Bernese Oberland · BE
Photoshoot in Interlaken
Interlaken is the resort town between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland and the usual base for photoshoots in the Jungfrau region. Alpiora arranges sessions here with independent local photographers, from CHF 650.
Pricing
From CHF 650
- Region
- Bernese Oberland
- Elevation
- 566 m
- Photo spots
- 5
Starting price. The exact price depends on photographer, place, date, time and add-ons, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
Quick answers
- How much does it cost?
- Photoshoot in Interlaken starts from CHF 650. The final price depends on the place, duration, date, time of day, travel and any add-ons such as video, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
- When is the best time?
- The Jungfrau lies south of town, so it is side-lit in the morning and warm in the evening.
- Which experiences are available here?
- Proposal Photography, Couple Photoshoot, Honeymoon Photography, Family Photoshoot, Elopement Photography, and Engagement Photography
- Getting there
- Interlaken has two main stations.
- Where does it take place?
- Popular places include Höhematte; Aare quays and Unterseen old town; Harder Kulm and the Two Lakes Bridge; Lake Thun shore at Neuhaus. Your photographer suggests the best spot for your date, the light and the crowds.
- How does booking work?
- Send a free request with your place, date and plans. Alpiora checks which photographers are available and replies with a proposal stating the photographer, the package and the exact price. Nothing is booked until you accept.
Interlaken sits on the Bödeli, a flat strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with the Aare running through town and the Jungfrau framed at the end of the Höhematte meadow. For a photoshoot that means real variety within walking distance: open meadow, fast green river, a small old town, two lakeshores and a funicular to a viewpoint above it all.
It is also the railhead for everything people come to the Bernese Oberland to see. From Interlaken Ost, trains climb to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald and on towards the Jungfraujoch; boats and buses leave for the Iseltwald pier and the lakeside village of Brienz. Many couples book the session in town and add a second place.
Interlaken is priced as an Alpine location, so sessions start at CHF 650 for 90 minutes. The most common bookings here are proposals in Interlaken, couple photoshoots, honeymoon sessions and family photos; each page explains the typical route and timing.
Photo spots — Interlaken
- 01
Höhematte
A large open meadow in the centre of town with the Jungfrau framed between the trees at its southern end: the classic Interlaken photograph. Grand hotel facades line the Höheweg on the other side, and paragliders land on the meadow through the day, which can add life to a frame or clutter it.
- Best time
- Early morning for an empty meadow and clear peaks; evening for warm light on the Jungfrau.
- Access
- Five to ten minutes on foot from Interlaken West or Interlaken Ost; flat paths, fine for heels and strollers.
- 02
Aare quays and Unterseen old town
Between the two lakes the Aare runs fast and green-turquoise through town. The paths along its banks give clean water backgrounds, and across the bridges Unterseen has a small old-town square with a church tower and old houses that suits quieter, closer portraits.
- Best time
- Morning or late afternoon; the water colour is strongest on sunny summer days.
- Access
- A short walk from Interlaken West; paved riverside paths and several footbridges.
- 03
Harder Kulm and the Two Lakes Bridge
At 1,322 m above town, this viewpoint looks south over Interlaken to the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, with Lake Thun on one side and Lake Brienz on the other. The Two Lakes Bridge platform juts out over the slope; the restaurant terrace behind it fills up around sunset.
- Best time
- Late afternoon to sunset, spring to autumn. In 2026 evening rides run from 18 April to 25 October.
- Access
- Harderbahn funicular, about 10 minutes up from its valley station across the Aare from Interlaken Ost. Season 2026: 3 April to 29 November.
- 04
Lake Thun shore at Neuhaus
West of Unterseen the Aare flows into Lake Thun beside the Weissenau castle ruin and a reed-lined nature reserve. The shore at Neuhaus is open and low, with mountains rising straight out of the far side of the lake, and in midsummer the sun sets roughly along the length of the lake.
- Best time
- Summer sunsets; calm mornings for reflections.
- Access
- Around 30 to 40 minutes on foot from Interlaken West through Unterseen, flat; parking at Neuhaus.
- 05
Bönigen lakeshore
The village at the western tip of Lake Brienz has a lakeside promenade with old wooden houses and jetties, and a fraction of the visitors you meet at Iseltwald. Choose it when you want turquoise water in the frame without queuing for it.
- Best time
- Morning for light on the water; evenings are calm and quiet.
- Access
- About 40 minutes on foot along the Aare from Interlaken Ost, a short bus ride, or the first stop of the Lake Brienz boats.
Best time
Seasons
June to September brings green meadows, the strongest lake colour, long evenings and the most visitors; the Harderbahn and the boats run full timetables. Autumn is often clearer and calmer, with colour in the forests. Winter is quiet in town: Lake Brienz boats pause from early December to early April, while the Jungfrau railways keep running. In spring the valley floor turns green while the peaks stay white, a strong contrast for photographs.
Time of day
The Jungfrau lies south of town, so it is side-lit in the morning and warm in the evening. On the valley floor the sun drops behind the ridges well before official sunset, so for the last light on the peaks go up to Harder Kulm. Before 9.00 the Höhematte and the Aare paths are almost empty; from late morning day visitors fill the Höheweg. In midsummer the sun sets after 21.00, in December before 17.00.
