Costa Rica – Where sloths smile and tall ships sail
17. July 2026
Hiking and wellness in Styria
18. April 2026
Glistening white mountain peaks, picturesque Alpine villages, sparkling blue lakes, thrilling zip lines and other extraordinary adventures, plus fine chocolate and savoury cheese dishes: between Interlaken and Lucerne, you can experience Switzerland just like in a picture book. And the best part is: you can reach everything easily by train – with a panoramic view from the window so beautiful that you’ll find yourself pressed up against the glass. Let’s go!
Interlaken and the new thriller “What Happens at Night”
Interlaken in Central Switzerland is not only an ideal base for fantastic sightseeing and outdoor adventures, but also an enchanting town with a population of just over 6,000. It lies in a long valley between Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, surrounded by the impressive peaks of the Bernese Oberland, such as the Jungfrau massif. Since the mid-19th century, the town has been popular with visitors from all over the world, and that has not changed to this day. Koreans, Chinese, Americans, Germans, but also many Swiss stay in beautiful Belle Époque hotels with turrets and balconies offering stunning views, including one of the most famous in the whole of Switzerland, the elegant five-star Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. Even just the stroll from the station to the heart of the town and across the Aare into the old town is a delight: you pass boutiques selling fine Swiss watches, souvenir shops with the typical Swiss red pocket knives, chocolate makers, shops selling outdoor fashion, cafés and restaurants serving cheese fondue and raclette.
Adventure seekers can go paragliding – a tandem flight is also available – and land on the lawn in front of the Victoria-Jungfrau Hotel, just like in a James Bond film.
Interlaken has often served as a film location, particularly for Indian Bollywood films, and in spring 2026 it will also be the setting for an American production: In April, Leonardo DiCaprio filmed scenes for Martin Scorsese’s gothic thriller “What Happens at Night”. The main filming location was the secluded Grandhotel Giessbach on Lake Brienz. Jennifer Lawrence stars alongside DiCaprio. The thriller is due to hit cinemas in early 2027.
Tips for a cinematic, panoramic view of Interlaken: the glass-fronted Top o’Met restaurant at the Hotel Metropole in the heart of the city, with its wraparound terrace, and the view from the local mountain, Harder Kulm, which has a restaurant in a charming summit pavilion. A funicular railway takes you up there.
www.interlaken.ch
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- Interlaken in the evening: from the Top o’Met restaurant, you have a fantastic view of the whole town
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- From the train to a horse-drawn carriage? No problem in Interlaken
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- The River Aare flows through Interlaken’s old town
Rothorn Railway
Then hop on the train from Interlaken East or West, and you’ll be in Brienz in 20 minutes. If you’re keen to conquer the first peak, hop on the Rothorn Railway opposite the station and let the panoramic carriage whisk you through meadows and forests up to the 2,350-metre-high Rothorn. What makes it special: the steam cog railway, built in 1892, is the only steam-powered one in Switzerland. On a clear day, you can see – according to the Rothorn Railway – 693 mountain peaks. If you like, you can count them…
Info: The Rothorn Railway only runs to the summit from June to October and, from May to June, only as far as the Planalp midway station. Tip: Tickets are in high demand, so buy them online in advance and reserve your seat.
www.brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch
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- This is where the Rothorn Cable Car departs from in Brienz
Hot Tub Boat on Lake Brienz
A short walk from Brienz railway station takes you to the Pirate Bay Nautical Centre. A special adventure awaits you here, so make sure you have your swimwear, a towel and, if it’s chilly, a headband or hat to hand. So, slip into your swimwear (changing facilities are available on site) and climb aboard the hot tub boat. This is a pool filled with water heated to 38°C, which glides across the lake powered by a self-steering electric motor – wellness against a stunning Alpine backdrop.
www.pirate-bay.ch
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- Wellness on Lake Brienz in a hot tub – a floating pool with wonderfully warm water
Raclette rafting on Lake Brienz
Fancy a dinner with a difference? In Böningen on Lake Brienz, a young team offers hot raclette on a rafting boat. Whilst you melt slices of various cheeses on a tabletop grill and enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of wine, the guide paddles across the lake – a picturesque experience. There’s no need to worry about wet feet or cold fingers. You sit comfortably on the edge of the boat, wrapped in a blanket and wearing a life jacket, as it gently rocks.
www.outdoor.ch
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- How about some raclette rafting on Lake Brienz? A surprisingly cosy and delicious dinner – without getting your feet wet
Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe and “Crash Landing on You”
Around 5,000 people a day board the Jungfrau Railway at Kleine Scheidegg in Grindelwald and travel through the tunnel beneath the Eiger and Mönch mountains to the Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres – a spectacular experience covering 9.34 km and climbing almost 1,400 metres in altitude. At Europe’s highest railway station, the air is icy even in summer and the snow crunches underfoot. The view of the surrounding four-thousand-metre peaks and the sea of ice that is the Altesch Glacier takes your breath away. “People used to come up here to hike on the glacier. That was still possible back then. Today, the crevasses are so large that it’s too dangerous. You can only do it with a mountain guide,” explains Erika Mattle, an employee of Jungfraubahnen AG. The railway has been running non-stop to the summit since 1912. This became possible after construction of the Eiger Tunnel began in 1896. Young men from Italy, looking for work, were hired for this enormous feat using simple tools; many of them did not survive the job. A fascinating exhibition commemorates them and the early years. In addition, there are restaurants, shops and the opportunity to walk through the icy tunnels in the glacier itself or take a short sledge ride. And don’t be surprised: the Jungfraujoch has attracted a particularly large number of visitors from South Korea since the South Korean series “Crash Landing on You” was broadcast in 2019.
