Lake Brienz is one of the deepest and prettiest lakes in Switzerland. It’s famous for its surreally turquoise color, which manages to attract countless visitors to the shores of this gorgeous lake. If you’re one of those visitors, you’re definitely in the right place because this detailed guide will tell you all you need to know about visiting Lake Brienz!
How to get there, where to stay, and what there is to do in the area are just some of the topics covered in our detailed visitors’ guide to Lake Brienz. Keep reading to get all the information you need, so you can start planning your trip to the wonderful Lake Brienz.
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How To Get To Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz is easily accessible by public transport from all major cities in Switzerland. The easiest way to get to Lake Brienz is to get on a train to Interlaken – the city is nestled between lakes Thun and Brienz, and serviced by a busy train station with connections to many Swiss cities.
If you’re flying into Switzerland, you will most likely land at Zurich airport. This is the best option because the airport has excellent train connections to Swiss towns. You can be in Interlaken in around 2 hours, with just one train change at Bern. It’s also possible to land at either Geneva or Bern airport – it’s around 3 hours from Geneva airport to Interlaken, and a little under 2 hours from Bern airport to Interlaken by train.
From Interlaken, you can either continue by train or ride the bus to the town or village of your choosing. If you just want to spend a day by the lake, you can easily walk to the lakeshore from the main train station in Interlaken.
Things to Do Around Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz Culinary Cruises
Culinary lake cruises are an excellent way of exploring this turquoise gem. Not only do you get to see a huge portion of the lake and get up close to its beautiful turquoise waters, but you also get to taste some of the best local delicacies from the region.
The breakfast boat runs from April to October, and it’s a great option if you want to see the entire lake while tasting the regional delicacies. These boats run in the morning and afternoon, so you’ve got options for either a breakfast or lunch boat trip.
The boat ride usually takes around three hours to circle the entire lake. Cruises depart from either Brienz or Interlaken, and boats run along the lake shore, allowing you to see all the beautiful villages and landmarks near the water. This includes the beautiful village of Iseltwald, the Giessbach Waterfall, Bönigen, and much more.
Brienzer Rothorn
Brienzer Rothorn is an impressive mountain in the Emmental Alps, which is easily accessible by a steam train of the same name. The mountain summit is approximately an hours ride on the historic cogwheel steam train, direct from Brienz. So, you can easily experience the magical views from the top of the mountain without too much effort.
You can also access the mountain from the northern side near Sörenberg. The ride is a lot faster, but far less spectacular. We have hiked up this side and taken the gondola down again. Either way, the views are the top are magnificent.
The spectacular Rothorn is popular throughout the year. In the winter, it attracts countless skiers and snowboarders to its many pistes, and in the summer it’s the perfect playground for hikers and mountain climbers. There is even a notoriously difficult hike along the spine of these mountains called Hardergrat. It’s an amazing hike, but also very dangerous.
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With spectacular viewpoints, accessible accommodations, and mountaintop restaurants, it’s easy to see why so many people decide to visit Brienzer Rothorn. Even if they’re not particularly adventurous, you can still enjoy the views of the Bernese Oberland and the crazy blue lake Brienz below…
Just be aware that the steam train does not run in winter and does not go all the way up until after spring. Typically, it stops at Panalp until the beginning of June, then runs til the end of October. However, you can find up-to-date information on their website.
Water Sports Activities
Many people who visit the towns near lakes Thun and Brienz do so because of the plethora of fun water sports activities that are available in the area. If you want to ride on a jet boat, go parasailing, or stand up paddle, Lake Brienz will not disappoint.
Remember that all the fun water activities are only available during the summer months. Glacial waters feed this lake, so the water tends to be pretty cold most of the year. It’s just the right temperature in the later summer months, and that is when most of the companies that organize the water activities are at their busiest.
If you visit the beautiful lake during peak tourist season, it’s highly recommended to plan what you want to do and book your spot in advance. Also, it’s worth noting that Interlaken has the largest selection of water sports for visitors, so consider staying there if you want to be spoiled for choice when having fun on Lake Brienz.
Iseltwald
Iseltwald is a beautiful little village on the southern shore of the lake. It’s a great place to visit on a day trip, but also a good place to stay at Lake Brienz. Iseltwald is a quiet little village surrounded by beautiful nature and a great place to stay if you want to explore the mountains.
The village is best known for the lakeshore Seeburg castle. Although it’s not open for visits anymore, the castle remains one of the top landmarks in town, and you can easily see it during any boat cruise on Lake Brienz.
Ballenberg Open-Air Museum
The Ballenberg Open-Air Museum is situated in Hofstetten bei Brienz and it’s about 20 minutes away from Brienz by train. It’s an open-air museum boasting traditional Swiss houses from different centuries brought here from all over the country.
This museum is a unique opportunity to learn more about the lives of villagers in Switzerland throughout the years. The details are incredible, and it’s absolutely fascinating to witness so many houses from different time periods. Walking through the museum feels like traveling back in time—it’s a surreal experience and one of the best things you can do while you’re exploring the area around Lake Brienz.
It’s worth noting that this is a huge museum that takes a while to explore. You can easily spend an entire day roaming around the museum grounds, so we recommend this fabulous attraction only to people who have multiple days on Lake Brienz. It’s not one of those museums you can tour in a couple of hours, so keep that in mind.
Three Waterfalls Trail
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The Three Waterfalls Trail is an exciting hike from Bönigen to Brienz via Iseltwald. The total length of the trail is around 17.5 kilometers, and the point-to-point hike can usually be completed in under six hours. You can take a train, bus, or boat back to Interlaken, or stay in Brienz for a while, depending on how tight your schedule is.
