[Switzerland 2023] Day 5: Lake Brienz Boat Cruise | Visiting Brienz + Giessbach Waterfalls to Iseltwald Hike
By Elin Chow - Monday, October 30, 2023
Lake Brienz is one of the most picturesque lakes in Switzerland. Set against the backdrop of the Bernese Alps, Lake Brienz is a picture-perfect jewel that never fails to astound. Nobody can deny that Lake Brienz is one of the best lakes to see in the Interlaken region. It’s crystal clear turquoise waters, surrounded by picturesque villages and mountains, attracts travelers from all corners of the globe.
Lake Brienz is connected to its sibling lake, Lake Thun, by the Aare River. The best way to explore Lake Brienz and Lake Thun is by taking a boat cruise. While it is possible to cruise both Lake Brienz and Lake Thun on the same day, this will leave you with limited time to explore the villages around the lakes. So we opted for a day trip on Lake Brienz instead of Lake Thun as the turquoise water is more vibrant than its neighbour.
The boat cruises on Lake Brienz departs from Interlaken Ost and Brienz. In order to board the Lake Brienz boats, we took the train from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost. It is very easy to get from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost. The train journey from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken Ost takes around 21 minutes, with departure every 30 minutes. A single second-class ticket will cost 3.80 CHF with a half fare card. If you hold a Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel for free. You can check the train schedules and information on SBB mobile app.
The Lake Brienz cruises run regularly between Interlaken Ost and Brienz, stopping at various towns villages along the way. Boats operate daily from April to the beginning of October, with several departure a day. Do note that the Lake Brienz cruises do not operate during the winter months.
The departure dock is located just outside of Interlaken Ost train station. From Interlaken Ost, the scheduled boats depart to Bonigen, then onto Ringgenberg, Niederried, Iseltwald, Oberried, Giessbach Falls, Brienz, and back again. You can get on board or alight at any of the towns or villages with scheduled stops. The one-way trip from Interlaken Ost to Brienz will take about 1 hour 15 minutes.
Tickets can be purchased online, on the boats, or at the ticket counter at the dock. The cruises are operated by a company named BLS. There is no need to purchase tickets in advance as they rarely sell out. The boats operate between Interlaken Ost and Brienz on regular schedule. I recommend that you check the timetables for lake cruise on Lake Brienz to help plan your trip.
The cruise boats offer first and second-class seating options. First class passengers are seated on the upper deck with larger outdoor areas. The open top deck offers better views of the lake and surrounding landscape. It is also usually less crowded than second class.
Second class passengers are seated on the lower deck, which can be more crowded and less peaceful than the first class.
There are a wide range of discount tickets and saving options available. We bought 1-day ticket for Lake Brienz. Below is are the prices for the 1-day tickets for Lake Brienz.
1st Class - CHF 90 (CHF 45 for Swiss Half Fare Card)
2nd Class - CHF 60 (CHF 30 for Swiss Half Fare Card)
You can check out the prices for the lake cruises on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz on BLS website. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, you can ride the boat for free, and get off as much as you wish
With the 1-day ticket, you can enjoy unlimited trips on Lake Brienz for a full day. If you plan to hop on and hop off to explore the various small towns and villages along Lake Brienz within the day, then you should get a 1-day ticket. It will be much cheaper than buying multiple single tickets.
We boarded the first cruise of the day to Brienz at 9.07 am. Being one of the first few passengers to arrive, we had the freedom to choose where we wanted to sit. I would suggest that you take the first boat of the day so that you will have ample time to explore the pictureque villages around the lake.
Lake Brienz is known for its impeccable turquoise water. The intensity of its colour is especially beguiling in summer that it seems photoshopped, but it is entirely natural. No filter, edits or adjustments.
There is actually a real science behind its vibrant colour. The turquoise lake is fed by the glacier waters from the Aare River, the Lutschine River and Giessbach Falls. It’s unique colour is due to the tiny particles of sediments washed into the lake by the glacier melt. As these extremely fine glacier particles take a long time to sink in the clear lake water, they create a distinct turquoise colour.
As the boat quietly glide through the turquoise waters, we can feel the cool gentle breeze caressing our faces. Taking a boat cruise is the best way to enjoy the lake and its stunning surroundings at a slow pace. The cruise offers breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains, waterfalls and picturesque lakeside villages.
The shimmering turquoise waters of Lake Brienz contrasts beautifully against the surrounding mountains and lakeside villages, taking our breath away.
We disembarked at Brienz, the final stop of the Lake Brienz cruise. Surrounded by majestic mountains and overlooking the pristine Lake Brienz, the charming village of Brienz is renowned for its traditional Swiss charm and woodworking heritage.
