Zweisimmen is the main town at the head of the valley, sitting at 943 metres where the Simme and Kleine Simme rivers meet. It is an honest working town — there are hardware stores and a weekly market alongside the tourist infrastructure — and is considerably more liveable than the resort villages higher up.
The old town has a handful of traditional Bernese timber buildings and the Reformed church of St. Maria, which dates to the fifteenth century and has a well-preserved painted interior. It is usually unlocked during the day. The covered wooden bridge over the Simme near the centre is a typical example of the regional style and a pleasant five-minute walk.
Zweisimmen is mainly useful as a base and transport hub. The MOB railway station here connects west to Gstaad and eventually Montreux — one of the more scenic train rides in Switzerland — and north to Spiez and Interlaken. The Rinderberg gondola above the town serves skiers in winter and walkers in summer, giving views over the valley junction without a serious climb.