Episode 72: Discovering the hidden gems of the Interlaken Holiday Region
Is a visit to Interlaken and the Jungfrau Region part of your Swiss travel plans? For many visitors to Switzerland, the lure of the Bernese Alps and the stunning natural beauty of the area around Interlaken is hard to resist.
With mountains, lakes, glaciers, gorges and waterfalls all within easy reach, Interlaken is the gateway to the Jungfrau Region and is a fantastic place to base yourself during your visit to the area.
But Interlaken has more to offer than just its spectacular scenery, too. With adventure sports, culture, customs and traditions, historical sites and an endless list of excursion possibilities, you really can experience all of Switzerland in one place.
In previous episodes of the podcast, we’ve learnt about some of the Jungfrau Region’s famous mountain peaks – like Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn – and about Interlaken itself, so in today’s episode we’re going to explore the Interlaken Holiday Region further.
I’m joined today by Renato Julier who is here to tell us about all the wonderful things to see and do around the region’s two beautiful lakes, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. Nestled either side of Interlaken, a visit to one – or both – lakes is a must-do when you are in the region, as you’ll discover from my conversation with Renato.
[This post may contain compensated links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.]
I’d like to say a huge thanks to the folks from Switzerland Tourism for sponsoring the podcast. For loads of inspiration and tips to help you plan your Swiss vacation, visit their website, myswitzerland.com. If you need the train ride of a lifetime, you need Switzerland.
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Show Notes
In this episode you’ll learn about:
- Why Interlaken attracts so many tourists
- Things to see and do around Lake Brienz and Lake Thun
- Hidden gems around Lake Brienz
- The perfect way to spend a day around Lake Thun
- Which castles are available to explore around Interlaken
- Transport options for visiting Lake Brienz and Lake Thun
- Helpful tips about visiting the Interlaken Holidays Region
Our Guest
Renato Julier is the Director, Markets for Interlaken Tourism. His role includes promoting the Interlaken Holiday Region to markets including GCC, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Italy.
Places mentioned in this episode
>> Interlaken – the main town in the Interlaken Holiday Region is located between two lakes, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. Interlaken is a transport hub and is the gateway to the Jungfrau Region.
>> Iseltwald – an attractive village situated on the shore of Lake Brienz, Iseltwald has been featured in numerous movies and TV shows including the Korean hit “Crash Landing on You”.
>> Giessbach Falls – tumbling into Lake Brienz in fourteen stages, the spectacular falls are part of a large nature reserve. Visitors can stay overnight or dine at the historic Giessbach Hotel which is close to the falls.
>> Brienz – well known for its woodcarving heritage, Brienz is an attractive village at the opposite end of Lake Brienz to Interlaken. Popular excursions from Brienz include the Brienz Rothorn Bahn (steam train), Trauffer Exhibition and the Ballenberg Open Air Museum.
>> Thun – the largest town in the region, Thun boasts a medieval Old Town with a covered wooden bridge, and and attractive castle.
>> Spiez – situated on a bay within Lake Thun, Spiez’s list of attractions includes its castle and the vineyards that produce small quantities of delicious wine.
>> Castles – there are five castles dotted around Lake Thun, and all are worth a visit. You’ll find two castles in Thun (Schloss Schadau is now a hotel), and one in Spiez, Oberhofen and Hilterfingen.
>> Other top attractions around Lake Thun include Sigriswil, where a suspension bridge spans 340 metres across the Gummischlucht Gorge and St. Beatus Caves.
Renato also mentions the Swiss Travel Pass. You can read all about the benefits of the Swiss Travel Pass here. Click here to buy your Swiss Travel Pass.
Helpful Resources
You can hear Renato chatting about Interlaken and the many things to see and do there in episode 4. The Interlaken Tourism website also has a vast amount of information about the Interlaken Holiday Region.
Below are just some of the articles on our website that will be helpful for your trip planning:
- Lake Brienz – Top sights and attractions
- 13 reasons to visit Lake Thun
- 60+ attractions and things to do in Interlaken and surrounds
Read the full transcript of this episode > here.
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This episode is sponsored by Switzerland Tourism
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