Lucerne or Interlaken: Where to stay?

When you’re going to Switzerland, there are plenty of beautiful places you can visit. Two of the best cities are Lucerne and Interlaken. Both of these cities have many stunning highlights that you should totally visit and contain some amazing hotels to stay in. However, when you have to make the choice between Lucerne or Interlaken: where to stay? We will compare the two cities with each other and tell you everything you need to know about all of the advantages and disadvantages of both spots. This way, you can make your own decision on where to stay.

Lucerne vs. Interlaken: Comparison

Lucerne	Interlaken
Canton: Lucerne	Canton: Bern (Bernese Oberland)
Language: German	Language: German
Population: approx. 80’000	Population: approx. 5’600
Elevation: 435 m	Elevation: 568 m
Total Area: 37.4 km²	Total Area: 4.4 km²
Lake: Lake Lucerne	Lake: Lake Thun (West) & Lake Brienz (East)
River: Reuss	River: Aare

Lucerne as Base

Lucerne is a beautiful city that’s located in the central part of Switzerland. When you get to Lucerne, you’ll find that it’s actually quite an old city. This is what makes the city so romantic as well, because there are plenty of museums and historic spots you can visit. It is located near the Alps and the perfect base if you want to go hiking in nature. It’s also quite a small city, which makes it a nice place for a relaxing get-away.

Attractions in Lucerne

Here is a list of some of the attractions and things to see in the city of Lucerne:

• Chapel Bridge: This is one of the two wooden pedestrian bridges in Lucerne, and it is the world’s oldest surviving truss bridge. It is also one of the most photographed attractions in Switzerland.
• Spreuer Bridge: This picturesque covered walkway over the water features ancient paintings representing the Totentanz (The Dance of Death). It is one of the two covered wooden footbridges in Lucerne (Chapel Bridge is the other).
• Reuss Weir: The historic Reuss weir is an outstanding example of 19th century engineering. It is a dam that can be seen from the Spreuer Bridge when it is open.
• Swiss Transport Museum: This museum is home to more than 3,000 objects related to the history of transportation in Switzerland. It is a great place to learn about the country’s rich transportation history.
• City Hall: The Town Hall on Kornmarkt is an officially designated cultural monument and is considered one of Switzerland’s most attractive public buildings. It is built in the Renaissance style and hovers beautifully over the Reuss River in the Lucerne Old Town section.
• Old Town Square: This is the heart of the city and a great place to explore. It runs along the Reuss River between City Hall and the Chapel Bridge.
• Swiss Museum of Transport: This museum is home to a collection of more than 30,000 objects related to the history of transportation in Switzerland. It is a great place to learn about the country’s rich transportation history.
• Lion Monument: This monument is a sculpture of a dying lion carved into the rock. It was created in memory of the Swiss mercenaries who died during the French Revolution.
• Lucerne Culture and Congress Centre: This modern building is home to a variety of cultural events, including concerts, theater performances, and exhibitions.

Places and Mountains near Lucerne

• Mount Pilatus: A popular destination for a mountain excursion, Mount Pilatus offers breathtaking views of the surrounding region. You can take a scenic boat ride across Lake Lucerne and then ride the world’s steepest cogwheel railway to the top of the mountain.
• Mount Titlis: Another popular mountain excursion, Mount Titlis is located in the Engelberg region and offers stunning panoramic views of the surrounding Alps. You can take the aerial cableway up to the summit and participate in a variety of activities, such as snow sports and paragliding.

Advantages of Staying in Lucerne

When you’re staying in Lucerne during your trip to Switzerland, there are a few advantages to choosing this city as your base. One of the biggest advantages is how close the city is to the mountains. Lucerne is really close to the Alps and this makes it the perfect base when you want to go hiking or be close to nature. The scenery in Lucerne is also really impressive thanks to the mountains overlooking the lake.

Another advantage of Lucerne is that it’s very easy to get around here. The town is small and compact, which gives it a wonderful atmosphere. There are also plenty of fun museums you can visit during your stay in Lucerne and historical highlights to see. Lastly, Lucerne is very popular among couples who are looking for a romantic place to stay together. The city has a romantic atmosphere because of how small it is and thanks to the stunning scenery. Especially during the summer you can see some truly beautiful sights here.

Interlaken as Base

Although Lucerne is not an exceptionally large city, Interlaken is even smaller and is more of a town than a city. Interlaken is also located near the mountains, more specifically the Bernese Alps. These are more impressive to see as well, because these are higher than the mountains around lake Lucerne. Interlaken can be found between 2 lakes and there are a lot of towns nearby which you can visit during your stay. The city is best known for its amazing location in between the lakes and the mountains, but there are plenty of other activities to do here as well.

Attractions in Interlaken

Here are some of the top attractions and things to do in Interlaken:

