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Interlaken on a budget: how to do it well
Short answer
Interlaken can be done on a tight budget only with careful planning: hostels, supermarket food, hiking and a rail pass. A realistic minimum is about CHF 160 per person a day: CHF 55 for a bed, CHF 40 for food, CHF 50 for sights and CHF 15 for transport.
A realistic daily budget
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing) | CHF55 | CHF130 | CHF300 |
| Food & drink | CHF40 | CHF80 | CHF150 |
| Sights & tickets | CHF50 | CHF100 | CHF150 |
| Local transport | CHF15 | CHF30 | CHF50 |
| Per person, per day | CHF160 | CHF340 | CHF650 |
Approximate 2026 prices, two people sharing a room. From our Interlaken day-cost table.
Free things to do
- The Höhematte park in the centre, with views to the Jungfrau and paragliders landing.
- Walking the shores of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun.
- Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen, about 300 metres high and free to view.
- The hike from Mürren down to Gimmelwald and the car-free villages.
- The Unspunnen castle ruins and forest walks above Wilderswil.
- Watching the alpine light and glaciers from the Lauterbrunnen valley floor.
Cheap eats
- Supermarket sandwich or salad from Coop or Migros: CHF 5–8.
- Döner or kebab in Interlaken: about CHF 12–15.
- Rösti at a simple mountain restaurant: about CHF 18–25.
- Cheese fondue to share: about CHF 30–35 per person.
- Bratwurst from a station kiosk: about CHF 8–10.
Where to sleep for less
Budget travellers stay in Interlaken hostels near the stations and in the Lauterbrunnen campsites and cabins, where dorms and cabins cost about CHF 60–130 per room or less for a bed, and kitchens cut food costs.
Getting around cheaply
Walk around Interlaken between the West and Ost stations. Take the Berner Oberland Bahn to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald (about every 30 minutes). Use a Half Fare Card, Swiss Travel Pass or regional pass for discounts. Many hotels issue a guest card with free local buses.
A sample budget day
- Morning: train to Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls (free).
- Late morning: cable car to Mürren, walk down to Gimmelwald (lift costs reduced with a pass).
- Lunch: supermarket picnic (about CHF 12).
- Afternoon: Trummelbach Falls (about CHF 16).
- Evening: cook in the hostel kitchen (about CHF 15). Total: about CHF 160 including a hostel bed.
More ways to save
- Use your guest card for free local buses in the Interlaken area.
- Bring a refillable bottle and fill it at public fountains.
- Pick one high summit (Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn) instead of both.
- Look for early-morning or late-afternoon discounted lift tickets, where offered.
- Visit in late June or early September, when lifts are open but crowds and prices are lower than in August.
- Pack snacks and lunch from supermarkets before heading up; mountain restaurants are expensive.
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Common questions
Can you visit Interlaken on a budget?
Yes, with care: about CHF 160 a day with a hostel, supermarket food, a rail pass and plenty of hiking between villages.
What can you do for free in Interlaken?
Walk by the lakes, see Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen, watch paragliders over the Höhematte and hike between villages.
Is it cheaper to stay in Lauterbrunnen?
Campsites and hostels in Lauterbrunnen can be cheaper and closer to the cable cars, but there are fewer supermarkets and restaurants than in Interlaken.