Peter has broadcast his radio show from some pretty unusual places around the world, and this weekend’s show is no exception. He’s coming to us from the “Top of Europe!”
Jungfraujoch is a saddle in the Switzerland’s Bernese Alps, home to the Jungfrau Railway station which sits at more than 11,000 feet.
Peter’s show will come to us from the top of the Sphinx building and observation terrace, standing another 388 feet above the Jungfraujoch.
Check out the guest list from this show here.
Not surprisingly, this region of Interlaken and beyond is packed with outdoor adventures, classic Swiss food, and much, much more.
Jonathan Fauver, Owner & Director, Outdoor Interlaken AG
Talk a stroll from Interlaken Ost, the main station in the town, to a “hidden” lake called Burgseeli in Berne. It’s a beautiful walk along the Aare River and the lake in the village of Brienz, and then up over a small hill, past a ruined castle to Burgseeli. The lake water is naturally warmed and is popular among locals for swimming, paddling and diving.
Combine this with a walk from Interlaken West to Interlaken Ost through the old town of
Unterseen and along the banks of the Aare. While walking through Unterseen, you’ll feel as if you have gone back in time 200 years, with plenty of of good restaurants and cafes.
Interlaken is renowned for its great diversity of outdoor activities. Everyone from world-famous extreme athletes, weekend adrenaline junkies, families, and retirees all travel to Interlaken to enjoy a variety of activities and challenges. From scenic hikes, to river rafting, to bungee jumping or skydiving, the surrounding mountains, rivers, and lakes have something to offer everyone.
Here are some of the outdoor activities you should definitely not miss while you are here.
Canyoning: Interlaken offers some of the best organized commercial canyoning trips in the world. Similar to “canyoneering” in the U.S., canyoning in Switzerland involves working your way down a canyon by hiking and rappelling, often through wet areas with waterfalls and streams. There are canyons for all levels of experience.
Skydiving or paragliding: Get a bird’s-eye perspective of the Jungfrau Region. For a heart-stopping adrenaline rush choose skydiving; for an incredible flying experience go for a tandem paraglide. Yes, you can jump out of a plane or helicopter in lots of places … but there is only one place to do it over the Alps!
Go for a hike: A walk in the Alps is free and the Jungfrau region’s trains and cable cars allow easy access to an incredible network of well-marked hiking trails. There are too many possibilities to list just one. It doesn’t matter which hike you decide to do; you won’t be disappointed.
Find more activities in our Sports & Adventure Travel section.
Joan and Martin Fischer, Station Managers, High-Altitude Research Station Jungfraujoch
In the summertime, you must travel up to the Jungfraujoch and hike up to the MönchjochHütte. It’s about a 45-minute walk on a groomed path on the Aletsch Glacier. This walk is accessible to anyone in moderately good health, and doesn’t require any extra climbing equipment. You’ll find yourself in a special place, surrounded by high mountains along the longest glacier in the Alps.
Here, you can stop to try the famous Swiss specialty, käseschnitte. It’s a simple melted cheese on bread, but if you’re a fan of cheese, you will be impressed.
Better yet, it’s also possible to spend a night in the MönchjochHütte, which is open from the middle of March through October.
Travel by train up to the Eigergletscher Station (or down on you way back from the Jungfraujoch) and hike the Eiger Trail. This is a moderate, three-hour hike that takes you under the famous Eiger peak, one of the most spectacular mountain faces in the Bernese Alps.
If you stay in Interlaken, a side trip to Brienz is a must. This is a small village by Lake Brienz which can be accessed by car, train or ship from Interlaken along the lake. You’ll pass the very impressive Giessbach waterfall, and when traveling by car, drive up toward the Axalp range where you’ll find a small restaurant called Bramisegg where you can enjoy authentic Swiss food at very reasonable prices.
For more restaurant and eating ideas, visit our Culinary Travel section.
Susan Huber, Interlaken tour guide
One of my favorite restaurants is Benacus, which is also a cool wine bar. It’s located in the old town of Unterseen, separated from Interlaken by the Aare River (although many people don’t realize they’ve officially left Interlaken at that point!). The head chef there also has his own TV program, making him the up-and-coming Swiss answer to Jamie Oliver, and features locally sourced, traditional food with innovative twists.
It’s a beautiful walk along Lombach river down to Neuhaus coffee stop, followed by walking along the shore of the lake through the Neuhaus nature reserve. This is a wonderful area for spotting birds, squirrel and deer, along a narrow trail sandwiched between the lake the golf course. The walk continues by a castle ruin, then back into town along the bank of the canal to Interlaken West. Allot about two hours (add a little extra for a coffee break).
Headed to Switzerland in the winter? Don’t miss our Winter Sports section.
An easy (and spectacular!) hour and a half hike is to take a cable car from Wengen or Grindelwald Grund up to the Männlichen mountain, where the trail extends to Kleine Scheidegg. It offers stunning panoramic views down into the Grindelwald Valley, and the amazing view ahead of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains. Be sure to stop for apple cake or a beer at the Railway restaurant at Kleine Scheidegg.
Just above my village, Beatenberg, 8 miles out of Interlaken is the Niederhorn mountain. The mountain is accessible from Interlaken by public bus (it takes about 25 minutes and leaves hourly). The cable car up the mountain takes about 15 minutes, and from there are various hiking trails for all levels and the most stunning panoramic views EVER.
You’ll look down onto the Lake Thun, the entire chain of the Bernese Alps (and when the weather is good, as far as Mont Blanc in France) and down into the Bernese Mittleland. This is another nature reserve area where you may spot Ibex mountain goats, chamois goats, eagles (if lucky) and, of course in summer, grazing cows … who also look like they appreciate the view!
To book a tour with Susan, email her at huber-beck @ quicknet.ch.
By Sarika Chawla for PeterGreenberg.com.
Don’t miss Peter’s radio show from Jungfraujoch in the Interlaken area. Click here to see the guests.
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