Interlaken has long been one of Switzerland’s most iconic summer destinations. In winter, it reveals something rarer: a composed, cinematic alternative to the classic alpine resort. Not ski-in, ski-out. Not après-ski. But rail, lakes, altitude, wellness, fine dining, discreet shopping and atmosphere.
Day One – Arrival by Rail & A First Evening
The journey begins at Zurich Airport. From here, the train carries you deep into the Bernese Oberland, passing lakes, valleys and villages before the mountains slowly rise around you. A smooth change along the way becomes part of the experience – wide windows framing water, forests and peaks, the landscape tightening as Interlaken approaches.
Interlaken means “between the lakes.” Arriving between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, the wide valley floor immediately defines the setting, with the Jungfrau massif anchoring the horizon. From the station, a gentle walk follows Interlaken’s main promenade – elegant shop windows, soft winter light – leading towards the far end where the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa gradually comes into view. Its Belle Époque façade feels less like a building and more like a landmark, where heritage and contemporary luxury meet with quiet Swiss confidence.
Check-in is warm and quietly attentive. A member of the team welcomes me by name, takes care of the luggage and escorts me through the grand corridors and up to my suite. The door opens to soft light, generous space, and two balconies framing the Jungfrau massif. Outside, the alpine air is crisp and still; inside, everything is warm, calm and perfectly prepared. A moment to freshen up, to take in the view, to let the journey settle – before heading back downstairs for dinner.
Victoria-Jungfrau as a culinary house, not a single restaurant
The Victoria-Jungfrau is not built around a single dining room, but around a small culinary universe. From its classic brasserie and Italian restaurant to the Piano Bar and its Michelin-starred fine-dining address, Radius, the house moves effortlessly between relaxed elegance and gastronomic precision.
The first evening unfolds at La Terrasse Brasserie. The menu brings together modern interpretations of Swiss classics and international favourites, built around high-quality, seasonal produce from the region. Dinner is centred on a beautifully prepared meat dish with carefully selected vegetables of the season.
When the sommelier recommends the house champagne, it comes with a story: a cuvée closely associated with the hotel’s ownership, produced from their own estate and chosen as a signature expression of taste rather than a marketing label. The champagne is beautifully balanced, elegant and confident – a fitting opening note to the stay, and a quiet signal of the level of craftsmanship that defines the house.
After dinner, the evening slows. Back in the room, a long bath in the beautiful marble bathroom becomes the final ritual of the day, followed by sinking into crisp sheets and one of those beds that immediately quiet the body and the mind. The room is calm, beautifully proportioned, designed for deep rest.
Day Two – Morning at Victoria-Jungfrau, Rail to Thun & Lake Thun in Winter
Morning arrives quietly. With the balcony doors open to crisp alpine air, the Jungfrau massif is visible in the first light. Below, paragliders descend across the valley and land on the meadow outside the hotel. It’s a simple but defining feature of Interlaken.
Breakfast at the Victoria-Jungfrau is served in a light-filled dining room overlooking the promenade. A market-style buffet of seasonal fruit, vegetables, artisanal breads and Swiss cheeses is paired with an à la carte menu prepared to order in the open kitchen. The atmosphere is calm and structured, closer to a restaurant opening for the day than a traditional hotel breakfast. Beyond the windows, the town gradually comes to life.
Winter on water: slow travel at its most composed
A short walk through Interlaken leads to the station, where a breathtakingly scenic train journey follows the lakeshore towards Thun. Snow-dusted villages, still water and distant peaks unfold through the windows before the experience continues on water.
From Thun, the return to Interlaken takes place by boat. The winter cruise on Lake Thun becomes a moving salon. Snow-covered peaks, historic villas and castle silhouettes glide past in near silence, the surface of the lake reflecting pale winter light.
In the VIP setting, lunch is served as a three-course menu at the table – seasonal Swiss cuisine, attentive service, locally produced wine and slow pacing. The boat transforms into a floating dining room, and time stretches.
The Afternoon at Spa Nescens
Back in Interlaken, the afternoon unfolds at Spa Nescens at the Victoria-Jungfrau. Spanning more than 5,500 square metres, it is among the most comprehensive spa concepts in Switzerland. The spa is built around a philosophy of Preventive Aging – not framed as anti-aging, but as a long-term, proactive approach to vitality, combining advanced treatments, medical expertise and its own product lines, all guided by an owner-driven vision of long-term wellbeing.
The experience is anchored by a signature massage: slow, precise and deeply restorative, gently deepening the sense of calm after a day of water, landscape and light. What follows is time spent across the spa’s calm, beautifully designed spaces, moving between pools, saunas and quiet areas before the evening begins.
Sapori – A Livelier Evening
The evening shifts mood at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Sapori. The atmosphere is warmer and more animated – a clear contrast to the quiet precision of the day. Tables fill quickly, voices rise, and the room settles into an easy, lively rhythm. Service is attentive and genuinely warm, the kind that allows the evening to stretch naturally. Around the room, a well-dressed, international crowd gathers – couples, locals, familiar faces – creating a lively yet elegant energy that feels distinctly contemporary. Sapori is not a hotel restaurant you retreat to; it is a place people actively seek out.
