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

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.