Guide · Lake Brienz

Interlaken to Brienz boat across turquoise Lake Brienz

The Interlaken to Brienz boat leaves from a pier near Interlaken Ost and calls at villages on both shores. Here are the stops, the journey times, the fares and the quick way home.

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Editorial team, interlakenboattour.comUpdated October 20, 20267 min read68 sources

This guide's tour Interlaken: Boat Day Pass on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz 4.1 (208 reviews) from$52per person Check availabilityFree to cancel as late as 24 hrs before

At a glance

01Journey time: About 1 hour 15 minutes by boat from Interlaken Ost to Brienz, then about 20 minutes back by train.¹
02Where to board: The Interlaken Ost landing stage at Lanzenen 1, a 4-minute walk from the station.² ³
03Season: Boats on this lake from 3 April to 6 December 2026, and from 26 March in 2027.⁴ ⁵
04Single fare: CHF 39.00 in 2nd class and CHF 64.00 in 1st class to Brienz, read 20 October 2026.⁶
05Day ticket: A Lake Brienz boat from Interlaken all day costs CHF 75.00 in 2nd class on the BLS ticket for this lake alone.⁷

Boarding at the Interlaken Ost pier

The Interlaken to Brienz boat starts at the BLS landing stage Interlaken Ost, at Lanzenen 1, which BLS places a 4-minute walk from the railway station of the same name.² ³ Every public boat on both Bernese Oberland lakes belongs to BLS Interlaken Lake Cruise, a subsidiary of BLS Ltd. that has run on its own since 1 January 2022.⁸ Coming by train, allow a few minutes for the short walk and a few more to buy a ticket.

BLS lists 8 landing stages on Lake Brienz, namely Interlaken Ost, Bönigen, Ringgenberg, Niederried, Iseltwald, Oberried, Giessbach and Brienz.⁹ Before you board, check in the timetable that your departure calls at the stage you have in mind. Tickets are sold on every boat, and from spring to autumn also at the counters in Interlaken East and Brienz, which close in winter.¹⁰ With a ticket or a pass in your pocket you can simply walk on and pick a seat on deck.

The water decides the mood of the whole crossing. Interlaken Tourism gives Lake Brienz a length of 14 km, a width of 2.8 km and a deepest point of 260 m, and counts it among the deepest lakes in the country.¹¹ An Eawag report of 2016 for the canton's water office puts the maximum depth at 259 m.¹² On a still morning the surface looks almost painted, so keep your camera within reach from the moment you cast off.

The crossing

From Interlaken Ost to Brienz

Interlaken Ost

Board at the BLS pier

A 4-minute walk from the station, with tickets sold on board.³ ¹⁰
Bönigen

Old wooden houses

Alleys and houses built from the 16th to the 18th century.¹³
Iseltwald

About 45 min out

The only village on the lake's left shore, says the municipality.¹⁴ ¹⁵
Giessbach

About 1 hour out

A funicular links the pier with the Grandhotel, 100 metres higher.¹⁶ ¹⁷
Brienz

About 1 h 15 min out

The woodcarving village, with the train back to Interlaken in about 20 minutes.¹ ¹⁸

Villages along the shore

Bönigen comes first, a village that Interlaken Tourism describes with small alleys and wooden houses built from the 16th to the 18th century.¹³ It is also where you can rent a kayak or a paddle board, and where the jetboat sold on this site leaves from the BLS port building.¹⁹ Across the water, Ringgenberg has a castle and a church whose organ was once played by Felix Mendelssohn, and the village goes back to a first mention in 1240.²⁰ ²¹

Iseltwald, on the south shore, is the only village on the lake's left bank, and the rocky spur in front of it forms a sheltered bay.¹⁵ BLS puts it around 45 minutes from Interlaken Ost, while the municipality's own page speaks of about 40 minutes.¹⁴ ²² Further east the boat reaches Giessbach after around 1 hour, where a funicular climbs to the Grandhotel and the falls.¹⁶ Both stops deserve a day of their own if you have the time.

On the north shore the boat may also call at Niederried and Oberried. In its update of 19 October 2026, BLS said low water meant Niederried could not be served and Lake Brienz was run with a smaller vessel, so boarding was not guaranteed.²³ BLS also warns that storms, dense fog or very high or low water can change services at short notice.²⁴ A look at the operating status on the morning you travel saves a long wait on a quiet pier.

