Ways To Spend 3 Days In Interlaken & Jungfrau Region

Once-in-a-lifetime adventures, spectacular natural wonders, and impressive engineering marvels summarize any visitor’s overall experience in the Jungfrau Region. Where’s the best place to start visiting Jungfrau Region’s best attractions? In Interlaken.

At the doorstep of the Jungfrau Region and easily accessible from big cities, Interlaken is often the choice of many visitors as their home base in visiting the Jungfrau Region. So, are you also planning to visit Interlaken? Here’s my answer if you will ask me: how many days are enough in Interlaken?

Three days are enough in Interlaken to have the best things the Jungfrau Region can offer: adventure, nature, & unique attractions. Specifically, they are the fun outdoor activities in Grindelwald, a relaxing boat tour in Lake Thun or Lake Brienz, and a visit to the stunning Lauterbrunnen and Jungfraujoch.

In this blog post, I will give you ideas of how you can spend 3 days in Interlaken, visiting different tourist attractions in the Jungfrau region. But before anything, you might want to have more ideas of the places of interest in the Jungfrau region first. 

Since there are many places to go and things to do in the Jungfrau Region, I separated the discussion of the Jungfrau Region’s destinations and points of interest into three:

1. Interlaken (10 reasons to visit) — this post discusses the tourist attractions near the town of Interlaken. Also, the places to see in Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
2. Grindelwald (10 best things to do) — in this article, you can find most of the adventurous activities in the Jungfrau region, which are accessible from the village center.
3. Lauterbrunnen (10 reasons to visit) — here, you can learn more about the quaint villages of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the unmissable attractions in the Jungfrau region.

They’ll give you the complete picture of what you can experience in the Jungfrau region. Of course, they’ll also help you decide if 3 days in Interlaken/the Jungfrau region are enough for you.

Alternatively, you can check my 1 to 7-day Interlaken Itinerary to see a “list summary” of the top attractions in the Jungfrau Region. Visiting information is also included in the post. 

I also have a 3-to-14-day Switzerland Itinerary Itinerary. Check that out to get an idea of how you can visit the Jungfrau Region with other beautiful places in Switzerland. The entire itinerary starts with Zurich and ends with Geneva.

Aside from the Jungfrau region, you can also find some cities near the Swiss Alps (Sion, Brig, Thun, Lucerne, and Montreux) and other beautiful villages in the Swiss Alps in my Switzerland itinerary.

Let’s begin the discussion by further knowing if 3 days are really enough to visit Interlaken or the Jungfrau Region.

Are 3 Days Enough In Interlaken?

Ideally, you need 7 days to experience everything the Jungfrau Region offers. However, 3 days in Interlaken should be enough (1) because you can already have the top experiences in the Jungfrau region within 3 days; (2) if you consider the length of your Switzerland trip and other attractions you’ll visit.

Examples of the things you should consider:

1. Length of your Switzerland trip: If you only have 7 days in Switzerland, spending all your time in the Jungfrau Region sounds like a bad idea. You should see other beautiful places in Switzerland besides the Jungfrau Region. I suggest 2 days in the cities, 2 days in Zermatt, and 3 days in the Jungfrau Region. You might like to discover places like Kandersteg and Gruyeres.
2. Other places you’ll visit in Switzerland: Let’s say you’re also visiting Lucerne on your Switzerland trip, and you plan to have boat tours in Lake Lucerne. With that, I think it’s already okay to skip the boat tours in Lake Thun/Lake Brienz (the two lakes in the Jungfrau Region). That’s a -1 day of the 7-day ideal length of stay in the Jungfrau Region, and you can find more to have the same effect.

Learn more about the places previously mentioned:

1. Zermatt: 10 Reasons To Visit Zermatt & 10 Best Views In Zermatt
2. Kandersteg: 10 Best Things To Do In Kandersteg & How To Visit
3. Gruyeres: 10 Best Reasons Why You Should Visit Gruyères

You might also want to consider the season you’ll go to Interlaken. Some attractions are not accessible to the public (i.e., during winter). With fewer tourist attractions you can visit, the shorter your stay in Interlaken is.

In my post about How Many Days You Should Spend In Interlaken And Jungfrau Region, I explained why you need 7 days to fully experience the Jungfrau Region. It also contains a full discussion of the different considerations that can help you decide how long to stay in Interlaken.

