Rainy day running your Interlaken adventure?
Don’t worry!
There are plenty of ways to make the most of a rainy day in Interlaken.
Whether you’re seeking relaxation or want to explore the region, It has something to offer you, rain or shine.
Today, I will help you make the most of your time in Interlaken on a rainy day.
Let’s explore in the raindrops and make memories.
Table of Contents
St. Beatus-Hohlen Caves
St. Beatus-Hohlen Caves are on the side of Lake Thun. These are really wonderful and mind-blowing.
You can take bus 21 to go there from Interlaken, and it takes about 10 minutes. St. Beatus-Hohlen Caves are 1 km (0.62 miles) long and one of the largest caves in Switzerland.
You can enjoy lots of different beautiful views. Also, inside the caves, you will see the Lombach River flow through the cave system, adding to the serenity and mythical atmosphere.
This is something that I recommend you experience on a rainy day.
Visit The Castles
When it’s raining and if you are based in Interlaken or any of the villages nearby because it’s quite accessible to visiting the castles on Lake Thun.
The castles are Thun Castle and Oberhofen Castle. Lake Thun is one of the lakes surrounding Interlaken.
You can access these two castles either via boat or by bus 21, and it takes about 30 minutes to get there from Interlaken.
Both castles are exquisite from the outside because they overlook the lake. On a rainy day, it’s a great activity to do because there’s so much history within the castles.
I really enjoy visiting historical places, and these two are no exception.
But I particularly like Oberhofen Castle because it’s really unique inside and was inhabited and renovated over the course of eight centuries.
So, there’s a lot you can learn from them. You can spend half a day visiting the two of these and exploring the areas.
If you have the Berner Oberland Pass or Swiss Travel Pass, you get discounts for both of these castles.
Visit Funky Chocolate Club
Funky Chocolate Club is a popular chocolate-making workshop and experience located in Interlaken.
They have four or five workshops a day where you can make your own chocolate. You can eat as much chocolate as you want, and it’s one of my favorite activities in Interlaken.
The chocolate-making workshop is meant to be a fun and enjoyable experience at Funky Chocolate Club. So, don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with different ingredients and flavors.
Book your seat and experience the Swiss chocolate-making; it’s open for people of all ages.
You can book a workshop on their website
City Of Thun
Thun is a city that has a lot of arcades, and you can walk in the town and still be protected from the rain.
Thun is a really wonderful little city in the region. It has a rich history dating back to the Roman era and played an important role during the medieval period.
You can discover the city’s museums, old town, and Thun Castle. I recommend wandering through the charming streets of Thun’s Old Town.
Explore the boutiques, art galleries, and specially shops. Perhaps you may find some unique souvenirs to take home.
Also, you can enjoy some Swiss chocolate or a cup of coffee while watching the rain through the window.
Schweizer Holzbildhauerei Museum
Brienz is the capital of the Swiss Woodcarving. You can go to Brienz by train in 20 minutes from Interlaken.
The Schweizer Holzbildhauerei Museum is a very nice woodcarving museum.
Brienz has a long-standing tradition of woodcarving, making it a perfect location for this unique museum. You can live demonstrations by skilled woodcarvers.
Also, the museum often offers workshops where you can try your hand at woodcarving under the guidance of an expert woodcarver.
This cool experience is suitable for both adults and children. You can also buy some handcrafted wooden items from the museum shop.
I recommend visiting the Schweizer Holzbildhauerei Museum; it offers a fascinating glimpse into the artistry and cultural heritage of woodcarving.
Set Sail On The Two Lakes
Set sail on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz on a rainy day. The boats operate all year in Lake Thun.
So, even if you are here in the middle of November when everything else seems to be closed, there are boats sailing on Lake Thun.
Lake Brienz has more of a typical schedule in the summer season, so nothing in the autumn and winter. Either way, you have beautiful lakes to see regardless of the time of year.
Sailing on a rainy day on these two lakes is something that you have to experience when you are in Interlaken. It is a great way to spend a day.
These aren’t totally outdoor boats; a lot of the interiors of them are shielded. So, you aren’t going to be standing in the rain.
You can have a meal on these boats also. One thing really special is that these lakes, and also many lakes in Switzerland operate the 1920s or 1930s Bella Epoque-style boats.
So, they have a really cool steamboat mechanism that is 100 years old, and you can see how that’s operating from the inside.
It’s very cool to see both the interior and exterior of these boats. It is a really nice way to spend an afternoon or morning on a rainy day when you are in the region.
Also, it’s a way to get to different places like the caves, and castles. These boats are covered by the Berner Oberland Pass or Swiss Travel Pass.
Trauffer Erlebniswelt
The Trauffer Erlebniswelt is also a woodcarving museum. It is an exciting destination located at Hofstetten.
This museum is dedicated to the iconic Swiss Trauffer wooden cows and the tradition of woodcarving. You can learn about the whole process of how they make the Trauffer wooden cows.
The Trauffer Erlebniswelt also provides workshops where you can carve and paint your own wooden toys with the instructors.
So, if you love Trauffer wooden cows, you must visit Trauffer Erlebniswelt to experience amazing things on rainy days.
Ballenberg, Swiss Open Air Museum
Walk just a few hundred meters from Trauffer Erlebniswelt and visit the Ballenberg, Swiss Open Air Museum.
You can learn all about the history and culture of Switzerland at the Ballenberg, Swiss Open Air Museum.
This museum offers you a glimpse into traditional Swiss rural life through its extensive collection of chalets, houses, buildings, and interactive exhibits.
The museum features over 100 historic buildings including farmhouses, mills, a pharmacy, barns, and granaries, dating from the 14th to the 19th centuries from different Swiss regions.
Bring an umbrella and explore each building at Ballenberg, Swiss Open Air Museum on a rainy day.
Spa Day
If you are staying in an Airbnb or your hotel doesn’t have a spa, then you can enjoy a spa day.
There aren’t many hotels in Interlaken that offer day passes for spa access without booking a room. But you still have some options for enjoying spa facilities in this area.
Here are some of them:
- Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa (Interlaken)
- Linder Grand Hotel Beau Rivage (Interlaken)
- Deltapark Vitalresort (Thun)
- Beatus Wellness & Spa Hotel (Merligen)
- Solebad Hotel Schweizerhaf (Kendersteg)
So, it is a nice way to treat yourself when it’s raining.
Visit Bern
Bern is the capital of Switzerland, and you’re in the canton of Bern. Now head to the main city to explore.
This is the one that’s the furthest away from the region but it’s very close because Switzerland is very small. You can go to Bern by direct train from Interlaken, which takes about 50 minutes.
First, explore the Old Town, which is UNESCO World Heritage-listed. It is so beautiful, especially the Kramgasse streets and the gorgeous Clock Tower.
Bern has a lot of covered walkways with a lot of history. Walk in these walkways and enjoy the rain while shopping.
Some of the recommendations to keep you entertained and dry:
- Visit the Bern Historical Museum
- Visit the Bernisches Historisches Museum
- Visit the Bern Cathedral (Berner Munster)
- Relax at a coffee shop or tea room
