Guide · Boat hire

Interlaken boat rental, from pedalos to a skippered motorboat

Interlaken boat rental happens on the lakes on either side of town: Brienz, Iseltwald and Neuhaus hire out boats you drive yourself, while fondue rafts, a hot tub boat and skippered charters cover the special occasions.

Check availabilityfrom $147 · no cancellation fee

Editorial team, interlakenboattour.comUpdated October 20, 20267 min read40 sources

Private boat tour on Lake Thun - 3-hour experience with refreshment This guide's tour Private boat tour on Lake Thun - 3-hour experience with refreshment 5.0 (1 reviews) from$618 Check availabilityFree to cancel as late as 24 hrs before

At a glance

01No license needed
Up to 6 kW (8 PS) of engine power, says the canton of Bern.1
02Cheapest motorboat hour
Abegglen in Iseltwald, CHF 75 for 1 hour.2
03Hot tub on the water
Pirate Bay's hot tub boat near Interlaken sails from Brienz, at 38 degrees.34
04Fondue afloat
OUTDOOR's cheese fondue float runs from September to April.5
05With a skipper
The private boat on Lake Thun is listed from $618 for your group.

Where you can hire a boat

Interlaken boat rental means a short trip to one of the shores, since the hire points sit in the lakeside villages. On Lake Brienz, Pirate Bay rents motorboats in Brienz and Abegglen Werft does the same in Iseltwald.67 On Lake Thun, Mountainsurf rents motorboats and pedal boats at Neuhaus in Unterseen.89 Bus line 21 runs out to Neuhaus from town. Pick the village by the lake you want to see from the water.

Further along Lake Thun the choice widens. Interlaken Tourism lists an electric boat in the bay of Spiez that needs no driving license.10 The tourist office in Faulensee hires out pedalos, canoes, stand-up paddle boards, license-free motorboats and a floating caravan called the Sealander.11 In Leissigen, Bootswerft Wilke rents canoes and boards.12 Lake Thun's rentals therefore range from a simple canoe to a small floating home.

Each operator runs its own season and its own hours, so check before you travel. Mountainsurf opens daily from 10:00 to 19:00 between May and September, in good weather.13 Interlaken Tourism gives Abegglen's hire season as mid-May to mid-October.14 Pirate Bay rents its boats from 1 April to 25 October in 2026.15 On a doubtful day, call ahead before taking the bus or train out to the shore.

Do you need a boat license?

For most rental boats, no. The road and shipping office of the canton of Bern says a valid boat license is needed to drive a motorboat with more than 6 kW (8 PS) of engine power.1 The Federal Office of Transport sets the same threshold for sport and pleasure boats on Swiss waters.16 The rental operators below say on their own pages which of their boats fall under it, so read the power of the boat you book.

The operators state it for their own boats. Mountainsurf rents 3 motorboats with 8 hp that need no license, and it hires them only to drivers aged 18 or over.8 Abegglen in Iseltwald rents license-free boats for four to five people, plus one larger boat for up to seven that does need a license.7 Ask which boat you are getting if a license matters to your plans. Carry photo ID in case the driver's age is checked at the counter.

Pirate Bay's hot tub boat runs on an electric motor and can be driven without a license test, but its captain must be at least 18.17 On any boat you drive yourself, stay clear of the public boats and their landing stages, keep well away from swimmers, and turn back early if dark clouds gather over the mountains. A life jacket for every child aboard is a sensible habit even on a calm lake.

One hour on the water

Motorboat hire for 1 hour, in CHF

CHF
Abegglen: 75 75 AbegglenPirate Bay, small: 100 100 Pirate Bay, smallMountainsurf: 110 110 MountainsurfPirate Bay, large: 130 130 Pirate Bay, large
License-free motorboats as each operator prices them, read 20 October 2026.261819

Self-drive boats

Rental boats by village, with the first-hour price

OperatorVillageBoat1 hour
AbegglenIseltwaldMotorboat, no licenseCHF 75
Pirate BayBrienzMotorboat, up to 4CHF 100
MountainsurfNeuhausMotorboat, 8 hpCHF 110
Pirate BayBrienzMotorboat, up to 7CHF 130
AbegglenIseltwaldPedaloCHF 35

Operators' own prices, read 20 October 2026; from-prices, not quotes.268181920

Three special boats

Skippered boat, fondue float or hot tub

Private boat tour on Lake Thun - 3-hour experience with refreshment With a skipper

Private boat

Lake Thun from Neuhaus

Boat
200 HP, up to 6
Group
Private
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours
Compare
Interlaken: Chocolate Fondue Float Sweet evening

Chocolate fondue float

Lake Brienz from Bönigen

Duration
2 hours
Minimum age
8 years
Cancellation
Free up to 24 hours
Compare
Hot tub boat, Lake Brienz from Brienz All year

Hot tub boat

Lake Brienz from Brienz

Water
38 degrees
Boat size
Up to 6 people
1.5 hours
From CHF 255
Compare

Decision helper

Which boat should you hire?

