Overview

The administrative district of Interlaken-Oberhasli is a territorial division in Switzerland within the canton of Bern. It comprises 29 municipalities and covers about 1,229 km², combining lowland lake shorelines with high Alpine terrain. The district's principal town and administrative centre is Interlaken, a long-established hub for tourism and transport.

Geography and municipalities

Located in the Bernese Oberland, the district spans the valleys around Lake Thun (Thunersee) and Lake Brienz (Brienzersee), and extends into steep mountain basins and glacier-fed valleys. Major municipalities include Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Brienz, Meiringen and Innertkirchen; a full list of local communes is maintained by the authorities and can be consulted for details on each municipality and local services here.

History and administration

The district was formed during a reorganisation of cantonal administrative structures in the early 21st century to streamline local governance. It functions as a modern Verwaltungskreis with responsibilities for regional planning, coordination among municipalities, and certain public services. The district’s area and boundary statistics are summarized in official cantonal records here.

Economy, transport and tourism

Interlaken-Oberhasli is economically shaped by tourism, alpine agriculture and hydroelectric resources. Visitors come for skiing, mountaineering, hiking and sightseeing railways such as the lines serving the high-mountain resorts. The region is well connected by rail and road to Bern and other Swiss centres, making it an important gateway to the high Alps.

Notable features

  • Scenery: dramatic valley floors, waterfalls and glacier-fed peaks that define the Bernese Oberland landscape.
  • Recreation: internationally known resorts and access points for the Jungfrau region and surrounding peaks.
  • Community: a mixture of small villages and tourist towns, with predominantly German-speaking populations and local traditions tied to mountain life.

As an administrative unit, Interlaken-Oberhasli balances conservation of its natural environment with the needs of residents and a large, year-round tourist economy.