Located in the southeast of the region of Bern, Interlaken ski resort is a year round resort and a popular destination for skiers because of its size, convenience and attractive low season rates. There are some superb intermediate slopes as well as beginner and advanced pistes. It is not a ski-in/ski-out town, but Interlaken has a wide range of varied attractions.
The closely-knit town of Interlaken sits between two lakes (Brienzersee and Thunersee), and is easy to get around on foot. It also has a town atmosphere with a vast choice of galleries and shops, as well as a library and museum. Additionally, its restaurants boast cosmopolitan dining. A day nursery is also on hand.
Accommodation in Interlaken is reasonably priced and there are over 60 hotels offering 4,500 beds, as well as another 1,000 beds in motels and pensions. Cafés and restaurants are wide-ranging and the casino is a big draw. Interlaken also boasts one of the highest per capita rates of nightclubs of any town in Switzerland and these, together with a good complement of bars, make for a busy après-ski.
Interlaken ski resort has 48 ski lifts, with two of the gondolas/trams operating over the entire range of the ski resort. Slopes are mainly given over to intermediate skiers, and there is a longest run of nine kilometres. The total lift capacity is 22,000 people per hour. Interlaken is also near the Jungfrau region, with its 250kms of slopes.
Away from the slopes, the beautiful parish church, with its 15th century Gothic tower, is one of the most photographed sights in the Bernese Oberland. The surrounding peaks of Jungfrau, Eiger, Mönch and Schilthorn are accessible by Europe's highest railway, and at 3,454m the Jungfraujoch is the highest vantage point in Switzerland for non-mountaineers; views from the top and en route are spectacular.
Interlaken's ski season, considered the low season, with the exception of Christmas and New Year, runs from November to April. Although Bern-Belp Airport is closer, the best way to get here is to fly into Zürich airport and transfer by direct train (or one change).
