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Interlaken 5-Day Comprehensive

3-Day core + Schilthorn (James Bond) + Schynige Platte + Lake Brienz cruise

Interlaken 5-Day Itinerary — Quick Answer

As of 2026
Trip length
5 days
Est. cost / person (mid, ex-flights)
$1,640
Budget–luxury
$980–$2,730

As of 2026, the recommended Interlaken 5-day route runs Day1 Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe · Day2 Lauterbrunnen + Trümmelbach + Mürren · Day3 Grindelwald + First Cliff Walk + Paragliding · Day4 Schilthorn (James Bond Piz Gloria, 2,970m) · Day5 Schynige Platte + Lake Brienz + Giessbach Falls, grouping the must-see sights with minimal backtracking. Estimated cost per person (excluding flights) is around $1,640 on a mid-range budget. 5 days adds Schilthorn 2,970m (James Bond Piz Gloria) + Schynige Platte 1893 cog railway (alpine flowers) + Lake Brienz cruise + Giessbach Falls.

5-Day Total Budget at a Glance

Budget

$980

Per person, flights excl.

Recommended

Mid-Range

$1,640

Per person, flights excl.

Luxury

$2,730

Per person, flights excl.

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Day-by-Day Detailed Schedule

DAY 1

Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe

Day 1 from 3-day

Activities

Meal Recommendations

Transit:

Same as 3-day Day 1.

DAY 1 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $180 Mid $280 Luxury $450
DAY 2

Lauterbrunnen + Trümmelbach + Mürren

Day 2 from 3-day

Activities

Meal Recommendations

Transit:

Same as 3-day Day 2.

DAY 2 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $150 Mid $230 Luxury $380
DAY 3

Grindelwald + First Cliff Walk + Paragliding

Day 3 from 3-day

Activities

Meal Recommendations

Transit:

Same as 3-day Day 3.

DAY 3 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $200 Mid $350 Luxury $600
DAY 4

Schilthorn (James Bond Piz Gloria, 2,970m)

Bond filming location + revolving restaurant

Activities

  1. 08:30 Train Interlaken Ost → Stechelberg → Schilthorn cable car 1h45 each way

    Train Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → bus to Stechelberg → cable car to Schilthorn (4 stages). 1h45 total.

    Cost: CHF 108 RT cable car (free with Swiss Pass + Schilthorn discount) TIP: Swiss Travel Pass gives Schilthorn 50% off. Cable car 4 stages: Stechelberg → Gimmelwald → Mürren → Birg → Schilthorn.
  2. 10:30 Piz Gloria revolving restaurant + 360° panorama + Bond exhibit 3 hours

    James Bond filming location (On Her Majesty's Secret Service 1969). Revolving Piz Gloria restaurant 360° panorama. Bond exhibit + thrill walk.

    Cost: Included in cable car TIP: Bond Brunch CHF 28 add-on. Thrill Walk (suspended cliff path) free. Allow 90 min for full revolution.
  3. 13:30 Bond Brunch at Piz Gloria revolving restaurant 1.5 hours

    Bond Brunch CHF 28 (Swiss + international) at revolving restaurant 2,970m. 360° Eiger/Mönch/Jungfrau panorama.

    Cost: CHF 28 add-on TIP: Reserve in advance summer. Most-iconic Swiss lunch experience.
  4. 15:30 Return via Mürren village walk 2 hours

    Cable car back to Mürren station → walk car-free village → cable car/train to Interlaken.

    Cost: Included in RT TIP: Mürren village atmospheric. Walk to Allmendhubel funicular for additional view. Train via Grütschalp scenic alternative.
  5. 18:30 Late afternoon Lake Thun cruise 2 hours

    Boat cruise on Lake Thun from Interlaken West to Spiez. 1.5h scenic.

    Cost: CHF 30 (free Swiss Pass) TIP: Last boats 18:00-19:00 summer. Sunset over lake magical. Boat restaurant available.
  6. 20:30 Late dinner Husi Bierhaus (traditional Swiss) 1.5 hours

    Husi Bierhaus traditional rösti + älplermagronen + Bernese specialties.

    Cost: CHF 25-50 TIP: Hauptbahnhof West area. Locals' choice.

Meal Recommendations

Breakfast

Hotel + grab-and-go

Interlaken · CHF 10-25

Lunch

Bond Brunch Piz Gloria 2,970m

Schilthorn · CHF 28-50

Dinner

Husi Bierhaus

Bahnhof West · CHF 25-50

Traditional Swiss rösti + Bernese.