Match the boat to the day you have in mind

A license-free motorboat

From CHF 75 for 1 hour in Iseltwald.2

A pedalo

Abegglen and Mountainsurf both rent them.209

A fondue float or the Sealander

Cheese fondue on Lake Brienz, or fondue and raclette on Lake Thun.2122

The hot tub boat in Brienz

It keeps running from late October to March.23

A skippered private boat

The Lake Thun tour comes with its own driver and a swim stop.

Private charters start at CHF 850 for one hour for up to 4 guests in summer, captain and fuel included.

Boat Tour InterlakenSource 24

Prices for self-drive boats

Prices vary by village and by boat size. Abegglen's license-free motorboats in Iseltwald cost CHF 75 for 1 hour, CHF 130 for 2 hours and CHF 415 for 8 hours.2 Mountainsurf at Neuhaus asks CHF 110 for 1 hour and CHF 380 for 4 hours, with up to 5 people aboard.18 Splitting a boat among friends brings the cost per head down quickly. Pirate Bay also prices a 4-hour hire of its larger boats at CHF 420.19

In Brienz, Pirate Bay's license-free motorboats for up to 4 people cost CHF 100 for 1 hour and CHF 180 for 2 hours, without a swimming ladder.6 Its boats for up to 7 people carry a ladder and cost CHF 130 for 1 hour.19 A pontoon lounge boat for up to 8 costs CHF 300 for 2 hours.25 The lounge boat adds CHF 100 for each further hour.25 Choose a boat with a ladder if you plan to swim. Compare the per-hour cost before you decide.

Pedal power is cheaper. Abegglen rents pedalos at CHF 35 for 1 hour and CHF 105 for 4 hours.20 Mountainsurf keeps 6 pedal boats at Neuhaus, each for up to 5 people.9 A pedalo suits a hot afternoon with children better than a motorboat, and a swim from the boat is part of the fun where the operator allows it. Mountainsurf also rents a standard stand-up paddle board from CHF 25 for 1 hour.26

Checklist

Before you take the wheel

01

Before you go

  • Driver aged 18 for Mountainsurf boats8
  • Check the operator's season and hours
  • Hot tub boat: be at the jetty 25 minutes early4
02

On the water

  • Keep clear of the public boats and landing stages
  • Swim only from boats with a ladder
  • Sunscreen and a hat for open water

Cost calculator

What an evening on the lake costs your group

Enter your group size to compare two bookable boat outings.

People 2

Total from$245

per guest from $123

Check availabilityfree cancellation

A total multiplies each listing's lowest GetYourGuide fare by your group size, turned into your currency at today's ECB rate; checkout shows the final figure.

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Is it worth to rent a boat in Brienzersee?

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Fondue on the water

If you are looking for a fondue boat in Interlaken, start in Bönigen. OUTDOOR runs a cheese fondue float from September to April, leaving at 18:00 and lasting about 1 to 1.5 hours.5 A guide paddles a raft across Lake Brienz while you dip bread into the cheese, with white wine, tea and mineral water included.21 Interlaken Tourism describes the route instead as leading from Bönigen through the Aare Canal to Interlaken.27

A seat on the cheese float costs CHF 99, and a whole boat CHF 695.28 Children may join from age 8, those under 14 with an adult.29 The sweet version is the chocolate fondue float on this page's comparison, which meets at the OUTDOOR jetboat base in Bönigen and serves fruit and marshmallows with wine under a fleece blanket. It is listed from $123 and rated 4.82 from 89 reviews.

On Lake Thun, the Sealander is a small electric caravan boat hired for 4 hours with fondue or raclette on board.22 It costs CHF 290 for 2 people plus CHF 40 for each extra person, up to 4.30 BLS also runs a Cheese Fondue Cruise on Saturdays in winter, leaving Thun at 19.10, for CHF 75 per adult.3132 The Sealander leaves from Spiez Bay in winter and from Faulensee in summer, and needs a reservation at least two days ahead.333435

The hot tub boat in Brienz

The hot tub boat near Interlaken is not in Interlaken at all but at the far end of Lake Brienz. Pirate Bay Nautical Center in Brienz runs it from its jetty next to Brienz station.4 It is a pool filled with water at 38 degrees that floats on the lake, so you sit in warm water while the mountains slide past.3 Pack a towel and a warm layer for the walk back to the station. The view from the tub runs straight down the lake.

A 1.5-hour session costs CHF 255 for 1 to 3 people and CHF 399 for 4 to 6, and 30 extra minutes cost CHF 60.36 Each boat takes a maximum of 6 people, a legal limit with no exceptions, and children count as full persons.37 Guests must arrive at least 25 minutes before departure.4 Book the larger tariff only if your group really fills the tub. Write your booking time down, since arriving late shortens your session.

The hot tubs keep going when the rest of the fleet rests. In Pirate Bay's winter season, from 26 October to 31 March 2027, only the hot tub boats operate.23 A soak on a frosty evening is a very different experience from a summer afternoon. The train between Brienz and Interlaken Ost takes about 20 minutes, and the jetty is right beside the station.38 Dress warmly for the walk to and from the jetty in winter.

