Frequently Asked Questions

What about noise?! – After 10 PM, please head inside and keep the noise to a minimum. Our hostel is nestled in a peaceful neighborhood where locals—and fellow travelers—need their rest. Let’s respect both our neighbors and each other for a relaxed, harmonious vibe.

Balmers Hostel
Hauptstrasse 23
3800 Matten bei Interlaken, Switzerland

General
Web: www.balmers.com
Phone: + 41 (0) 33 822 1961
Whatsapp: + 41 (0) 33 822 1961
Email: [email protected]

General emergency calls:112
Police: 117
Fire department: 118
Ambulance:144
Hospital: +41 33 826 26 26
Pharmacy: +41 33 828 34 34

There is no dedicated currency exchange office in Interlaken. However, you can exchange money at banks, such as the UBS branch near Interlaken West train station or at the Post Office. That said, card payments are widely accepted throughout Interlaken, usually without additional fees. A convenient option is to withdraw Swiss Francs (CHF) directly from an ATM to have spare cash, especially for smaller businesses that may not accept cards.

While some businesses in Interlaken may accept Euros (EUR) due to its popularity as a tourist destination, the exchange rate offered is often rounded and not favorable. As you travel further away from Switzerland’s borders, the likelihood of Euros being accepted decreases. It’s best to carry Swiss Francs for better value and convenience.

No, Uber is not available in Interlaken. However, the town has several reliable local taxi services, including:

• Bödeli Taxi (+41 33 822 00 88)
• City Taxi (+41 78 608 74 81)
• Taxi Interlaken (+41 78 600 05 02)

You can find taxis outside Interlaken’s train stations or call to book a ride.

Read out the blog post Getting Around Interlaken: Essential Tips for Exploring

Interlaken does not have night trains. The last train connections typically run until midnight, with some train and bus combinations operating until around 1–2 AM. If your flight is delayed, check the latest schedules on the SBB website to ensure you don’t miss your connection.

Yes, credit cards are widely accepted in Interlaken. You’ll rarely need cash as most businesses take card payments. Public transportation tickets can also be paid via mobile apps using Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, or Google Pay.

Interlaken is a paradise for pets! With kilometers of open green spaces, your furry friends can run, explore, and even swim. Pets are allowed on public transportation and welcomed at many businesses. At Balmers Hostel, pets are allowed if you’re staying in a private room.

Absolutely! The tap water in Interlaken comes from pristine mountain springs, making it fresh, clean, and delicious. It’s safe to drink everywhere in town.

The legal drinking age in Switzerland depends on the type of alcohol:

• Beer and wine: 16 years old
• Spirits and hard alcohol: 18 years old

We are the oldest and most fun hostel in Switzerland! We are situated in three traditional Swiss wooden chalets that surround a courtyard, terras, and garden.  The look and feel of our accommodation can best be described as playful, comfy, and unique.

Check in starts at 4 pm/ Check out is until 10 am. On check out we kindly ask you to bring down your bed sheets as well as duvet covers and pillow covers.

Yes, but you’ll have to check in online. We’ll then prepare your keys so that you can get to your room after reception closes.

By bus:
From the Interlaken West station take the bus number 105 and get off at the stop Hotel Sonne. This takes 5 minutes
From the Ost Station take the bus number 104 and get off at the stop Hotel Sonne. This takes 5 minutes
We are about 30 meters from both stops. Bus fare is Sfr 3.80 per person. Busses start running from 07.00am till about 20:30pm.once you arrive at the hostel we will provide you with a free bus pass for your convenience and for the remainder of your stay

Walking:
It takes about 20 minutes from both stations
From Interlaken West station – turn left out of the station and follow the main street, turn right at the traffic circle just after Mc Donalds all the way down. Stay on the left hand side of the road and walk straight until you see brown signs pointing to Balmers. Follow these signs
From Interlaken Ost station – exit straight out of station, between the bank and the Coop shopping Centre, straight through two traffic circles, and follow brown signs to Balmers.

