Interlaken, Switzerland
- Pearls of Switzerland
- May 13, 2021
- 9 min read
Updated: May 15, 2021
Where it all began: namely, with tourism in Switzerland…
Tourism began in Switzerland with British mountaineers climbing the main peaks of the Bernese Alps in the early 19th century.
The construction of the Jungfrau Railway in the early 20th century made the area one of the most-visited places in the Alps.
The beauty of the scenery and the facilities offered to travellers by the general extension of mountain railways make the Bernese Oberland one of the most visited by tourists. Since strangers first began to visit the Alps, the names of Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken have become famous.
About Interlaken
Interlaken is an important and well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, and the main transport gateway to the mountains and lakes of that region. It has around 6'000 inhabitants.
The official language of Interlaken is Swiss Standard German, but the main spoken language is the local variant of the Alemannic German Swiss German dialect.
Sister-Cities are Otsu in Japan - Scottsdale, Arizona in USA – Třeboň in Tschechoslovakia – Huangshan in China and Zeuthen in Germany. Interlaken is located between two lakes, Brienz to the east and Thun to the west, and alongside the river Aare, which flows between them.
The famous high Alpine peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau are all easy to reach from Interlaken. We recommend to visit Mürren and the Schilthorn with its spectacular views! The Schilthorn is one of the best places to view the Jungfrau massif. At an altitude of 2’970 m, on a ridge, you can enjoy a 360° view of the Bernese Oberland. Piz Gloria, was featured in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service.
A five star luxury romantic Hotel with heartfelt hospitality who does pay attention to everything. Enjoy a privileged and picturesque location in Interlaken, between 2 beautiful lakes at the foot of the eternally snow-capped Jungfrau.
Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa *****
Höheweg 41, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland
Website: victoria-jungfrau.ch
The Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa is a member of Leading Hotels of the World and Swiss Deluxe Hotels and is owned and managed by Michel Reybier Hospitality which is dedicated in providing exceptional luxury accommodations.
Read here about the history
Number of rooms:
216, of which 106 are junior suites or suites
Superior or Deluxe Double Rooms from 21 – 25 m2
Superior or Deluxe Junior Suites from 35 - 40 m2
Suites from 70 m2 - 85 m2 and one Tower Suite with 215 m2
Spa Suites with garden view, 65m2
VJ Club Rooms incl. the following services:
Air-condition guaranteed
Soft drinks in minibar free of charge (refilled once a day)
One free 0.375 l bottle of champagne from the minibar during the stay
Transfer from the Interlaken East or West train station on arrival and departure
Personal in-room check-in
Good to know:
Family-friendly hotel with connecting rooms and complimentary cots are available on request.
Excellent also for solo travelers - great facilities and location!
5’500 sqm Spa including a separate ladies-only area
Restaurants: La Terrasse - Ristorante Sapori - Victoria Terrace - Victoria Bar - Spa Bistro
Good to know:
La Terrasse, 16 Gault Millau points - Dress code!
Victoria Bar is one of the 20 best hotel bars in Switzerland
Check-in: from 3pm
Check-out: from midnight – 12am
Some ideas for rainy days:
Stay in Interlaken for some shopping or some culture & leisture
Visit the national capital Bern
Visit the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Meiringen
St. Beatus Caves (wear good and comfortable shoes – think with 10’000 steps and stairs you have to take)
The concierge team will help you to find the right activity. By the way, Mr. José Maria is head concierge and works 34 years for the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa. They also have e-bikes you can take for free.
Languages: German, English, French, Italian, Arabic
I recommend this hotel not only for leisure but also for business meetings and events. With 22 special event rooms for 12 to 400 persons it is one of the best addresses in Switzerland.