Anyway…

Definitely, you can only spend 1 day or 2 days in the Jungfrau Region or Interlaken. However, you might miss a lot of fun, awe-inspiring views or marvelous attractions if you only stay in the Jungfrau Region or Interlaken for only a day or two.

3-Day Interlaken Itinerary: How To Spend 3 Days In The Jungfrau Region

In this part, you can find a sample itinerary of how you can visit Interlaken and explore the Jungfrau Region in three days. This itinerary covers the ultimate destinations in the Jungfrau region—showing that 3 days are enough in Interlaken.

Here are the ultimate destinations in the Jungfrau Region:

1. For adventure: Grindelwald (Grindelwald First and Short hike to Bachalpsee)
2. For nature: Lake Thun and Lake Brienz
3. For unique attraction: Lauterbrunnen (village of Lauterbrunnen and Jungfraujoch)

In this 3-Day Interlaken Itinerary, your home base is the town of Interlaken. You can find a place to stay in Interlaken from this link. Why Interlaken?

1. Quick and easy access (walking distance) to Lake Thun/Lake Brienz’s port, just outside Interlaken Ost.
2. Grindelwald is only one train ride away from Interlaken.
3. Lauterbrunnen is also only one train ride away from Interlaken.
4. Most day trips start in Interlaken (a common meeting point).

Day 1: Lauterbrunnen & Jungfraujoch

The first day of this 3-day Interlaken itinerary lets you experience the most unique part of the Jungfrau Region: Lauterbrunnen and Jungfraujoch. In simplest words, here’s why you should see them:

1. Lauterbrunnen — it’s the village located in the “heaven on earth” valley of Switzerland.
2. Jungfraujoch — a marvel of engineering that’s the highest railway station in Europe. Here you can find an ice cave, see the largest glacier in the alps, and more. 

I set Lauterbrunnen and Jungfraujoch together on Day 1 of this Interlaken Itinerary because:

1. Seeing Lauterbrunnen would only require a short time
2. Jungfraujoch almost takes a day to finish visiting
3. It’s simple to visit Jungfraujoch from Lauterbrunnen (route: Lauterbrunnen-Kleine Scheidegg-Jungfraujoch)

Here are the details:

• 6:00 am — Leave Interlaken
• 6:30 am — Arrival at Lauterbrunnen. Have a nice stroll and eat breakfast.
• 8:30 am — Depart Lauterbrunnen for Jungfraujoch
• 9:30 am — Arrival at Kleine Scheidegg, switch to Jungfrau Railway
• 10:00 am — Arrival at Jungfraujoch. Enjoy!
• 4:00 pm — Depart Jungfraujoch for Interlaken.
• 6:00 pm — Back to Interlaken. Stroll and explore the town.

The timestamps are only approximated.

You might need these for day 1:

1. Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass
2. Jungfraujoch Train Round Trip Tickets

Note: Some passes/tickets have overlapping coverage.

Learn more about these attractions from my post about Lauterbrunnen (10 reasons to visit). 

If you are interested in visiting the Lauterbrunnen Valley, check these out:

1. Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: How To Spend 1 to 3 Days In Lauterbrunnen
2. How To Visit Lauterbrunnen And Make Your Own Itinerary

Day 2: Adventure in Grindelwald First & Bachalpsee Hike

The second day of this 3-day Interlaken itinerary lets you have the best adventures in the Jungfrau Region. You can have adventures in Grindelwald, where you can also visit Bachalpsee. This picturesque lake invertedly reflects the peaks of the Jungfrau massif.

Here are the details: 

• 6:00 am — Leave Interlaken 
• 6:30 am — Arrival at Grindelwald. Have a nice stroll and eat breakfast.
• 8:30 am — Depart Grindelwald village to Grindelwald-First (via cable car)
• 9:00 am — Enjoy the activities in Grindelwald First (Flieger, Cliff Walk), Schreckfeld (Glider, Mountain Cart), and Bort (Trottibike).
• 2:30 pm — Back to Grindelwald First station and start the hike to Bachalpsee.
• 3:30 pm — Arrival at Bachalpsee Sightsee and relax in Bachalpsee.
• 4:00 pm — Leave Bachalpsee back to Grindelwald First station.
• 5:00 pm — Return to Grindelwald village from Grindelwald First station.
• 6:00 pm — Back to Interlaken. Go to Lake Thun and watch the sunset.

