A popular tourist hub in the Bernese Oberland is Interlaken, Switzerland. It’s perfect – it’s near the Jungfrau mountain range, between two lakes, and easy to get to from Zurich and Bern. As one of Switzerland’s most popular tourist destinations, Interlaken is also a hot spot for outdoor sports.
Still, there might come a time when you’d prefer seeing a pretty old town or castle instead of glaciers and the Swiss Alps. Check out this list of beautiful towns around Interlaken that are easy to get to. A lot of them are only an hour or two away.
Without further ado, here is a list of 8 beautiful towns near Interlaken.
1. Thun
In only half an hour’s journey from Interlaken, Thun offers a romantic and breathtaking setting. With stunning scenery and castles surrounding it, this town lies on the banks of Lake Thun and is surrounded by stunning scenery.
Thun is a great day trip from Interlaken if you want a more relaxing experience, like strolling through the old town and going to the castle. Lake cruises are also great in the summer. And you can walk along the lakeside anytime.
How do you get from Interlaken to Thun? From Interlaken, there are direct trains and buses that will bring you to Thun. The train journey from Interlaken to Thun takes 33 minutes. Thun is accessible from Interlaken in 31 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Thun |
| * Thun Castle * Thun’s Old Town * Schadau Castle and Park * Wocher Panorama * Thun Art Museum * Lake Thun |
If you would like to read more about Thun, you can check out 10 Best Things To Do In Thun, Bernese Oberland.
2. Brig
Brig is a historic town in Upper Valais. Stockalper Palace, the most prominent building in this alpine town, dates back to 1658-1678. It was built by Kaspar Stockalper, a Brig silk merchant. From Interlaken, it’s easiest to get to Brig by train.
Besides Stockalper Palace, Gamsenmauer and Church of Mariä Himmelfahrt with ossuary are historical sites. A stroll through the old town of Brig will bring you to stately houses, cozy hotels, and shopping spots. 20 kilometers away lies the Simplon Pass, one of the most beautiful alpine passes in Switzerland. Brig is also on the route of the Glacier Express that goes from Zermatt to St. Moritz.
How do you get from Interlaken to Brig? From Interlaken, take the train to Spiez. In Spiez, take the connecting train to Brig. The train journey from Interlaken to Brig takes 1 hour and 11 minutes. Brig is accessible from Interlaken in 1 hour and 59 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Brig |
| * Stockalper Palace * Brig’s Old Town * Gamsenmauer * Church of Mariä Himmelfahrt * Simplon Pass |
If you would like to read more about Brig, check out our article Brig, Switzerland: Where It Is and What You Need to Know.
3. Zofingen
The Swiss canton of Aargau contains the walled city of Zofingen, home to an ancient monastic settlement. It used to be a settlement of the Celtic Helvetii and even the Romans constructed a manor here. The House of Frohburg built a monastery here in the 11th century. You can get to Zofingen in 90 minutes from Interlaken.
Zofingen is one of the best-preserved old towns in Switzerland. 470 meters long by 225 meters wide, it has the shape of a rectangle. There are front and back alleys, and narrow alleyways provide cross-connections. Ten of its buildings are Swiss heritage sites of national importance.
How do you get from Interlaken to Zofingen? From Interlaken, take the train to Olten or Bern. In Olten or Bern, take the connecting train to Zofingen. The fastest train journey from Interlaken to Zofingen takes 1 hour and 28 minutes. Zofingen is accessible from Interlaken in 1 hour and 23 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Zofingen |
| * Walled old town of Zofingen * Villa Rustica Zofingen with its Roman mosaic floors * Small Monastery at Klösterligasse 2 * Historic Museum Zofingen * Art Museum Zofingen * Zofingen Wild Animal Park and Aviary * Heiternplatz |
4. Murten
Murten, also known as Morat, is located on the shores of Lake Murten. You can take a day trip from Interlaken to this pretty little town in canton Fribourg.
Among the Swiss heritage sites of national significance are Erli 2, Murten’s walls, the Grosshaus at Hauptgasse 43, the Rathaus or town council house, Löwenberg Castle, and the Old School House in Valvenach. There are also prehistoric pile-dwelling houses near Murten at Segelboothafen.
It’s a pretty small town and you can cover it in an hour or two. A boat trip around the Three Lakes will be fun, sailing from Murten to Neuchâtel, then to Biel/Bienne, passing along the Canal de la Broye and the Canal de la Thielle.
You don’t want to miss the Murten Light Festival if it’s on. It usually happens toward the end of January.
How do you get from Interlaken to Murten? From Interlaken, take the train to Bern. In Bern, take the connecting regional train to Murten/Morat. The train journey from Interlaken to Murten/Morat takes 1 hour and 43 minutes. Murten is accessible from Interlaken in 1 hour and 3 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Murten |
| * Farm House at Erli 2 * Murten’s City Walls * Grosshaus at Hauptgasse 43 * Town council house * Löwenberg Castle * Boat trip around the Three Lakes region |
If you would like to learn more about Murten, then check out our article Visiting Murten, Switzerland? Here’s What You Need To Know.
5. Romont
Romont, which was first mentioned in 1177 as Rotundo Monte, has a lot of history. It is located in the canton of Fribourg, less than 2 hours away from Interlaken.