My trip to Interlaken 3 days/2nights
Day 1 – arrival
By car I drove from my home in Hergiswil am See via Brünig, Meiringen to Interlaken. My first stop was on the Brünig Pass where you can shop in a Brocante your first Swiss Souvenir. They have 2nd hand items from cow bells to silver cutlery. Even the Luzern – Interlaken Express train stops here. It is nice to make a short break and have a look inside where you can find a rare item or a real bargain. Continuing the way to Interlaken my next stop was the Sherlock Holmes Museum in Meiringen. Only one year after the Sherlock Holmes Museum opened on Baker Street in London, in Meiringen near the Reichenbach Waterfalls followed the next museum dedicated to the detective. But who is Sherlock Holmes? All who love to read detective stories know the character. Sherlock Holmes is a fictional private detective created by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Arriving to my destination
Interlaken is an important and well-known tourist destination in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, and the main transport gateway to the mountains and lakes of that region. It has around 5’930 inhabitants (2019).
The Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa is settled in the most luxurious shopping street of Interlaken. I parked my car in front of the hotel and immediately I was welcomed by the portier. He took care of my luggage and my car and the check-in was smoothly done. I was booked in a spacious newly renovated Deluxe Junior Suite with oak parquet flooring on the first floor with a fantastic view of the Jungfrau.
The Deluxe Junior Suite on the first floor can be reached by elevator from the lobby. Room no. 160 came with a bath tub and a rain shower cabin, a large closet with minibar, a working desk, a sofa for two and a armchair, large TV and a large comfortable double bed. A note from Mr. Peter Kämpfer, the director, next to fresh fruits and fine Swiss chocolates made me feel welcomed. The room has two windows, is modern and cosy. The highlights of this Deluxe Junior Suite are the terrace with the fantastic view and the large bath room with Molton Brown amenities. If you are looking for rooms with connecting doors this could be also a plus point. Especially also for families.
Spa
After I put all my items and clothes in place, I was ready to discover the 5’500 sqm Spa. From the 1st floor I had an easy access and just walked in my slippers and bathrobe to the area. There are two different entrances: one for the private Spa and treatments and one for the swimming pool, sauna, steam and gym. There is also a Tennis center.
Before I entered to the swimming pool, a friendly receptionist handed out towels and explained me everything. In the private Spa a treatment, massage, pedicure or also a loose weight program can be booked.
I was surprised that many hotel guests with children where in the large indoor pool and so I decided to go to the steam bath as I wanted to enjoy some me-time. They have a separate ladies-only area and a wonderful relaxing room.
When I left the Spa, I knew I will be back tomorrow…
Restaurant "La Terrasse"
For dinner I had to reserve a table as they are opened only for Hotel guest at the moment. I choose to have dinner at The Restaurant La Terrasse (a 16 Gault Millau point). I was wondering how Execute Chef Stefan Beer’s culinary delights will taste. I was welcomed by the chief waiter and was accompany to my round table and got freshly baked bread with hay butter, Meiringen cream cheese, herb garden pesto and salt from the Canton Vaud. I choose a cold and a hot starter, a main course and a dessert from the menu card.
Meals were served at the appropriate intervals and the Silver cutlery was replaced by a waiter who wore white gloves. Everything was delicious and served with a brief announcement of what was on my plate. I was very impressed with how attentive the entire staff was and how professionally they served the wine and refilled the glasses at the other tables. And, there was the omnipresent chief waiter who always had an eye for an empty glass and even my glass (I had no alcohol) was promptly topped up with water.
I highly recommend this elegant Restaurant. Stefan Beer was born in Switzerland and is an internationally experienced chef, who worked in several fine dining restaurants. He lived in Shanghai, Hongkong, Dubai and returned back to Switzerland in 2016. For the “local menu” The Restaurant La Terrasse only serves food from its own garden or food grown within a 40km radius. Vegans will be delighted with the 6-course “local vegan menu”.
Day 2 Breakfast A rich breakfast buffet is served in the restaurant «La Terrasse» from 7am – 10:30am daily and didn’t disappoint me. There’s a huge variety of fresh food to choose from: bread, fruits, hummus, seafood, cheese, fresh juices and much more. They also have a kids-buffet! I ordered Egg Benedict with spinach as it is my favorite breakfast menu item and a cappuccino. Prompt, friendly and competent service are the tree words to describe my breakfast experience. The food was lovely presented, fresh and excellent in taste.