Once we got off from the boat, we headed to the promenade for a walk. The beautiful promenade is laid with pebbles, and there are many benches where you can take a break along the way.
Feeling a little hungry, we found a bench by the lake to sit down and enjoyed our packed lunches.
However, the weather was unbearably hot. The sun was shining brightly in the cloudless blue sky, and it was so warm that we had to take off our jackets.
After lunch, we continued our stroll along the promenade. Stretching approximately 14 kilometers, this well-maintained path offers stunning views of the lake and the surrounding mountains.
One of the top attractions in Brienz is the Brienz Rothorn Railway, a vintage steam train that takes you on a scenic journey to the summit of the Brienz-Rothorn mountain. The Brienz Rothorn Bahn station is located just across the road from the Brienz railway station and the boat dock.
Another highlight is the Ballenberg Open Air-Museum, where you can discover traditional Swiss craftmanship and architecture. If you are interested in Swiss history, this is a great place to check out.
You can actually swim in Lake Brienz. However, as this is a glacier lake, the water can be pretty icy even in the summer months. Other than swimming, there are also plenty of water sports that you can enjoy on Lake Brienz. From kayaking and paddle boarding to windsurfing and sailing, there is something to cater to every water sport lover.
However, for budget travelers, the best free thing is do in Brienz is to take leisurely stroll down the promenade. If you are tired from walking, you can find a bench to sit down, relax and take in the views. The promenade is almost empty when we visited, so we enjoyed some peace and quiet here.
As the weather was too hot, we went to grab a cold drink from Coop. We bought a bottle of orange juice from the Prix Garantie range because it was really cheap. A 1000 ml of the drink only costs 1.95 CHF. Surprisingly, it tastes amazingly great as well.
After spending two hours in Brienz, we hopped on the next boat to Giessbach Waterfalls. The famous Giessbach Waterfalls is one of the must-visit attraction in the area. From Brienz, the easiest way to get to the waterfalls is by boat.
As the boat approach Giessbachfalle dock, we caught a glimpse of the water from Giessbach stream plunging down into the turquoise water of Lake Brienz. It was a magnificent sight!
Once we got off the boat, we were ushered up a covered walkway that leads to the Giessbach funicular station. The Giessbach Falls is located high above Lake Brienz, and right next to the famous Grand Hotel Giessbach. There are two ways to get to the hotel from the boat dock. You can either hike up to the falls or take the funicular train.
We opted to take the funicular train to the Grand Hotel Giessbach and Giessbach Falls above. Constructed in 1879, the Giessbach funicular is the oldest operational funicular in Europe. The funicular timetable is coordinated with the boat schedule. You can check the funicular timetable and prices on their website.
Tickets can be purchased directly from the railway staff. A one-way ticket costs 7 CHF (CHF 12 for round trip), which is a little pricey for a short four-minute ride. You can buy a one-way ticket and hike up or down. The train journey is free of charge for guests staying at the hotel.
We bought one-way tickets because we planned to hike from Giessbach Falls to Iseltwald. The journey took us through the forest, overhead bridges and alongside waterfalls.
Nestled on a hill above Lake Brienz, the Grand Hotel Giessbach is one of the historic landmark hotels in Switzerland. The hotel has a large outdoor patio that offers a breathtaking views over Lake Brienz one side and beautiful Giessbach Waterfalls on the other side.
Built in 1875, the hotel is named after the Giessbach Waterfalls. The five-storey chateau has three spires protruding from the roof, which makes looks like a castle.
From the hotel, we followed a path into the forest and arrived at a large viewing platform with a close up view of the Giessbach Waterfalls. The Giessbach Waterfalls is not just a single waterfall. Instead, it is made up of a series of 14 waterfalls. The falls cascade down in 14 stages, and over a height of 500 metres before passing the Grand Hotel Giessbach, and eventually emptying into the lake.
Various trails run along the waterfalls, some of which leading to different viewpoints. The waterfall is at its most impressive in spring when the snow melts or after heavy rainfall.
On the left side of the waterfall, you will also find a path that leads you up to a viewing platform behind the waterfall. However, we didn't hike up to the waterfall as it is quite an intense climb.
From the viewing platform, you will also get a beautiful view of Grand Hotel Giessbach set amid the mountains. The historic building towers over the surroundings and blends perfectly with the idyllic landscape.
After seeing the waterfalls, we started our hike towards Iseltwald. The trail between Giessbach and Iseltwald is one of Switzerland's most beautiful shoreline walks.
