SWITZERLAND - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 549

surrounding Interlaken, as well as the Jungfrau. This can be done in about an hour
for only CHF 43 per person. The Harderkulm Station is only a short walk from In-
terlaken's Ost (East) Station. Ask for directions at the tourist office.
Interlaken has two railway stations, west and east. Coming from Bern, you arrive
first in the west station. Disembark here rather than riding another five minutes to
the east station. Remember, however, if you are closer to the east station as your
visit draws to a close, you can catch the same train from that point, too—but five
minutes ahead of the west-station schedule.
An extra bonus offered with the Swiss Card is a 50 percent discount (25 percent
with a Swiss Pass) on the Brienz Rothorn Bahn, Switzerland's oldest steam cog
railway. Since 1892, it has climbed the 7,710 feet above sea level for a spectacular
view from Rothorn Kulm. For further information Tel: [phone].
The Höheweg starts at the west station, and the grand promenade extends to
the east station. With a city map in hand, courtesy of the tourist office, you are all
set to tour the town. If walking isn't your forte, you may prefer to see the sights from
a surrey. These horse-drawn vehicles are available just outside the west station.
Rates vary and must be arranged with the driver.
There are more than 100 restaurants in Interlaken. We do have a favorite, al-
though it's a bit off the beaten path—the Hotel Rössli, Hauptstrasse 10. Tel:
(033) 822 78 16; Fax: [phone]; www.roessli-interlaken.ch ; E-mail:
[e-mail]. It is run by a friendly gentleman who worked in New
York City restaurants for many years before he moved to the German district of
Switzerland. The result is German-Swiss food served with a French flair and an
American accent—rather unusual.
Interlaken is a good base for explorations of the entire Jungfrau Region. We
suggest that you devote one day to Interlaken and its immediate area and check
with the tourist office regarding other day-excursion possibilities. In addition to the
rail ascent to the Jungfrau, you can reach the Schilthorn and lunch in the restaur-
ant Piz Gloria (at 10,000 feet), where James Bond escaped the murderous intents
of the opposition by skiing down the world's longest ski slope in the film On Her
Majesty's Secret Service .
Wearers of pacemakers should be wary of the higher altitudes, but there's no
reason to miss out on the fun around Interlaken. The Swiss Open-Air Museum
at nearby Ballenberg ( Hours: Mid-April-October: 1000-1700 daily) is an ideal al-
ternative and easy to reach by either train or lake steamer departing from the city's
east station. Ask for details at the tourist information office.
If the weather is agreeable, a cruise on the Lake of Thun before returning
from Interlaken is a must. The ships depart from a pier that can be reached from