3 Best Hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland – 5 Star Hostel, Party Vibes and a Hot Tub

3 Best Hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland
Photo by Joshua Earle

Who is ready to discover the very best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland? That’s probably why you landed here, and we’ve done the hard work for you.

This guide is the only one you’ll need. We bring you a stunning 5 star hostel, famous party hostel and an outdoor hot tub!

It’s your answer for where to stay in Interlaken Switzerland.

Interlaken is a top destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. It’s tucked in a narrow valley between two emerald-coloured lake. There is also mountains, dense forests and skiing trails.

Read: things to do in Interlaken

It also happens to be the sports capital of the world! Bungee jumping, canyoning, paragliding – you name it, it’s possible.

Your shortcut:

  1. Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof5 star hostel, perfect for Female Solo Traveler
  2. Balmers Hostel – party vibes for backpackers
  3. Alplodge – perfect for couples

Any questions about hostels in Interlaken?

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This part of Switzerland will certainly suit travellers that primarily want to hike, ski and get their adrenaline pumping.

The hostels here welcome all types of travellers, from solo travellers to families and couples.

This guide is perfect for YOU, when you…

  • are tired of crappy hostels!
  • want a social Hostel to actually meet people
  • are happy to spend $1 to $2 more for a much better experience

Find our full guide to the 23 best hostels in Switzerland here.

What we cover in this article?

You can find all 5 Star Hostels here with Hostelgeeks and all guides to “Best Hostels In” here.

Quick Introduction to Interlaken

Average price for a bed: Hostels in Interlaken cost 24€ – 33€ per night for a bed in a dorm. A private room starts from 65€ up to 130€ per night. This is a rough average just to give you an idea.

Prices always depend on season and holidays. Please always check exact rates on Hostelworld.com or Booking.com.

Check-In and Check Out: The average check-in time is from 15:00 (3pm), while the Check Out time is before 11:00 (11am). Hostels usually offer luggage storage in case you arrive earlier or leave later. Make sure you check if luggage storage is free or if there is an extra cost.

Location: It is recommended to stay in Interlaken and not any of the small, cute villages around. It is much easier to get around, enjoy the restaurants and bars. Our recommended hostels are well located.

Activities: Of course you should go and enjoy the Interlaken activities like Canyoning, River Rafting and soooooo much more. We joined our tours with Outdoor Interlaken and got recommendations from the staff at Backpackers Villa. Each team member actually tried all activities so they can recommend activities first-hand.

🎁 New to Hostels? Read our guide to staying in a Hostel for the First Time here. We especially recommend reading:

The 3 Best Hostels in Interlaken Switzerland

Let’s jump right into the boutique hostels in Interlaken.

  1. Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof
  2. Balmers Hostel
  3. Alplodge

We put all three accommodation on the map, you will find the map at the end of the article.

Overview: Best Hostels by Traveler Type

🦸 Solo Traveler: Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof
🙎‍♀️ best for Female Solo Traveler: Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof
🥳 Party Hostel:Balmers Hostel
👩‍❤️‍👨Couple Hostel: Alplodge
👨‍👩‍👦 Family Hostel: Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof
👩‍💻 For Digital Nomads: Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof
🎒 For Backpackers: Balmers Hostel

1. Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof – Hostel Interlaken

This 5 star hostel in Interlaken ticks all the boxes when it comes to a memorable, fun and affordable stay.

Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof is a big place featuring modern-traditional design. For one thing, the building runs on hydro-power!

Thousands of people have stayed and continue to stay here, and the consistently high reviews speak for themselves.

Shall we have a glance at some of the highlights?

  • Free breakfast with mountain views
  • Outdoor terrace (enjoy a beer here)
  • Shared kitchen facilities
  • Co-working space (free to use)

Want to hear something else super cool? Stay here and you’ll be granted free access to the nearby swimming pool and mini golf!

Not only that, but your guest card also works as a free bus pass for transport around the area. Wow.

