2nd day, what to do near Lauterbrunnen when not hiking
Sunday: Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Kayaks, Harder Kulm, chocolate tour?
Dinner at Hotel Interlaken was great. We had been told that with the dinners included in the package our menu choices would be limited. This hotel's policy was that 4 people at 42CHF/person was 164 CHF divided any way we liked and if we chose to go over 164, it would be self-pay. We really appreciated this flexibility. The food was good and the restaurant was very popular and all of the tables were full. Breakfast here was also great. The only thing that was lacking was decaf coffee, but we came to find that decaf coffee just doesn't exist in the region. Funny because I buy "Swiss water process decaf" beans at home.
Boating: a lake cruise or kayaking on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz
Info about boating: https://www.myswissalps.com/activity/boat-lake-thun/
Restaurants are often located on the upper deck. This is usually the 1st class section too. In such cases, you’ll need a 1st class ticket or pass to be seated in the restaurant. Some boats have a bistro with a more limited offer snacks. Water temperature rarely gets above 68F, so it is cool on the water. Cruise Interlaken West (See) to Thun: "views of those breathtaking mountains & turquoise water for over 2 hours." "Enjoy the journey/ maybe at the beginning of the day- maybe to minimize the crowds (although at 10am, the boat was already full"
Oberhofen Castle in Spiez
People on AllTrails say the hike on the glacier was the highlight of their trip. https://www.alltrails.com/de/route/switzerland/valais/jungfraujoch-top-of-europe-monchsjochhutte
If we are looking to get out of town because of weather, Oeschinensee trail #8 is a great one https://www.curiousgoosetravel.com/post/why-you-should-visit-oeschinensee-in-switzerland
Trummelbach Falls: https://fullsuitcase.com/trummelbach-falls/ CHF 14/person (cash, don't take card) to see 10 waterfalls that carved down through 1300m of cliff rock. Can take and elevator up or down and walk the other way, or walk both ways. 37 min for 1.74 mi walk from Hotel Stubbach to Trummelbach Falls. Takes 1-1.5 hours. People say if you walk up it is less crowded and easier to see. Prepare to get wet, even if you don’t walk right up to the edge of the viewing areas. The significant sprayback leaves a constant fine mist in the air that stealthily soaks into everything It’s also a good idea to wear a rain jacket, also in summer. The temperature inside can be very cool, even during the middle of summer. We chose to walk to Trummelbach Falls from Lauterbrunnen and also back. There is a bus to get back to/from Lauterbrunnen, but it gets crowded. Trummelbach Cafe has good coffee, croissants, cheese cake, tomato soup, pasta, and sandwiches.
Stubbach Falls: You can hike behind the Stubbach waterfall for free. You will get wet and it is slippery and steep. Some people liked the behind part. Other said you get crammed onto a viewing platform with a lot of other people and you aren't really behind the waterfall, just in a part where some water sprinkles.
St Beatus Caves: is 22 min bus ride from Interlaken Ost (CHF 4.20/person), entrance CHF 19/person.
| Sunday | 9 - 18h | last admission 17.15 |
The tour takes about 60 minutes. They say it is a 20-25 min walk from the ticket shop to the caves. Some reviewers say they close at 5p. There is a restaurant on site. People say the views are great. We could consider eating here if we get here by lunch time. Someone liked the fried cheese, another a mushroom and herb pizza. There is a vegetarian pasta, Rosti, burgers, great raclette.