The heart-warming love story between a South Korean businesswoman and a captain in the North Korean army has a happy ending, with the final scenes filmed in the Swiss Alps, including on the Jungfraujoch. Reason enough for many couples from Asia to take home a slice of the film’s romantic bliss in the form of souvenir photos.
www.jungfrau.ch
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- A fascinating sea of ice: the view of the Aletsch Glacier from the Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres
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- A photo spot on the Jungfraujoch – not just for Koreans: Who’s seen the series *Crash Landing on You*?
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- At the Kleine Scheidegg mountain station above Grindelwald, you board the Jungfrau Railway to the Jungfraujoch
Grindelwald First – ‘Top of Adventure’ in summer, skiing fun in winter
In winter, Grindelwald First is the quieter, smaller side of the ski resort, with around 50 kilometres of slopes, compared to the skiing paradise at the foot of the Eiger opposite. But in the warmer months, it offers an adventure course that delights young and old alike. Either suspended from a steel eagle or in a seat basket, you whizz down zip lines several hundred metres towards the valley. It’s great fun with a magnificent panoramic view from the summit, as is the Cliff Walk along a narrow metal mesh path around the rocks, offering breathtaking views into the abyss and across the vast valley. Experienced cyclists can then put on a helmet, hop on a Trottibike (a type of kick scooter with wide tyres and powerful brakes) and whizz past grazing cows and pretty farms towards Grindelwald, with a stunning view of the Lower Grindelwald Glacier. Alternatively, for the thrill of the wind in your hair, mountain carts are available.
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- Take the cable car up to Grindelwald-First – with the Eiger in full view
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- Great fun: whizzing down to Grindelwald on a Trottibike whilst enjoying the glacier views
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- It’s almost like a fairytale adventure: in the First Glider, you hurtle down from Grindelwald-First towards the valley at speeds of up to 80 kilometres per hour, in an eagle pose
Chocolate Workshop in Interlaken
Dark chocolate with a chilli crust, or sweet milk chocolate with “For my sweetheart” written in white chocolate? At the Funky Chocolate Club workshop, held in a café in the heart of Interlaken, you’ll not only learn a great deal about the origins of cocoa beans and the basics of chocolate-making, but you’ll also create three bars yourself, tailored to your own taste – an entertaining experience with plenty of tastings.
www.funkychocolateclub.com
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- Sören Ruck from the Funky Chocolate Club explains the basics of chocolate making
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- At the chocolate workshop, you get to be a chocolatier yourself
Ballenberg Open-Air Museum
A classic even for the Swiss themselves: almost every school class visits the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum in Hofstetten near Brienz, which is only open in summer. The 60-hectare site is home to old buildings – the oldest of which is 800 years old – from all 26 cantons, showcases traditional crafts with daily demonstrations, and is home to around 200 farm animals such as chickens, cows and horses. A small train runs across the site between the east and west entrances, and there are several restaurants, naturally in keeping with the period and rustic in style, housed in old buildings. A tour of the open-air museum is like an exciting journey through time, exploring the history of the houses and their owners against an idyllic Alpine backdrop. Tip: You are allowed to bring a picnic, and there is no shortage of lovely spots in Ballenberg.
www.ballenberg.ch
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- The Ballenberg Open-Air Museum is home to picturesque old buildings from all 26 cantons
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- Peter Bischoff leads informative guided tours at the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum
Take the gondola or cog railway up Mount Pilatus and stay overnight
In Interlaken, hop on the express train to Lucerne and in about 90 minutes you’ll arrive at the station in the capital of the canton of the same name. Lucerne has many attractions, one of which is its local mountain, the 2,132-metre-high Mount Pilatus, offering a fascinating 360-degree mountain panorama and views over Lake Lucerne. There are three ways to reach the summit: hiking up, which is for the fit and only recommended when the paths are free of snow. Or, between May and November, taking the world’s steepest cog railway. It has been in operation since 1889 and climbs from Alpnachstad in around 30 minutes, with gradients of up to 48 per cent, past flowering alpine meadows; just below the summit, the train passes within touching distance of steep rock faces. It is not uncommon to spot ibex from the carriages, which feature floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass roof.
