Historic Swiss Hotel in the Heart of the Alps Interlaken is often called Switzerland’s first alpine resort town, as its first tourists began frequenting the area in the 19th century. Today, Interlaken is still a springboard for exploring the Swiss Alps, as it’s located at the foot of the Jungfrau, Eiger, and Mönch, some of the tallest mountains in the Berner Oberland. On this eight-day, seven-night journey, you’re free to explore the “town between lakes” as you wish. Beyond Boundaries Travel also has a suggested itinerary that you can view here. Day 1: You’ll depart Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) for your overnight flight to Zurich International Airport (ZHR). Day 2: Pick up your rental car from the depot and head 74 miles (119 km) southwest to reach your home base for the next six nights—the town of Wilderswil, located just outside Interlaken. After daytime excursions throughout the Berner Oberland, you’ll retire to the four-story Hotel Bären, a charming 300-year-old inn that resembles a Swiss chateau. Inside, there’s intricate woodwork, carved furniture, and a pastoral decor scheme that pays tribute to Switzerland’s heritage. Days 3–7: After a hotel breakfast each morning, grab your packed lunch and set out to explore the surrounding area. Interlaken gets its name—which translates to “between lakes”—from the two crystal-clear glacial lakes, Thun and Brienz, that flank the city. You can take a cruise across nearby Lake Thun, where the statuesque Spiez Castle looms over the shore. It has carefully manicured grounds and a Romanesque church that dates back to 1000 AD. Included with this Getaway is a trip to Jungfraujoch Railway Station, which is Europe’s highest railway station at 11,332 feet (3,454 m). You’ll catch a lift from Sphinx Hall up to the top, where you can glimpse 360-degree views of mountains; on a clear day, it’s possible to see Germany, Italy, and France. From Sphinx Hall, you can also tour the brand-new Alpine Sensation, an interactive museum dedicated to the history of tourism in the Jungfrau region. Alpine Sensation connects to the Ice Palace, a manmade cave outfitted with intricate ice sculptures. Other excursions include a train ride through the towns of Matten and Unterseen, a tour of Interlaken, or cave exploration at the St. Beatus Caves, known for lit limestone caves, waterfalls, and stalagmites. If you’re after an adrenaline rush, there’s no shortage of adventure sports, such as river rafting, skydiving, bungee jumping, and ice climbing. Day 8: You’ll drive back to Zurich, drop your car off at the rental depot, and head to the airport for your trans-Atlantic flight to ORD. Read the Fine Print for important info on travel dates and other restrictions.
