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3consecutive nightsminimum stay in affected private residential-zone rentalsUrbanHome · News · Canton of Bern
Airbnb in Interlaken 2026: 3-night rule, permits and visitor tax
Planning to rent out an apartment in Interlaken via Airbnb or Booking.com in 2026? Hosts must check the three-consecutive-night minimum in residential zones, local building permits and registration with Interlaken Tourism. Municipal visitor tax, a separate cantonal accommodation charge and the March 2026 planning zone protecting primary homes also matter. This guide explains the rules for holiday apartments, private rooms and owners.
Author: Nikita von Niederhäuser, UrbanHomeUpdated: · Reading time: approx. 12 minutes
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25 / 50%primary-home sharescentre / mixed zones for relevant new or enlarged buildings03
CHF 1cantonal accommodation chargein addition to municipal visitor tax for guests aged 16+04
2026two-year planning zoneconversion of primary homes requires special scrutinyThe key distinction
Three nights is a minimum stay, not automatic Airbnb permission.
Interlaken restricts very short stays in residential zones. Anyone offering an entire private apartment to tourists must check its zone, approved use and building-law status. Nearby municipalities may have different rules.
Interlaken · Canton of Bern · 2026
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Under three nights
Generally prohibited in residential zones
Private hosts generally cannot let an entire apartment or other premises in affected residential zones to changing holiday guests for only one or two consecutive nights. [1]
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Three nights or more
The minimum is not sufficient on its own
A stay of at least three consecutive nights does not remove building-permit, permitted-use, registration or visitor-tax requirements. [1]
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Exceptions
Owner-occupied rooms and licensed businesses
Letting rooms in a home occupied by the host and letting by authorised accommodation businesses are treated differently under the rule. [1]
Building law · Change of use
Do you need a permit for Airbnb in Interlaken?
For holiday apartments, Interlaken Tourism instructs hosts to obtain the relevant municipal permission first. The local building authority determines whether the particular use can be approved.
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Municipality first
Clarify the use before listing
For holiday apartments, the property’s municipality handles the required permission. Tourism registration does not replace a building-law assessment. [2]
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Converting primary homes
Do not automatically turn a home into a holiday flat
Changing a previously occupied primary home to tourist use may trigger change-of-use approval and primary-residence requirements. [1]
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Residential zone
Respect the minimum stay
Even approved accommodation must respect the residential-zone restriction on short stays unless a legal exception applies. [1]
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From March 2026
Planning zone can affect applications
The new two-year planning zone covers residential, mixed and central zones. Projects that undermine its purpose may be suspended. [5]
Important: Airbnb does not decide whether a property may lawfully be used as tourist accommodation. Existing apartments are not automatically approved for commercial short-term rental.
Primary homes · Planning
What do 25%, 50% and the 2026 planning zone mean?
Interlaken combines primary-residence quotas for some new or enlarged buildings with a new two-year planning zone. These percentages are not Airbnb booking caps.
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25%
Central area
A 25% primary-residence share applies to relevant new and enlarged buildings in designated central zones. [1]
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50%
Mixed zones
A 50% primary-residence share applies to the relevant new and enlarged buildings in designated mixed zones. [1]
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2 years
Planning zone since 11 March 2026
The municipality is reviewing further protections for primary homes; planning-sensitive permit applications may be suspended. [5]
Registration · Tourism organisation
Registering an Airbnb in Interlaken: the main steps
Tourism registration, building permission and tax accounting are separate obligations. The tourism body also serves Matten, Unterseen and other municipalities with different local planning and tax rules.
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Local authority
Obtain municipal permission
The municipality must first determine whether the holiday apartment may be used for tourist accommodation.
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Tourism organisation
Submit the new-property form
Once municipal approval is obtained, complete the accommodation registration form for Interlaken Tourism.
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Building identification
Check the blue sign requirement
Municipal rules provide for a blue sign showing the number of rooms and beds on buildings offering short-term accommodation. Confirm the practical details locally.
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Guests and charges
Arrange records, visitor tax and guest cards
Document guest stays, collect the correct charges and provide the Interlaken Guest Card under the tourism organisation’s procedure.
Official forms and host information: Interlaken Tourism – accommodation-provider information [2]
Visitor tax · Cantonal charge
How much is the visitor tax in Interlaken in 2026?
The municipality levies a visitor tax per overnight stay. A separate cantonal accommodation charge applies to eligible guests. The rate ranges in the municipal regulation are not necessarily the rates actually set for 2026.
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Municipal visitor tax
Summer: CHF 2.50–3.50
For hotels, holiday apartments and private rooms, Article 3 provides this range from 1 April to 31 October. Confirm the exact 2026 rate with the tourism organisation. [3]
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Municipal visitor tax
Winter: CHF 2.20–3.50
The regulation provides this range from 1 November to 31 March. A separate rate-setting decision determines the actual charge. [3]
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Canton of Bern
Extra CHF 1 per night
The cantonal accommodation charge is CHF 1 per liable guest aged 16 or over per night. It is not included in municipal visitor tax. [4]
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Private use versus rental
Annual flat rate is not guest tax
Some owners and long-term tenants have an annual flat-rate visitor tax for their own and qualifying family use. Other guests owe ordinary visitor tax; a tourism-promotion levy may also apply. [3]
Illustrative calculation, not a confirmed tariff: Two liable adults stay three nights. If the municipal rate were CHF 3.50, the visitor tax would be CHF 21 plus CHF 6 in cantonal accommodation charges, CHF 27 in total. Confirm whether that municipal rate applies in 2026.
