Switzerland Travel : 2-Day Itinerary On Rainy Days

Arriving in Interlaken during Switzerland travel, the gateway to Jungfrau, dreaming of snowy alpine views, only to find rain forecast and cloud-covered webcams? Don’t be disappointed! Here’s a two-day itinerary around Jungfrau, showcasing destinations with charm even on cloudy days. Perfect for travelers without pre-purchased train tickets, relying on the Jungfrau VIP Pass. Follow these optimal transportation routes.

The First Day of Switzerland Travel: Harder Kulm, Iseltwald, Lauterbrunnen

Harder Kulm: The Roof of Interlaken

Often overlooked due to the fame of Jungfraujoch, Harder Kulm offers stunning panoramic views of the Jungfrau peaks, Interlaken, and both Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. The scenery here will leave you breathless.

Take the funicular from Harderbahn station, just 500 meters from Interlaken Ost station, and reach Harder Kulm in about 10 minutes.

Funicular operating hours: 09:10 – 20:40, every 30 minutes
Funicular Round-trip fare: Free with Jungfrau VIP Pass, CHF 16 with Swiss Pass, CHF 23 with Dongshin Coupon, CHF 40 regular fare

Switzerland Travel: Hader Klum — Views from Harder Kulm: Lake Brienz

Iseltwald : Go by ferry, return by bus

After descending from Harder Kulm, enjoy a scenic lake cruise. From the pier at Interlaken Ost station, take a 40-minute boat ride on Lake Brienz to the picturesque village of Iseltwald, known from K-drama <Crash Landing on You>.

Explore this charming village with its medieval castle and quaint wooden houses by the lake. Take a leisurely walk along the lakeside trail.

Return to Interlaken Ost by bus 103 from Iseltwald (20 minutes), then take a train to Lauterbrunnen.

Switzerland Travel: Iselwalt — Iselwalt village

Ferry operating hours: Interlaken Ost to Brienz: 09:07 – 16:07 (summer), 10:07 – 16:07 (spring/fall), every 1-2 hours; no service in winter
Ferry fare (Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald one-way): Free with Jungfrau VIP Pass or Swiss Pass, CHF 18 regular fare
Bus fare (Iseltwald to Interlaken Ost one-way): Free with Jungfrau VIP Pass, Swiss Pass, or Interlaken Guest Card, CHF 3.6 regular fare

Lauterbrunnen: The Village of 72 Waterfalls

Lauterbrunnen is ideal for a rainy day. The train fare from Interlaken Ost is affordable, and the village is known for its spectacular scenery. Surrounded by cliffs 300-500 meters high, Lauterbrunnen features glacial waterfalls cascading down. The highlight is Trümmelbach Falls, where 20,000 liters of water pour down every second.

Walk the scenic 3.7 km trail from Lauterbrunnen station to Trümmelbach Falls, a trek suitable for all ages.

Switzerland Travel: Lauterbrunnen — Panoramic view of Lauterbrunnen on the way to Trümbelbach Falls

Trummelbach Falls (Photo by Valentin Boldera on Unsplash)

Panoramic view of Lauterbrunnen from above Trummelbach Falls

On the way back, the clouds cleared for a moment and the view of Lauterbrunnen

Train fare (Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen round-trip): Free with Jungfrau VIP Pass or Swiss Pass, CHF 14 with Dongshin Coupon, CHF 15.6 regular fare
Trümmelbach Falls entrance fee: CHF 14 for adults, CHF 6 for children (ages 6-15)

The Second Day of Switzerland Travel: Bern, Thun, Saint Beatus Caves

Bern: The Hidden Gem of Switzerland Travel

Start your second day in Bern, an hour by train from Interlaken. The capital city of Switzerland, often overshadowed by Zurich, is full of hidden charm.

Bern is a charming place with an old town surrounded by the Aare River, which flows from Interlaken. This compact city is perfect for a half-day walking tour, featuring numerous attractive spots. From Bern train station, you can head straight to the Rose Garden, which offers a panoramic view of the old town, a mere 2.1 km away. The route is lined with well-preserved medieval buildings, so you won’t even need a map—just walk straight ahead.

Bern’s main attractions at a glance (2.1km one way, 30-minute walk)

Bundeshaus

At the entrance to the old town, the first building that catches your eye is the Bundeshaus, which now serves as the Parliament. The building itself is impressive, but don’t miss the view from the terrace behind it. Just pass through the right arch of the palace to enjoy a stunning vista of the Aare River and beyond.

Switzerland Travel: Bern — The Bundeshaus, with its impressive green dome, hosts a flea market in the front square on weekends.

Entering the arched entrance on the right side of the Bundeshaus, you’ll find a terrace offering a peaceful panoramic view of red roofs and greenery.

Bern Old Town, UNESCO World Heritage Site

Once past the Prison Tower, you’ll step into the old town, adorned with Swiss flags and bear banners symbolizing Bern. This UNESCO World Heritage site boasts 6 km of arcades, sheltering you from rain as you stroll through medieval buildings—a remarkable feat for the Middle Ages.