You can also get a taxi for about 15 chf from either train station.

From the airport:
We have three major airports, Zurich, Geneva and Basel
Click on the following link to see the time schedules, no need to book a seat in Switzerland and you can purchase your tickets on arrival.
https://www.sbb.ch/en/home.html

Unfortunately not! But we do have a guest kitchen and a bakery + supermarket which are on less than 2 min walk from the hostel. Read more about breakfast

Yes. We provide free high speed wifii in all areas of the hostel as well as in the rooms.

Yes, we do and it’s free to use for our guests. More information at reception.

Please make sure there is no eating or drinking in the tub for obvious reasons…

The jacuzzi is closed one day a week for complete cleaning and can take up to a day to heat up again. We thank you for your understanding!

The price of your bed includes bed linen, wifi, and an Interlaken bus ticket that’s valid throughout the stay.  It excludes city tax of 2.85 CHF per person per night. As of July 2019, continental breakfast is no longer included in the room price.

Yes, we have coin operated lockers at the back of the hostel and some shelves which are video monitored

We provide towels in single, double and twin rooms. You don’t need to bring a towel when staying in a dorm room either as you can rent one at the reception for 3.50 CHF.

Yes. We provide bed linen. We ask you to bring your pillow case, bottom sheet and  duvet cover down to reception on check out.

We do not offer parking ourselves but there is a public car park only 50 meters away from the hostel which is free overnight (from 19:00 until 8:00). The address of the public parking is: Tellweg 7, 3800 Matten bei Interlaken, Switzerland

Our fully equipped guest kitchen is your go-to spot to whip up a meal, share recipes, or bond over late-night snacks. To keep it welcoming for everyone please tidy up after yourself!

Hammock room where you can chill out after an eventful day out in the Bernese Oberland.
TV room where you can catch up on the latest news.
Garden where you can relax and enjoy the sun or challenge your friends in the giant chess board or chill in a hammock.

Unfortunately, there is currently no restaurant at the Balmers property. We do have a large guest kitchen that is fully equipped for you to cook an amazing meal yourself.

Swiss food (rösti, cheese fondue, raclette):
Hirschen Hotel, Bären Restaurant, Hotel Krebs, Des Alps
Italian: Tenne, Ristorante Mercato, X-Port Pizzeria
French: Café de Paris
Thai food: Little Thai
Lebanese: Layala Beirut
Sri Lankan and Indian: Shanti (in Unterseen)
Indian Restaurant: Spice India and Taj Mahal

Sandwiches and Bagles: Barracuda cafe and bar across the road from us

Interlaken has several self-service laundromats where you can wash, dry, and fold your clothes. Options include:

• Wash & Go Interlaken (self-service)
• Laundry Service Interlaken (self-service)
• Laundry Toscana (self-service)
• Bödeli Textilreinigung (offers full-service laundry)

Interlaken is a mecca for the adventure traveler and we can guarantee an exciting stay, full of adrenaline filled days! Besides all the amazing scenery and hikes in the Bernese Oberland, (which are suitable to most people) we can also help you to organise any adventure activity you would like to do and experience! To book any of these activities and get more information, click on the link below: activities info

Paragliding
Skydiving
Hang gliding
Canyoning
River Rafting
Bungee Jumping
Canyon Swing
Chocolate Workshops
Ropes Course
Climbing

and much more

Have a look at our Summer page or read the article Summer time in Interlaken.

Night sledding
Skiing
Snowboarding
Snowshoeing
Skydiving
Paragliding
Canyon swing

Have a look at our Winter page or read the article A perfect Winter in Interlaken.

Yes, absolutely! You can still visit the Lauterbrunnen valley to see the waterfalls, take a cruise on one of the emerald green lakes, gain knowledge about chocolate making at the Chocolate Workshops, go river rafting or learn to climb in the indoor climbing wall. In Winter you can use Interlaken as a base to experience day trips to other Cities around Switzerland as we are so centrally located.