Also, make sure you ask the staff for your free hiking map before you head out into the hills.

The team will also point you in the direction of 3 nearby restaurants where you can enjoy discounted meals. They’ve really thought of it all, right?

Now let’s impress you with the room choices.

This hostel pretty much offers everything: female dorms, eco (budget) rooms, twin, triple and rooms for upto 5 people which are suited to families.

Note: groups are welcome, and special conditions apply. It’s best to get in touch with the hostel in advance.

Location: 15-minutes walk from Interlaken Ost train station. It’s a 7-minute walk to the centre of town where you’ll find everything you need including great cafes.

This is one of the best hostels in Interlaken for

  • Solo travellers
  • Groups
  • Families
Book Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland

2. Balmers Backpackers Hostel

Balmers Hostel is for travellers that are seeking a sociable time that might lead to being up all night…

“Balmers is your base for chilling out in a hot tub or partying all night after getting your adrenaline pumping with the activities Interlaken is famous for.”

This is a well-known hostel that surely has party vibes, yet there is no pressure and you can just as easily relax and keep it simple.

Skip to: party hostels section to learn more about the party vibe here.

Having said that, we’d definitely recommend this one for younger, sociable humans.

Regardless, this is your chance to sleep in a traditional Swiss chalet!

To support the fun vibes, you can enjoy:

  • Friendly onsite bar
  • Outdoor terrace w/ hammocks
  • Cafe & mini mart
  • DJ events & fondue nights
  • Super fast free Wifi

We don’t need to tell you that it’s super easy to meet people here.

The best bit? In our opinion, it has to be the outdoor hot tub. Awesome!

Not only does the garden have hammocks, but there is also a dedicated hammock room. Chill here if you arrive early, or hang around after check out if you’re recovering from the night before.

So not only is there regular rooms here – there are glamping tents on offer from June – mid September.

The rooms vary dramatically in size.

Dorms rooms come with 4 – 10 beds, and there is an 18-bed chalet which is part of the tent village.

Not forgetting private rooms that come in single, twin and double size.

Location: At the bottom of awe-inspiring Jungfrau mountain. Balmers is a 10-minute walk from Interlaken West train station, and 20 minutes from Interlaken Ost.

This is one of the best hostels in Interlaken for

  • Backpackers
  • Party animals
Book Balmers Hostel here

Compare prices and check availability at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Balmers Hostel is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland

Balmers Hostel is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland Balmers Hostel is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland Balmers Hostel is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland

3. Alplodge

To cover all bases, here is a boutique hostel-hotel that offers a more charming and peaceful vibe in the heart of Interlaken.

Alplodge is situated right by the river, offering a total of 22 rooms and a million dollar view.

This building is pretty special. The foundations were laid all the way back in 1623, becoming a guesthouse in 1801.

You’ll surely feel the history surrounding you as you spend time inside the four walls. The charming decor is a reflection of this.

Let’s have a look at the rooms on offer:

  • Mixed dorms with 4-6 beds
  • Single private
  • Double private (ensuite)
  • Family room (4 people) w/ bathroom & balcony
  • Studios (ensuite, kitchenette, TV)

FYI: Hotel Bellevue is also part of the same building and run by the same people.

During the summer months a buffet breakfast is included in your booking rate. Otherwise, you can enjoy an affordable breakfast in the hotel.

Without doubt the nicest place to spend time is on the rooftop terrace!

Sip a cold beer, look out at the views and meet new like-minded travellers. The common kitchen is also attached to the terrace.

Other perks include: riverside bar, bicycle rental, elevator and free WiFi.

The wonderful staff would also love to help you with booking your adventure trips in the area, so don’t hesitate.

Location: Right in the heart of Interlaken township!

This is one of the best hostels in Interlaken for

  • Couples
  • Older travellers
Book Alplodge here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Alplodge is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland Alplodge is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland Alplodge is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland

What about cheapest hostels in Interlaken?

