Which area of Interlaken is best for families?

Matten & Wilderswil (toward the mountains) is the easiest family base: drivers and families who want quiet and a head start toward the valleys.

Where should you stay in Interlaken for a quieter trip?

Unterseen (old town) is the calmest pick: couples and value-seekers who want some charm rather than a transit-hub feel.

How many nights do you need in Interlaken?

We'd plan for 1 night, long enough to settle in, do the signature excursions without rushing, and keep an easy pace.

Do you need a car in Interlaken?

No, Interlaken is train-friendly and walkable, so most visitors base themselves centrally and travel by rail and lift.

Where to Stay

Where to stay in Interlaken

Interlaken is not alpine itself, it is the flat transport hub on the Bödeli between Lakes Thun and Brienz, and the gateway to the Jungfrau trains. The town splits around two stations, Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost, so sleep here and play in the mountains, and pick your spot by which station you will lean on and whether you want the town buzz or quiet.

🇨🇭 Swiss AlpsBernese OberlandCar-free OK

Price level

$$$

Getting there

Train-friendly

Ideal stay

1 night

Best months

May, June, July

The lay of the land

Best areas to stay in Interlaken

Where to base yourself, and who each area suits best.

First-timersCentre / HöhematteFamiliesMatten & WilderswilCouples & calmUnterseenBest valueUnterseenBest viewsCentre / Höhematte

Centre / Höhematte

The strip along the Höhematte park between West and Ost stations, with the grand hotels, shops, paragliding landing field, and both rail lines within reach.

Best for: First-timers and anyone wanting easy transport, dining, and the Jungfrau views over the meadow.

Unterseen (old town)

The historic, quieter quarter across the Aare just west of the centre, with a pretty old square, riverside walks, and better value, a short stroll from Interlaken West.

Best for: Couples and value-seekers who want some charm rather than a transit-hub feel.

Matten & Wilderswil (toward the mountains)

The residential edges just south of town toward the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys, near the Schynige Platte railway and the bus routes, calmer and often cheaper.

Best for: Drivers and families who want quiet and a head start toward the valleys.

Lakeside Bönigen & Iseltwald

On the Brienz shore just east of Ost station, on the water with boat docks and a slower pace, a few minutes out of the centre.

Best for: Lake views and quiet, easiest with a car or a short bus ride.

By budget

What each price tier buys you

A quick sense of what to expect, and what to spend, across the range in Interlaken.

Budget

Interlaken offers far more budget choice than the mountain villages, with a strong hostel scene and plenty of guesthouses, especially in Matten, Wilderswil, and out from the centre.

Our picks

Hotel De La Paix Family-run keeper on a calm street minutes from Interlaken West, with a breakfast people write home about.
Hotel Rössli Freshly renovated rooms in Unterseen's cobbled old quarter across the river, quieter than the center.

Mid-range

Plenty of three-star and business hotels cluster near both stations and along the Höhematte; pick by which station, West or Ost, you will use most.

Our picks

Hotel Interlaken The town's oldest inn, dating to the 14th century, holding the leafy quiet end of the Höheweg.
Hotel Du Nord An 1847 house right on the Höheweg with mountain views; four-star polish without the grand hotel bill.

Luxury

Grand Victorian palace hotels face the Höhematte with Jungfrau views, full spas, and old-world service, the town's genuine top tier.

Our picks

Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa Interlaken's storied grande dame, with a palatial spa and the Jungfrau framed dead center from the lawn.

Compare hotels in Interlaken

Live prices and availability for your dates.

Booking tips for Interlaken

Stay near Interlaken Ost if you will ride the Jungfrau trains a lot. That is where the lines to Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, and the Jungfraujoch depart.
It is a base, not a destination, so most travelers sleep one night and overspend nowhere. Do not pay mountain-village prices for a town room.
High summer is genuinely busy and the palace hotels and best lake-view rooms book out, so reserve a few weeks ahead at least.

Good to know

Where to stay in Interlaken, your questions

The practical questions travelers ask most when choosing a base here.

Where is the best area to stay in Interlaken?: Centre / Höhematte is the easiest first base: it suits first-timers and anyone wanting easy transport, dining, and the Jungfrau views over the meadow. Unterseen (old town) is the main alternative if you want something different.
Which area of Interlaken is best for families?: Matten & Wilderswil (toward the mountains) is the easiest family base: drivers and families who want quiet and a head start toward the valleys.
Where should you stay in Interlaken for a quieter trip?: Unterseen (old town) is the calmest pick: couples and value-seekers who want some charm rather than a transit-hub feel.
How many nights do you need in Interlaken?: We'd plan for 1 night, long enough to settle in, do the signature excursions without rushing, and keep an easy pace.
Is Interlaken expensive to stay in?: Interlaken is mid-range compared with other Alpine bases. Plenty of three-star and business hotels cluster near both stations and along the Höhematte; pick by which station, West or Ost, you will use most.
Do you need a car in Interlaken?: No, Interlaken is train-friendly and walkable, so most visitors base themselves centrally and travel by rail and lift.

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Read the full Interlaken guide Where to Stay in the Jungfrau Region: The 4 Bases Compared The Swiss Alps All Alps base towns

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