The Jungfrau region in Switzerland is very popular with outdoor lovers. But, we found that if you love food, wine, and spas – they have that too!
You can find lots of places for rustic or traditional Alpine dining. For example, Restaurant Stadthaus, located in the center of Interlaken, offers various beers and a short menu to choose a burger, rosti, or schnitzel. If you’re looking for something different, head to Sapori for Italian pizza or pasta, La Terrasse for fine dining, Taj Mahal for Indian Food, or Layaly Beirut for Lebanese Food. The last two don’t have terraces, so we couldn’t try them during our stay. However, they were both highly recommended by people in the industry.
We stayed in Interlaken at the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel as a hub. From here, it’s easy to get to many places like Thun, Lauterbrunnen, and Grindelwald.
One of the most sought-after things to do in Interlaken is to go up to the Jungfraujoch and the Sphinx Observatory. If you want to head to the Top-of-Europe, you can take the brand new v-cableway. It takes you from Grindlewald to the Eiger glacier in only 15 minutes so that you can get to Top-of-Europe in only 45 minutes (instead of two hours).
We headed to see some of the 72 waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen. The best time to see them is in summer or fall when they’re gushing with melted Alpine water. We visited Trummelbach falls, which are Europe’s largest subterranean falls. You can walk up steps or take the elevator built into the rock to admire these stunning ice-cold falls. Bring a jacket!
Head to the mountains for a delicious snack or breakfast in Habkern. They have vast overlooks of the mountains and a quaint bakery that’s part of a small grocery store. Gässli Beck makes some of the most delicious flaky hazelnut croissants, and the apple strudel is stuffed to the brim with real apples. You can also buy a bit of local cheese, meats, and bread to craft a picnic or bring along on a hike. They have a few tables and chairs outside where you can have a snack and coffee.
If you want to stick to the lake, you can find many ways to enjoy the water. You can take a tour along the water of the villages from Interlaken to Thun. Or find a restaurant where you can sit along the water like Riviera by Elio in Spiez. We reserved a table by the water, ordered Aperol spritzes, and watched the boats sail by on the lake. You can also taste wine or visit the castle while you’re there.
Note: Switzerland Tourism provided support for the reporting of this story.