Travel · Switzerland

Unterseen

1.4 kmabout 19 min

Worth the walk

Marktgasse is about 12 minutes on foot from Interlaken Ost. Follow it into Spielmatte and go on to the second bridge, the Schaalbrücke, for the old town across the water.

Walking this another time?

The walk · 1.4 km, about 19 min

The snow-covered Jungfrau above autumn trees and the roofs of Unterseen — The Jungfrau from Unterseen

The walk goes from Interlaken Ost up Marktgasse, over the railway and the Aare into Spielmatte, and ends at the Touristik-Museum der Jungfrau-Region.

This road is the historic link between Unterseen and Interlaken across the river island.

Marktgasse, the first street towards Spielmatte

If you have time

Go up from the roundabout between Höheweg and Bahnhofstrasse. About 900 m from Interlaken Ost, around 12 minutes.

The street runs from the roundabout by the station to the level crossing and the bridge over the Aare. The shops along it sell chocolate by the bar.

Flower pots stand at the junction, and when you look up there are mountains beyond the buildings. At the level crossing, check for trains first.

Settle before you come · Switzerland

Which Swiss pass, if any?

Take the Swiss Travel Pass if you are moving between cities on consecutive days, the Jungfrau Travel Pass if you are based in Interlaken or Grindelwald for the mountains, and the Half Fare Card if you only travel now and then.

If you move every day

Spielmatte, almost an island in the Aare

Worth the stop

Over the level crossing and the Aare bridge. About 150 m from Marktgasse, around 2 minutes.

Across the bridge you are, in effect, on an island. Green water runs past the railings. There are red flowers and trees on the bank, and more flowers on the lamp posts.

Go on to the second bridge, the Schaalbrücke, and the centre of the old town lies across the river. It is called the Stedtli, Swiss German for a small town.

The green Aare beyond a railing with red flowers, mountains behind, Spielmatte — Unterseen, Spielmatte

The road is narrow and cars often pull into the pedestrian space to pass one another. When one comes, step to the side and wait.

The bridge road at Spielmatte with its railings, a flag on a building, mountains behind — Unterseen, Spielmatte

Touristik-Museum der Jungfrau-Region, 200 years of visitors

If you have time

The address is Obere Gasse 28, 3800 Unterseen. About 350 m from Spielmatte, around 5 minutes.

Three floors show how travel, lodging and tourism in the region have changed over the past 200 years.

Café tables sit under awnings on the street outside, and behind the stone square rises a wooded mountain. If you came for the river, add this only when there is time.

A street in the old town with a church tower and café tables under awnings, the Stedtli in Unterseen — Unterseen, the Stedtli

More photographs from Unterseen

The sky after sunset above the outlines of trees and mountains, Unterseen — Unterseen

In Spielmatte, stretch the walk as far as the Schaalbrücke. If the day is tight, drop the museum and spend the time on the river. For a day up the mountains from Interlaken, the Jungfrau pass page sets out which ticket to take.