Along the arcade path, browse shops and dessert displays, and admire sculptured fountains along the main street. You’ll encounter the Zytglogge (Clock Tower), Einstein House—where Einstein completed his theory of relativity during his two-year stay—and the Bern Minster, Switzerland’s tallest cathedral. Don’t miss the charming Zytglogge, where bears and clowns perform just before each hour strikes, attracting tourists like Prague’s astronomical clock.

Enjoy Bern’s Old Town, sheltered from any weather, courtesy of its arcades

A semi-basement area built as storage under a stone arcade now houses shops

Einstein House, located in the middle of the old town, is where the theory of relativity began and was completed

Bern Cathedral, located a 2-minute walk from the Einsteinhaus, is a Gothic building with a 100-meter bell tower, the tallest in Switzerland

Bären Park and Rosen Garden

Now, following the bear flags, bear-shaped dolls, and stone structures seen in the old town, we are going to meet an REAL bear. The name Bern itself means “City of Bears,” and there is a legend that the family that founded the city started hunting bears.

You can meet Bern’s symbolic bear at Bären Park on the banks of the Aare River. “Yes, it’s a real bear.”

Please refer to the link below if you would like to watch him.
Video of a bear in Bären Park

From the Niedeck Bridge at the edge of Bern’s Old Town, it’s a 10-minute stroll up a gentle hill to Rose Park. There, you’ll catch a breathtaking panoramic view of medieval Bern, encircled by the Aare River, resembling a grand fortress. Don’t miss the iconic Einstein Bench for a perfect photo op overlooking downtown Bern.

Panoramic view of Bern city from the rose garden, and the towering building on top of the red roof is Bern Cathedral

Thun, A small city with a beautiful bridge reminiscent of Lucerne’s Chapel Bridge

Spend a fantastic half-day in Bern and then head back to Interlaken by train, stopping halfway to visit Thun. Thun is a small city situated at the end of Lake Thun, which you have seen from the Harder Kulm viewpoint. It is a local hub of industry and a significant military area, thus home to many locals. The town was built under the influence of the Zähringen family, who also built Bern, so you can continue the medieval city vibe in Thun’s old town, which has many similarities to Bern.

Particularly, the wooden bridge at the mouth of Lake Thun is as beautiful as the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne. The bridge, known for its strong currents that make it a popular spot for surfing in the summer, is impressive and worth crossing.

Switzerland Travel: Thun — The wooden bridge in Thun, as beautiful as the Chapel Bridge in Lucerne

St. Beatus Caves: A Waterfall Spectacle

End the day at St. Beatus Caves. From Thun, return to Interlaken West by train, then take bus 21 for 17 minutes along the lake to reach the caves.

While the limestone caves are fascinating, the waterfalls at the entrance are the highlight. Walk the winding path up to the cave entrance and enjoy the waterfall from various viewpoints.

Please refer to the link below if you want to watch the video of St. Beatus Waterfall.
The Video of St. Beatus Waterfall

Transportation Costs for the second day

Train fare (Interlaken West – Bern – Thun – Interlaken West): Free with Jungfrau VIP Pass or Swiss Pass, CHF 62.4 with Libero Day Pass
Bus fare (Interlaken West – Saint Beatus round-trip): Free with Jungfrau VIP Pass, Swiss Pass, or Interlaken Guest Card, CHF 3.6 regular fare

Tips for Switzerland Travel on Rainy Days

1. Accommodation for Switzerland Travel

With Switzerland’s notoriously high accommodation costs, I recommend comparing Booking.com, Agoda.com, and Airbnb.com to find the best deals. Given that outdoor activities dominate Swiss travel, I focused on finding a place just for sleeping rather than anything extravagant. However, clean bedding, a private bedroom, and a bathroom were essential requirements. Here, I share information on the cost-effective option.

Hotel de la Paix (Bernastrasse 24, 3800 Interlaken)
Twin room for 4 nights, CHF 520 (CHF 130 per night)

Switzerland Travel: Accomodation — A view from the hotel room’s window

2. Guest Card Tips

When staying in Interlaken, you receive a free “Guest Card” from your hotel or guesthouse, which offers unlimited free bus and train rides within the Interlaken area. This is particularly useful if you don’t have a Jungfrau VIP Pass or Swiss Pass.

Free bus rides (Interlaken – Iseltwald, Interlaken – Saint Beatus Caves)
Free train rides (Interlaken West – East)
Free gift voucher at BUCHERER in Interlaken

BUCHERER free gift voucher on the back of the guest card

BUCHERER spoon received as a free gift voucher

3. Last But Not Least : Enjoy Interken itself

Many travelers use Interlaken as a base for exploring Jungfrau and overlook its charm. Take a walk along the Aare River and enjoy the serene beauty of Interlaken itself.

Switzerland Travel: Interaken — Aare River walk between Interlaken and Unterseen

Grosse Staatsschleuse small bridge in Interlaken

I hope this 2-day itinerary for rainy days in the Jungfrau region will be helpful for someone’s future travel plans.

Switzerland Travel : 2-Day Itinerary On Rainy Days in the Jungfrau Region