Spiez, Switzerland – A Visitor’s Guide

Interested in Spiez, Switzerland? The lakeside town is absolutely lovely with plenty of things to offer to its visitors, and you’ll learn all about it in this visitor’s guide to Spiez, Switzerland!

How to get there, when is the best time to visit, and all the fun things you do in the area are all covered in this detailed guide. So, check out this visitor’s guide to Spiez before you book your hotel and plane tickets, and see if the lovely Swiss town is indeed the best destination for you!

How to Get to Spiez

Spiez is serviced by a train station so it’s easy to reach the small town, regardless of where you’re coming from. There are direct trains to Spiez from Interlaken, Zurich, Basel, and Bern, but you will need to switch trains if you’re traveling to Spiez from a different location.

If you’re flying into Switzerland, you’ll most likely land at Zurich airport. It’s the biggest and busiest airport in the country, with the most international flights. There’s a direct train from Zurich Airport to Spiez, and you can be at the beautiful lakeside town in under two hours.

The airport at Bern is the closest airport to Spiez, but it’s a much smaller airport than the one in Zurich so it’s not very likely you’ll land there if you’re traveling from overseas. In any case, if you do land in Bern, you can be in Spiez in about an hour – just take the bus from the airport to Münsingen, where you can get on a direct train to Spiez.

Driving to Spiez is also possible – this isn’t one of those car-free villages, so you can easily just rent a car and drive up to Spiez. You will need a vignette to drive on the Swiss motorways and highways. Driving is great if you want the freedom to explore other towns in the region, but it’s not really cheaper or faster than getting around by train.

Best Things To Do in Spiez

Need some ideas on how to spend your time in Spiez? This guide to the best things to do in Spiez covers all the town’s top attractions!

Spiez Castle

One of the best things about this lovely town is that you get to discover historical buildings during long walks along the lake shore. The historical castle of Spiez is easily the most popular tourist attraction and one of the highlights of any visit to the town.

The medieval castle boasts a beautifully landscaped garden, a castle museum, and a 39-meter tower with an observation deck that offers magnificent panoramic views of Lake Thun and the lush hills that surround it.

The Castle Museum is great if you want to learn more about the history of the castle’s location and its owners. There’s also the Castle Church, the Castle Park with a baroque herb garden, and the beautiful greenhouse.

One thing to note about the Spiez Castle complex is that many of the buildings are rented out for private events, so it might not be possible to do a tour during your trip. The castle is also a popular location for weddings thanks to its perfect location in this picturesque bay.

Spiez Vineyard Sensory Adventure Trail

The Spiez Vineyard Sensory Adventure Trail is an easy walking trail that can be completed in about an hour. If you want to explore the nature around Spiez but you’re not exactly one for mountain climbing, this is the best thing to do in the area. The trailhead is at Seestrasse near the winemaker’s cooperative building, just some 15 minutes away from the Spiez train station.

The trail boasts beautiful natural scenery with 12 informative boards that tell the story of winemaking in Spiez. Each board also has a QR code that, when scanned, displays a short film about the life of Spiez winemakers. It’s an educational experience, but also a great opportunity to discover the fabulous scenery surrounding this charming town.

Walk to Faulensee

There’s a lakeshore path to Faulensee from Spiez, and it’s one of the top things to do in the area if you want to get out and explore. The start of the path is near the playground in Spiez, and it takes only around 30 minutes to walk all the way to the other town.

The beautiful lake promenade boasts stunning scenery, with plenty of benches along the way for quick breaks. Don’t forget to stop every now and then to take in the mesmerizing panoramic views.

Take some time to explore Faulensee while you’re in the area. The town is small but very charming, and it boasts beautiful nature and stunning lake views. There’s not much to do there in terms of tourist attractions and landmarks, but it is a great place for lunch/dinner with fabulous views.

To get back to Spiez from Faulensee, you can just walk along the same path. Alternatively, you can take the bus back into town, if you don’t feel like walking for 2.5 kilometers – the bus will get you back to Spiez in about 5 minutes.

Spiez Lido

Spiez Lido is a lake shore swimming cove and one of the most popular places in the town. Most people who come to Spiez for swimming and sunbathing will spend the majority of their time at this beach, which offers beautiful views of Lake Thun and the Spiez Castle in the background.

The Lido is also home to Spiez outdoor pool, which boasts the longest slide in the Bernese Oberland. The pool is heated so it offers a comfortable swimming experience even when the weather isn’t perfect, and it’s very popular among vacation goers in Spiez.

In addition to the heated pools and easy access to Lake Thun, you can also play table tennis, beach volleyball, football, and basketball at the Lido. An on-site restaurant means you don’t have to leave the beach to get a drink or something to eat, so you can easily spend an entire day here just enjoying life.