Excursion to the Saint Beatus Caves
When it is a rainy day you like to spend the day in the Spa and enjoy the hotel to the fullest or you go out and discover something else. I decided to visit the caves of St. Beatus and took the bus 21 direction Thun Train Station. The bus stopped right in front of the caves. And it is the same going back to Interlaken. With the guest card it is free and you also get a discount for the entrance ticket to the caves. It is not far away from Interlaken but you have to know that it is about a 2 km walk and lots of stairs in the cave. Before you enter in the cave you have to hike up and you can enjoy the beautiful view and take pictures with the waterfalls. The hike through the waterfalls is free of charge. For CHF 16.- (guest card discount price) you can tour the cave and the museum. You need about one hour in the caves and you will see subterranean waterfalls, walk through narrow passages, and see grottos with stalactite and stalagmite formations.
I highly do recommend good comfortable shoes. Note: long time walking!
Private Spa
After I was back in the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken, I went to the Spa and got a private treatment and had time to relax in the silent room for women only.
Sapori
Worth a visit for its stylish historic interior alone, Sapori promises a wonderful parquet floor and an impressively high painted ceiling complete with stucco work.
Knowing that their pizzas are excellent, I wanted to try something else. I ordered a mixed seasonal salad as starter and for the main course Tagliatelle, lobster, scampi bisque, cherry tomatoes. The homemade pasta was al dente and very tasty. To end my dinner the real Italian way I ordered a classic tiramisu. I was not disappointed by the service and food and I am looking forward to coming back in Summer to eat a pizza outside in the garden…
Day 3 - departure
A delicious breakfast with views to Jungfrau mountain on a beautiful sunny day was the perfect start into my wonderful day.
After the check-out I got a goodbye gift and the receptionist wished me a wonderful day ahead.
The portier has already driven my car from the parking garage in front of the entrance and stowed my luggage in the car.
With memories to last a lifetime I looked back to the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa and started my way to Stechelberg. The sun was shining, the sky was blue and the green meadows full of spring flowers. Waterfalls, cows, sheep, little villages with their charming typical Swiss Chalets, trees and the snow-caped mountains gave me the feeling of happiness and holiday feeling in my own beautiful country.
Schilthorn – Piz Gloria
Stechelberg can be reached by car via Lauterbrunnen in approx. 30 minutes from Interlaken.
I parked my car and got my ticket for the aerial cableway to Schilthorn via Mürren and Birg.
Mürren is the highest village in the Jungfrau region and is car-free. I walked out from the cable station and took a walk to discover the lovely Chalets and enjoyed the view of surrounding mountains. Even for me it was a highlight to see all those old little Swiss Chalets homes and gardens. Next stop was the Bistro Birg on an altitude of 2677m / 8783ft. Here you can take a relaxing break, eat and drink something on the spacious sun terrace with superb views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. I do highly recommend to stop here and take pictures. I had some french fries and a coke to adjust to the altitude and started to chat with two Swiss skiers who told me about tourism in Interlaken. Many Swiss came up to ski down. The descent is only suitable for very good skiers.
Time has come for the last ride to the Schilthorn – Piz Gloria to the 2970 m high summit.
Arrived and looking at the magnificent peaks around I knew this is one of my forget-me not moments in life! Overwhelmed by the beauty of nature, I was speechless. I felt gratitude. The view from the top is so amazing! It made me feel very humble. If you never have experienced this you will never understand. Nothing can overpower nature – nature just overpowers everything whatever in life.
Thankful for the good weather and the experience I just made, I went to see the Bond World 007 and the Skyline Top Shop. A great selection of souvenirs like clothing, 007 memorabilia and some typical Swiss products like Frey chocolate, Victorinox knifes and Kambly biscuits. A spacious lounge invites to sit down and enjoy the unrivalled mountain and lake views stretching as far as the eye can see, if you don’t want to go out.
Making my way down, I took more spectacular pictures of panoramic views.
Back in my car I took the road to Interlaken and then drove alongside Lake Brienz direction Luzern.
Arrived back home in Hergiswil am See, I hope that you will experience the same.
Because this can be your tomorrow when traveling to Switzerland...
For bookings or questions contact: reservations@pearlsofswitzerland.com or WhatsApp me: +41763693656.
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