The other option is to take the gondola from Lucerne-Kriens to Fräkmüntegg. There, you change to the “Dragon Ride” cable car and glide up to the “Drachenberg” – as Mount Pilatus is known, in reference to ancient legends of fire-breathing dragons. Once at the top, the view of the peaks and lakes is simply breathtaking, especially in the reddish-golden light of sunrise or sunset. Fortunately, there are two hotels on the summit. Day visitors must take the last gondola down to the valley at around 5 pm and can only reach Pilatus again on the first gondola in the morning. In the meantime, hotel guests have the summit to themselves.
The Pilatus Kulm opened in 1890, around a year after the inauguration of the cog railway, and has been renovated several times since then. An exhibition traces the hotel’s long history, including Queen Victoria’s visit in the summer of 1868, when she rode up to the Pilatus on a mule in the ladies seat and stayed at the Hotel Bellevue. The Bellevue was originally built in 1860, later burnt down and rebuilt in 1963.
At the Pilatus-Kulm, guests stay in a cosy, elegant four-star hotel with a refined atmosphere that blends mountain charm with grand hotel style. Incidentally, the elegant dining room is named after the British monarch, who, during her trip to Switzerland, sought to come to terms with the grief of her husband’s death.
It is also part of the hotel’s tradition for guests to pause their delicious multi-course dinner to admire the crimson-gold sunset and the sparkling starry sky from the summit.
pilatus.ch
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- Take the panoramic gondola up to Mount Pilatus
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- The red ‘Dragon Ride’ glides towards the summit. From Mount Pilatus, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the picturesque Lake Lucerne
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- The red ‘Dragon Ride’ glides towards the summit. From Mount Pilatus, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the picturesque Lake Lucerne
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- A selfie with a smile on my face thanks to the stunning sunset on Mount Pilatus
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- Perched at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, the four-star Hotel Pilatus Kulm offers a wonderful stay
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- Elegant: the dining room at the Hotel Pilatus Kulm
Grüezi to Lucerne
The bells of the Jesuit Church ring out, ship’s horns sound from Lake Lucerne, seagulls and alpine swifts circle overhead, and on the roughly 660-year-old Chapel Bridge, with its water tower spanning the River Reuss, the people of Lucerne stroll through the market, browsing the fruit, vegetables and deliciously fragrant, tangy mountain cheese. It is an idyllic atmosphere that has a relaxing effect on every visitor. This city of 80,000 inhabitants, the capital of the canton of the same name in Central Switzerland, is the largest town on the picturesque Lake Lucerne, set against a magnificent backdrop of gently rolling alpine meadows, steep rock faces and alpine peaks such as the Pilatus, which stands at a good 2,000 metres.
In “Lozärn” – as the Swiss call it – the old town offers not only a wealth of shops, but also enchanting squares such as Fasnachtsplatz, with the Fritschi Fountain from which drinkable spring water from Mount Pilatus flows. Romantic cobbled streets lead to the Kornmarkt with its Italian Renaissance-style town hall, the richly painted bakers’ guild house, or on to the Ritter Palace. One building more beautiful than the next, and even more so on the lakeside: here stand the magnificent Belle Époque hotels with their turrets and domes, ever since Queen Victoria of England – then the most powerful woman in the world – visited Lucerne in 1868, triggering a boom in tourism that continues to this day. Anyone wishing to learn more about Lucerne’s past can book a themed city tour, such as the ‘Tourist City in 1860’, visit the History Museum or the Swiss Museum of Transport, which traces the history of transport – from the carriage to the steam locomotive.
Would you prefer something a bit more modern? Then a visit to the KKL Concert Hall near the boat landing stage is highly recommended. World-famous orchestras and musical talents from all over the world regularly provide a musical treat here.
Fancy a bite to eat? Lucerne has something to suit every palate: lovers of Swiss cuisine should head to the traditional restaurants “Galliker” or “Zum wilden Mann” and try a Chügelipastetli, for example. Afterwards, enjoy a glass of sparkling wine at the rooftop bar “Montana Beach Club”, with its stunning views of Lake Lucerne, the mountains and the city. Don’t miss a boat trip on the lake, perhaps on the old paddle steamer “Uri” or the large, modern vessel “Diamant”. One final tip: take a train ride up to the “Rigi – the Queen of the Mountains” and go for a hike there. Unforgettably beautiful!
www.luzern.com
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- The landmark of Lucerne: the Kapell Bridge with the Water Tower and Mount Pilatus in the background
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- There are five historic ships operating on Lake Lucerne. The oldest is the Uri
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- Churches and cafés along the banks of the Reuss in Lucerne
Information:
You can, of course, put together your own trip by train or car. However, it can be booked as a perfectly organised tour with a guide, either as a group or individual trip, with various options available at www.bahnurlaub.de
If you cannot find your ideal trip through Switzerland there, you can also enquire about your personal destinations and have them incorporated into the programme as optional extras.
The trip took place at the kind invitation of Bahnurlaub.
Photo credit: Petra Kirsch
