Things to Do in Swiss Alps

Tucked between the alpine villages of Brienz and Bönigen, the pristine Lake Brienz makes a prime photo candidate with its backdrop of forested mountainsides and deep, turquoise waters. Stretching 14 kilometers across and a whopping 250 meters deep, the lake, fed by the river Aar, makes an uneasy swimming spot, but a great location for boat trips and paddle steamer sojourns.

There’s more to this lakeside haven than great picture spots though – hike from the lake on one of the area’s 500 kilometers of walking trails, explore the traditional villages littering the lakeside or get a bird’s eye view of the lake by catching the old steam train from Brienz up the nearby Brienzer Rothhorn mountain. Most spectacular are the Giessbach Falls on the south shore, 500 meters of plummeting waterfalls reachable via the country’s oldest funicular railway from Giessbach village.

Interlaken’s nearest mountain, sandwiched between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, Harder Kulm is the easiest way to get a taste of the Bernese Alps without having to don your hikers. An eight-minute ride on the funicular railway – a modern version of the carriages that have traversed the 1,322-meter summit for the past 100 years - will land you at the top, affording staggering views over the neighboring mountains on the breathtaking ascent.

The dramatic vistas might be the mountain’s biggest selling point – best viewed from the garden terrace of the mountaintop castle-cum-restaurant or by gawping through the glass floor of the vertigo-inducing Two Lakes Bridge – but there’s plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Spot ibex in the Alpine Wildlife Park, let the kids loose in the playground, enjoy the easy 1.5-hour circular Theme Trail or stick around until dusk when regular folklore evenings take over the mountaintop. Serious hikers have plenty of options for working up a sweat too – a number of trekking routes run along the mountain and climbers can always forgo the funicular in favor of a challenge.

Embrace the past with a trip up to the Schynige Platte on the historic 100-year-old cogwheel railway, taking just under an hour to chug along the 7km track from Wilderswil. The plateau, lying in the Swiss Alps at 1,970 meters, is blanketed in colorful wildflowers come the summer months and offers incredible views over the surrounding peaks of Jungfrau, Eiger and Silberhorn, the glistening Thun and Brienz lakes in the valleys below and nearby Interlaken.

A popular starting point for long distance hiking routes, as well as harboring a number of popular short circuit walks and a 500-plant strong alpine garden, there’s plenty to keep nature enthusiasts amused. Alternatively, pull up a chair and relax at the Berg hotel and restaurant, where the panoramic terrace seating adds a touch of luxury to the already-impressive vistas.

Legend has it that some 2,000 years ago, the St. Beatus caves were inhabited by a troublesome dragon, who terrified local villagers for decades until the Irish monk Beatus (hence the name) finally succeeded in driving him away. Thankfully, the caves are 100% dragon-free today and although much of the vast cavern is still unexplored, a good portion is now open to the public. Whether or not you believe in dragons, the location is certainly dramatic enough "“ eerily lit stalagmites, dripping stalactites and ghostly underground lakes and waterfalls. A 1.5-hour walk or short boat ride from Interlaken and close by Lake Thun, the caves make a popular way to spend an afternoon and with walkways running 1,000 meters through the towering Niederhorn Massif, it's easy for the whole family to explore. A small yet informative cave museum and restaurant lie at the entrance to the grotto, and inside the cell of St. Beatus can also be viewed.