Published fares

Adult fares from Interlaken Ost, 2nd class, in CHF

CHF

One-way fares and the Lake Brienz day ticket at full price, as BLS listed them on 20 October 2026.²⁵ ²⁶ ⁶ ⁷

Lake Brienz in figures

The lake under the boat

Measure	Figure	Source
Length	14 km	Interlaken Tourism
Width	2.8 km	Interlaken Tourism
Area	29.8 km²	Eawag
Deepest point	259 to 261 m	Eawag, Federal Office of Energy
Water residence	980 days	Eawag
Summer water	17 to 21 degrees	Interlaken Tourism

From Interlaken Tourism, an Eawag report of 2016 and the Federal Office of Energy lake table; the deepest point is given as 259, 260 or 261 m.¹¹ ¹² ²⁷ ²⁸

Three ways to Brienz

Single ticket, day pass or a steamer day

Short and simple

Boat out, train back

Single BLS ticket

Boat: CHF 39.00, 2nd class
Crossing: About 1 h 15 min
Train back: About 20 min

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Most flexible

Day pass, both lakes

Hop on and off

Price: from $52
Valid: 1 day
Cancel: Up to 24 hours before

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Interlaken: Exclusive Lake Brienz Cruise & Rothorn Mt. Train

Special occasion

Steamer and Rothorn

Private day tour

Price: from $493
Duration: 8 hours
Includes: Pickup, Rothorn train

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Decision helper

Which way across Lake Brienz suits you?

Pick the line closest to your plan

I want the lake in half a day I want to stop at several villages I carry a Swiss Travel Pass I want the historic steamer I want a private, planned day

Boat out, train back

About 1 h 15 min on the boat and about 20 min on the train.¹

A Lake Brienz day ticket

CHF 75.00 in 2nd class for unlimited boats on this lake.⁷

Just walk on

Free travel in your class on the scheduled boats.²⁹

Check the Lötschberg days

In 2026 it sailed on this lake from 23 May to 27 September.³⁰

The steamer and Rothorn tour

First class on the Lötschberg with pickup included, from $493.

It is because of tiny particles of sediment washed into the lake by glacial waters from the Lütschine and the Aare.

Interlaken TourismusSource 31

Brienz, the woodcarving village

Brienz sits at the eastern end of Lake Brienz, and Interlaken Tourism calls it the woodcarving village, where the long woodworking tradition can still be seen.³² ¹⁸ The Brunngasse, a lane lined with 18th-century houses, was once voted Europe's most beautiful alley.³³ After the crossing it is a pleasant place to stretch your legs, walk past the old timber houses and find a café for a break before you head back.

Brienz is also the valley station of the Brienz Rothorn Railway, which climbs 7.6 km to Rothorn Kulm in one hour, with the Planalp middle station at the halfway point.³⁴ The line was officially opened on 16 June 1892, and the railway says it has never been electrified.³⁵ ³⁶ Its 2026 timetable to the summit runs from 6 June to 25 October, and an adult return without discount costs CHF 98.00.³⁷ ³⁸

The summit of the Brienzer Rothorn stands at 2,350 metres above sea level, high above the lake you have just crossed.³⁹ The railway says that on a clear day you can see 693 mountain peaks from there.⁴⁰ A boat out and the cog railway up fill a whole day, so set off early if you want to combine them, and keep the last train down in mind when you plan the return to Interlaken by boat or by rail.

Map

Landing stages on Lake Brienz and Lake Thun

Both lakes with the piers named on these pages: Lake Brienz from Interlaken Ost to Brienz, then Lake Thun from Interlaken West to Thun.

Map of Lake Brienz from Interlaken Ost and Bönigen in the west to Brienz in the east, with Iseltwald and Giessbach — Lake Brienz

Map of Lake Thun from Interlaken West and Neuhaus in the east to Spiez, Oberhofen and Thun in the west — Lake Thun

1
Interlaken Ost
The Lake Brienz pier, at Lanzenen 1, a 4-minute walk from the railway station.² ³
In Google Maps ↗
2
Bönigen
Landing stage and the jetboat base at the quay; bus 103 from Interlaken Ost takes about 10 minutes.⁹ ⁴¹ ⁴²
In Google Maps ↗
3
Ringgenberg
Landing stage below a village first mentioned in 1240.⁹ ²¹
In Google Maps ↗
4
Iseltwald
About 45 minutes from Interlaken Ost by boat; the pier from Crash Landing on You costs CHF 5 to step onto.¹⁴ ⁴³
In Google Maps ↗
5
Oberried
One of the 8 Lake Brienz landing stages on the north shore.⁹
In Google Maps ↗
6
Giessbach See
About 1 hour from Interlaken Ost; the funicular climbs to the Grandhotel, 100 metres above the pier.¹⁶ ¹⁷
In Google Maps ↗
7
Brienz
About 1 hour 15 minutes by boat from Interlaken Ost, about 20 minutes back by train.¹
In Google Maps ↗
8
Interlaken West
The Lake Thun pier, Kanalpromenade 1, opposite the railway station; boats reach the lake through a 2.75 km canal.⁴⁴ ⁴⁵ ⁴⁶
In Google Maps ↗
9
Neuhaus
Landing stage by a nature reserve, with a lido and a free bathing area.⁴⁷ ⁴⁸
In Google Maps ↗
10
Beatushöhlen
Boat station for the St. Beatus Caves, a 20-25 minute walk uphill.⁴⁹
In Google Maps ↗
11
Merligen
Departure point of a private charter boat on Lake Thun.⁵⁰
In Google Maps ↗
12
Beatenbucht
Landing stage on the north shore of Lake Thun.⁵¹
In Google Maps ↗
13
Spiez
Spiez Castle is a 5-minute walk from the boat station.⁵²
In Google Maps ↗
14
Oberhofen
The boat landing is by Oberhofen Castle.⁵³
In Google Maps ↗
15
Hilterfingen
One of the 15 Lake Thun landing stages.⁵¹
In Google Maps ↗
16
Thun
About 2 hours 10 minutes by boat from Interlaken West.⁵⁴
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

