent rental and just get out on the lake and have some fun!
There are some lovely cafes located near to the lake and we often visit one for lunch when we are here.
The Neiderhorn
The Neiderhorn is a mountain peak and view point that looks out over Lake Thun and Interlaken. You can get the funicular train and then cable car to reach the top of the Neiderhorn from Beatenberg on the lakeside. The views of course offer uninterrupted and panoramic mountain vistas, and there are also short and long hiking trails with information boards and a cafe/ restaurant up here, as well as a small playground and an obstacle course. There is a short walk to the viewpoint along the ridge (there is a fence here making it safe for children). A good choice to get a birds eye view of the bernese alps and only a stones throw from Interlaken. Extend the day by combining with a trip to St Beatus Caves (below) as they are only a 5 minute drive along the same lakeside road.
Beatus Caves
This series of caves and waterfalls is located right on the edge of Lake Thun; when doing a lap of the lake by road, you drive straight past it. There are views, a dragon themed play area, and a walking trail that takes you through the underground creek, hidden pools, and thundering waterfalls. It’s a nice day out on Lake Thun with some pretty impressive waterfalls. Combine with a trip to Neiderhorn (above) the car park for Neiderhorn is a 5 min drive away on the same lakeside road.
Harder Klum
From the centre of Interlaken town, you can get the cable car up to Harder Klum, the mountain viewpoint overlooking Interlaken and the Lakes.
There is also a viewing platform with a glass bottom that jutts out into the abyss!
Like lots of mountain viewpoints, there is a cafe/ restaurant and play area up here. This is a great choice if you don’t have access to your own car or you are doing a quick stop off visit. You can get the cable car right from the centre of town, get to enjoy the views from the mountain peak, and then be back on your way.
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