Three days in Interlaken gives you time for the region's three big experiences: the railway to Jungfraujoch, the waterfall valley of Lauterbrunnen with the cliff-top villages above it, and the alpine meadows around Grindelwald. The golden rule is to let the weather set the order. The high viewpoints are only worth the fare when the summits are clear, so check the mountain webcams each morning and swap days as needed. This plan assumes you are staying in Interlaken and travelling by train.
Before you start
The Jungfrau region runs on trains, cable cars and boats that connect smoothly from Interlaken Ost station. Rail passes can cover or discount many of the lifts, so compare prices for your plan before you buy individual tickets. Jungfraujoch trains need a seat reservation in the busy season, and a tandem paraglide is best booked early in your stay so you have spare days if the weather cancels a flight. Everything else can usually be bought on the day.
Day one: Jungfraujoch, on the clearest morning
Take an early train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald Terminal and ride the Eiger Express tricable gondola to Eigergletscher in about fifteen minutes, beneath the north face of the Eiger. From there the Jungfrau Railway tunnels through the mountain to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres. At the top, visit the Sphinx observation deck for the view over the Aletsch Glacier, walk through the Ice Palace and step out onto the snow plateau. Allow most of a day for the round trip. Return via Kleine Scheidegg and Wengen to Lauterbrunnen for a different view on the way down, and take things slowly at altitude: the air is thin, so walk calmly and drink plenty of water.
Day two: Lauterbrunnen, Mürren and the Schilthorn
Take the train to Lauterbrunnen, a glacial valley lined with sheer cliffs and around seventy waterfalls. The 300-metre Staubbach Falls drop right beside the village, and walking the flat valley floor is free. Ride the cable car up to Grütschalp and the little railway to Mürren, or go via Stechelberg, then continue to the Schilthorn at 2,970 metres for the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant, the James Bond exhibition and a 360-degree panorama that takes in the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. On the way down, walk the easy path from Mürren to Gimmelwald, two car-free villages on a ledge high above the valley, before returning to Interlaken.
Day three: Grindelwald First, Harder Kulm or the lakes
If the weather is fine, take the train to Grindelwald and the gondola to First for the Cliff Walk, a steel walkway pinned to the rock face, and the easy walk of about an hour each way to the Bachalpsee lake, whose still water reflects the peaks. In the late afternoon, ride the funicular from Interlaken to Harder Kulm at 1,322 metres for sunset over Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and the Jungfrau from the Two Lakes Bridge. If the clouds are down, spend the day on the water instead: paddle steamers and motor ships cruise both lakes from Interlaken West and Ost, calling at lakeside villages and castles.
Where to fit paragliding
Interlaken is one of the best-known places in the world for tandem paragliding, and flights land on the Höhematte meadow in the middle of town. A flight takes about an hour and a half including transport, so slot it into whichever morning is clearest.
Evenings in Interlaken
Stroll the Höheweg promenade and the Höhematte meadow, then cross the river to Unterseen, the old town, for dinner in one of its traditional restaurants. Our eating-and-drinking guide has suggestions.
Pacing and seasons
In summer, start early to beat the crowds on the trains and at the viewpoints. In the autumn and spring shoulder seasons, some lifts close for maintenance, so check timetables before you build a day around them. In winter, Jungfraujoch, the Schilthorn and many lifts run for skiers and sightseers, but days are short and some walks are closed. Our first-timer's guide covers seasonal openings and our where-to-stay guide compares Interlaken with the villages.
If the weather turns
Mountain plans depend on clear summits, so keep a list of good bad-weather days. The St. Beatus Caves above Lake Thun and the Trümmelbach Falls inside the mountain near Lauterbrunnen are spectacular in any weather, and the Ballenberg open-air museum and the Aare Gorge near Meiringen are good choices on a cloudy day in season. A lake cruise to Thun or Brienz, an afternoon in Unterseen's old town or a fondue in a cosy restaurant also make the most of a grey day. Then swap your big mountain day to the next clear morning.