Transit:

Train + bus + 4-stage cable car to Schilthorn. Swiss Travel Pass essential.

DAY 4 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $220 Mid $380 Luxury $600
DAY 5

Schynige Platte + Lake Brienz + Giessbach Falls

1893 cog railway + alpine flowers + lake cruise

Activities

  1. 08:30 Train + cog railway to Schynige Platte (1,967m) 1.5h each way

    Train Interlaken Ost → Wilderswil → 1893 historic cog railway up Schynige Platte (35 min). Alpine flowers + panorama.

    Cost: CHF 67 RT (free Swiss Pass) TIP: Cog railway May-October only. Pre-WWI 1893 historic. Alpine garden 600+ wildflowers.
  2. 10:30 Schynige Platte panorama trail (2h hike) 3 hours

    2-hour panorama trail along ridge — alpine flowers + 360° Bernese Alps view + alpine garden.

    Cost: Free with rail ticket TIP: Easy hike (low difficulty). Bring snacks + water. Alpine garden free with cog railway ticket.
  3. 13:30 Lunch at Schynige Platte mountain restaurant 1 hour

    Restaurant Schynige Platte — Swiss mountain food + Bernese specialties + panoramic view.

    Cost: CHF 25-50 TIP: Reservation summer recommended. Mountain prices premium.
  4. 15:00 Return cog railway + Lake Brienz boat to Giessbach Falls 2 hours

    Cog railway back to Wilderswil → boat to Giessbach Falls. 1h boat cruise on Lake Brienz turquoise water.

    Cost: CHF 30 boat (free Swiss Pass) TIP: Most-iconic Swiss lake cruise. Photos of terraced vineyards opposite shore.
  5. 17:00 Giessbach Falls + 1875 funicular to Grandhotel Giessbach 2 hours

    Giessbach Falls cascade + 1875 historic funicular up to Grandhotel Giessbach (1875 grand hotel).

    Cost: CHF 7 funicular (free Swiss Pass) TIP: Funicular Apr-Oct. Lunch at Grandhotel Giessbach view restaurant if not done lunch.
  6. 19:30 Farewell dinner at Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel (or Hotel du Nord) 2.5 hours

    Luxury farewell at Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel — 1856 historic + classical luxury + view restaurant.

    Cost: CHF 60-150 TIP: Reservation 1-2 weeks ahead. Smart dress. Sat-night dinner CHF 80-150.

Meal Recommendations

Breakfast

Hotel + grab-and-go

Interlaken · CHF 10-25

Lunch

Schynige Platte restaurant

Schynige Platte 1,967m · CHF 25-50

Dinner

Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel

Höheweg · CHF 60-150

1856 historic luxury farewell.

Transit:

Train + cog railway + boat + funicular. Swiss Travel Pass covers all.

DAY 5 Estimated Spend (per person, flights excl.)

Budget $230 Mid $400 Luxury $700

Book Interlaken Tours & Tickets

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Interlaken 5-Day Itinerary FAQ

Schilthorn vs Jungfraujoch — which is better? ▼
Both spectacular but different. Jungfraujoch (3,454m): higher + ice palace + glacier + premium experience CHF 240 RT. Schilthorn (2,970m): James Bond + revolving restaurant + cheaper CHF 108 RT + less crowded. Visit both if 5+ days.
Is Schynige Platte worth it? ▼
Yes for hikers + nature lovers — 1893 pre-WWI cog railway + alpine flowers (600+ varieties) + easy 2h panorama trail. CHF 67 RT (free Swiss Pass). May-October only. Less crowded than Jungfraujoch.
Giessbach Falls + 1875 funicular? ▼
Yes — Lake Brienz boat cruise (CHF 30, free Swiss Pass) + 1875 historic funicular up to Grandhotel Giessbach (CHF 7). Half-day combination. Iconic Swiss lake + historic transport experience.

Looking for Different Trip Lengths?

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Interlaken 3-Day Itinerary

Quick first-visit essentials

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Interlaken 7-Day Itinerary

Complete trip with deeper neighborhood time

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Why you can trust 5-day itinerary

Jimmy Kong TripPick founder · Travel content creator

Based in Chiang Mai for 8+ years, with 30+ countries visited across Southeast Asia, Japan, and Europe. Every detail in this guide is primary-source verified as of April 2026, with prices auto-refreshed via live exchange rate APIs. This isn't AI-generated boilerplate — it's written from the perspective of someone who has actually been there.

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