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Interlaken or Lucerne? An honest comparison
The short answer
Pick Interlaken if the mountains are the point: Jungfrau region trains, hikes, paragliding and lake boats, at about €365 a day mid-range. Pick Lucerne for a real old town on a lake with Pilatus and Rigi close by, slightly cheaper at about €332 a day and better for families and rainy days.
Interlaken: suits couples, friends and active travellers who want high Alpine scenery and adventure sports on the doorstep.
Lucerne: suits couples, families and first-timers who want a walkable historic town, lake cruises and easy mountain trips.
Side by side
| Interlaken | Lucerne | |
|---|---|---|
| Mid-range day* | €365 CHF340 local | €332 CHF310 local |
| Budget day* | €172 | €164 |
| Value for money | ●●●●●About €365 a day mid-range; mountain tickets are costly. | ●●●●●About €332 a day mid-range, a little cheaper. |
| Crowds (5 = calm) | ●●●●●Very busy in summer; Jungfraujoch trains fill up. | ●●●●●Chapel Bridge and Schwanenplatz busy, the rest manageable. |
| Food | ●●●●●Fondue, raclette and rösti; mostly tourist-focused. | ●●●●●Wider choice, markets on the Reuss and old-town restaurants. |
| Nightlife | ●●●●●Backpacker bars and a few pubs. | ●●●●●Quiet bars and lakeside spots; not a party town. |
| Family-friendly | ●●●●●Lakes, cable cars and easy walks; costs add up. | ●●●●●Transport Museum, lake boats and gentle mountain trips. |
| Getting around | ●●●●●Trains, buses and boats to every valley. | ●●●●●Compact town; boats and trains to Pilatus and Rigi. |
| Best months | year-round, see below | year-round, see below |
| Warmest / coolest | Jul 25°C / Jan 6°C | Jun 25°C / Jan 5°C |
| Known for | Alpine peaks like Jungfrau and traditional bubbling pots of Emmentaler cheese. | Chapel Bridge, Museggmauer, Lion Monument, Mount Pilatus, Lake Lucerne |
* Per person per day with two sharing a room: bed, food, sights and local transport, from our Interlaken and Lucerne day-cost tables (approximate 2026 prices; other currencies converted at recent rates). Ratings are our editorial judgement.
Which one should you pick?
Pick Interlaken if…
- you want to see Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau up close.
- you plan serious hiking or adventure sports.
- you want to base yourself for Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.
- you do not mind a small town with little nightlife.
Pick Lucerne if…
- you want a historic old town to walk around.
- you are travelling with children.
- you want options if the weather turns bad.
- you want to spend a little less per day.
Weather month by month
| Month | Interlaken high / rainy days | Lucerne high / rainy days |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6°C · 17 | 5°C · 14 |
| Feb | 9°C · 12 | 9°C · 12 |
| Mar | 12°C · 12 | 11°C · 12 |
| Apr | 13°C · 16 | 13°C · 14 |
| May | 18°C · 21 | 18°C · 18 |
| Jun | 24°C · 16 | 25°C · 14 |
| Jul | 25°C · 17 | 25°C · 18 |
| Aug | 24°C · 15 | 24°C · 16 |
| Sep | 22°C · 13 | 21°C · 13 |
| Oct | 19°C · 12 | 17°C · 12 |
| Nov | 10°C · 19 | 9°C · 20 |
| Dec | 9°C · 16 | 6°C · 17 |
Average daily high and number of rainy days. Copernicus ERA5, 2021–2023.
What you will eat
Interlaken
Cheese fondue · Raclette · Rösti · Alpine macaroni · Lake fish · Alpine cheese
Where: Höheweg and central Interlaken, Unterseen, Harder Kulm, Lake Brienz villages (Iseltwald, Brienz)
Lucerne
Lucerne vol-au-vent · Rösti · Alpine macaroni · Fondue and raclette · Lake fish · Carnival soup and tarts
Where: Weekly market on the Reuss, Old Town (Altstadt): Weinmarkt and Kornmarkt, Neustadt and the Bruch quarter, Lakefront and Schwanenplatz
Doing both in one trip
6 days: 3 in Interlaken + 3 in Lucerne
Start in Lucerne for town and lake, then finish in Interlaken for the big mountains, keeping flexible days for clear weather.
Getting between them: Direct train over the Brünig Pass (Luzern–Interlaken Express), about 1 h 50, roughly hourly. Distance about 53 km as the crow flies. Check current timetables.
- Day 1: Lucerne Old Town, Chapel Bridge and Lion Monument
- Day 2: Mount Pilatus round trip by boat, cogwheel and cable car
- Day 3: Lake cruise and Rigi, or the Swiss Museum of Transport
- Day 4: Train to Interlaken, Harder Kulm at sunset
- Day 5: Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald or Jungfraujoch in clear weather
- Day 6: Lake Brienz boat to Iseltwald and Brienz
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Common questions
Is Interlaken or Lucerne cheaper?
Lucerne, slightly. Our mid-range estimate is about €332 per person per day in Lucerne against about €365 in Interlaken. Both are expensive. The bigger cost in Interlaken is mountain transport: trips to Jungfraujoch and other peaks can cost more than a night's hotel. Swiss travel passes or regional passes can reduce this.
When is the best time to visit?
Summer, roughly June to September, for hiking and clear views, when both reach about 25°C. Winter, around 5 to 6°C in the valleys in January, suits skiing near Interlaken and Christmas markets in Lucerne. Mountain views depend on cloud, so keep a flexible day for high trips.
Which is the better base for the Swiss Alps?
Interlaken, if you want the high Alps. It is the gateway to Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Wengen and the Jungfrau region. Lucerne is better for gentler peaks such as Pilatus, Rigi and Titlis, and for a mix of town and mountains. Many visitors split their stay between both.
How do I get between Interlaken and Lucerne?
Take the direct train over the Brünig Pass, the Luzern–Interlaken Express, which takes about 1 h 50 and runs roughly every hour. The route passes lakes Lungern, Brienz and others and is scenic in its own right. Driving takes a similar time. Check current timetables, especially in winter.