The goal of leaving early in Interlaken is, of course, to arrive early in Grindelwald. The lines for the activities and attractions in Grindelwald First and its stations can be lengthy, especially during the peak season. You must be early, so you don’t waste time waiting in line.

Double-check the first and last cable car ride to and from Grindelwald First. 

You might need this for day 2: Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass.

Learn more about these adventures and outdoor activities from my post about Grindelwald (10 Best Things To Do).

Day 3: Relaxation Day Boat Rides & Sightseeing

Since Day 2 will be fun yet can also be exhausting, you need to relax the next day after! That’s what the 3rd day of this 3-day Interlaken itinerary is all about. You will begin the day at Harder Kulm for an overlooking view of the lakes you’ll visit for the day.

Here are the details:

• 7:30 am — breakfast at the hotel
• 9:10 am — Funicular to Harder Kulm
• 9:30 am — Sightseeing. Eat snacks in the castle-like restaurant
• 11:30 am — Back to Interlaken
• 12:00 pm — Hop on a boat/cruise (Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West) to start the sightseeing in Lake Thun/Lake Brienz.
  • Disembark the boat at Oberhofen to visit Oberhofen Castle beside lake Thun.
  • Or alight at Iseltwald for a stroll in its lovely village beside lake Brienz.

During this day’s afternoon, you can spend all your time on a boat sightseeing or on a wine tasting cruise. Lake Thun and Brienz have beautiful mountain scenery and glittering turquoise waters. It’ll be up to you which lake to visit.

You might need these for Day 3:

1. Boat pass (Unlimited boat rides in Lake Thun & Lake Brienz) or Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass
2. Harder Kulm skip-the-line round trip ticket

Note: Some passes/tickets have overlapping coverage.

Discover more about Harder Kulm, Lake Thun, and Lake Brienz from my post about Interlaken (10 Reasons To Visit).

3-Day Interlaken Itinerary: How To Spend 3 Days In The Jungfrau Region

There are more places to visit and things to do in the Jungfrau Region besides Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Lake Thun, and Lake Brienz. If you check my Interlaken Itinerary (for 1 day to 1 week), you’ll see that the fun in Jungfrau Region does not end in the five mentioned places.

And obviously, it means more ways to visit Interlaken and the Jungfrau Region. If you need more ideas about how you can explore this beautiful place within 3 days, here are my suggestions based on different travel preferences:

1. Have Unique Mountaintop Experiences
2. See The Bests Of Lake Thun And Brienz
3. Discover Culture In The Jungfrau Region
4. Visit The Most Instagrammable Spots
5. Experience Fun And Adventure

For items 1 to 4, my suggested home base is in Interlaken. You can find the best hotel deals in Interlaken here.

3-day Interlaken Itinerary: Have Unique Mountaintop Experiences

As you may have discovered from the list of things to do in Interlaken, the mountain peaks in the Jungfrau region are not ordinary. From the top, you not only see stunning views but also rare wonders and impressive engineering marvels. 

One of the ways you can spend 3 days in Interlaken or in the Jungfrau region is to get to these mountain peaks and marvel at the most incredible works of man and nature. In this case, I suggest you include Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, Harder Kulm, and Mannlichen. 

Day 1

• Morning: Harder Kulm
• Afternoon: Mannlichen + hike to Kleine Scheidegg

Day 2: Schilthorn and Birg + a short stroll in Murren or Gimmelwald

Day 3: Jungfraujoch + a quick stop in Lauterbrunnen

You might need the following passes/skip-the-line tickets:

1. Harder Kulm
2. Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass
3. Jungfraujoch train tickets
4. Schilthorn Cable Car round-trip ticket

Note: Some passes/tickets have overlapping coverage.

3-day Interlaken Itinerary: See The Bests Of Lake Thun And Brienz

Mountain peaks in the Jungfrau region are stunning, as are the lakes. Suppose you’re into a relaxing trip or vacation. In that case, Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, the lakes sandwiching Interlaken, will probably help you accomplish your refreshing getaway. 

How? Well, first of all, there are no tiring hikes involved. Then, most of the time, you will be just sightseeing in the boat while drinking beers or cocktails, with your backs laid on your comforting seats. There will be no long commute on trains or cable car rides.