Of course, there are always cheap hostels. Forget hotels in Interlaken!

We think, it’s not worth it to go with the cheapest hostel out there.

Why?

The difference is usually 1-2€ ($1-2) per night, and a lot of amenities are not included. This can be breakfast or linen.

However, if you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you wanna save every penny, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Interlaken.

  1. Open Hostelworld with full list of budget places to stay in Interlaken Switzerland
  2. Order the listing by price

Simple as that.

Read: 15 hacks for booking hostels

Make sure you use then the other filters and rank per price.

Also keep a close eye on the ratings, especially the “extreme ratings”. Meaning, the best and worst. These ratings can give great insight on what to expect.

Best Hostels in Interlaken for Solo Travellers?

What is seriously the best hostel in Interlaken for solo-travellers?

We’re keen to show you Funny Farm Interlaken.

This is a budget conscious hostel that is big, lively and focused on bringing people together. Especially solo travellers!

There’s plenty to keep you occupied and amenities that make it easy to say hello and strike up a conversation.

Depending on the season, you can enjoy:

  • BBQ area
  • Volleyball court
  • Swimming pool
  • Tennis & basketball

Things that are always open and alive are the onsite bar, restaurant and garden terrace.

Depending on your level of sociable capacity, will depend on which dorm you choose. They come with a maximum of 10-beds.

Book Funny Farm Backpackers here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Funny Farm Backpackers is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland Funny Farm Backpackers is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland

Party Hostels in Interlaken

We’d like to mention here again our #2 hostel as one of the best party hostels in Interlaken. In fact it is THE best!

Balmers Hostel offers up the ideal opportunity for partying, there’s no doubt about it.

There is an actual club onsite. Yes, a club!

It’s easily the Interlaken hostel we’d choose for a good time.

With different DJs every night, great beer and delicious food on offer, you’ll easily meet new people and have a blast.

When you’ve had enough and just want to sleep, enjoy quiet rooms that are set away from the buzzing nightlife.

Book Balmers Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Balmers Hostel is one of the best party hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland

And wait, before you go; Happy Inn Lodge is also a good option for social times.

As the rooms are pretty basic, the real reason you’d choose to stay here is because of the cosy onsite bar. Brasserie 17 is one of the best places in town for fun and food.

During the summertime, there is live music every Thursday.

Book Happy Inn Lodge here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Happy Inn Lodge is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland

More Hostels worth a Mention

Are you so far impressed with the hostel world in Interlaken? We agree, it’s awesome.

And it doesn’t stop there, dear reader! We thoughr we’d throw a few more into the mix to give you ALL of the best options in the area.

Some other cool hostels in Interlaken to consider:

  1. Adventure Hostel Interlaken
  2. Youth Hostel in Interlaken

Adventure Hostel Interlaken

The Adventure Hostel is located inside an old villa that dates back to 1901.

Kickstart the morning with a free breakfast, and kick back during the day in the garden with a beer and extraordinary view.

All rooms – shared & private – come with a mountain view and private bathroom.

Whether you’re young, older or part of a twosome; you’ll feel at home here.

Book Adventure Hostel here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Adventure Hostel is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland

Youth Hostel Interlaken

Don’t let the name put you off – Youth Hostel Interlaken welcomes people of all ages and preferences.

It’s a big, modern place that lacks personality, but doesn’t skip on cleanliness and comfortability.

Make use of the big spaces for chilling. There’s a pool table, book shelf and cosy fireplace to keep you warm.

The onsite kitchen is staffed and they’ll never let you down in providing your free breakfast each morning.

Book Youth Hostel Interlaken here

Compare prices and read reviews at: Booking.com | Hostelworld

Interlaken Youth Hostel is one of the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland

What about the cheapest hostels in Interlaken?

Of course, there are always cheap hostels. But how do you actually find them? When you are traveling on a shoe-string budget and you want to save every dollar, there are ways to find the cheapest places in Interlaken.