Hotel Interlaken - sun https://hotelinterlaken.ch/en/?sjrncid=GA_14885039693&sjrnaid=GA_594937082593&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwo6GyBhBwEiwAzQTmc90xInJDPd_Pw1Fcd3bgGNMTJXbmJkV1MQlF6nB4e7dcaj_NpHpuBhoCJ1sQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
Restaurants on Jungfraujoch: Restaurant Crystal (110 seats; Swiss and international cuisine), Restaurant Bollywood (80 seats; Indian cuisine), self-service restaurant Aletsch (150 seats)
| This is such a popular activity that if you want to be on that first train, you should book your tickets 1 to 2 days in advance. Watch the weather and keep your fingers crossed that the forecast doesn’t change, if it’s predicted to be a clear day when you reserve your tickets. To avoid the crowds, make sure you are on the first train of the day. Even then, it will still feel crowded, especially in the summer months. The visit to Jungfraujoch is nearly double what you will pay to visit Schilthorn. Yes, you get to do more once you are here, but CHF 200 is a lot to spend. Returning from Jungfraujoch: Junfraujoch to Interlaken Ost goes via Grindelwald. Then how would we get our luggage? If we go Jungfraujoch back to Lauterbrunnen, then is another CHF 59.70 and then Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost is 28 minutes CHF 3.90, gets there at 4p. |
Harder Kulm. https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/harder-kulm/harder-kulm-panorama-restaurant/ People say it can be an hour wait to get on the funicular to go up, and possibly longer to wait for the funicular to go back down. Cost is CHF 44/person, but half-fare or Berner Oberland apply. Hike is 2400 ft of elevation change over 2.7 miles (average 17% grade). Takes average of 2 hours up and 2 hours down: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/trail/switzerland/bern/interlaken-harderbahn-harder-klum?u=i
- An alpine animal park near the valley station of the Harder cable car is freely accessible at all times.
- The Kulm is reached from the valley station in Interlaken in eight minutes by the Harderbahn. From the Interlaken Ost train station, the Harderbahn station is a ten-minute walk across the Aare River.
The Harderbahn is a standing cable railway, which was inaugurated in 1908. It has the peculiarity that it does not go up in a direct path. It takes a semicircular curve on the mountain and crosses a tunnel.
The Harderbahn runs from mid-April to the end of November.
Data about the train ride:
- Bottom station at 567 m a.s.l. Interlaken
- Top station at 1,322 meters above sea level.
- Track length: 1,447 meters
- Difference in altitude: 755 meters
- Average gradient: 64%
- Travel time: 8 minutes
The railroad operates between April and November. The timetable is not consistent during this time. Between about 8am and about 9pm, the Harderbahn runs every half hour.
The viewing platform at Harder Kulm is a popular destination and can be reached quickly from Interlaken. The Zwei-Seen-Steg (two-lake footbridge) juts out pointedly in the direction of the mountains and lakes. Its shape makes it suitable for photographing in three directions. A glass panel has been incorporated into the floor of the platform, providing a downward view of a dense forest.
A visit to the Alpine Game Park can be combined with a hike or train ride to or from Harder Kulm. It is located about 200 meters from the valley station of the Harder cable car and is reached via the slightly ascending path to the left of the cable car station.
The game park features several enclosures with ibex, which are now common again in the region (especially on the Augstmatthorn). The ibex was already extinct in Switzerland in the 19th century and was bred and reintroduced in the Alpine Game Park, which opened in 1914. The enclosures are equipped with massive wooden houses and large cairns and stone slabs, the paths are paved and clean.
A marmot colony also resides in the wildlife park. The Alpine Wildlife Park is open daily and free of charge. Admission is free, donations are gladly accepted.
Schilthorn:The Birg Thrill walk is closed or partially closed during construction, check here for details: https://schilthorn.ch/en/Infos/News Some people thing the construction is a deterrent, some people think it is fascinating: https://schilthornbahn20xx.ch/en/Infos/Videos Schilthorn: thrilling views from cable cars for the whole 30 minute ride to the top. Have brunch at Piz Gloria, the rotating restaurant. CHF 35/person |
Take 3 cable cars, Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp, Grütschalp to Murren, 13 min walk across Murren then Murren to Birg to Schilthorn via cable car. Takes one hour.
Grindelwald Toboggan:
Enjoy a fast-paced ride through lush alpine meadows on our toboggan run, which is located behind the mountain station of the cable car. The toboggan run leads about 725m down the mountain and takes you back to the start with a retreat lift. This leisure facility guarantees fun for young and old.
Please note that the toboggan run as well as the Fly-Line can only be reached by cable car or an hour's walk. You can buy your tickets directly on site and do not have to make a reservation in advance.
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