Lake Brienz cruise

How long is the boat ride from Interlaken to Brienz?

About 1 hour 13 to 1 hour 15, one way, on the scheduled BLS boat. A summer example from the 2026 timetable: dep Interlaken Ost 9.07, arr Brienz 10.20.

The boat starts from the pier behind Interlaken Ost station, on the Aare. The first 1.3 km is a canal-like stretch of river, which is why the first few minutes feel more like a river cruise than a lake one. Then the lake opens at Bönigen and the colour changes almost at once.

Back the same way is another 1 h 15. Many people do one leg by boat and the other by train: the train between Brienz and Interlaken Ost takes about 20 minutes. BLS sells that as its Boat & Train round trip, at about 1 h 50 in total.

Where does the Lake Brienz boat stop?

The main stops are Interlaken Ost, Bönigen, Iseltwald, Giessbach See and Brienz. Some courses also call at Ringgenberg, Niederried and Oberried on the north shore.

The boat zig-zags across the lake, so the order changes slightly from course to course. These are the piers and the reason to stop at each:

Is it worth getting off at Iseltwald?

Yes, if you want the famous jetty or a lakeside walk. Since 2023 a turnstile charges CHF 5 to step onto the small pier (2024 figure).

Iseltwald sits on a peninsula on the south shore, about halfway to Brienz. It became famous through the Korean drama Crash Landing on You, and the wooden jetty from the series is the one with the turnstile. The village itself is small: chalets, a lakeside path and quiet spots at the water, as BLS puts it.

The best reason to stop is the walk. A lakeside path leads from Iseltwald to Giessbach Falls in about 2 to 2.5 hours, per MySwitzerland, and you can pick up a boat again at Giessbach See. The jetty has its own post with the details.

How do you get from the boat to Giessbach Falls?

Get off at Giessbach See and ride the Giessbachbahn, the 1879 funicular, up to the falls and the Grandhotel. Adults pay CHF 7 one way or CHF 14 return on the Giessbach shop at the last build.

MySwitzerland describes the Giessbachbahn as the oldest tourist funicular in Europe. It opened in July 1879 and runs, like the boats to the pier, from April to October. Children 6 to 16 pay CHF 3.50 one way, and under-6s ride free. If you would rather walk, a path leads from the pier up to the falls.

Up top, the falls drop about 400 m in 14 steps into the lake, and a loop path that runs behind the water takes 30 to 45 minutes. Out of season the falls are still reachable on foot.

Let a guide run the day: the boat to Giessbach, the funicular, the path behind the falls and a forest walk to the Iseltwald jetty, in a group of five at most.

★ 5.0 · 5 hours · from $183

Explore the Giessbach and Iseltwald boat day → Tour details

When does the Lötschberg steamer sail?

Wednesday to Sunday from 23 May to 27 September 2026, on marked courses in the BLS timetable. Mondays and Tuesdays are motor ship days.

The Lötschberg is a Belle Époque paddle steamer built in 1914 and restored so carefully that it won an ICOMOS award in 2008. It is a scheduled boat, so the normal fare or a travel pass covers it, and the Berner Oberland Pass names it in its Lake Brienz coverage. From 28 September every course on the lake runs with a motor ship.

On summer Saturday evenings there is also a round cruise from Interlaken Ost to Brienz and back, which the timetable runs on the steamer. Check the date, because it skips 1 August.

How much does a Lake Brienz cruise cost?

A full-price BLS day ticket for Lake Brienz costs CHF 75 in 2nd class and CHF 112 in 1st (2026). The ticket for both lakes is CHF 83.

Children 6 to 15 travel at half price or on the CHF 15 kids day ticket, and children under 6 ride free. BLS also sells discounted day passes online in limited numbers each month; April is half price.

The scheduled BLS boats on both lakes are fully covered by the Swiss Travel Pass (the Flex version with the day entered), the GA travelcard, the Berner Oberland Pass and Eurail or Interrail with the date entered. The Half Fare card gives 50% off. BLS has no senior discount. The other way to buy is the boat day pass (from $50, 4.2 from 223 reviews), which covers both lakes, with Lake Brienz included from early April to mid-October.

Book the boat day before you travel: Lake Brienz from Interlaken Ost, Lake Thun from Interlaken West, on and off as often as you like.

★ 4.2 · 1 day · from $50

Explore the boat day pass for both lakes → Tour details

What is the schedule for the Lake Brienz cruise?

Spring from 3 April to 22 May, summer from 23 May to 11 October, autumn and winter from 12 October to 6 December 2026. In summer the first boat leaves Interlaken Ost around 9 a.m.

The summer timetable has the most departures and both the steamer and the evening cruise. In spring and autumn there are fewer boats, so plan your return before you get off anywhere. The listing for the day pass says the same: fewer boats run in the shoulder seasons. After 6 December the lake has no scheduled service until April, and the winter jetboat and winter kayak tours from Bönigen take over.

One thing catches people out: in low-water periods, boats can leave from Bönigen instead of Interlaken Ost. Check the BLS timetable on the day. When to go, month by month, is in the best time guide.

Is the Lake Brienz cruise worth it?

Yes. It is the easiest way to see the turquoise water, the falls and Iseltwald in one go, and the boat ride is part of the sightseeing, not just transport.

Brienz itself is worth an hour or two at the end. The village is known for woodcarving, has a lakeside promenade and is the base station of the Brienz Rothorn railway. The train back to Interlaken Ost is quick, which frees the afternoon.

If you want speed instead of a slow cruise, the jetboat (from $144, 4.7 from 439 reviews) leaves Bönigen and covers the same stretch past Iseltwald to Giessbach Falls in 45 to 50 minutes, with 360° spins. It is its own boat, so it is not part of any pass, and the minimum height is 110 cm.

Frequently asked questions