Visiting Interlaken, Switzerland: Top Sights on Foot

Interlaken is a Swiss town between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, known for its Alpine setting, historic tourism, and lively town centre. The most rewarding things to do in Interlaken include exploring its castle church, relaxing in Höhematte, visiting the Japanese Garden, and discovering the town’s cultural side at Kunsthaus Interlaken. Neywo has a free audio guide for Interlaken with 4 narrated places.

What to See in Interlaken

Höhematte

Höhematte is a large open park in the heart of Interlaken and one of the town’s most distinctive public spaces. It began as land belonging to an Augustinian convent. In 1860, local residents purchased it to preserve the area as undeveloped open space.

The park combines lawns, flower beds, fountains, benches, and walkways with several memorable features. A working clock made entirely from flowers adds a colourful detail, while a statue connected to Hindi director Yash Chopra reflects one of the town’s more unusual cultural connections.

Höhematte is also a landing ground for paragliders, making it possible to see adventure-sport enthusiasts arriving above the park. Families will find a small playground with swings, slides, and climbing structures.

Castle Church

The Castle Church, known locally as the Schlosskirche, stands in a peaceful, park-like setting. Although it is now one of Interlaken’s most atmospheric historic buildings, its earlier role was different: the building originally served as a warehouse.

Its history changed as tourism in the region grew. The older high-Gothic choir was renovated, including its 14th-century side tower, and a new neo-Gothic nave was built between 1909 and 1911 according to plans by local architect Adolf Mühlemann.

The exterior is marked by slender pointed-arch windows and a steep hipped roof. Inside, the church has a five-bay hall, stained-glass windows created by Paul Zehnder between 1950 and 1963, and a wall painting by Rudolf Münger.

Japanese Garden

The Japanese Garden, also called the Garden of Friendship or Japanischer Garten, offers a quiet contrast to Interlaken’s busier streets. It was built in 1995 as a gift from Interlaken’s twin city of Otsu in Japan. The partnership between the two cities dates back to 1978.

The garden’s design recalls the environment around Lake Biwa, near Otsu. Its features include a Shinji pond, a pavilion, a traditional Japanese pagoda, trees, and a memorial plaque. Cranes and turtles add to the garden’s carefully tended atmosphere.

Its central location creates a striking visual combination: Japanese design in the foreground, the Reformierte Schlosskirche nearby, and the Alps rising behind them.

Kunsthaus Interlaken

Kunsthaus Interlaken brings visual art and live performance together in a single cultural venue. Its exhibition programme includes contemporary art from Switzerland and abroad, as well as significant works from the 19th century. Four rotating exhibitions are held each year, with particular attention to artists and works connected to the Bernese Oberland.

The venue also includes a concert hall with a programme of jazz concerts, cabaret performances, and master classes by international musicians. Its music schedule is especially active during the Interlaken Classics Festival, while summer can bring open-air concerts.

Whether you visit for an exhibition or a performance, Kunsthaus Interlaken adds a cultural dimension to a town best known for its landscapes and outdoor activities.

Exploring Interlaken and Switzerland

Interlaken is a useful starting point for discovering more of Switzerland. The country’s cities offer very different experiences, from the historic character of Bern to the lakeside setting of Lucerne, the international atmosphere of Geneva, and the Alpine identity of Sion.

Within Interlaken itself, the town centre rewards a walk rather than a rushed visit. Höhematte, the Castle Church, the Japanese Garden, and Kunsthaus Interlaken are close enough to form a compact route, with open-air spaces and cultural stops along the way.

Explore Interlaken with Neywo

Download Neywo and explore Interlaken with a self-guided walking tour: “Interlaken: the Höhematte and the castle church.” The walk covers 1.02 km, takes around 32 minutes, and includes 4 narrated stops: the Japanese Garden, the former monastery church—today’s Castle Church, Höhematte, and Kunsthaus Interlaken.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule. Narration is available in 11 languages, making this a simple way to discover the town while walking.