So, how can you spend 3-days in Interlaken, mainly visiting the lakes? Check these out:

Day 1: Cruising in Lake Thun

• Morning: Saint Beatus Caves
• Afternoon: Oberhofen Castle

Day 2: Cruising in Lake Brienz

• Morning: Iseltwald
• Afternoon: Brienz

Day 3: Sightseeing the lakes

• Morning: Harder Kulm to see the stunning overlooking views of the two lakes you visited
• Afternoon: Schynige Platte to see another breathtaking view of Interlaken and the lakes

You might need the following passes/skip-the-line tickets:

1. Boat pass (Unlimited boat rides in Lake Thun & Lake Brienz) or Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass
2. Harder Kulm skip-the-line round trip ticket

Note: Some passes/tickets have overlapping coverage.

3-day Interlaken Itinerary: Discover Culture In The Jungfrau Region

Jungfrau region may be known for breathtaking scenery and adventures, but did you know that there’s a lot else you can discover from this place too? Like the culture and the daily lives of the people living in the region.

Believe me, if you have an interest, they can be the most memorable experience you may get from spending days in the Jungfrau region/Interlaken.

If you’re interested, I suggest that you use this 3-day Interlaken Itinerary below:

• Day 1
  • Morning until lunch: Schynige Platte. Ride the nostalgic train and watch the alphorn performance in front of the hotel.
  • Afternoon: Grindelwald. Visit the museum to learn about the alpinists and the things used by the locals in their daily lives.
• Day 2: Lake Brienz
  • Morning: Iseltwald
  • Afternoon: Brienz
• Day 3: Lauterbrunnen, Murren, Gimmelwald. 

You might need the following passes/skip-the-line tickets: A boat pass (Unlimited boat rides in Lake Thun & Lake Brienz), Jungfrau Travel Pass, or the Swiss Travel Pass.

Note: Some passes/tickets have overlapping coverage.

3-day Interlaken Itinerary: Visit The Most Instagrammable Spots

Jungfrau region is packed with beautiful Instagrammable scenery to fill your digital storage with photos and videos. I’m positive that a 3-day photography trip to Interlaken can provide a month-long Insta feed of new pictures and videos every day.

Based on the accounts and photos I found on Instagram, the following places in the Jungfrau region should have the most Instagrammable spots. I arranged them into an itinerary, each destination closest to another:

Day 1 

• Morning: Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mannlichen. As much as possible, catch the sunrise in either Evangelical Church in Wengen, or Staubbach Falls, Lauterbrunnen village.
• Afternoon: Grindelwald, Bachalpsee

Day 2

• Morning: Lake Brienz and Iseltwald
• Lunch: Harder Kulm
• Afternoon: Lake Thun and Oberhofen Castle

Day 3: Schilthorn (Piz Gloria) and Brig (Thrill Walk), viewpoint in Murren and Gimmelwald (Centuries-old chalets)

You might need the following passes/skip-the-line tickets:

1. Harder Kulm
2. Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass
3. Boat pass (Unlimited boat rides in Lake Thun & Lake Brienz)
4. Schilthorn Cable Car round-trip ticket

Note: Some passes/tickets have overlapping coverage.

3-day Interlaken Itinerary: Experience Fun And Adventure

Interlaken is the adventure capital of Switzerland. One of the reasons you’ll come here is to have fun and feel some adrenaline rush, right? If that is the case, then here’s what I can suggest for your 3-day stay in Interlaken or Jungfrau region:

Day 1

• Morning: Watersports in Lake Thun or Lake Brienz
• Afternoon: Paragliding from mount Niesen

Day 2: 

• Morning: Canyon Swing in Grindelwald Glacier Canyon
• Afternoon: Grindelwald First-Trottibike, First-Glider, First-Flieger, Mountain Cart, Cliff-Walk.
• Night: Stay in Berggasthaus First to catch the sunrise in Bachalpsee (next day)

Day 3:

• Early morning: Start the First-Schynige Platte hike
• Late afternoon: Harder Kulm

See all the adventurous things to do in the Jungfrau Region from this link.

Every suggested 3-day Interlaken itinerary has a home base in Interlaken aside from the adventure itinerary. You have to book accommodation in Berggasthaus First for a night to start hiking in Schynige Platte very early the next day. The sunrise in Bachalpsee should be spectacular.

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