Is Interlaken Safe in April 2026?

Organized pickpocket teams operate at Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West train stations, particularly during peak summer months. One member creates a distraction — commonly by grabbing a boarding passenger's luggage and lifting it as if offering help — while an accomplice works the victim's pockets, bag, or fanny pack. Bern cantonal police conducted a specific enforcement operation in summer 2025, detaining approximately 20 suspects across Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Lauterbrunnen after a surge in reports.

How to avoid: If anyone unexpectedly touches or grabs your luggage in a train station, immediately place your hands on your pockets and valuables rather than focusing on the distraction. Keep bags zipped and facing inward, and carry valuables in inner pockets or a neck pouch. Do not let a stranger assist with your luggage unless you have specifically asked.

Touts and booking agents on Höheweg promenade and near Interlaken Ost station use aggressive high-pressure sales tactics to push tourists into booking adventure activities such as skydiving, bungee jumping, and white-water rafting on the spot. They claim slots are about to sell out, offer "last-minute discounts" to create urgency, and discourage comparison shopping. Tourists who book impulsively often pay significantly above market rates or receive inferior services.

How to avoid: Research and compare adventure operators online before arriving in Interlaken. Reputable operators such as Outdoor Interlaken and Alpin Raft have fixed pricing on their official websites. Never book from a street tout and ignore any claim that slots are selling out imminently — most activities have flexible scheduling.

Fraudulent websites and unauthorized third-party travel agencies sell genuine-looking Swiss Travel Pass e-tickets to tourists before they arrive in Switzerland. After the purchase, the fraudster cancels the pass with SBB and collects the refund, leaving the tourist with an invalid QR code that is rejected when inspectors scan it on trains. The victim must purchase a replacement full-price pass to continue travelling, and the original vendor has typically vanished from the internet by the time the fraud is discovered.

How to avoid: Purchase Swiss Travel Passes only from SBB (sbb.ch), the Swiss Travel Centre, or officially listed authorized retailers. Do not buy from third-party websites found via search ads or social media, even if they display Swiss branding or claim official status. Validate your pass on the SBB app immediately after purchase to confirm it is active.

A small number of adventure operators in the Interlaken area have been documented cutting safety corners on tandem flights and then refusing adequate refunds when incidents occur. In one investigated case, a hang gliding operator failed to clip a passenger's harness to the aircraft, forcing the tourist to hang on manually throughout the flight and resulting in injury on landing. In other documented cases, operators proceeded with flights despite dangerous wind conditions, and when customers sought refunds after unsafe experiences, were offered only partial vouchers rather than full reimbursement.

How to avoid: Book only with operators certified by the Swiss Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (SHPA) on behalf of the Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA) — ask to see their certification before paying. Research the specific operator on TripAdvisor and Google Reviews, paying attention to safety-related complaints. Confirm the refund policy in writing before any activity. If an operator says conditions are unsafe after you have paid, insist on a full cash refund rather than a voucher.

Unauthorized sellers near Interlaken train stations offer "official" package deals to Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe) at prices that seem to include transport, lunch, and entry, but deliver far less than promised. Some packages use outdated or doctored Jungfraubahn promotional materials to appear legitimate. Victims discover the misrepresentation only at the train station when attempting to board.

How to avoid: Purchase Jungfraujoch tickets exclusively from the official Jungfraubahn ticket counters at Interlaken Ost station or via the official Jungfraubahn website. The Good Morning Ticket (early departure discount) is only available directly from Jungfraubahn. Be skeptical of any package that bundles Jungfraujoch with meals or other excursions sold by a third party.