Day Three – Jungfraujoch: Rail, Lounge and Altitude
The final day is dedicated to height. At Interlaken station, the day begins with a quiet sense of order. A dedicated local guide coordinated by Interlaken Tourism meets us on the platform, and from that moment on, the journey unfolds seamlessly. Tickets, timing and transitions are handled with precision, allowing the focus to remain entirely on the experience itself rather than the logistics.
The route begins by regional train through the pretty valley towards Grindelwald, before continuing to the newly built Grindelwald Terminal – a contemporary alpine hub of clean architecture, boutiques and cafés. The setting is modern, light-filled and unexpectedly elegant, a gateway that feels designed rather than merely functional.
VIP guests begin in the Platinum Lounge, where coffee and exceptional Swiss chocolate are served in a calm, refined setting – a quiet pause before ascent.
From here, a red carpet leads to a private cabin of the Eiger Express. Inside, the atmosphere is calm and impeccably designed – generous space, deep red interiors, wide panoramic windows. A glass of chilled Bollinger Champagne is served as the doors close, and the ascent begins almost imperceptibly.
The cabin glides silently above the valley, lifting slowly into a landscape of snow-covered forests, rock faces and open alpine terrain. Below, Grindelwald recedes; ahead, the Eiger North Face begins to dominate the horizon. The scale of the mountains shifts with every metre gained, the view uninterrupted, cinematic, almost unreal.
At Eigergletscher, the transition continues seamlessly by rail. The Jungfrau Railway takes over, carrying the journey deeper into the mountain itself. The train moves through rock and ice before finally emerging at 3,454 metres above sea level: Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe.
The arrival is both dramatic and composed. Snow, sky and glacier stretch in every direction, the air crisp and unmistakably alpine. There is a sense of scale here that photographs never quite capture – the quiet vastness, the precision of the infrastructure, the feeling of standing at the intersection of nature and human ingenuity.
Lunch is served at the Crystal Restaurant, where large windows frame one of the most extraordinary panoramas in the Alps. The experience is deliberately unhurried. Plates arrive warm, flavours clean and confident, wines carefully selected to match both altitude and atmosphere.
The descent follows the same precise rhythm. From rail to gondola, altitude gives way to valley, silence to forest, snow to grass. The return feels calm rather than abrupt – a gradual re-entry after a day spent above the ordinary.
An Evening at the Piano Bar
The final night unfolds at the Victoria-Jungfrau Piano Bar, one of the hotel’s most atmospheric rooms. Live music sets the tone as the bar fills with a relaxed, elegant crowd. Cocktails are crafted with confidence – including the house gin – guided by a knowledgeable and genuinely passionate team. Classic dishes, such as a beautifully executed Caesar salad, are prepared with the same attention to detail as the drinks. The mood is social but composed, intimate without being closed, and distinctly international.
It is a closing that feels both vibrant and refined – the kind of evening that doesn’t rush the end of a journey, but lets it conclude exactly as it should.
Why Interlaken in Winter
As Julia at Interlaken Tourism explains, the region has long enjoyed strong summer demand. Winter tells a different story – and holds a different potential.
Interlaken is not a classic ski-in, ski-out resort. The major slopes lie further up the valleys, and travellers whose sole focus is downhill skiing will naturally gravitate elsewhere. Interlaken’s strength lies in offering something more layered.
Two lakes frame the town. The Jungfrau massif rises in the distance. Paragliders trace silent arcs across the sky, landing almost in the heart of the village. Few alpine destinations combine water, air and altitude in such a single, cinematic composition.
Interlaken also stands out for its sense of ease. The town is compact, walkable and exceptionally well organised, with rail, lake, hotel and activity hubs connected in a way that feels intuitive and secure. For international travellers this combination of spectacular nature and calm infrastructure creates a rare feeling: adventure without friction, beauty without stress.
Winter here is built on:
– Scenic rail journeys from Zurich as part of the experience
– A tranquil alpine lake with curated dining on water
– Effortless access to high altitude via world-class engineering
– One of Switzerland’s leading spa concepts focused on Preventive Aging
– Fine dining, cultured evenings and discreet shopping within walking distance
– Outdoor experiences from paragliding to winter walks, appealing to couples, multigenerational travellers and well-travelled families alike
Not a competitor to the great ski resorts – but their elegant counterpoint. For travellers seeking beauty, access and atmosphere rather than crowds and queues, Interlaken in winter offers a different rhythm – quieter, more composed, and deeply refined. Between lake and altitude, rail and stillness, this is Switzerland in winter at its most precise.
Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, Interlaken
- Founded: 1865
- Rooms & Suites: approximately 216
- Spa Nescens: over 5,500 sqm
- Owner: Michel Reybier Hospitality
- Setting: a Belle Époque landmark in the heart of Interlaken, strategically positioned between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz
- Distinguished by: a strong focus on Preventive Aging, diversified gastronomy, and appeal to multigenerational travel
This journey was curated in collaboration with Switzerland Tourism, Interlaken Tourism, Swiss Travel System, Jungfrau Railways and Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.
