Spontaneous stay near Interlaken on Christmas Eve

  • Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    17 December 2019 at 0:05:57 #824671

    Hello everyone.

    I have a trip scheduled to visit switzerland comming week starting from 24th dec. My trip is for 8days, as i am with family (wife & one 4year old daughter) so reserved an airbnb apartment in Biel.

    My plan was to make day trip to main visiting places in switzerland. But then i realised for some places are most beautifull that attracts a person to stay there over night like interlakhen, zermat and villages in Alps.

    My questions is 1) whats the expert sugession about visiting a place from biel to Alps region areas and going back daily (i would have Swiss travel pass)

    2) what the chances of getting a room or accomodation overnight directly at the spot. My mean if i am at some place and at day end i think to stay there without advance online booking so can i get a cheaper deal there as at moment all accomodations are appearing at very high price at online booking even at airbnb.

    3) i wish to stay at interlakhen region or near by village a day or two. as the hotels are too expensive Some one told in interlakhen area locals people share room as B&B for at spot booking. Is it correct or if yes what those houses has some sign at home to identify.

    looking to hear from you guyz. Thanks in advance.

    Regards

    Naeem

  • Effortlessly learn from the questions and answers in the forum. Receive a daily e-mail with new discussions.

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    17 December 2019 at 0:42:07 #926504

    Hi Naeem –

    At that time of year the Interlaken and the Jungfrau regions are heavily booked for Christmas holidays and skiing. So, even if you are willing to pay a lot, you’ll have trouble finding accommodations. No comments on Air BnB, etc. I don’t support the concept.
    http://www.myswissalps.com/accommodation/airbnb

    Travel times can be determined from the SBB timetable, whose use will be made easier if you check this link before going on to the timetable:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/timetable

    The actual timetable is here:

    http://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html,

    where you will also find a free smartphone app.

    Biel to Interlaken Ost takes just over an hour and one half, twice per hour.

    See typical schedules in the attached screen grab.

    Slowpoke

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    17 December 2019 at 3:42:21 #926505

    Thanks Slowpoke for your immediate response.

    yes i understand because of peak season interlakhen bookings are very expensive, i will bear some travel duration 🙂

    I seek your some recommendation about visit places in or near interlakhen. As i have scheduled two days for interlakhen including one day for Jungfraujoch. (I can add one more day)

    My plan is to explore one day in Jungfraujoch & its near lakes, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Schilthorn. And other day for jungraujoch.

    1) Is this doable in 2days, as in winter days are also small 🙁

    2) how much avg time it take for JungfrauJoch, (Going up on JFJ , Roaming JFJ and coming back to interlakhen )

    3) Is some thing more i should add for Interlakhen, any near place/village with Nature beauty (I can make 3rd day also for Interlakhen)

    Thanks

    Naeem

    Slowpoke
    Participant
    7567 posts
    17 December 2019 at 8:37:39 #926506

    Hi naeem –

    <<“I seek your some recommendation about visit places in or near interlakhen. As i have scheduled two days for interlakhen including one day for Jungfraujoch. (I can add one more day)

    My plan is to explore one day in Jungfraujoch & its near lakes, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Schilthorn. And other day for jungraujoch. “>>

    This is not clear to me. It seems that you have Jungfraujoch on both days.
    http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwald
    http://www.myswissalps.com/lauterbrunnen

    <<“1) Is this doable in 2days, as in winter days are also small 🙁 “>>

    Check this:

    http://www.timeanddate.com/sun/@2660253

    Sunset is at approximately 1645.

    How early will you leave Biel/Bienne?. Please use the timetable that I linked before to measure your travel times. Then you will see how much time is available to visit various places. It will help in your planning if you spell the place names correctly. The timetable likes it better if you give it the correct name for a place. There is no “h” in the name “Interlaken.”

