Is Interlaken safe?
Very safe from crime. Adventure sports, mountain weather and cold water are the real risks, so use licensed operators.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-19.
- Homicide rate in Switzerland: 0.6 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Switzerland: 2.2 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · All emergencies 112.
Safety in Interlaken at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Occasional petty theft from hostel lockers and unattended bags; violent crime is rare. |
| At night | Quiet and safe; the few bars near Interlaken Ost close early. |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone, including at night; hostel mixed dorms are normal. |
| Other risks | Rockfall and weather on high routes; Cold lake and river water |
Scams, areas and local laws
Take care
- Unlicensed adventure operators: use certified guides only
- Mountain hikes: weather changes fast above treeline
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Most municipalities require official fee-paid rubbish bags; dumping household waste is fined.
- Motorways need the CHF 40 vignette, and speeding fines are severe.
- Night-time and Sunday quiet hours are taken seriously in apartments.
How Interlaken compares in Switzerland
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Zurich | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lucerne | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Interlaken | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Zermatt | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Bern | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Basel | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Lugano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Grindelwald | 5/5 · Very safe |
| St. Moritz | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Montreux | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Geneva | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
| Lausanne | 4/5 · Safe with normal care |
Quick answers
Is Interlaken safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone, including at night; hostel mixed dorms are normal.
Is Interlaken safe at night?
Quiet and safe; the few bars near Interlaken Ost close early.
What is the crime rate in Interlaken?
Occasional petty theft from hostel lockers and unattended bags; violent crime is rare. Nationally, Switzerland records 0.6 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Interlaken?
Police 117 · Ambulance 144 · Fire 118 · All emergencies 112.
More about Interlaken
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Interlaken Tourism
- BLS (lake boats and trains)
- SBB
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.