Tenancies · Ownership · Guests
What should tenants and owners check as well?
The three-night rule belongs to planning law. Tenancy contracts, condominium regulations and the approved use of the property remain separate matters.
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TenantsObtain landlord approval
Paid subletting generally requires the landlord’s consent under Article 262 of the Swiss Code of Obligations. Clearly disclose the Airbnb use. [8]
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OwnersCheck the approved use
Owners should inspect building permits, primary-home obligations and restrictions in condominium regulations. [1]
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Guests and neighboursMeet guest-record and house-rule duties
Keep records, pay visitor taxes, explain house rules and quiet hours, and issue guest cards as required. [2]
Three practical examples
How does Interlaken’s rule work in practice?
These situations illustrate why stay length, accommodation type and zoning must be assessed separately.
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Example 1: Two nights
Entire private flat in a residential zone
Offering an entire private apartment in a residential zone to tourists for two nights is generally prohibited under the local three-night rule. [1]
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Example 2: Four nights
Holiday apartment with municipal approval
Four nights satisfy the minimum stay, but municipal permission, tourism registration and tax accounting remain essential. [2]
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Example 3: Room in the primary home
An exception may apply
Letting an individual room in a home occupied by the host may qualify for the express exception; other duties still need checking. [1]
Before the first listing
Interlaken Airbnb checklist for 2026
Ten checks for owners, private hosts and professional holiday-let providers.
Is the property actually within Interlaken municipality, and which zone applies?
Is this an entire holiday apartment or a room in your own main home?
In an affected residential zone, will guests stay at least three consecutive nights?
Has the municipality confirmed the permitted use and any building permit?
Does the proposal convert a primary home or fall within the 2026 planning zone?
Have landlord approval or condominium restrictions been checked?
Has the property been registered with Interlaken Tourism?
Has the municipality clarified building signage, room counts and bed numbers?
Are guest records, guest cards, municipal visitor tax and cantonal charges organised?
Have income tax, tourism-promotion charges, insurance and fire safety been checked?
Official sources
Sources and legal status
Research status: 1 November 2026. The municipal tariff bands appear in the published visitor-tax regulations; the actual 2026 rate is set by a separate decision.
- Federal Office for Housing: Interlaken case study, 28 August 2026
- Interlaken Tourism: information for accommodation providers
- Municipality of Interlaken: visitor-tax regulations, version 1 July 2025 (PDF, German)
- Canton of Bern: tourism and accommodation charges
- Interlaken municipal council: status of planning zone, July 2026 (German)
- Municipality of Interlaken: 2026 planning-zone rules (PDF, German)
- Federal Office for Housing: short-term rentals and platforms
- Fedlex: Code of Obligations, Art. 262, subletting
- Federal Office for Spatial Development: second homes
- Interlaken Tourism: Interlaken Guest Card
Legal note: This guide is general information. Confirm the permitted use, actual visitor-tax rates and property-specific registration with the municipality and tourism organisation.
UrbanHome · News
Related guides
Two existing UrbanHome articles linking to verified English pages.
UrbanHome · direct answer
Frequently asked questions about Airbnb in Interlaken 2026
14 concise answers to the most important host obligations.
14FAQ
The restriction particularly targets private rental in residential zones. Other zones and licensed operations must be assessed separately.
Generally not in residential zones where the three-consecutive-night restriction applies and no exception is available.
No. Three nights satisfy only the minimum stay; permits and registration may still be required.
Letting rooms in a home occupied by the host is expressly treated differently; other obligations still apply.
Authorised accommodation businesses fall under an express exception to this residential-zone restriction.
Interlaken Tourism says holiday-apartment hosts must obtain the required permission from the relevant municipality. The building authority decides on the process.
A two-year zone covering residential, mixed and central areas. Projects that undermine primary-housing protection may be suspended.
The reviewed rules do not establish a universal 90-day annual ceiling. Interlaken mainly relies on land-use controls and the minimum stay in residential zones.
Yes. For holiday apartments, clarify municipal permission first, then register via the Interlaken Tourism accommodation form.
The municipal regulation sets summer ranges of CHF 2.50–3.50 and winter ranges of CHF 2.20–3.50 for holiday apartments. Confirm the current fixed rate separately.
No. A separate CHF 1 per night applies to liable guests aged 16 and over.
The municipal regulation exempts children up to age 16. The cantonal accommodation charge likewise applies from age 16.
The flat rate covers eligible personal and family use. Guests outside that group owe ordinary visitor tax.
Following accommodation registration, hosts gain access to the guest-card system and provide the card to eligible guests.
UrbanHome · NewsMore news →
Key takeaways
Conclusion: Three nights are only the first step
In Interlaken residential zones, private rentals for fewer than three consecutive nights are generally prohibited. Holiday apartments also need the appropriate municipal permission, registration with Interlaken Tourism and correct visitor-tax accounting. The March 2026 planning zone makes any change of use especially important to review.
Interlaken property search
Find rental apartments in Interlaken on UrbanHome
Looking for a home in Interlaken or the Bernese Oberland? Compare rental listings on UrbanHome. If you plan to sublet a home to tourists, check the local rules with the municipality first.
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