Weather
Interlaken is lower and more sheltered than the valleys above it, so a grey morning in town can still mean clear peaks higher up, and the other way round. Summer afternoons often build cloud and thunderstorms over the mountains, which is why photographers like early sessions for peak views. Check the Harder Kulm and Jungfrau region webcams the evening before; a flexible time slot or a rain plan in the old town keeps the day workable.
Getting there
Interlaken has two main stations. Interlaken West is closer to the centre, the Höhematte and the Lake Thun boat landing. Interlaken Ost is where the Jungfrau railways start and where Lake Brienz boats and bus 103 to Iseltwald leave. Direct trains from Bern take about 50 minutes; Zurich and Basel connect via Bern, and the Luzern–Interlaken Express comes over the Brünig Pass from Lucerne. From Interlaken Ost the Berner Oberland-Bahn runs to Lauterbrunnen, for Wengen and Mürren, and to Grindelwald Terminal, where the Eiger Express gondola connects towards the Jungfraujoch. BLS boats sail on Lake Thun from Interlaken West and on Lake Brienz from Interlaken Ost (Lake Brienz season 2026: 3 April to 6 December).
Good to know
Small private sessions on public paths and meadows are an everyday sight here; for a larger setup with a crew, furniture or lighting, ask the municipality first, and hotels or private gardens need the owner’s permission. Plan around drones: paragliders land on the Höhematte and at Unterseen, and the Jungfrau region tourist board lists drones as prohibited in Lauterbrunnen and on the Jungfraujoch. Before any aerial shot, check the federal drone map at map.geo.admin.ch and local rules, and agree it with your photographer. Funiculars, boats and mountain railways charge normal fares for you and for the photographer.
- Book the town session for the evening and use the morning for a mountain trip, so you are not carrying outfits up and down.
- Bring a warm layer even in July if you add Harder Kulm or anything higher; it is noticeably cooler above 1,300 m.
- For the Jungfrau view on the Höhematte, the northern edge of the meadow lines the peak up between the trees.
- Want turquoise water without a queue? Choose Bönigen or the Aare instead of the Iseltwald pier.
- The Swiss Travel Pass and Half Fare Card reduce many mountain fares; check what each lift covers before you buy.
Related experiences
From CHF 650
Proposal Photography
A photographer who hides, catches the moment you ask, and then takes relaxed portraits of the two of you. Planned with you in advance.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 390
Couple Photoshoot
A guided session for two, in a Swiss old town, by a lake or in the mountains, with a photographer who knows the light there.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 650
Honeymoon Photography
Ninety unhurried minutes for newlyweds, at the stop of your Swiss trip that matters most, with a photographer who knows it.
1 h 30 minExplore
From CHF 450
Family Photoshoot
A child-paced family session in a Swiss city, by a lake or in the Alps, with a local photographer who knows where little legs can go.
1 hourExplore
Photographer availability
We confirm availability for your date personally — send a request and we will check which reviewed photographers are free for this place and session.
Find a Photographer in InterlakenFrequently asked questions
How much does a photoshoot in Interlaken cost?
Sessions in Interlaken start at CHF 650 for 90 minutes, because the Bernese Oberland is priced at Alpiora’s Alpine floor. The final price depends on the photographer, date, time of day and whether mountain transport or a second location is involved. Your proposal lists everything before you confirm.
Where can I propose in Interlaken with a photographer?
Harder Kulm at sunset and the Höhematte early in the morning are the two classic proposal spots in town, both with the Jungfrau in view. For turquoise water, many couples choose Iseltwald or Bönigen on Lake Brienz. The page on proposal photography in Interlaken covers hiding positions and timing.
Is Interlaken a good base for photoshoots in Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald?
Yes, it is the most practical base: both lakes and every valley railway start here. Staying higher up in Wengen, Mürren or Grindelwald makes sunrise in the mountains easier but means more changes for lake shoots. For a single session, the photographer can meet you where you stay.
Can we combine Interlaken with a second location?
Yes. Common pairings are town plus Harder Kulm, town plus Iseltwald by bus or boat, or a longer session with Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. Two or more places are priced as a longer session; mention your ideas when you request availability.
What happens if it rains on the day of the shoot?
Your photographer will usually suggest moving the time or date if the forecast allows, or shooting with umbrellas in the old town and along the Aare. How rescheduling works for your booking is set out in your proposal. Low cloud often lifts towards evening, so a flexible time slot helps.
Can we fly a drone in Interlaken?
Assume not until it has been checked. Paragliders land in the middle of town, and the Jungfrau region lists drones as prohibited in Lauterbrunnen and on the Jungfraujoch. Check the federal drone map at map.geo.admin.ch and local rules, and ask whether your photographer holds the permissions needed for aerial work.
Planning guides
The Best Time to Propose in Switzerland: Season, Month, Day and Hour
A proposal needs more from the calendar than a photoshoot does: a quiet spot, enough light after the yes, a lift that is running and a spare evening. How to pick the season, the month, the day of your trip and the hour.
Read more
The Best Honeymoon Photo Locations in Switzerland, Stop by Stop
The specific honeymoon photo spots at each classic stop on a Swiss route, from Lucerne’s lakefront to Muottas Muragl above St. Moritz, with the hour each one works and the season to plan around.
Read more
Proposal Photography Checklist: What to Send, Carry and Do on the Day
Four short lists for your proposal photographer: the briefing to send, the shots to ask for, what to confirm and carry, and where to stand so the photographs show your partner’s face.
Read more
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