A boat with a skipper

If driving yourself does not appeal, hire a boat with someone at the wheel. The private tour sold on this page meets at the BLS boat station by the Hotel Neuhaus in Unterseen, where there is parking and bus line 21 stops. It uses a 200 HP sports motorboat for up to 6 people. Guides speak English and German. Look for the public boat station sign by the hotel when you arrive. Arrive a little early so the trip can start on time.

The listing describes a route along the shore toward the Beatus Caves and the cliffs near Beatenbucht, food to order from the Hotel Beatus in Merligen collected straight from the boat, and a crossing to Spiez with time for a swim and Spiez Castle. It is a private 3-hour experience with free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead. Pack swimwear and a towel if you want to use the swim stop.

Boat Tour Interlaken offers charters from Merligen, about 20 minutes from Interlaken, for up to 12 guests all year.39 Its prices start at CHF 850 for one hour for up to 4 guests in summer, captain and fuel included.24 Interlaken Tourism names the boat as a Harris Solstice 250.40 For a birthday or a proposal, a skippered boat removes every practical worry. The charters run from 08:00 to sunset, so an early start is possible.39

Your turn at speed

The Giessbach Falls are waiting across the lake.

Pick a starting time, meet the crew in Bönigen and cancel free up to 24 hours before.

Check timesfrom $147 · no cancellation fee 4.7 · 403 reviews, verified

You ask,we answer.

Can I drive a rental motorboat without a license?

Yes, up to 6 kW (8 PS). Above that engine power the canton of Bern and the federal transport office require a license.116

How old must the driver be?

18 at Mountainsurf and on the hot tub boat. Both operators set that minimum age for their drivers and captains.817

Where is the hot tub boat?

In Brienz, by the station. Pirate Bay's jetty sits next to Brienz station on Lake Brienz.4

Does the hot tub boat run in winter?

Yes. From 26 October to 31 March 2027 the hot tubs are the only Pirate Bay boats running.23

Can children join the fondue float?

From age 8. Children under 14 must come with an adult.29

What does a pedalo cost?

From CHF 35 an hour in Iseltwald. Abegglen charges CHF 60 for 2 hours and CHF 105 for 4 hours.20

Is swimming allowed from the small motorboats?

Not from Pirate Bay's smallest ones. Its boats for up to 4 people have no ladder and swimming is not allowed; the larger ones carry a ladder.619

Sources

Evidence for this guide

  1. 1
    Strassenverkehrs- und Schifffahrtsamt des Kantons BernRund um den Schiffsführerausweis
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  2. 2
    Abegglen Werft AG (Bootsvermietung Iseltwald)Motorboote ohne Führerschein - Bootsvermietung Iseltwald
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  3. 3↩
  4. 4
    Pirate Bay Nautical Center GmbHFAQ - Pirate Bay Nautical Center
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  5. 5
    Outdoor Switzerland AGCheese Fondue Float @ OUTDOOR
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  6. 6
    Pirate Bay Nautical Center GmbHMotorboot - Pirate Bay Nautical Center
    ↩
  7. 7
    Abegglen Werft AG (Bootsvermietung Iseltwald)Bootsvermietung Iseltwald
    ↩
  8. 8
    Mountainsurf Interlaken GmbHMotorboat Rental Interlaken - Mountainsurf
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  9. 9↩
  10. 10↩
  11. 11↩
  12. 12↩
  13. 13↩
  14. 14↩
  15. 15
    Pirate Bay Nautical Center GmbHÖffnungszeiten - Pirate Bay Nautical Center
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  16. 16↩
  17. 17↩
  18. 18
    Mountainsurf Interlaken GmbHMotorboat Rental Interlaken - Mountainsurf
    ↩
  19. 19
    Pirate Bay Nautical Center GmbHMotorboot - Pirate Bay Nautical Center
    ↩
  20. 20
    Abegglen Werft AG (Bootsvermietung Iseltwald)Pedalo - Bootsvermietung Iseltwald
    ↩
  21. 21
    Outdoor Switzerland AGCheese Fondue Float @ OUTDOOR
    ↩
  22. 22↩
  23. 23
    Pirate Bay Nautical Center GmbHÖffnungszeiten - Pirate Bay Nautical Center
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  24. 24↩
  25. 25↩
  26. 26
    Mountainsurf Interlaken GmbHSUP Rental Lake Thun - Mountainsurf
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  27. 27↩
  28. 28
    Outdoor Switzerland AGCheese Fondue Float @ OUTDOOR
    ↩
  29. 29
    Outdoor Switzerland AGCheese Fondue Float @ OUTDOOR
    ↩
  30. 30↩
  31. 31
    BLS Schifffahrt AG (BLS Lake Cruise Ltd.)Cheese Fondue Cruise Lake Thun | BLS-Schiff
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  32. 32
    BLS Schifffahrt AG (BLS Lake Cruise Ltd.)Cheese Fondue Cruise Lake Thun | BLS-Schiff
    ↩
  33. 33↩
  34. 34↩
  35. 35↩
  36. 36↩
  37. 37↩
  38. 38
    BLS Schifffahrt AG (BLS Lake Cruise Ltd.)About Lake Brienz | BLS-Schiff
    ↩
  39. 39↩
  40. 40↩

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