  1. Open Hostelz.com with a full list of all hostels in Interlaken
  2. add your dates
  3. Order the listings by price

Simple as that.

Hostelz.com is a price comparison site for hostels. They list every single one in the world and tells you exactly which website is cheaper to use.

Another smart Tip: Check what is actually included, and what is excluded. Take a closer look at the location, too. A further location might mean more costs in transport.

Any Discounts?

You can find all our hostel discounts worldwide here. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive the freshest hostel discounts directly in your inbox. We even have special discount codes we only share in the newsletter.

It is completely free to join!

How to book?

The most popular booking platforms are Booking.com and Hostelworld.com. On both platforms, your credit card is 100% protected and the booking 100% confirmed.

We included some handy links to each of the recommended hostel. Just click on the hostel name. The link will lead you to check prices and availability.

Read: Step-by-Step guide on how to book with Hostelworld

We recommend booking your hostel as early as possible! All of Interlaken best hostels are popular; especially in high-season. To make sure you end up in those stylish and good hostels, secure your room/bed as soon as you have your travel dates fix.

The coolest Hostel App you need comes as well from Hostelworld. It gives you super cool features like you can contact your hostel mates beforehand, ask questions, and make plans together. Find more details in our review of the app.

Download the Hostelworld App here

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Scan the QR Code with your Smartphone to download the Hostelworld App from the App Store - like a real Hostel Geek!

The best way to find hostels: Hostelgeeks website and Hostelworld App

Our Favorite Hostels in Interlaken put on a map + sights

Let us have a look on the map. Below we list all three best Interlaken hostels on a map.

Personally, we love to plan our trips with a map having all sights and potential hostels on it. We thought this map will help you with planning your trip too.

Looking for cool things to do in Interlaken?

We also included the main tourist attractions you’ve to know in this list:

  • Höhematte
  • Harder Kulm
  • Höheweg (main street)
  • Schynige Platte
  • Heimwehfluh
  • Outdoor Interlaken

Any questions about hostels in Interlaken? 🤔

Join our Facebook Group!

Ask all your questions and connect with like-minded wanderers 🔥

Flights to Interlaken?

Interlaken itself has no Airport. You will need to fly into Basel, Geneva. Most visitors actually come with the train or bus.

You can also rent a car; that is what we did. Make sure you book a hostel with parking in Interlaken, like Backpackers Villa.

It is actually the best way to get around and visit all the other beautiful places around Switzerland.

We use Skyscanner and Omio.com to find cheap flights and good connections all over the globe.

Skyscanner has a bunch of cool features like Multi-City Trip. Instead of doing this research step-by-step, Skyscanner offers this flight planning tool.

Our Step-by-Step Guide to Skyscanner

review of Skyscanner flight searches

FAQ

Alright, you should have found your accommodation already. Below we list all the frequently asked questions. Have a look.

More guides

Alright, this is your answer to where to stay in Interlaken. Of course I highly recommend to read:

We did the leg work for you and bring you more hostel guides to destinations:

You can find all our new and updates articles for Best Hostels in here.

We also created a huge guide to hostels. Here we cover how to build lifetime friendships in hostels, the perfect packing list and more.

Over to you

Do you have any questions left, maybe doubts? Then please leave it in the comment below. We are very keen to help you - and actually you would even do us a favor!

Your question will help us to improve this Interlaken guide.

Last note: Our commitment

This is a genuine article to help you travel a bit smarter, and find the best place on a budget! We will never recommend you any place we haven’t evaluated or are not convinced by. We are constantly updating all our guides to keep them as fresh and accurate as possible.

Safe travels,
The Hostelgeeks

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A complete guide and overview to the best hostels in Interlaken, Switzerland for solo travellers & backpackers

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Our Favorite Travel Resources 2024

👏 Booking Hostels: Always find better deals for Hostels on Hostelz.com. They compare prices from Hostelworld and Booking.com.

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