Hotel Central Continental Interlaken
by the TopOfHotel team
Hotel Central Continental is a riverside hotel with real vintage charm — great views and a great location, as long as you accept that some rooms still feel old.
Hotel Central Continental is a riverside hotel with real vintage charm — great views and a great location, as long as you accept that some rooms still feel old.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
Several room types here come with a balcony looking onto the emerald Aare river with snow peaks behind it, and that view is the thing guests mention again and again — they call it well worth it. The overall feel is vintage, which some people genuinely like, but a number of reviews say plainly that the decor looks dated, especially the wallpaper and furniture that haven't all been renovated. Rooms are clean, but the condition varies a lot between the ones that have been updated and the ones still in their original state. Prices start around $186 a night, which is reasonable for the location and the view you get — and the river-side rooms are worth the small extra charge because the outlook is so different.
Food and amenities
The thing reviews bring up most is the buffet breakfast, which has a wide spread — eggs cooked to order, Swiss cheese and jam, several kinds of bread, and fresh fruit. Plenty of guests single out how fresh the ingredients are. Beyond that, there's free Wi-Fi and a front desk that reviewers found helpful with storing luggage and pointing them to places to eat nearby. There's no spa or pool, but the price already reflects that.
Location and getting there
The riverbank spot near West Station makes onward trains easy to reach — it's a 3-minute walk to the platform, where the Bernese Oberland line runs to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and Interlaken Ost. The supermarkets and restaurants around Höheweg are about 10 minutes on foot. Reviewers note this part of town is quieter than the main road and that they slept better for it, and the riverside in the evening is lovely for a walk.
Things to know before booking
Be clear-eyed about the rooms: some haven't been renovated and a few reviews describe them as stuck in the 70s, so condition is uneven from one room to the next. A handful of reviews also flag cleanliness in spots that aren't maintained as closely. There's no spa or pool, and the elevator in the main building is small — worth a heads-up to the hotel if you're hauling big suitcases. If a freshly redone, modern room is what you're after, this likely isn't it.
Our take
Hotel Central Continental is for travelers who care more about a good location and a river view than about how modern the room is. If you can take the vintage feel and you're not expecting everything freshly renovated, you get strong views, easy transport, and a good breakfast at a fair price — starting around $186 a night.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Many rooms have balconies looking onto the emerald Aare river with snow peaks behind it — reviewers call the view well worth it.
- West Station is a 3-minute walk, so connecting onward by train is genuinely easy from here.
- The buffet breakfast has plenty of options and reviews single out the variety and how fresh the ingredients are — eggs cooked to order, Swiss cheese and jam, several breads, fresh fruit.
- You're close to the in-town shops and restaurants, with the Höheweg strip about 10 minutes on foot.
- Free Wi-Fi plus a front desk reviewers found helpful with luggage storage and recommending places to eat nearby.
- Some rooms haven't been renovated yet — reviews describe the decor as stuck in the 70s, especially the wallpaper and furniture. Condition varies a lot between updated and original rooms.
- A few reviews report cleanliness issues in spots that aren't kept up as well.
- There's no spa or pool, so this isn't the place if you want on-site facilities to unwind in — the price does reflect that.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Interlaken
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a river-side room with a proper balcony — the view is much better than the street side, and it's quieter too.
- Breakfast opens early, so come down soon after it starts to get the fresh items before other guests clear them out.
- River-view rooms cost a little more than standard ones, but the difference in outlook is night and day — worth the small upgrade.