Interlaken, town, Bern canton, central Switzerland. It lies along the Aare River, in the Bernese Highlands. Its name is derived from its position on the flat plain (Bödeli), 1,864 feet (568 m) above sea level, between Lakes (inter lacus) Brienz to the east and Thun to the west.

Interlaken derives its name from its unique geographical position: it literally means "between the lakes." The name comes from the Latin phrase inter lacus, which was used to describe the location of an Augustinian monastery founded there in the 12th century. The town is situated on a flat alluvial plain called the "Bödeli," wedged precisely between Lake Thun (Thunersee) to the west and Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) to the east. The Aare River flows through the center of the town, connecting the two bodies of water. In 2026, the name remains a perfect descriptor for the town's identity as a central hub for the Bernese Oberland. This "between-lakes" positioning not only provides stunning emerald-water views from almost any vantage point but also created a natural transportation bottleneck that helped Interlaken develop into one of Switzerland’s most famous and accessible alpine resort destinations over the last two centuries.