The three waterfalls that you see along this hiking trail are Erschwandenbach Falls, Mülibach Falls, and Giessbach Falls. They’re all situated along the southern shore of Lake Brienz, and each is more spectacular than the other.
It’s worth noting that this hiking trail is best experienced in the spring, especially after a rainy day. The terrain might be a bit muddy and slippery, but the waterfalls will be abundant with water and spectacular to observe.
Giessbach Falls
The Giessbach Waterfall is situated near the historic grand hotel Giessbach and it is easily accessible by hiking trails from nearby villages. Most boat cruises on Lake Brienz also pass near the waterfall, so you can see it any way you want.
If you’re staying in Iseltwald or Brienz, you can easily just hike to the waterfall. It doesn’t take more than an hour and some change, and it’s worth it if you want to experience just how magnificent nature in this part of Switzerland is.
It’s worth noting that there is a pier close to the waterfalls, so you can travel here by boat or even bus if you don’t want to hike. Also, keep in mind that waterfalls tend to be a bit underwhelming during the dry season, so maybe skip this attraction if you’re visiting during a particularly dry summer month.
Harder Kulm
Harder Kulm is a stunning viewpoint above Interlaken, easily accessible by cable car. It only takes about five minutes to reach the viewpoint from the Interlaken cable car station, and it’s one of the best things you’ll do during your stay at Lake Brienz.
The cable cars run every 10 minutes or so, so the ultimate length of this trip will depend on how big the crowds are. There’s limited seating in each cable car, so if the queue is particularly long, it might take a while to reach the viewpoint. It will all be worth it in the end, because the view from Harder Kulm is stunning.
There’s also a restaurant near the viewpoint, where you can enjoy drinks and local Swiss delicacies alongside the fabulous panoramic vista.
Where To Stay At Lake Brienz
If you plan to spend a few days in the area, staying in Interlaken is best. The lovely mountain gateway town is nestled between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and offers many fun and exciting things to do. You can spend most of your time in Interlaken, engaging in fun water activities and hiking, or ride the trains and explore all the lakeside villages and towns.
Additionally, it’s worth noting that Interlaken is the biggest city in the area, so it has the most accommodation options. Quantity means competitive pricing, so you can expect some pretty affordable stays in Interlaken. Bönigen is also worth considering – it’s right next to Interlaken, immediately on the shore of Lake Brienz.
Booking.comIf you don’t want to stay in a busy city and you want to be in a place with a quieter, lakeside vibe, consider Iseltwald. The lovely town is situated on the lake’s southern shore, and it’s a charming little place. It’s known for beautiful views, great hiking trails, and even a Netflix TV show.
Brienz is a great place to stay on the lake’s northern shore. You can easily travel from Brienz to nearby towns and villages by train, bus, and boat, plus there’s plenty to do in town to keep you entertained for days.
Brienz is popular with campers thanks to a variety of campsites on the lakeshore. It’s also close to many surrounding mountains, making it the perfect base for hikers and outdoor adventurers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Brienz
Why is Lake Brienz turquoise?
Lake Brienz is known for its surreal turquoise waters, which are owed to sediment particles brought into the lake by glacial waters from Lütschine and the Aare river. That’s the main reason why the lake’s color is so surreal, but it’s also partly because the lake is so incredibly clean.
There are practically no algae in the lake, which is why the fish population is almost nonexistent. There’s practically nothing for the fish to eat, so there is so little of them in this magical lake.
Is it possible to swim in Lake Brienz?
Yes, it is possible to swim in Lake Brienz and there are beaches in most towns and villages on the lakeshore. However, anyone who has already visited Lake Brienz knows that swimming in the lake is only possible in theory.
Glacial waters feed the lake, so it’s quite cold even during the summer. The water temperature barely rises over 20°C during the warmest summer months – some people enjoy swimming in cold lakes, but Lake Brienz will likely be too cold for you if you prefer to swim in warmer water.
Wearing a wetsuit is one option – it will be a little warmer, but it’s not quite as enjoyable as swimming in just a swimsuit.
Which is better to visit: Lake Brienz or Lake Thun?
It’s hard to say. Each lake is beautiful in its own right and there are pros and cons to visiting either one. Lake Brienz is prettier than Lake Thun, there’s no doubt about that, but it’s also smaller so offers less content for its visitors. On the other hand, this also means that it takes less time to cruise on the entire lake and that you won’t encounter as many people along the way.
Lake Thun is the bigger of the two lakes, with more towns and villages on its shores. But it’s not as pretty as Lake Brienz, and the bigger surface means it takes more time to explore the entire area.
Ideally, you can visit both lakes and decide which you enjoyed more. It only takes around an hour to walk from Lake Thun’s eastern shore to Lake Brienz’s western shore, so you can visit both lakes in a single afternoon.
Is Lake Brienz worth visiting?
Absolutely! It’s one of the prettiest lakes in Switzerland and is truly a surreal sight. The nature surrounding Lake Brienz is spectacular, and plenty of hiking trails will allow you to explore most of it.
Boat cruises, hiking trails, fabulous mountains, traditional Swiss houses, and numerous waterfalls – all of that is within walking distance of most towns and villages on the shore of Lake Brienz. It’s truly a spectacular place that will wow you with its beauty, and if you’re easily fascinated by nature, there’s no doubt that this is one of the best places to visit in Switzerland.
