The Youth Hostel Interlaken stands at Untere Bönigstrasse 3A, beside the Interlaken Ost station and the river, and it is the best-placed budget bed in the region for anyone heading into the mountains. It has about sixty rooms and beds in many layouts: single and double rooms with private bathrooms, doubles with a balcony and a mountain view, family rooms for four with bunks, and shared dormitories for four or six people, some with their own bathroom. A free breakfast buffet is included in the rate. Restaurant 3a serves international dishes at lunch and dinner, and there is a terrace, a games room with a pool table, a library, laundry facilities, bike rental, luggage storage and free Wi-Fi in the rooms. The building holds a fair-stay sustainability certification. The station is a minute or two away on foot, and the ferry terminal on Lake Brienz about two.
Location and getting around
Trains for Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and the Jungfraujoch leave from Ost station, so you can be on a platform within minutes of leaving your room. The Höhematte meadow is about six minutes away, the casino eleven and the Höheweg promenade fourteen. The lake boats leave from the ferry terminal close by. Limited self parking is available for a daily fee, and bicycles can be rented at the hostel, which suits riders heading along the lake. Restaurants and bakeries are a few minutes on foot.
Rooms and facilities
Private rooms are simple and clean, and the balcony rooms add a mountain view. Dormitory beds are the cheapest option in the region, and the four-bed room with its own bathroom is a step up for those who want some privacy. Dogs are accepted for a nightly fee. Check-in runs into the evening and check-out is early, at ten in the morning, so plan your departure. Free cancellation is offered on some rates but not all. Ask what bedding and towels your rate includes when you book.
Who it suits
Backpackers, solo travellers, groups of friends, families on a tight budget and active visitors who plan to be out from morning to night. It is lively in summer, with a mix of ages and nationalities, and it is one of the few places in Interlaken where you can eat breakfast and dinner without leaving the building.
It will not suit anyone who wants a quiet, luxurious room. Dorm guests should bring earplugs and a padlock for the lockers, and families should ask which room types take children. Book early for summer weekends, when the cheapest beds are the first to sell out.
Why stay here
- ✓Private rooms and dorm beds
- ✓Free breakfast buffet
- ✓Restaurant 3a
- ✓Terrace and games room
- ✓Free Wi-Fi in rooms
- ✓Laundry facilities
- ✓Bike rental
- ✓Luggage storage
Good questions
How close is the Youth Hostel to Interlaken Ost station?+
About a minute or two on foot, and the Lake Brienz ferry terminal is around two minutes away.
Is breakfast included at the Youth Hostel Interlaken?+
A free breakfast buffet is part of the stay, but confirm that your rate includes it when you book.
Can families stay?+
Yes. There are family rooms for four, and private rooms with their own bathrooms. Check room types and age rules when you book.
