Hotel Merkur West Station Interlaken
by the TopOfHotel team
Hotel Merkur is the closest hotel to West Station — a 1-minute walk, which makes it ideal for travelers who get around mostly by train.
Hotel Merkur is the closest hotel to West Station — a 1-minute walk, which makes it ideal for travelers who get around mostly by train.
In-Depth Review
Hotel Merkur West Station Interlaken is the closest of the 10 hotels on this list to West Station — you can get from the lobby to the platform in 1 minute. That is a real convenience if you plan to head out early every day to catch trains to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, or Jungfraujoch. Its latest review score is 8.9/10 on Booking.com, higher than a number of hotels at a similar price.
Rooms and decor
The rooms are clean and done in a simple, contemporary Swiss style. Several reviews describe the mountain views from the windows as breathtaking, especially in the morning when the peaks are capped with snow. Most rooms are set up for two. Some reviewers note the rooms run smaller than the website photos suggest, so it is worth checking the dimensions before you book — particularly if you are traveling as a group. Rates start around $177 a night, which is fair for the best West Station location on this list. A few of the track-side rooms pick up train noise, so ask for a room on the opposite side when you reserve.
Food and amenities
The buffet breakfast earns praise across several reviews for being good and varied, with many kinds of fruit jam, quality Swiss cheese, and eggs cooked fresh. Reviewers say it sets the day off well. Staff come up repeatedly as friendly and genuinely helpful with local adventure activities — paragliding, skydiving, and canyoning among them. Free Wi-Fi covers the whole building, and there is luggage storage for the checkout day when you want to keep exploring before you leave.
Location and getting there
A 1-minute walk to West Station is rarely on offer at this price. West Station is the start of the Bernese Oberland railway, which runs all day to Spiez and Thun and connects on to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and Jungfraujoch via Ost Station. Restaurants, shops, and a supermarket sit within a 5-minute walk, and every outdoor activity in Interlaken is easy to reach. Reviews call the location strong for both train trips and wandering the town on foot.
Things to know before booking
Rooms near the tracks can hear passing trains — reviewers describe it as a small but real drawback, and asking for a room on the opposite side mostly solves it. Some room types come in smaller than the online photos imply, so read the dimensions before you commit, especially with a group. And while the price is fair for the location, a start around $177 a night sits above the budget end of town.
Our take
Hotel Merkur suits travelers who get around mainly by train and want to be out early, plus anyone after a base close to the station for adventure trips. A 1-minute walk to West Station from around $177 is strong value, as long as you can live with some train noise or can land a room on the side away from the tracks.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- The closest hotel to West Station on this list — just a 1-minute walk, which makes it easy to head out early for Jungfraujoch.
- Mountain views from the rooms that reviewers describe as breathtaking, especially in the morning when the peaks are snow-covered.
- A varied buffet breakfast that reviews call out for its many kinds of fruit jam, good Swiss cheese, and eggs cooked fresh.
- Staff who come up repeatedly in reviews as friendly and good at recommending and arranging local activities.
- Free Wi-Fi throughout the building, plus luggage storage for the checkout day when you want to keep exploring.
- Rooms near the tracks can hear the trains; reviews flag it as a small but real downside, so ask for a room on the opposite side when you book.
- Some room types are smaller than the website photos suggest — read the room dimensions before you book, especially if you are traveling as a group.
- At a starting rate around $177 a night, it costs more than the budget options in town, though it buys you the best West Station location on this list.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Interlaken
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Interlaken — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Insider Tips
- Ask for a room on the side away from the tracks to cut the noise, especially if you are a light sleeper sensitive to passing trains.
- Head out for the train around 7:00 to 7:30 AM to grab a window seat on the Jungfrau line, where the views are excellent — and the platform is only 1 minute from the hotel.
- Have the front desk help arrange your adventure activities; staff coordinate local paragliding, skydiving, and canyoning.