In this guide
Interlaken has two main railway stations: Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost.
The difference is simpler than it initially appears:
- Use Interlaken Ost for Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren, Jungfraujoch, Harder Kulm and boats on Lake Brienz.
- Use Interlaken West for the western town centre, Unterseen, many hotels and boats on Lake Thun.
- If you are choosing where to stay, Ost is more convenient for repeated mountain day trips, while West generally gives you easier access to restaurants and the livelier part of town.
Neither station is universally better. The right choice depends on where you are staying and what you plan to do next.
I have travelled through both stations several times. In this guide, I will explain exactly which one to use for every major destination—and which area makes the better base.
Interlaken West vs Ost: quick answer
| Situation | Best station |
|---|---|
| Lauterbrunnen | Interlaken Ost |
| Grindelwald | Interlaken Ost |
| Wengen | Interlaken Ost |
| Mürren | Interlaken Ost |
| Jungfraujoch | Interlaken Ost |
| Harder Kulm | Interlaken Ost |
| Boat on Lake Brienz | Interlaken Ost |
| Boat on Lake Thun | Interlaken West |
| Unterseen and western Interlaken | Interlaken West |
| Most mountain day trips | Interlaken Ost |
| Restaurants and town-centre atmosphere | Usually Interlaken West or central Interlaken |
| Arriving from Bern | Either; choose the station nearest your hotel |
| Arriving from Lucerne | Interlaken Ost |
| Best place to stay without a car | Either, depending on your itinerary |
For the two most popular journeys, see my complete guides to the Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen train and Interlaken to Grindelwald train.
If you are travelling through Interlaken with bags, my guide to travelling Switzerland by train with luggage explains what to expect with storage, transfers and station lockers.
What is the difference between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost?
Interlaken lies between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Its two stations sit at opposite ends of the town centre, approximately two kilometres apart.
Interlaken Ost means Interlaken East. It is the larger transport hub and the gateway to the Jungfrau Region.
Interlaken West serves the western side of town. It is closer to Unterseen, the Lake Thun boat landing and many shops, restaurants and hotels.
The difference is therefore not about the quality of the stations. It is about the direction in which you are travelling.
Interlaken Ost: the mountain gateway
Interlaken Ost is the station most visitors use for mountain excursions.
Trains towards the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys begin here. Those routes provide onward connections to Wengen, Mürren, Kleine Scheidegg, Grindelwald First and Jungfraujoch.
Use Interlaken Ost for:
- Lauterbrunnen
- Wengen
- Mürren
- Grindelwald
- Grindelwald First
- Jungfraujoch
- Harder Kulm
- Lake Brienz cruises
- The Luzern–Interlaken Express
- Most hikes in the Jungfrau Region
The Harderbahn valley station is also within walking distance of Interlaken Ost. That makes Ost the logical station if you are visiting Harder Kulm.
The area around Ost is more functional than atmospheric. It has accommodation, supermarkets and restaurants, but the immediate station surroundings feel more like a transport hub than the traditional centre of Interlaken.
That is not necessarily a disadvantage. If you plan to catch an early train into the mountains almost every morning, staying nearby can save time throughout your trip.
Interlaken West: town, hotels and Lake Thun
Interlaken West is better positioned for the western town centre and neighbouring Unterseen.
Use Interlaken West for:
- Hotels on the western side of Interlaken
- Unterseen and its old-town streets
- Restaurants and shops around the western centre
- Boats departing on Lake Thun
- A shorter walk to accommodation near the West station
- Arrivals from Bern when you are staying nearby
The Lake Thun boat landing is beside Interlaken West, making this the correct station if you are beginning a cruise towards Spiez or Thun.
West can also feel more convenient in the evening. You are closer to a larger concentration of restaurants and can walk into Unterseen, which has a quieter and more traditional atmosphere than Interlaken’s main tourist road.
However, trains to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald do not begin at Interlaken West. If you stay here, you will normally take a short connecting train or bus to Interlaken Ost before continuing into the mountains.
Which station is in the centre of Interlaken?
Neither station represents the entire centre.
Interlaken’s main street, Höheweg, runs between the two stations. The eastern and western ends of town each have different advantages, while the area around Höhematte lies roughly between them.
If you want to be within walking distance of both stations, look for accommodation in central Interlaken between West and Ost. This provides the best balance, but you may still have a 10–15-minute walk to whichever station you need that morning.