• Go paragliding in Interlaken: The town is known for its thrilling outdoor sports, and paragliding is one of the most popular activities. There are several companies that offer tandem paragliding rides, where you’ll soar through the air with a certified instructor. It’s an incredible way to experience the beauty of the Swiss Alps from a bird’s eye view.
• Take a boat tour: Both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz offer beautiful boat tours that take you around the lakes and through the surrounding valleys. You’ll get to see charming towns and villages, as well as some of the most picturesque natural landscapes in Switzerland.
• Go Skiing or Snowboarding in the Bernese Alps: Interlaken is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, making it an excellent destination for winter sports enthusiasts. There are several ski resorts located within a short drive of the town, offering a range of slopes for all skill levels. Some popular options include Grindelwald, Mürren, and Wengen. In addition to skiing and snowboarding, there are also other winter activities available, such as cross-country skiing, sledding, and ice skating.
• Visit Lake Brienz: Lake Brienz is a beautiful lake located in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland, and it’s a great place to visit while you’re in Interlaken. The lake is known for its crystal clear water, which is a stunning turquoise color, and its beautiful surroundings. There are plenty of activities to do on the lake, such as boating, fishing, swimming, and hiking.
• Explore Iseltwald: Located on the shores of Lake Brienz, Iseltwald is a charming village that is worth a visit while you’re in Interlaken. The village is known for its picturesque houses and streets, which are lined with flowers in the summer. There are also several restaurants and shops in the village, where you can sample local specialties and pick up souvenirs.
• Visit the Giessbach Falls: The Giessbach Falls are a series of waterfalls located in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland, near Interlaken. The falls are located in a beautiful park, which offers great views of the falls and the surrounding landscape. You can take a hike through the park to get closer to the falls, or you can take a boat tour from Lake Brienz to get a unique view of the falls from below.
• The Swiss Open-Air Museum: This museum, located in Ballenberg, is a great destination for those interested in Swiss history and culture. It features more than 100 traditional houses and farms, as well as workshops, exhibits, and demonstrations of traditional crafts.

Places and Mountains near Interlaken

• Visit the Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe: The Jungfraujoch, also known as the “Top of Europe,” is a popular day trip from Interlaken. Located at an elevation of over 11,000 feet, it offers stunning views of the surrounding mountains, including the famous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks. To reach the Jungfraujoch, you’ll take a scenic train ride through the mountains, passing through tunnels and past beautiful waterfalls. Once at the top, you can visit the ice palace, an attraction made entirely of ice, or take a walk along the Aletsch Glacier, the largest glacier in the Alps.
• Visit the Harder Kulm Viewpoint: For panoramic views of Interlaken and the surrounding mountains, head to the Harder Kulm Viewpoint. Located just a short cable car ride from the town, the viewpoint offers breathtaking vistas of the region.In addition to the views, the Harder Kulm also offers a range of activities, such as hiking trails, a restaurant, and a children’s playground.
• Visit the Schilthorn: Located about a 30-minute drive from Interlaken, the Schilthorn is a mountain peak with a rotating restaurant that offers 360-degree views of the surrounding Alps. You can take a cable car up to the summit, where you’ll find the Piz Gloria restaurant, which was featured in the James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” The views from the top are absolutely breathtaking, and it’s the perfect spot to enjoy a Swiss lunch or dinner while taking in the scenery.

Advantages of Staying in Interlaken

If you would choose to stay in Interlaken during your trip to Switzerland, there are a few advantages. One of the biggest advantages of staying in Interlaken is that you would be very close to the famous Jungfrau Region with the Jungfrau, Eiger and Monch peaks. The location of the city is perfect if you want to go hiking and discover the stunning nature of Switzerland, because Interlaken is located between the beautiful lakes Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, which gives visitors plenty of nature and mountains to explore.

Another advantage of staying in Interlaken is that there are plenty of great towns and cities nearby that you could visit during your stay. You could go to Spiez, Oberhofen Castle or Thun for example. There are multiple castles nearby to visit as well so make sure you check at least some of them out if you’re going to Interlaken. When you go to Interlaken instead of Lucerne you’ll also find that the city is much smaller, which is often a huge advantage. This means that the city is perfect for more of a getaway if you want a peaceful town as your base for your trip. 

Which is the Better Base – Lucerne or Interlaken?

If you would choose a city based on the hotels, shops and restaurants they have there, it’s probably best to choose Lucerne. Lucerne is a larger city than Interlaken and therefore has more shops and restaurants you can choose from. You can find all kinds of restaurants here, like Swiss or Italian restaurants, and there’s plenty to choose from no matter what your budget is. When it comes to the hotel you’re staying at, it doesn’t really matter which city you choose, because they both have amazing hotels for every budget. However, Lucerne will have more hotels for you to choose from, because the city is simply larger.

Hotel, Shops and Restaurants – Lucerne vs. Interlaken

If you would choose a city based on the hotels, shops and restaurants they have there, it’s probably best to choose for Lucerne. Lucerne is a larger city than Interlaken and therefor has more shops and restaurants you can choose from. You can find all kinds of restaurants here, like Swiss or Italian restaurants, and there’s plenty to choose from no matter what your budget is. When it comes to the hotel you’re staying at, it doesn’t really matter which city you choose, because they both have amazing hotels for every budget. However, Lucerne will have more hotels for you to choose from, because the city is simply larger.

Which City is Closer to the Mountains – Lucerne or Interlaken?

Both Lucerne and Interlaken are located quite close to the mountains. However, the mountains nearby Interlaken are higher than the mountains near Lucerne and this makes them more impressive as well. Many people choose to go to Interlaken during their trip to Switzerland instead of Lucerne, because of the stunning Swiss Alps and the mountains that surround the lakes next to Interlaken. You could go to the Harder Kulm for example, which is 1.321 meters high or the Schilthorn, which is an impressive 2970 meters high! You will also have more mountains to choose from if you go to Interlaken instead of Lucerne, which is a huge advantage for people who want to visit multiple mountains during their trip.

Which City is Better for a Short Stay – Lucerne or Interlaken?

If you’re planning on only going to Switzerland for a short amount of time, it’s probably best to visit Lucerne. Although Interlaken is a smaller city than Lucerne, Interlaken has more mountains nearby you can visit and therefore it’s best to visit this city when you’re going on a longer trip. Lucerne is small enough to be able to explore the entire city in the few days that you’re staying there. Meanwhile you’ll still have enough time to explore the nearby mountains as well, which means that you can definitely get the most out of your trip if you go to Lucerne.