Interlaken, Switzerland is a winter paradise that Singaporeans ought to undoubtedly contemplate visiting. This picturesque city, positioned within the coronary heart of the Swiss Alps, gives a variety of winter actions and experiences which might be positive to depart any traveler with recollections to final a lifetime.
It additionally serves as a handy base and gateway to Jungfrau, Top of Europe, the very best summit in the entire of Europe and the UNESCO heritage website, Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsc. The latter encompasses essentially the most glaciated a part of the mountain vary and the biggest glacier in Europe, making it a paradise for winter sports activities. For non-sporting actions, the spectacular panorama additionally performed an vital position in European artwork, literature, mountaineering and alpine tourism.
From Interlaken, you possibly can take a connecting prepare to Grindelwald, which by itself, is an space of curiosity to discover their outside Cliff Walk and different winter journey actions like sledding and the First Glider expertise. The latter is a 4 passengers glider that can deliver you thru the mountain panorama to take pleasure in a panoramic view at a excessive velocity of between 72 to 83km/hr over an 800 metres observe.
Commuting to the Top of Europe
For over a century, the Jungfrau railway has been making its journey to Europe’s highest-altitude railway station at 3,454 metres above sea stage, proper on the coronary heart of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch. All by way of the 12 months, the cog railway runs steeply up by way of a tunnel to the Jungfraujoch from Kleine Scheidegg.
With the opening of the Eiger Express on 5 December 2020, the journey from Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch now takes only one and a half hours. From a brand new terminal in Grindelwald, a cableway takes you on to the station Eigergletscher (Eiger Glacier) in quarter-hour. Once on the prime, there’s much more time to benefit from the panorama and the journey world.
Be positive to buy the Swiss Travel Pass to take pleasure in financial savings on the prepare and cable automobile rides in case you are aspiring to do a variety of heavy commuting across the Interlaken and Jungfrau areas.
For followers of Ok-drama, Crash Landing of Your, be sure to get an image at this iconic spot at Jungfrau whereby an iconic scene occurred between the 2 protagonists:
Here are some additional explanation why Interlaken is the right winter vacation spot for Singaporeans:
1. Stunning pure surroundings
Interlaken is surrounded by a few of the most lovely pure surroundings on the earth, together with snow-capped mountains, pristine lakes, and scenic valleys.
Visitors can take a cable automobile or prepare to the highest of the mountains to take pleasure in gorgeous views of the Alps and surrounding panorama. The Jungfrau area, which incorporates the well-known Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger peaks, is especially breathtaking and is a must-see for any nature lover.
Here are some footage I took simply round Interlaken:
2. Wide vary of winter sports activities
Interlaken gives a variety of winter sports activities, together with snowboarding, snowboarding, ice skating, sledding, and snowshoeing.
Ski fans will discover a few of the greatest slopes on the earth within the close by Jungfrau area, whereas newcomers can take classes from skilled instructors. The city additionally has a number of ice skating rinks and sledging runs, in addition to guided snowshoeing excursions for many who wish to discover the snowy landscapes on foot.
You can even take a brief bus journey (B 103) of round 12 minutes to Bönigen from Interlaken, Jungfraustrasse, to check out winter kayaking on the close by Hightide Kayak School positioned at Strandbad Bönigen – The Beach, Lütschinenstrasse 24 3806, Bönigen.
The teacher on the faculty will get you able to kayak within the turquoise Lake Brienz and produce you to the Giessbach Falls for a tour. I used to be very afraid of my kayak capsizing and freezing to dying within the winter waters, however relaxation assured that you may be correctly attired in knowledgeable moist go well with that can maintain you heat and dry, with all the proper rears and security measures. This is a distinct expertise value experiencing for these of us from sunny Singapore who’re used to kayaking in tropical climate.
Within Interlaken, you can even go for a paragliding flight expertise with an operator like Skywings Paragliding Interlaken, Höheweg 56 3800 Interlaken. It can be a enjoyable strategy to recognize the deep-blue lakes and majestic mountain peaks whereas your paraglider carries you within the wind by way of a tandem flight amid the Swiss Alps.
3. Delicious Swiss delicacies
Switzerland is legendary for its cheese, chocolate, and fondue, and Interlaken is not any exception. Visitors can take pleasure in conventional Swiss dishes on the many native eating places and cafes, together with cheese fondue, raclette, and rosti. There are additionally a number of chocolate retailers on the town, providing scrumptious treats to fulfill any candy tooth.
Here are a few of the footage of the beautiful eating places and the meals I had in Interlaken throughout my 4D3N there:
If you like chocolate, contemplate signing up for a chocolate-making workshop on the Funky Chocolate Club in Interlaken, Postgasse 10 3800 Interlaken.
The Funky Chocolate Club gives each day workshops to share the origin of the cocoa bean to the manufacturing of chocolate bars in Switzerland. At the tip of the workshop, you get to take house, your individual do-it-yourself chocolate bars as a memento, embellished and customised simply the best way you want them.
4. Cosy lodging choices
Interlaken has a variety of cosy lodging choices to go well with any funds and style. Visitors can select from lodges, hostels, chalets, and flats, lots of which provide gorgeous views of the encircling mountains and lakes.
I stayed at Hotel Metropole, a four-star resort positioned within the coronary heart of Interlaken with a splendid view of the Jungfrau mountain vary. It takes simply 8 minutes to stroll from the resort to the prepare station and there are many retail shops in addition to F&B institutions close by.
The city additionally has a number of scorching springs and wellness facilities, the place guests can calm down and unwind after a day of winter actions.
Variety of lodges to select from in Interlaken:
5. Festive winter ambiance
Interlaken has a festive winter ambiance, with Christmas markets, vacation lights, and seasonal decorations including to the city’s allure. Visitors can stroll by way of the streets, having fun with the sights and sounds of the season, and even participate in a few of the native winter festivals and occasions.
When I used to be in Interlaken, Christmas had simply handed and there was an Interlaken Labyrinth that was arrange, utilizing donated Christmas bushes from the locals to kind a labyrinth for guests to discover without cost. The ground of the labyrinth was crammed with wooden pulps whereas the bushes are used to line and kind the partitions – an effective way to advertise sustainability and tourism.
6. Gateway to Jungfrau, Top of Europe
Most importantly, Interlaken is a handy base to discover Jungfrau and the encircling UNESCO website, the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsc. The prepare station is a brief stroll away from a lot of the lodges within the small city and from there, you possibly can discover all over the place cheaply and simply with the Swiss Travel Pass.
With the opening of the brand new Grindelwald Terminal with direct railway connection, you possibly can simply get to Eigergletscher with the connecting tricable gondola, Eiger Express in simply an hour and an half from Interlaken, drastically slicing touring time. The new Eiger Express will have the ability to take you from Grindelwald to the Eiger Glacier station in simply quarter-hour, transporting you to Jungfraujoch, Top of Eurpoe, 47 minutes quicker than earlier than.
The terminal additionally gives a procuring centre with prime worldwide manufacturers, in addition to high quality Swiss merchandise and a sports activities store. For those that favor a VIP expertise, there’s additionally a VIP lounge and an 888 VIP cable automobile that’s accessible for reservations.
Overall, Interlaken is the right winter vacation spot for Singaporeans who wish to expertise the sweetness and magic of a winter wonderland. With its gorgeous pure surroundings, wide selection of winter sports activities, scrumptious delicacies, cosy lodging, handy entry to different areas of the Swiss Alps and festive ambiance, this charming city within the Swiss Alps is bound to impress any traveler.