We followed the direction signs to Giessbach / Iseltwald-Uferweg. According to Google map, the trail is about 6.2 km long, and will take about 1 hour 30 minutes. You can also get to Iseltwald by boat if you do not want to hike.
If you decide to hike, I would recommend that you bring some snacks and plenty of water with you. The hike from Giessbach Waterfalls to the village of Iseltwald will take you through shady forest, with many wonderful views of the lake along the way. Much of the path is rugged terrain, with some steep ascents and descents. However, the trail is mostly in good condition and flat. Although it is a moderately easy hike, sturdy footwear is still recommended.
We enjoyed some solitude in nature as we meandered through the enchanting forest of deep green. The entire trail is signposted so you don't have to worry about getting lost. However, the hike can get a bit monotonous after a while. The walk is mostly in shaded woods with occasional glimpse of Lake Brienz until you reached the halfway point.
You will eventually reach a spacious BBQ area right in the middle of the forest, which is ideal for a rest. This is also the halfway point of the trail. Once you passed through a rocky outcrop, the most beautiful part of the hike begins.
The scenic trail runs narrowly between the lake and rock faces. It offers stunning views of the picturesque lake, rock faces and surrounding mountains. The waters glisten under the midday sun, sparkling in shades of turquoise and green.
Passing through a rock tunnel, you will find a few benches along the narrow path where you can sit down and take in the views.
The stunning and dreamy landscapes offer plenty of opportunities for photography.
I would recommend doing the hike the other way round instead. This trail is known as the Iseltwald-Uferweg hiking trail. The hike will start from the village of Iseltwald, and follow the lakeside path heading to Giessbach Waterfalls. However, for non-hikers, you can actually turn back towards the village once you reach the halfway point if you are not interested in the steep hike to Giessbach Falls.
If you start from Iseltwald, the first half section of the trail is predominantly flat, and offers stunning view of Lake Brienz and surrounding mountains. This walk should take no longer than an hour, depending on how often you stop for pictures.
You will know that you have arrived in Iseltwald once the trail changes from gravel to asphalt paved pathway. The path runs alongside the emerald Lake Brienz, and passes by a campsite, several BBQ facilities and picnic areas along the way.
You will also be able to see the beautiful Seeburg castle (Schloss Seeburg) in the distance. Built in 1907, the Seeburg castle is the most iconic landmark in Iseltwald. But unfortunately, it is privately owned and not opened to the public. You can admire the castle from the edge of the lake, or from high up on the hiking trails above.
Surrounded by turquoise water and swiss mountains, the tiny village of Iseltwald is home to about 400 residents. The idyllic little village has long been known as "an oasis of peace and tranquility", until it was used as one of the filming site for the hugely popular Korean drama series, "Crash Landing On You".
The popularity of the drama series has attracted throngs of tourists, mainly from Asia, to a modest wooden pier in the once peaceful lakeside village. This was where Ri Jeong Hyeok's piano scene was filmed. With turquoise water and stunning mountains as backdrop, it is one of the most memorable scenes in the series.
Thousands of tourists flock to the village every day to snap photos and take selfies with the wooden pier. However, the sudden influx of tourists is more than the village of Iseltwald can bear, and has sparkled backlash from the locals. In order to curb overtourism, a payment turnstile has been installed at the pier. Tourists are now required to pay a ‘selfie fee’ of five Swiss francs to access the pier.
It seemed that the installation of the payment turnstile has helped to reduce the number of tourists. Well, at least that was the case when we were there. The pier was almost empty, and there were also very few tourists in the village.
But unfortunately, we didn't have much time to explore the village of Iseltwald. With the next scheduled boat arriving in 30 minutes, we could only take a quick stroll along the lake. There is a water fountain near the wooden pier where you can refill your empty bottle with cool fresh water.
At Iseltwald, we hopped on the next scheduled boat to Interlaken Ost. Then, we took the train back to Lauterbrunnen where our hostel was located. After taking a short rest, we made curry chicken for dinner.
CONCLUSION
Set in the heart of Bernese Oberland, Lake Brienz is a tranquil retreat that promises unparalleled beauty. The boat cruise is a perfect way to enjoy the crystal-clear turquoise waters and discover the various charming villages around Lake Brienz.
If you are interested to know more about our trip, you may want to check out our 11D10 Switzerland Trip Itinerary + Overview post. Be sure to follow me on my Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to get the latest updates on my blog! Also, do not forget to share my blog posts with your family and friends if you find them helpful. In the meantime, you might also want to check My Wanderlust page for some of my other travel adventures.
