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Balmers is the first private hostel in Switzerland!

Your home away from home in Interlaken...

Balmers Hostels in Switzerland, Interlaken
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Welcome to Balmers! First time here?

We’re stoked you made it! To help make your stay—and everyone else’s—as awesome as possible, here are a few things to keep in mind:

Be Cool:

  • Respect others and their belongings.

  • Keep it quiet after 10 PM—some legends like to sleep.
  • Check-out is by 10 AM. Please bring your sheets, duvet cover, and pillowcase to reception (no need to bring duvets or pillows).

  • Return anything you borrowed—like room keys or adapters.

  • Lights and fans off when you leave the room, please!

A Few No-Gos:

  • No smoking indoors—even with the window open.

  • No cooking outside the guest kitchen.

  • Don’t leave windows wide open with the heating on.

  • And above all: don’t be disrespectful.

Thanks for being the absolute best! We’re glad you’re here. 🧡

What is Balmers Hostel?

Balmers Hostel is Switzerland’s oldest privately owned hostel, set in three charming Swiss chalets surrounded by mountain peaks waiting to be explored. It’s a relaxed, social place where travelers can connect, unwind, and enjoy a playful, one-of-a-kind atmosphere.
Oh, and before we forget, we do throw a party or two, especially in high season.

Who is Balmers Hostel for?

Balmers Hostel is for open-minded and easygoing travelers aged 18 and over, looking for more than just a place to sleep. Whether you’re here to explore the Swiss Alps, meet like-minded people from around the world, or simply relax and enjoy the vibe, Balmers is your home away from home. We welcome solo travellers, groups of up to 8 people, and anyone with a sense of adventure and respect for others.

What time is check in and check out?

Check-in starts at 4:00 PM
Check-out is by 10:00 AM

When checking out, we kindly ask you to bring your bed sheets, duvet cover, and pillowcase down with you. Thanks!

I'm arriving really late, will I still be able to check in?

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.