Lake Thun Cruise

One of the best things you can do in Spiez is a cruise on the deep blue Lake Thun. It’s possible to go on proper boat cruises that include a meal and drinks, but we’d recommend getting on a ferry to Neuhaus. This is cheaper than a proper cruise, and you still get to discover more than half of Lake Thun.

It’s only about 10 minutes by bus from Neuhaus to Interlaken, so if you have enough time in Spiez, take this opportunity to explore the beautiful town between lakes Thun and Brienz. Interlaken is much bigger than Spiez and it has more content for visitors, including landmarks, tourist attractions, but also all sorts of adventurous activities.

If you want to go parasailing, paragliding, ride jet skis, or even go bungee jumping, you’ll be able to in Interlaken. The town is immensely popular with outdoor lovers, and it’s one of the best places in the region for lovers of nature and adventurers.

You can head back to Spiez on a boat and get to see even more of the beautiful Lake Thun. Alternatively, it’s possible to travel by train and bus from Interlaken to Spiez, and the journey shouldn’t take more than 25 minutes.

Museum of Local History and Viticulture

If you are fascinated by the winemaking tradition of Spiez, you have to visit the Museum of Local History and Viticulture. It boasts detailed exhibitions on the winemaking tradition of the region as well as local history. Discover what life was like in Spiez centuries ago, and see which traditions passed the test of time.

This popular Spiez museum is located in a typical Simmentaler 18th-century house. There’s a fully equipped coopers’ workshop in the basement that can be visited, and which details the art of making wooden barrels. Other exhibitions throughout the house display what life was like in a typical farming household.

In addition to the main building, museum visitors are also invited to see the Trüel, which has the last remaining Spiezer barn with a spectacular grape press. This exhibition is dedicated to the equipment and process of making wine, and it’s very educational for people with a genuine interest in the process.

Niesen Mountain

Spiez is popular among outdoor adventurers for its incredible surrounding mountains. Niesen is one of those – the pyramid-shaped peak is absolutely iconic, and it’s one of the best places to visit in the area if you want to enjoy a magnificent panorama of Lake Thun.

The mountain is popular for its scenic views, hiking, and biking trails. It’s possible to hike to the top of the mountain, but this adventure is suitable only for experienced hikers who aren’t afraid of grueling uphill trails.

There’s a much easier (and quicker) way of reaching the top of Niesen and it’s the funicular. From Spiez, take the train to Mülenen – it’s only about a five-minute ride, and the train station is just a few minutes away from the bottom station of the funicular. A train will then take you to the top of Niesen in about 30 minutes – the ride is incredibly scenic, and you can enjoy gorgeous views while ascending the mountain.

It’s worth noting that there’s a restaurant atop Niesen, which also happens to be one of the best mountain hotels in Switzerland! Enjoy tasty local dishes while admiring the wonderful views from the top of the pyramid-shaped mountain – what’s not to love about this easy excursion from Spiez?!

Where to Stay in Spiez

Spiez is a very small town so the location of your hotel/apartment doesn’t matter too much. No matter where you stay, the top attractions will be within walking distance.

The best hotels in Spiez are all situated near the lake shore, with most mid-range and high-end options near the castle area. However, it’s important to note that the hotels and apartments that are situated outside the city center are just 10-15 minutes away from the lakeshore (on foot), so it might not be worth it to pay for a premium location.

On top of that, you can consider staying outside of Spiez, if you want to save some money. The villages nearby offer more affordable accommodation, and they’re all just a short walk or train ride outside the town.

When Is the Best Time to Visit Spiez

The best time to visit Spiez depends on why you’re traveling to the lakeside town. If you want to enjoy the beach, swim in the lake, and just have a great summer vacation overall, the best time to visit Spiez is June-August. July and August are the warmest months, with the best weather for swimming and sunbathing.

Spiez is most popular in May, so you might want to avoid a spring visit if you don’t want to deal with crowds. The town gets a lot of tourists in the summer season as well, with an average of 80% of visitors that it gets in May.

If you’re more interested in the popular winter sports resorts near Spiez, then travel to the lakeside town sometime in December-March. That’s when most winter sports resorts in the area are open, and you’re free to enjoy as much skiing, snowboarding, and sledging as you like.

Is Spiez Worth Visiting

That depends on why you’re considering this town in the first place. If you want to travel to a calm lakeside town in Switzerland, Spiez is one of the best places in the country. It’s not packed with features and content, but it has just enough attractions to keep you occupied for a few days.

The town boasts an impressive mountain backdrop with numerous hiking and biking trails that are just waiting to be explored, so it’s a great place for all outdoor enthusiasts. If you want to spend your time in Switzerland exploring nature, climbing mountains, or just having fun on the lake, Spiez is a great town for you.

On the other hand, if you’d rather stay in a place full of content, maybe Spiez isn’t the best Lake Thun destination for you. Consider Interlaken instead – it’s a bigger town with more things to do, plus it has better connections to other towns in the area.