In practical terms:
- West is better for Unterseen, the western shopping streets and Lake Thun.
- Ost is better for mountain trains, Harder Kulm and Lake Brienz.
- The middle is best if you want restaurants and reasonably balanced access to both.
Which is the best area to stay in Interlaken?
The best area depends more on your itinerary than the appearance of the station.
Stay near Interlaken Ost if you are planning mountain day trips
Choose accommodation near Ost if most of your days involve:
- Lauterbrunnen
- Grindelwald
- Wengen
- Mürren
- Jungfraujoch
- Grindelwald First
- Lake Brienz
- Early-morning hiking trips
This is the most efficient choice for an active Jungfrau Region itinerary. You can leave your hotel, walk to the station and board your mountain train without first crossing town.
It is especially useful if you have heavy luggage, young children or several early starts planned.
The downside is that the area immediately around the station is not the most attractive part of Interlaken. You may walk towards the centre for a wider choice of restaurants in the evening.
Stay near Interlaken West for town atmosphere and restaurants
Choose West if you want:
- Easy access to Unterseen
- More restaurants within a short walk
- Lake Thun boat trips
- A livelier town-centre location
- Convenient arrivals from Bern
- To spend more time in Interlaken itself
West makes sense if Interlaken is more than a place where you sleep between excursions.
You will add a small connection when travelling into the Jungfrau Region, but that inconvenience is manageable. The short transfer to Ost is unlikely to ruin your itinerary, especially if you prefer the location of your hotel.
Stay in central Interlaken for the best balance
The area around central Höheweg and Höhematte works well if your plans are divided between town, lakes and mountains.
You will not be directly beside either station, but both remain reachable on foot or by bus. This is often the best option for first-time visitors who want flexibility and do not yet know which station they will use most.
Stay in Unterseen for a quieter atmosphere
Unterseen sits just beyond Interlaken West and feels more residential and historic.
It is a good option if you want quieter evenings while remaining close to Interlaken’s transport and restaurants. West is the natural station for this area.
The trade-off is a slightly longer journey to Ost whenever you head towards Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald.
Is it better to stay near Interlaken Ost or West?
For most travellers using Interlaken as a base for the Jungfrau Region, I would choose Interlaken Ost.
The time saved each morning is small, but it adds up across several day trips. It is also reassuring to be near the correct departure station when catching an early connection.
I would choose Interlaken West instead if the hotel were noticeably better, more affordable or closer to the part of town where I wanted to spend my evenings.
The stations are close enough that I would not reject a good hotel simply because it is near the “wrong” one. Location matters, but not enough to outweigh a large difference in price or quality.
My practical rule is:
- Three or more mountain days: stay near Ost.
- Town, Lake Thun and a few excursions: stay near West.
- Mixed itinerary: stay between the stations.
- Quieter surroundings: consider Unterseen near West.
Which station for Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Mürren?
Use Interlaken Ost.
Direct trains for Lauterbrunnen leave from Ost. From Lauterbrunnen, you can continue to Wengen by train or reach Mürren using one of the available mountain-transport routes.
If your hotel is near Interlaken West, travel to Ost first and change there. When searching in SBB, enter your actual departure station; the journey planner will include the connection between West and Ost.
These guides explain each route:
Do not get off at Interlaken West merely because it appears first on an arriving train. If you are continuing directly to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, remain on board until Interlaken Ost whenever your train continues there.
Which station for Grindelwald?
Use Interlaken Ost.
Trains into the Grindelwald Valley depart from Ost. Depending on your exact destination, you may travel towards Grindelwald village or Grindelwald Terminal.
This distinction matters:
- Use Grindelwald for the village centre and the First gondola.
- Use Grindelwald Terminal for the Eiger Express and some Jungfraujoch routes.
Both journeys begin from Interlaken Ost.
Read my full Interlaken to Grindelwald train guide before travelling.
Which station for Jungfraujoch?
Use Interlaken Ost.
There is no direct train from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch. You travel from Ost into the mountains and change along the route.
Common options go:
- Via Grindelwald Terminal and the Eiger Express
- Via Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg
Which route is best depends on your ticket, timetable and whether you want to return by a different valley. But Interlaken Ost is the starting station in either case.
If you stay near West, include the transfer to Ost when calculating how early you need to leave.
Which station for Harder Kulm?
Use Interlaken Ost.
