Switzerland · Stays via Expedia
Family Reunion Hotels & Stays in Interlaken
Planning a family reunion in Interlaken? Expedia puts hotels and whole-home rentals for the group side by side — book a block of rooms or one big house for ~10, and compare before you commit. Bring everyone together — three generations, one big house.
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Planning a family reunion in Interlaken
Adventure-sports hub between two glacial lakes, the Jungfrau over the rooftops. For a group, weigh a block of hotel rooms against one whole-home rental: the house is usually better value per person and keeps everyone together, while a hotel is simplest for a short stay. Expedia shows both for Interlaken.
Interlaken with kids, realistically
Two lakes, paddle steamers and no altitude sickness make this the practical Jungfrau base for under-tens. Hohematte is simply an open field to run in, and the BLS boats to Iseltwald or Spiez suit short attention spans. Harder Kulm has a large playground at the summit. Riverside paths take prams easily; the Harder ridge trails do not.
What to eat in Interlaken
Hoheweg menus arrive in six languages and are priced for coach groups. Cross the Aare into Unterseen, where the Untere Gasse and Marktgasse hold the older, cheaper dining rooms serving Bernese platters and Brienz lake fish. Husi Bierhaus does Swiss comfort cooking with local beer. The Migros near Interlaken West is where self-caterers assemble the fondue that hotels charge triple for.
What's actually worth your time in Interlaken
Interlaken sells access more than sights. Hohematte, the fourteen-hectare meadow townspeople bought in the 1860s specifically to stop it being built on, is where paragliders land all afternoon and it costs nothing to stand and watch. Harder Kulm's funicular and its Two Lakes Bridge platform deliver the Thun-Brienz panorama in ten minutes. Jungfraujoch is the famous ticket and the most weather-dependent money you will spend.
What first-timers get wrong in Interlaken
There are two stations and they are not interchangeable: Ost serves every Jungfrau region train and the Lucerne line, West sits nearer most Hoheweg hotels. The Harder Kulm valley station is a separate walk across the Aare bridge from either. Jungfraujoch adds a CHF 10 seat reservation from May to October and refunds nothing when the summit is in cloud.
What things cost in Interlaken
A Harder Kulm return sits in the high thirties of francs, cut by half for holders of the Bernese Oberland and national rail passes. Tandem paragliding runs CHF 180 to 199 including the landing on Hohematte. Jungfraujoch returns from here land between CHF 230 and 280 before discounts. A main course on Hoheweg is CHF 28 to 40; the same plate in Unterseen is nearer CHF 25.
When to go to Interlaken
| Best months for family reunion | Avg daily high | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| August | 25°C / 77°F | 14 days |
| October | 18°C / 64°F | 14 days |
| September | 21°C / 70°F | 15 days |
The month to avoid is January — around 7°C (45°F) with roughly 15 rain days. Prices and crowds track the weather here: August is the sweet spot, January the month most people skip.
Pack for peak season: Summer clothes, plus one light layer for air-con and evenings, Rain gear is non-negotiable — expect rain on roughly 14 days, Comfortable walking shoes — every guide on this site assumes you'll use them.
Where to base yourself in Interlaken
- Interlaken Ost — Eastern station — gateway to Brienz, Grindelwald, and the Jungfrau trains.
- Interlaken West — Western station + the casino, Höhematte Park, the main hotel strip.
- Unterseen — Old-town side along the Aare — quieter, traditional houses, riverside walks.
Common questions
What's the best rental for a family reunion?
A large whole-home rental — 5+ bedrooms with multiple bathrooms, a full kitchen, and shared living space — keeps everyone under one roof. Look for ground-floor bedrooms for grandparents and a yard or pool for kids.
How many bedrooms for a big family?
Plan roughly two people per bedroom, plus a sofa bed or two for kids. A group of 10–12 is comfortable in a 5–6 bedroom home with 3+ bathrooms.
How far ahead should we book a reunion?
Big homes for peak dates (summer, holidays) book 6+ months out. Lock in early and use free-cancellation listings so you can adjust the headcount as RSVPs firm up.
What amenities matter most?
A big dining table, a full kitchen, plenty of bathrooms, parking for several cars, and outdoor space. Accessibility (step-free access, a ground-floor bedroom) matters if elders are joining.
Where should we stay for a family reunion in Interlaken?
In Interlaken the areas worth basing yourself in are Interlaken Ost (eastern station — gateway to brienz, grindelwald, and the jungfrau trains); Interlaken West (western station + the casino, höhematte park, the main hotel strip); Unterseen (old-town side along the aare — quieter, traditional houses, riverside walks). Adventure-sports hub between two glacial lakes, the Jungfrau over the rooftops. On Expedia, compare hotels and whole-home rentals side by side, sort by guest rating, and check free-cancellation terms before booking.
When is the best time for a family reunion in Interlaken?
August (around 25°C, ~14 rain days), October (around 18°C, ~14 rain days), September (around 21°C, ~15 rain days) rate best on Interlaken's 5-year climate normals. January is the month most groups skip.