The town itself is also included in the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. You’ll also find Romont Castle in this area, used by Peter II of Savoy in the 13th century. This castle also has a beautiful courtyard. In addition to the fortifications, there’s a collegiate church.
If you are interested in seeing medieval glass paintings and reverse glass paintings, you can check the Stained Glass Museum of Switzerland. In fact, it has the biggest collection of reverse glass paintings in the world. You’ll find it on the grounds of Romont Castle.
How do you get from Interlaken to Romont? From Interlaken, take the train to Bern. In Bern, take the connecting train to Romont FR. The train journey from Interlaken to Romont FR takes 1 hour and 43 minutes. Romont FR is accessible from Interlaken in 1 hour and 23 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Romont |
| * Abbaye de la Fille-Dieu – Cistercian Monastery * Romont Castle * Swiss Stained Glass Museum – in Romont Castle * Collegiate Church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption * Town fortifications |
If you would like to learn more about some of Switzerland’s best medieval places like Romont, check out our article 10 Beautiful Medieval Towns in Switzerland.
6. Avenches
The town of Avenches is in Vaud’s district of Broye-Vully, and it’s a beautiful, medieval town. The town sits on top of a hill in Broye Valley.
Avenches was founded by the Romans as Aventicum and has some famous monuments. Check out the Amphitheater, Avenches Castle, Reformed Church, and more.
Almost all the attractions in Avenches are within walking distance from each other, so it’s best to explore them on foot. Just walking around, you can see how beautiful the buildings are and how interesting the history is.
How do you get from Interlaken to Avenches? From Interlaken, take the train to Bern. In Bern, take the connecting regional train to Kerzers. In Kerzers, change to the regional train going to Lausanne and get off in Avenches. The train journey from Interlaken to Avenches takes 1 hour and 57 minutes. Avenches is accessible from Interlaken in 1 hour and 7 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Avenches |
| * Entire town of Avenches * Roman Ruins of Aventicum * Avenches Castle * Amphitheater and Roman Museum * Cure * Reformed Church |
If you would like to learn more about Avenches, check out our article Avenches: A Fascinating, Ancient Roman Site in Switzerland.
7. La Neuveville
There are still city walls and defense towers in the medieval town of La Neuveville. Originally a part of Napoleonic France, it’s now part of the French-speaking Bernese Jura. About 3,500 people live in La Neuveville, which was founded in 1312.
Among La Neuveville’s highlights is its white church, or Blanche Église Réformée. There are Gothic frescoes and wooden ceilings in this church built back in 1345. Furthermore, a 14th-century tower lies at the end of the main street, Rue du Marché.
La Neuveville also has other historic sites like Cour Gléresse (also known as Hof Ligerz), Fontaines Des Bannerets, Maison de Berne, and Maison des Dragons. Located at the Neuveville Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville) is the historical museum known as Musée d’Histoire La Neuveville.
How do you get from Interlaken to La Neuveville? From Interlaken, take the train to Bern. In Bern, take the connecting train to Biel/Bienne. In Biel/Bienne, change to the regional train going to Neuchâtel and get off in La Neuveville. The train journey from Interlaken to La Neuveville takes 2 hours and 3 minutes. La Neuveville is accessible from Interlaken in 1 hour and 17 minutes by car.
| Don’t Miss in La Neuveville |
| * Blanche Église Réformée – White Church * Musée d’Histoire La Neuveville – Historical Museum of La Neuveville * Cour Gléresse – Hof Ligerz Castle * Fontaines Des Banneret – the fountain * Maison de Berne and Maison des Dragons * Tour Rouge |
8. Aigle
The Swiss town of Aigle is located in the canton of Vaud right within the Rhône Valley and close to Lake Geneva. Even though it’s 2 hours away from Interlaken, it will give you a different experience from Bernese Oberland being so close to vineyards.
Aigle is known for its stunning scenery, castle, and wine. Château d’Aigle has a Vine and Wine Museum surrounded by vineyards. It used to be home to prominent people like the Barons of Aigle and the Lords of Compa. Today, it’s a wine museum you can visit whenever you like.
The Church of Saint-Maurice, De la Dîme House, as well as the entire town of Aigle are all listed under the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.
How do you get from Interlaken to Aigle? From Interlaken, take the train to Spiez. In Spiez, take the connecting train to Visp. In Visp, change to the train going to Geneva and get off in Aigle. The train journey from Interlaken to Aigle takes 2 hours and 5 minutes. Aigle is accessible from Interlaken in 1 hour and 48 minutes by car.
| Don’t miss these attractions in Aigle |
| * Château d’Aigle * Vineyards of Aigle * Church of Saint-Maurice * De la Dîme House |
Final Thoughts: 8 Best Towns Near Interlaken
We have covered some of the best towns to see near Interlaken. The list above is by no means exhaustive. If you would like to visit a city near Interlaken instead of a town, you can visit either Bern or Burgdorf.
If you would like to find more ideas about some stunning places near Interlaken, you can read the article Top 12 Stunning Places Near Interlaken.
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- Interlaken: 8 Reasons Why You Should Visit
- Top 12 Stunning Places Near Interlaken
- 10 Best Day Trips from Interlaken
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