Lake Brienz
Brienzersee
A glacial lake 14 km long on the east side of Interlaken, with turquoise-green water. BLS boats connect Giessbach Falls, Iseltwald, and Brienz.
Lake Brienz lies east of Interlaken. It is about 14 km long and up to 260 m deep. Fine rock flour carried by glacial meltwater gives the lake its distinctive turquoise-green color, and it is one of the clearest lakes in Switzerland. BLS boats leave from the Interlaken Ost pier and stop at Bönigen, Iseltwald (the pier featured in the K-drama Crash Landing on You), Giessbach, and Brienz. The one-way trip takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and both the Swiss Travel Pass and the Jungfrau Travel Pass cover the ride. A classic day route: take the boat to Giessbach station, ride the funicular that opened in 1879, Europe's oldest, up to the terrace of the Grand Hotel Giessbach to see the 14-tier waterfall, then take the boat to Brienz, the wood-carving town, and transfer to the steam cog railway up the Brienzer Rothorn for a view over the whole lake. In summer the water is about 18 to 20°C, and several free bathing spots line the shore. In Bönigen and Iseltwald you can rent kayaks and stand-up paddleboards. Boats run daily from mid-April to mid-October, with the most frequent service in July and August, and nearly all service stops in winter. If it is raining in the mountains, the lake area is a good alternative.
Opening hours
Boats approx. mid-Apr–mid-Oct 09:00–18:00 (see BLS timetable); largely no service in winter
Nearby sights
- Iseltwald
- Schynige Platte
- Giessbach Falls
- Bachalpsee
- Brienz
- Interlaken Town & Höheweg
- Männlichen
- Harder Kulm