The Harderbahn funicular does not depart from inside the railway station, but its valley station is a short walk away across the River Aare.
Interlaken West is unnecessarily far away for this excursion. Travel to Ost first unless you already plan to walk through town.
Which station for Lake Thun and Lake Brienz boats?
The two lakes use different departure points:
- Lake Thun: Interlaken West
- Lake Brienz: Interlaken Ost
This is one of the easiest distinctions to remember. Interlaken West sits at the Lake Thun end of town, while Interlaken Ost connects with the boat landing on the River Aare towards Lake Brienz.
Always check the seasonal boat timetable. Not every route operates throughout the year, and frequencies vary.
Which station when arriving from Zurich, Bern or Lucerne?
The correct station is usually the one closest to your hotel—unless you are continuing immediately into the mountains.
From Zurich
If travelling from Zurich via Bern, trains commonly approach Interlaken West before continuing to Ost.
Get off at West if your accommodation is nearby. Remain on board until Ost if you are staying there or continuing towards Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald.
See my complete Zurich to Interlaken train guide for the route options.
From Bern
The same principle applies when arriving from Bern.
West is the first Interlaken station on the usual route. Do not automatically leave the train there: check your hotel address or onward connection first.
From Lucerne
The Luzern–Interlaken Express arrives at Interlaken Ost.
If you are staying near West, continue across town by local train, bus or taxi after arriving. If you are transferring into the Jungfrau Region, Ost is already the correct station.
How to travel between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost
Changing between the stations is easy.
By train
The train is normally the fastest option. The ride itself takes only a few minutes, although you need to account for waiting time and finding the correct platform.
Use this option when:
- You have luggage
- You are connecting to a mountain train
- The weather is poor
- Your connection appears clearly in the SBB app
Some long-distance trains stop at both stations, so you may not need to change at all. Check whether your arriving train continues to your preferred stop before getting off.
By bus
Local buses connect different parts of Interlaken and can be more convenient if your hotel is not directly beside either station.
Many accommodations provide guests with a local visitor card, but inclusions can change. Ask your hotel what local transport is covered during your stay.
On foot
Walking between Interlaken West and Ost generally takes around 20–30 minutes, depending on your route and pace.
The walk is perfectly manageable without heavy luggage. It can even be a pleasant introduction to the town because you pass along or near Höheweg and Höhematte.
I would not walk if you have a tight train connection. The distance is short enough for sightseeing, but long enough to miss a departure.
By taxi
A taxi is useful with large suitcases, limited mobility or a group that can divide the fare. For most ordinary journeys, the train or bus is sufficient.
What if you arrive at the wrong station?
Nothing serious happens.
If you leave the train at West but need Ost, take the next local train or bus. If you arrive at Ost but your hotel is near West, travel back in the opposite direction.
The mistake costs some time, but it does not disrupt your entire trip. Both stations are within Interlaken and well connected.
The main situation to avoid is getting off at West when your train is already continuing to Ost. Check the onboard screen before leaving; staying seated may save you an unnecessary transfer.
Can you walk around Interlaken from either station?
Yes.
Interlaken is compact enough to explore without a car. From West, you can easily walk towards Unterseen, Höheweg and Höhematte. From Ost, you can reach Harder Kulm, the eastern end of Höheweg and the Lake Brienz boat landing.
If you are only visiting for a few hours and have no fixed destination, you can arrive at one station, walk through town and leave from the other.
That works particularly well as a simple one-way route:
- Arrive at Interlaken Ost.
- Walk past the Japanese Garden and Höhematte.
- Continue along Höheweg.
- Explore Unterseen if you have time.
- Depart from Interlaken West.
Interlaken West or Ost: my recommendation
Choose Interlaken Ost if your priority is efficient access to the mountains.
It is the correct station for Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren, Jungfraujoch and most of the excursions that make Interlaken such a useful base.
Choose Interlaken West if you are staying nearby, want easier access to Unterseen and the western town centre, or plan to take a boat across Lake Thun.
For accommodation, my recommendation is slightly more nuanced:
- Stay near Ost for repeated mountain day trips.
- Stay near West for restaurants, Unterseen and Lake Thun.
- Stay between the stations if you want the best overall balance.
The stations are close enough that neither choice will ruin your trip. But choosing the right one can remove a small transfer from every day—and in a region where early starts matter, that convenience is worth having.
Frequently asked questions
