Best things to do in Interlaken

Gaze down at sparkling glacial lakes and snowy mountain peaks as you paraglide or parasail over the Swiss Alps on a guided tour from Interlaken. You needn't worry about a thing--your professional pilot will handle all the equipment and make sure you get proper safety instructions before takeoff. Once you launch from a grassy slope, you'll be able to appreciate beautiful bird's-eye views of Lake Thun, Jungfrau, Monch and Eiger mountains, and the charming village of Beatenberg. The entire experience lasts from 90 minutes to 2 hours.

The snowy slopes of Harderkulm overlook the town of Interlaken, offering extensive views stretching all the way to the high peaks of west Switzerland's mountain ranges. The easiest way to get a taste of those distant Alpine giants without having to gear up for a serious hike is to take the funicular to this 1,322 m (4,337 ft) summit. Or, if you feel up for a challenge and have the right kind of shoes, climb up the mountain on foot and take the railway back into town. Before you hurry down, visit the summit's castle-like restaurant and take a few snapshots from the lofty viewing platform extending over the side of the mountain.

Fed by crisp mountain waters, Lake Zurich once served mostly for passenger traffic and cargo transport. Today the sprawling lake counts among Switzerland's top tourist destinations, luring visitors with its sightseeing boat tours, walking paths, and lush parks, set against a chain of photogenic hills. Used to supply clean water to the surrounding cities, the lake is 40 km (25 mi) long and about 3 km (2 mi) wide. The city of Zurich wraps itself around the northwestern end of lake and provides a base for cycling tours and paddle steamer cruises along the sun-kissed and prosperous "Golden Coast." Zurich's well-developed lakefront areas boast several immaculate beaches, a big draw for active vacationers from all over the world.

Discover spectacular views of an icy Alpine wilderness at the very top of Europe by visiting Jungfraujoch, the continent's highest train station. Nearly two million people travel to this winter wonderland each year, lured by its panoramic views of mountains and glaciers, skiing, and snowboarding. Opened in 1912, the Jungfrau railway line passes through a tunnel that took several thousand workers over a decade to drill. The station sits 3,454 m (11,330 ft) above sea level, with the Sphinx viewing house providing sweeping vistas of the largest glacier in the Alps, a World Heritage Site. The adjoining commemoration hall displays memorials to miners who died building the railway and features a giant and incredibly detailed snow globe. Saunter through the Ice Palace, a year-round frozen hallway featuring ice sculptures. Dine in one of several panoramic restaurants, pick up a box of Swiss chocolates, and test your golfing skills in a hole-in-one challenge above the glacier. No matter the time of year you're visiting, don't forget your camera, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

See the Alps by taking a guided boat tour on , located in the heart of Switzerland. The lake covers a total area of over 114 sq km (44 sq mi), much of its shoreline rising steeply into the surrounding mountains. Most of the visitors choose to experience this picturesque region by taking a trip on one of the paddle steamers linking the tucked-away resorts spread along the lake's shores. You can also circumnavigate the lake by road, which follows a scenic route and passes through several tunnels. However you choose to travel, be sure to visit the mountain meadow on the far southeastern shore of the lake, the birthplace of the Swiss nation.

The city's historic heart, the atmospheric Old Town serves as one of the area's major tourist attractions, famed for its well-preserved 19th-century architecture and cobblestoned lanes flanked by trendy shops, galleries, and restaurants. A convenient starting point for tours around the city, the district stretches along both banks of the Limmat River. Begin your walk through medieval Zurich at the Old Town's landmark bridge, which connects two monumental cathedrals situated on opposite sides of the river. From there you can easily reach the nearby shopping streets, packed with hip cafes and quirky boutiques. In the evening the neighborhood's bars and clubs become the center of Zurich's lively nightlife.

Hike around some of Switzerland's most dramatic landscapes at Lauterbrunnen Valley Waterfalls, which plunge down overhanging rock faces created by natural forces over thousands of years. A huge draw for adventure seekers from around the globe, the lush valley features 72 thunderous waterfalls, some of which carry 20,000 l (5,280 gal) of water per second. When Goethe visited the valley in 1779, the majestic falls moved him so deeply that he returned home to write one of his best-known poems, "Spirit Song Over the Waters." Discover this untamed glacial valley by trekking around some of its world-famous trails, or hop on the scenic rack railway linking the region's half-dozen mountain villages.

For panoramic views of Lucerne and the surrounding region, take the world's steepest cogwheel railway to the top of Mt Pilatus. During medieval times locals believed that a dragon lived at the summit of this soaring massif; several 17th-century accounts tell of a winged creature flying between the mount's caves. Today the towering mountain draws visitors with its walking trails, which range from extremely steep and challenging scrambles for serious adrenaline junkies, to easy hikes for everyone else. On clear days the hiking paths offer views that stretch as far as the Black Forest in southwestern Germany. You can also reach the summit by riding the aerial cableway or the panorama gondola, departing from the town of Kriens. The cogwheel railway from Alpnachstad to Pilatus Kulm only operates from mid-May till mid-November. The cable-car and gondola from Kriens up to Pilatus operates also in winter.

Hike around the massive subterranean Trümmelbachfälle, which cascade down a narrow slot canyon carved out by natural forces over thousands of years. Illuminated and accessible to visitors by a tunnel elevator, the World Heritage-listed falls drain the melting snow and ice from three glaciers, carrying up to 20,000 l (5,200 gal) of water per second. The water crashing down the tight canyon walls generates a constant mist in the air and makes the walking paths extremely slippery, so be sure to wear a waterproof jacket and sturdy shoes with non-slip soles. Once you tire of the cave-like tunnels, hike to nearby Lauterbrunnen, an unspoiled village nestled between the walls of a sheer-sided valley.

Surrounded by three lakes, Rigi once inspired painter J.M.W. Turner to create a series of works studying its changing views and blue sunrises. Known to many as the "Queen of the Mountains," the Alpine massif features a towering summit 1,798 m (5,898 ft) above sea level. A year-round tourist destination served by one of Europe's oldest mountain railways, the idyllic region draws a growing number of nature lovers with an extensive network of walking trails and ski slopes. Gear up and tackle the mountain's hiking paths all the way to the summit, or sit back and enjoy the sweeping views on the cable car that departs from the small town of Kussnacht.