    <<“2) how much avg time it take for JungfrauJoch, (Going up on JFJ , Roaming JFJ and coming back to interlakhen )

    3) Is some thing more i should add for Interlakhen, any near place/village with Nature beauty”>>

    In order to understand the answers and help your planning, this map will l be particularly useful. If you zoom in far enough ( to zoom level 32 ..the last number in the URL…..the train lines an cableways become very clear. I have linked three views:

    map.search.ch/?pos=646942,165376&z=8

    map.search.ch/?pos=649328,161760&z=16

    map.search.ch/?pos=641559,160480&z=32

    These following links will help you decide which places near Interlaken, the lakes, and the Jungfrau you will want to explore, as well as what to do at Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn-

    First, the overall Bernese Oberland region, and especially the Jungfrau region –

    http://www.myswissalps.com/berneseoberland, and

    http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfrauregion

    On that last link, scroll down the first page and look on the right for brief descriptions of the main towns and villages. Each village has a link to tell you more about it, including “What to do.”

    In general terms, Grindelwald is the most spread out of the 4 villages, and by itself has very few things to explore. It is the most commercial of the 4 places noted near the Jungfrau. Lauterbrunnen can be explored in 30 minutes to at most one hour. Interlaken has a few things of scenic interest for a tourist, but is mostly a good travel hub for connecting to the rest of Switzerland. Plenty of shops and hotels.

    On the way up to Schilthorn, which has several connections by either route, you might want to pause look around Mürren a bit…it has nice views of the main mountains.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/jungfraujoch.

    http://www.myswissalps.com/schilthorn

    http://www.myswissalps.com/boatlakethun

    The lake boat schedule for Lakes Thun and Brienz is extremely limited in the winter. I think I recallthat there i sno service on Lake Brienz….

    http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/topic/winter-boat-schedule-interlaken

    http://www.bls.ch/en/fahren/unterwegs-mit/schiff#time.from:17.12.2019,time.to:15.04.2020

    and, in particular, –

    http://www.bls.ch/-/media/bls/pdf/fahrplaene/schiff/winterfahrplan-schiff-2019.pdf?la=en&vs=1

    In late December it should be possible to walk some of the trails along the lake shores. Towns to consider are Thun and Brienz:

    http://www.myswissalps.com/thun

    http://www.myswissalps.com/brienz

    Considering the time available, you might allow one day for the trip from Biel/Bienne to Lauterbrunnnen, thence to Schilthorn via Mürren, and return to Biel/Bienne. You could optionally interrupt the journey to look at Interlaken , Lauterbrunnen, and Mürren, with Interlaken having the lowest priority for scenery.

    If you add Grindelwald, it will add enough time that the day will become very tightly scheduled, a long day, definitely ending in the dark, and it will not give much time to look around. Look at the map and check the timetable to see how much it is off the track for that trip. Grindelwald and its associated attractions (First, for example) should be done on a different day, possibly after coming down from Jungfraujoch. The cableway up to First is some distance from the train station..you’ll need a bus ride or have about a 20 minute walk.

    Finally, only you can decide how much to do at any location. That is why My Swiss Alps provides some descriptions, which you can amplify by doing internet searches.

    Slowpoke

    2) how much avg time it take for JungfrauJoch, (Going up on JFJ , Roaming JFJ and coming back to interlakhen )

    3) Is some thing more i should add for Interlakhen, any near place/village with Nature beauty (I can make 3rd day also for Interlakhen)”>>

    Removed user
    Participant
    72625 posts
    17 December 2019 at 13:59:53 #926507

    Hello Slowpoke,

    I am glad to have your very detail explanation and advices. Sorry for spelling. Your recommended links which shows rail links would be very helpfull to plan my route in Interlaken region.

    Thank You So Much Again. Have A Nice Day.

    Regards

    Naeem

  • The thread ‘Spontaneous stay near Interlaken on Christmas Eve’ is closed to new replies.

About MySwissAlps

We’re passionate tourists and locals. We share tips about how to plan a trip to Switzerland. MySwissAlps was founded in 2002.

Get a free account for a worry-free trip

  • Join our 10730 members and ask us questions in the forum
  • Access to member-only promotions
  • Detailed maps and weather forecasts

Planning your first Switzerland adventure?

Get a jump-start with Annika’s 20-minute e-mail course, “Switzerland for beginners”. Subscribe to our newsletter to unlock the course.