Holidays in Switzerland

Interlaken: This is the hub of the valley. Trains, busses, and bike rental shops move people. There’s plenty of shopping, restaurants, and accommodations (hotels, hostels, bnbs).

Gsteigwiler: This was the town we chose as our home base. The small residential town has a paved street through the middle for cars and more than 50 bicycles per day use it as cyclists traverse to other places in the region.

Wilderswil: A smaller hub station, this town hosts trains to the popular locations of Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Schilthorn and small stations in between. Grocery markets are located across from the train station for quick items and a shopping center is one stop away.

Lauterbrunnen: Resting in the valley, this town has flat, walkable, paved and natural trails weaving between the rock cliffs and grasslands. It has some shopping and restaurants, but the focus of this lovely town are the 72 waterfalls, the river, farm refrigerators, camp sites, and trails for walking or biking. Lots of paragliders and cliff jumpers land in this valley.

Mürren: High on the mountain sits Murren, a car-free town with shops and cafes. Reachable by steepest cable car, this town has amazing views and trails for walking or hiking.

Wengen: While used as a pass-through to Mannlichen, Wengen seems more family oriented. It has sports fields, tennis courts, a giant chess board, and bike rentals.

Mannlichen: It’s possible to ride on TOP of the cable car to get to this town and upon arrival be crowned like Royalty. Then, take the “Royal Walk” for 360 degree views. It has the best of the best playground and a long cow trail for walking. From here there is also a very long gondola ride over to Grindelwald.

Grindelwald: One of the most vibrant towns, it feels more like the “adult playground”. Shopping, restaurants, and hotels run from one side to the other. This is where people go for some of the big adventure activities (flyers, gliders, luge rides, downhill carts and trotti bikes).

Brienz: Reachable by car, train, bus, or steamboat, the old town area is a destination spot, but it’s also a hub with spokes out to many other towns. The town embraces its position on the bluest lake with a background of Swiss alps.

And so many more towns we couldn’t get to…

We see why the Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau regions are the places to be on holiday. There is something for everyone. We were very impressed with the focus Switzerland has on accessibility. These examples show the country’s commitment to inclusivity.

The city of Interlaken, the holiday hub of Switzerland, is located within the Bernese Oberland region within the Canton of Bern. With an elevation of about 1,864 feet above sea level, this town between two lakes developed a reputation for holidays and tourism around the 1800’s as landscape artists began sharing this beautiful region in their work. Beyond the city of Interlaken, many small towns dot the landscape along the slopes and valleys of the Swiss Alps through the Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau regions.

Today, the Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau regions draw in vacationers from all over the globe. Young, old, handicapped, athletic, graceful or gawky can enjoy this region. There is something for everyone.

Pictured from right to left are mobility friendly walking paths in the following towns: Harder Kulm, Männlichen, Schynige Platte flower garden, paved walking/biking trail in Lauterbrunnen.

Pictured from right to left: wheelchair ramp at each bus doorway, wheelchair straps on bus, priority seating for visually impaired people, drop down seats at more remote bus stations, wheelchair priority seating on gondolas, and a gondola loading zone. Not pictured: audible bell and vocal descriptions of bus and train stops