See All FAQs

Get Social

#balmershostel
🔥 Weekly Activities at the Hostel 🔥⁠
Get ready for an epic week! 👇⁠
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🍖 Monday – 7 PM⁠
Bring Your Own BBQ – you bring the food, we bring the fire! 🔥⁠
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🥾 Tuesday – 11AM⁠
Hike to Giessbach Waterfalls – nature at its finest 🌿⁠
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🧠 Wednesday – 8:30 PM⁠
Trivia Night – show us what you’ve got! 😏⁠
🎉 10:30 PM Club Night – let’s dance! 💃⁠
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💃 Thursday – 8 PM⁠
Bachata Class – shake those hips to Caribbean rhythms 🎶⁠
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🌅 Friday – 6 PM⁠
Sunset at the lake – chill vibes & stunning views 🧘‍♂⁠
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🎱 Saturday – 8 PM⁠
Bingo Night – prizes & good laughs 🎁⁠
🎉 10:30 PM Club Night – again? Oh yes! 🕺⁠
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🛶 Sunday – 9:30AM⁠
Kayak Adventure – paddle into the wild 💦⁠
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👉 Please note: Activities may change depending on the weather.⁠
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See you there! ⁠
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" www.balmers.com/social-activities-get-together/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio
ITINERARY ⬇️ NO GATEKEEPING⁠
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Day 1 - Harder Kulm & Giessbach Falls 🌳⁠
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You can either do a 2-hour hike up to the Harder Kulm viewpoint, OR take a 10-minute cable car. There is a restaurant and cafe at the top, then further up, there is a forest where you can continue your hike. ⁠
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Take a 30-minute train from Interlaken Ost to Brienz, then hop on the boat to Giessbach Falls (1 stop, 20 min journey). When you get to Giessbach Falls, the entire hike up to the main waterfall and back down will take you around 2 hr.⁠
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Day 2 - Schilthorn & Grindelwald🚡🗻⁠
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Get the train to Lauterbrunnen, then from there get a bus to Murren, from here you can take the cable car up to the peak of Schilthorn mountain and catch some amazing snowy views. This mountain is basically the same as Jungfraujoch Mountain, even the locals say you should just go to Schilthorn to save money because it's just the same thing! ⁠
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After taking in the views, get the cable car back down to Murren and find yourself a way back to Lauterbrunnen, where you'll take a train to Grindelwald. Depending on the season, you can go to Grindelwald First, where you'll be able to go on a nice walk and do a bunch of fun activities. This opens May 23rd and will close in the Autumn! There is also Pfingstegg, which is walking distance from the Grindelwald train station. ⁠
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Day 3 - Oeschinensee 🏝️🏔️⁠
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Get the train to Oeschinen (Bergstation) and then walk 15 minutes to the cable car to take you to the start of the Oeschinensee hike/trail. You can do the slide before or after you start the hike, then it's a 20-30 min walk to Oeschinensee lake, there are a lot of different routes around the lake and up the mountains so make sure you grab a map at the entrance to see which one you'd prefer to do! You can hire a paddle boat for 30 Swiss Francs for an hour on the lake. We weren't allowed to swim when we went (mid-May), but I believe it's seasonal and you should be able to swim in the summer. If you go to the cafe at the top, just keep in mind that they take cash only⁠
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" www.balmers.com/what-to-do-interlaken-upcoming/"⁠
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📷 @joshgoesgym
Who’s ready to test their fear of heights?🤓⁠
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Our complete guide for via ferrata around Interlaken⁠
" www.balmers.com/via-ferrata-around-interlaken-complete-guide/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @outdoorinterlaken
Have you ever been to a place that feels like a dream? 🤔 If not, Grindelwald might be the spot to add to your list! couldn’t get enough of these breathtaking views. 🌄⁠
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🗻 Fun fact: Grindelwald is one of Switzerland’s oldest mountain resorts, known as the “Glacier Village.” Its stunning landscapes have been inspiring travelers for centuries.⁠
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⁉️ Who would you bring here to experience this incredible scenery?⁠
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" www.balmers.com/top-hikes-around-grindelwald/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @switzerland.explores @wheretonextyall
🥾🇨🇭 Hiking views in Switzerland are unreal — endless trails, epic peaks, and lakes so blue they look fake! Start your adventure from Balmers and see it for yourself. Who’s ready to hit the trails? 🏔️✨⁠
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" www.balmers.com/ultimate-guide-to-hiking-in-the-interlaken-region-trails-tips-scenic-routes/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @sebpic_
Is bed linen provided?⁠
Yes! We provide all bed linen. We have a short video to show you how to make your bed. At check-out, we kindly ask you to bring the sheets and covers down to reception.⁠
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" www.balmers.com/faq/#hostel "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio
💸✨ 2 days in Interlaken for under $100? Yes, it’s possible! Stay comfy at Balmers Hostel 🏡, grab fresh bites at local grocery stores 🥪🍏, and explore epic views for free — lakes, mountains, waterfalls, all on foot or with budget-friendly trails. Spend less, adventure more! 🌲🏔️⁠
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" www.balmers.com/hostel "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in the bio⁠
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📷 @xeniaminton
🚴‍♀️💦 Cruise around stunning Lake Brienz on an epic E-Bike tour! Ride out of Interlaken along turquoise shores, pedal through Brienz, Iseltwald & Bönigen, and soak up the views at the majestic Giessbach Falls. Peaks above, crystal waters below, let’s ride! 🌊🏞️ #LakeBrienz #Interlaken #EBikeTour #HostelAdventures⁠
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" www.balmers.com/activity/yellow-velo-e-bike-tour-around-lake-brienz/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio
🍫 Get your sweet fix in Interlaken! Join our Funky Chocolate Club workshop and make your Swiss chocolate bars — fun, messy, delicious! 🤎 Who’s in? ⁠
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Book your chocolate workshop here:⁠
" www.balmers.com/activity/funky-chocolate-workshop/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @funkychocolateclub
🪂☀️ From Spring Breezes to Summer Dreams! ☀️🪂⁠
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Blue skies, sunny days, happy faces — and the breathtaking beauty of Interlaken from above! ⁠
Glide through clear skies with Lake Thun sparkling below and the mighty Jungfrau peaks rising on the horizon. Every flight is pure joy and freedom! 🏔️✨⁠
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" www.balmers.com/activity/paragliding-summer/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @paraglidinginterlaken ⁠
📸 captured for PGI by sonsibar⁠
+ pascal_geebelen⁠
+danroborgh
Harder Kulm flexin’ like a boss right behind us 😎🏔️ If you think climbing it’s tough, wait till you try resisting the views! Pro tip: Take the funicular up and then pretend you totally hiked it. 🥾😂 What’s your favorite Interlaken adventure? Drop your best tips or funniest fails in the comments—let’s hear those stories! 👇🔥⁠
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" www.balmers.com/hike-the-harder-kulm/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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Repost from @cm94aan
This is NOT just any lake😍🇨🇭⁠
This might be one of the most beautiful alpine lakes in Switzerland.⁠
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The name of this place is:⁠
📍Oeschinensee⁠
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A day trip to Oeschinensee is ideal for its proximity to Interlaken and the variety of activities you can enjoy. ⁠
" www.balmers.com/day-trip-to-oeschinensee/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @travelih
💌✨ Before you go, leave a little piece of your adventure behind! Drop a postcard with your best memories of your stay at Balmers — your stories and souvenirs inspire the next travellers to make theirs. 🗺️❤️ #TravelMemories ⁠
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All you need to know about Balmers Hostel:⁠
" www.balmers.com/faq/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @maciekoliva
♻️ Eco-Wanderer Alert: Travel green, save big, stay epic. ⁠
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🚆Choose train or bus over plane - convert your CO2 saving into a 5-20% discount at any Famous Hostels across Europe. Check out our CO2 calculator to see how much you could save! ⁠
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How do you travel in Europe? ⁠
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" www.balmers.com/sustainable-travel-train-bus-europe-eco-wanderer/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @famoushostels
Our Swiss hostel at Balmers Hostel ❤️⁠
One day, we had fun at the club in the hostel, another day, we drank beer all night with new people, it was a fulfilling and happy hostel life😇⁠
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" www.balmers.com/hostel "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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Repost from @so_tographer
Believe it or not, the water we raft on every day comes straight from the glaciers; it melted just a few hours ago. That’s what makes the Lütschine so wild, refreshing, and fun.⁠
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Book this activity here:⁠
" www.balmers.com/activity/rafting/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @outdoorinterlaken
The Augstmatthorn hike is a hidden gem you shouldn’t miss. ❤️ This ridge walk offers stunning views over Lake Brienz and the surrounding Alps.⁠
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Here’s a quick breakdown:⁠
⏱️ Hike duration: 3 hours⁠
🥾 Distance: 6.3 km⁠
⬆️ Elevation: 576 meters⁠
💪🏼 Difficulty: Easy⁠
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DISCOVER THE AUGSTMATTHORN SUMMIT⁠
Augstamatthorn is one of the best hikes you will ever do near Interlaken.⁠
" www.balmers.com/augstmatthorn-hike/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @themanduls
Skydiving in the Swiss Alps is a must for your bucket list! ⭐⁠
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" www.balmers.com/activity/sky-diving/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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📷 @outdoorinterlaken
🚗💨 Say hello to our vintage Balmers car, an iconic piece of hostel history! Parked out front and full of stories, it’s the perfect selfie spot and a symbol of all the epic adventures that start here.⁠
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📸 Snap a pic with it and tag us, we might just feature you!⁠
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" www.balmers.com/hostel "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio
One for the bucket list in Switzerland, the views are breathtaking! There is some phenomenal hiking in the Jungfrau region; this has to be one of the prettiest parts of the country!⁠
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PS. The Cliff Walk is free, but the gondola up isn’t.⁠
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" www.balmers.com/5-must-do-hikes-in-interlaken/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio⁠
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Repost from @calsnape
🎲🌟 Cozy vibes & competitive spirits! Our covered terrace is where the magic happens — from game nights to trivia battles, it’s all laughs, cheers, and good company. A super cute space to chill, play, and maybe win a round or two 😉⁠
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👇 Tell us your go-to trivia topic or favorite board game!⁠
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" www.balmers.com/activities/ "⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio
Splash into the crystal-clear Aare River in Bern, where the water is refreshing, the views are breathtaking, and summer feels endless.☀️⛱️⁠
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✨ Save this for your next Swiss adventure by the river!⁠
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River Floating Interlaken: le guide ultime des aventures estivales⁠
" www.balmers.com/fr/river-floating-the-ultimate-summer-adventure-guide/⁠
🔗 More info in our link in bio "⁠
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Repost from @ instasuiza @switzerland.explores