Mountains, Monks & Monarchs: A Self-Guided Interlaken Tour

Overview

Interlaken sits on a glacial plain between two lakes of different colours, framed by some of the most dramatic peaks in the Alps. On this self-guided walking tour, you'll follow the area's history from a medieval monastery that once controlled 24 mountain valley churches to a grand boulevard that turned a quiet Swiss town into a 19th-century tourist destination. Starting near Interlaken West Station, you'll cross the Aare River into Unterseen's medieval old town. Back in Interlaken, follow the Höheweg past the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel — a reminder of the era when Queen Victoria's 1868 Swiss holiday inspired a generation of wealthy British travellers — before ending at the Japanese Garden beside the Hotel Interlaken. This tour packs centuries of Alpine history into a single walk — bring good shoes, a curiosity for unexpected stories, and perhaps an appetite for chocolate.

What's included

Itinerary

1. 1

   Tourismuseum Interlaken

   Passing by

   Pass by TOURISMUSEUM, Switzerland's first and only museum dedicated exclusively to the history of tourism, opened in 1980. Housed in the old parsonage in Unterseen's old town, admission is not included in this tour.

2. 2

   Stop 2

   Passing by

   Pass by Schloss Unterseen, built between 1654 and 1656 in the heart of Unterseen's fortified old town. Take in this historic castle, a lasting reminder of the town's medieval origins.

3. 3

   Casino Interlaken

   Passing by

   Stop at the Congress Kursaal casino, which once offered guests whey cures alongside small-stakes gambling. Take in this quirky piece of Interlaken's tourism history, blending health treatments with modest games of chance.

4. 4

   Stop 4

   Passing by

   Visit the Unterseen Stadthaus, once a merchant hall where goods arrived by land and water to be weighed, measured, and sold. Take in this historic building, now home to a restaurant along the banks of the Aare.

5. 5

   Japanese Garden Interlaken

   Passing by

   Finish at the Japanese Garden, a gift from sister city Ōtsu. Take in this peaceful space, the fitting conclusion to your walk through Interlaken's layered history.

6. 6

   Stop 6

   Passing by

   Discover why the Reformed Church Unterseen's late-Gothic tower survived when nearly everything else in town burned in 1470. Take in this striking landmark, one of the few structures to withstand the catastrophic fire.

7. 7

   Stop 7

   Passing by

   Pass by Woodpecker, a family-run wood carving workshop and shop on Marktgasse. Admire the intricate hand-carved sculptures, clocks, and ornaments crafted on site by local artisans.

8. 8

   Stop 8

   Passing by

   Pass by the Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel, which still recalls the era when Queen Victoria's 1868 Swiss holiday inspired a generation of wealthy British travelers. Take in this grand landmark along the Höheweg, a lasting symbol of Interlaken's 19th-century tourism boom.

9. 9

   Stop 9

   Passing by

   Pass by Vanini Swiss Chocolate, a Swiss chocolatier tracing its roots back to 1871. Discover an appetite for handcrafted pralines, gelato, and chocolate specialities along the Höheweg.

10. 10

    Monastery and Interlaken Castle

    Passing by

    Pass the former grounds of the Inter Lacus monastery, the institution that gave Interlaken its name. Explore the grounds of the former Augustinian monastery, whose nuns once owned the land surrounding the Jungfrau.

Meeting point and pickup

Good to know

• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Service animals allowed
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• VOICEMAP CODE ─── Please check your email at the address you provided when you made this booking. You've been sent an eight character code you'll need to redeem your tour. This code can be used by every member of your party. If you've booked for three people, for example, three people can download this tour using the same code. DOWNLOAD INSTRUCTIONS ─── Once you've received your code, please follow these steps: Install the VoiceMap Audio Tours mobile app Create an account Select Tour Codes from the menu, then select Enter Codes Enter your code then select Download Now PLEASE NOTE ─── You can download the tour at any time, before or after your booking date. It’s best to download the tour before you set off for the starting point. This tour follows a set route and includes turn-by-turn directions. It works best if you start it in the right place and follow the directions from one location to the next. When the download completes, you’ll see a screen with a photo of the starting point and directions to it. The red start button will become active when you are at the starting point. Remember to bring your own headphones, unless you have booked a driving tour. SUPPORT ─── For technical support and other queries, please email [email protected]

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.