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Video

Lake Brienz Boat Cruise 4K (2025) | Interlaken Ost → Iseltwald → Giessbach → Brienz

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Journey times out and back

BLS gives the boat trip from Interlaken Ost to Brienz as about 1 hour and 15 minutes, and Interlaken Tourism agrees on about an hour and a quarter one way.¹ ⁵⁵ For the way back, BLS points to the train, which takes about 20 minutes from Brienz to Interlaken Ost.¹ Boat out and train back gives you the lake from the water and still leaves most of the afternoon free for something else.

If you would rather stay on the water, BLS says a complete round trip on Lake Brienz takes around 3 hours, including a 20-minute stop in Brienz.⁵⁶ Interlaken Tourism quotes 2 hours 30 minutes for the round trip on its own page.⁵⁵ Plan with the longer BLS figure if you want a coffee in Brienz before the boat turns back, and bring a jacket, since the breeze on the open deck can feel cool even on a sunny day.

The timetable on this lake changes through the year, and BLS publishes the Lake Brienz timetables for 2026 and 2027 as PDFs next to its online timetable.⁵⁷ Read the departure you want from the current season, not from a printed sheet you picked up last year. Note the time of the last boat back as well, or decide from the start that the train will take you home, so the end of the day never turns into a rush.

Single tickets, day tickets and passes

A single ticket between Interlaken Ost and Brienz costs CHF 39.00 in 2nd class and CHF 64.00 in 1st class, as BLS listed it on 20 October 2026.⁶ Shorter hops cost less, with Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald at CHF 21.00 in 2nd class and Giessbach to Interlaken Ost at CHF 31.00.²⁵ ²⁶ Children under 6 travel free, children from 6 to 15 pay half price, and BLS offers no senior discount.⁵⁸ Keep your ticket until you leave the boat at your stop.

If you plan to hop off along the way, the BLS 1-day ticket for Lake Brienz alone costs CHF 75.00 in 2nd class and CHF 112.00 in 1st class, or CHF 37.50 and CHF 56.00 with a Half-Fare card.⁷ The ticket for both lakes is CHF 83.00 in 2nd class.⁵⁹ Both include Libero Zone 750, which covers the train between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost and the local buses in Interlaken.⁶⁰ One bookable alternative is a day pass for both lakes sold on GetYourGuide from $52.

A rail pass changes the sums completely. BLS lists free travel in the purchased class on its scheduled cruises for the Swiss Travel Pass, the Flex version with the date entered, and Eurail and Interrail with the date entered.²⁹ The Half-Fare travelcard and the Swiss Half Fare Card give 50% off.⁶¹ Culinary and event cruises are a separate case, and BLS says the Seepass, GA and Half Fare Card are not valid on them.⁶²

Crossing on the paddle steamer Lötschberg

On some departures the boat is a piece of history. The saloon steamer Lötschberg was built in 1914 by Escher Wyss in Zürich, restored along historic-preservation lines and honored with the ICOMOS Special Award 2008.⁶³ ⁶⁴ It carries up to 800 passengers, is 56.50 m long and reaches 24 km/h with its two-cylinder compound engine of 330 kW.⁶⁴ BLS renovated it in 2000/01.⁶⁴ If the steamer is on your departure, step inside the saloon for a look before you settle on deck.

In 2026 BLS listed the Lötschberg on Lake Brienz from 23 May to 27 September, Wednesday to Sunday and on public holidays, with an extra Saturday evening cruise until 29 August.³⁰ Interlaken Tourism says the steamer crosses the lake twice a day in summer and also on Saturday evenings.⁶⁵ Dates for the coming summer are set season by season, so look up the steamer's days in the BLS timetable before you build a trip around it.

One bookable day is planned entirely around the steamer. A private tour sold on GetYourGuide boards the Lötschberg at the Interlaken Ost pier with a first-class ticket and upper-deck access, stays aboard to Brienz and then rides the Brienz Rothorn Bahn to the summit, from $493. Guests are asked to be at the pier by 10:50, and pickup is included. It suits a special occasion more than a simple crossing.

Your turn at speed