Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hünegg Castle (Schloss Hünegg)
Located in Hilterfingen (farther along Lake Thun, toward Interlaken), this castle contains a
museum exhibiting furnished rooms from the second half of the 19th century. The castle is
situated in a beautiful wooded park.
Cost and Hours:
9 SF, mid-May-mid-Oct Mon-Sat 14:00-17:00, Sun 11:00-17:00,
closed off-season, tel. 033-243-1982,
www.schlosshuenegg.ch
.
Oberhofen Castle (Schloss Oberhofen)
Also on Lake Thun, this place is ideal for those interested in gardens. Its beautifully land-
scaped park with exotic trees is a delight. The museum in the castle depicts domestic life in
the 16th-19th centuries, including a Turkish smoking room and a medieval chapel.
Cost and Hours:
Gardens-free, mid-May-mid-Oct daily 10:00-dusk; museum-10 SF,
mid-May-mid-Oct Mon 14:00-17:00, Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00; both closed off-season, 40
minutes from Interlaken on bus #21, tel. 033-243-1235,
www.schlossoberhofen.ch
.
Youthful Night Scenes
For counterculture with a reggae beat, check out
Funny Farm
(past the recommended
Balmer's Herberge hostel, in Matten). The young frat-party dance scene rages at the
Metro
Bar
at Balmer's (bomb-shelter disco bar, with cheap drinks and a friendly if loud atmo-
sphere). And if you're into
Hooters,
you won't have a hard time finding it.
Mellower After-Dark Hangouts
To nurse a drink with a view of the park, the outdoor tables at
Restaurant Schuh
are con-
venient if you don't mind the schlocky music. The
“Top O'Met”
bar and café has great
indoor and outdoor view seating with reasonable prices, 18 floors above everything else in
town (in the Metropole Hotel skyscraper, open nightly until late, see “Eating in Interlaken,”
later).
Hotel Oberland
(near the post office) has live alpine music in its restaurant (Tue at
19:00 or 20:00).
I'd sleep in Gimmelwald, or at least Lauterbrunnen (20 minutes by train or car). In ski sea-
son, however, prices go down in Interlaken, while they shoot up at most hotels in the moun-
tains. Interlaken is not the Alps. But if you must stay here...