Read our article: A rainy day in Interlaken

The main street, which is about a 10 min walk, is the best area to go shopping and fill up on souvenirs. The street runs from the Ost Station to the West Station.
There is also  Oberland Shopping Centre across the road from the camping (max 15 min from the main hostel), which has clothes stores like New Yorker, Blackout, Oschner Sport and a grocery shop called Spar and Denner. Only a 2 minute walk away you will find our local Coop supermarket and a couple of Bakeries with freshly baked treats!

There are no specific swimming restrictions around Interlaken but always use common sense. Popular swimming spots include:

• Neuhaus by Lake Thun
• Bönigen by Lake Brienz
• Lütschine River near the public pool by Interlaken Ost

Be cautious when swimming in rivers as currents can be strong, and there are small dams in some areas.

Read out our blog post on Best Swimming Spots Around Interlaken

Yes, Interlaken is bike-friendly! The area between the two lakes (Thun and Brienz) is mostly flat, making it easy to cycle around. There are dedicated bike lanes, and drivers are generally respectful of cyclists. Biking is a great way to explore the scenic surroundings.

The equipment you’ll need depends on the season and the type of hike.

• Summer: Dry trails can often be tackled with regular sneakers.
• Autumn/Spring: Trails may be muddy or slippery, and some snow may still be present. Sturdy hiking boots and poles are recommended.
• Always check the weather and trail conditions before setting out.

Our underground bar is the perfect hangout spot where you can let loose without worrying about disturbing anyone’s rest.

On special occasions—or when the vibe calls for it—it transforms into a club for unforgettable nights.

To keep things safe and exclusive, access is reserved just for our guests.

Barracuda is right next to our hostel.
Metropole rooftop bar has great views!
El Azteca Mexican restaurant has the best margaritas in town!
Brasserie Inn
Hangover club

While Interlaken is more about daytime adventures, you can still find a few late-night spots:

• The Irish Pub: Open late every night.
• Hangover: A cozy club near Interlaken West, open on weekends until 5 AM.
• Balmers Hostel: If you’re staying at Balmers, you can enjoy their exclusive guest parties at the on-site club.

– All bookings made via the Balmers website are encrypted with a SSL certificate.
– Payments are managed via the Stripe platform, this means that your credit card details are never stored internally by Balmers.
– The conditions of your reservation depend on the rate you choose, make sure to check the cancellation policy of the rate before making the reservation.

No. You’ll need a valid credit card to make a reservation online and pay the required deposit. However, you are able to pay the remainder of the balance in cash on arrival if you wish. If you would like to use cash to make a booking please visit our reception in Balmers Hostel.

Yes. Please make the reservation using your details and contact us to change the name on the booking once confirmed.

Reservations cannot be made via the phone oremail. Please use the booking engine of our website to make a reservation. This ensures that your information is stored securely.

Please contact us via [email protected] if you’d like to modify or cancel a reservation.

You are more than welcome to arrive in Balmers last minute, however we cannot always guarantee availability for your requested room types or dates so pre-booking is highly recommended.

The cancellation policy of your booking depends on the rate you select when you make the reservation. Please check your confirmation email for more details.

Yes, we are happy to extend your reservation, pending availability.

We market our self to be a party hostel and as such we do not allow children under 18 to stay at the property. No refunds are given if you arrive with minors at the hostel and are refused entry.

We accept most major credit cards. You can also pay in cash when you arrive, however if you book online your deposit must be secured using a credit or debit card. We exchange Euros, and although our rate may be slightly lower then the Banks, we do not charge any commission. We also offer an ATM at reception.

No, you can pay with a different credit/debit card or in cash.

The city tax of 2.85 chf per person per night is being used to pay for tourist infrastructure such as transportation, information services, cultural performances, etc. Swiss people staying in a town where they don’t have permanent residence pay the tax too.

The special value-added-tax (VAT) rate of 3.8% accorded to the hotel industry for accommodation services is included in the room price.