Guide · South shore

Boat from Interlaken to Iseltwald and on to the falls

The boat from Interlaken to Iseltwald lands you at a lakeside village with a famous pier, and the next stop brings you below the Giessbach Falls. Here is how to plan both in one day.

Check availabilityfrom $147 · no cancellation fee

Editorial team, interlakenboattour.comUpdated October 20, 20267 min read57 sources

This guide's tour Interlaken: Boat Trip to Giessbach Falls & hike to Iseltwald 5.0 (1 reviews) 5 hours from$183per person Check availabilityFree to cancel as late as 24 hrs before

Before you go

01To Iseltwald: Around 45 minutes from Interlaken Ost by boat, says BLS; the municipality gives about 40.¹ ²
02To Giessbach: Around 1 hour by boat from Interlaken Ost.³
03Pier fee: CHF 5 to step onto the Iseltwald pier, in Swiss coins or by credit card.⁴
04Funicular: CHF 7.00 one way and CHF 14.00 return for adults in 2026.⁵
05Guided option: A small-group boat trip with a hike to Iseltwald from $183, tickets for boat and train extra.

Two stops on the south shore

A boat from Interlaken to Iseltwald leaves from the BLS landing stage Interlaken Ost at Lanzenen 1, a 4-minute walk from the railway station.⁶ ⁷ BLS puts the trip at around 45 minutes, while the municipality of Iseltwald speaks of about 40 minutes and says the boat is possible between spring and autumn.¹ ² Either way, it is a short and scenic ride, and the village comes into view well before the boat ties up.

Stay on board and the boat reaches Giessbach after around 1 hour.³ A single ticket from Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald costs CHF 21.00 in 2nd class, and from Giessbach back to Interlaken Ost CHF 31.00, as BLS listed them on 20 October 2026.⁸ ⁹ With a Half-Fare travelcard the Iseltwald ticket drops to CHF 10.50.⁸ Holders of the Swiss Travel Pass travel free in their class on scheduled boats.¹⁰

Timing matters on this lake. BLS runs no Lake Brienz cruises in the winter months, from 7 December, and its 2026 season began on 3 April.¹¹ ¹² Outside the boat season, a public bus links Interlaken West or Interlaken Ost with Iseltwald all year in 30 minutes.¹³ That bus also makes a good plan B on a day when wind or low water changes the boat service at short notice.¹⁴ Check the BLS operating status on the morning you travel before you walk to the pier.

Day plan

Iseltwald and Giessbach in one day

Morning

Board at Interlaken Ost

The BLS pier at Lanzenen 1, a 4-minute walk from the station.⁶ ⁷
After about 45 min

Step off at Iseltwald

CHF 5 for the pier, in Swiss coins or by card.¹ ⁴
Late morning

Walk the shore trail

About 1.5 hours on foot to the falls and the Grandhotel.¹⁵
Midday

The Giessbach Falls

The falls drop in 14 tiers and 400 metres past the hotel.¹⁶
Afternoon

Funicular to the pier

The pier lies 100 metres below the Grandhotel.¹⁷
About 1 hour back

Boat to Interlaken Ost

CHF 31.00 in 2nd class from Giessbach.⁹

Iseltwald, a village on a rocky spur

Iseltwald lies on the south slope of Lake Brienz and, according to the municipality, is the only village on the lake's left shore; the rocky spur in front of it forms a bay.¹⁸ On that promontory stands the Seeburg Castle, with a small snail island close by.¹⁹ Both are easy to pick out from the deck as the boat swings towards the shore, so stay outside for the last minutes of the crossing. Watch for the wooded point and the castle as the boat approaches, and have your camera ready.

The village is first mentioned in 1146, and tourism there began in 1871, when boat services on Lake Brienz arrived.²⁰ Arriving by water today repeats that first journey of its early visitors. The municipality also stretches far up the mountain, since the Faulhorn, at 2687 m above sea level, is the highest point of its 22.12 km² of land.²¹ Look up from the pier on a clear day and the slopes rise straight above the lake.

On a warm day you can swim too. Strandbad Iseltwald has free entry and closes in bad weather, and Interlaken Tourism gives its season as running from mid-May into September.²² Pack a towel and a light snack, and leave enough time to stroll along the shore before the next boat. If you plan to walk on to Giessbach, start from the village rather than waiting for a later boat, and fill your water bottle before you set off into the forest.

Side by side

Iseltwald or Giessbach

Question	Iseltwald	Giessbach
Boat from Interlaken Ost	About 45 min	About 1 hour
Single, 2nd class	CHF 21.00	CHF 31.00
What you see	Pier and Seeburg peninsula	Falls in 14 tiers
Small extra fee	CHF 5 pier entry	CHF 7.00 funicular one way
Without the boat	Bus all year	Trail from Iseltwald

Times and fares from BLS, read 20 October 2026; fees from the municipality of Iseltwald and the funicular's 2026 price list.¹ ³ ⁸ ⁹ ⁴ ¹⁹ ¹⁶ ⁵ ¹³ ¹⁵

Three bookable ways

Guided trips to the south shore

Both stops

Boat and hike

Guided small group

Price: from $183
Duration: 5 hours
Tickets: Train and boat extra

Compare

Interlaken: Exclusive Lake Brienz Cruise & Rothorn Mt. Train

From the deck

Steamer to Brienz

Private day

Price: from $493
Sights: Iseltwald dock, Giessbach
Duration: 8 hours

Compare

Interlaken: E-Quad Tour to Iseltwald and Lake Brienz

By road

E-quad to Iseltwald

Small group

Price: from $160
Duration: 1.5 hours
In Iseltwald: About 15 minutes

Compare

Decision helper

How do you want to see the south shore?

Choose the line that fits your day

I want both stops on my own I want lunch at the Grandhotel I want a guide for the hike I only have an hour or two I want speed and spray

Boat, trail, boat

Boat to Iseltwald, about 1.5 hours on foot to Giessbach, boat back.¹⁵

The Time travel ticket

Boat, funicular and a 3-course lunch, from CHF 80.00.²³

The boat-and-hike tour

At most 5 people, 5 hours, from $183.

The e-quad

About 20 minutes each way and about 15 minutes in Iseltwald.

The jetboat from Bönigen

50 minutes on the lake, with Iseltwald and the falls named in the listing.

Respect that the famous location has kept its original function as a boat pier, having boats attached to it and people coming and going

Gemeinde IseltwaldSource 24

The pier from Crash Landing on You

Some scenes of the Korean Netflix series Crash Landing on You, starring Son Ye-Jin and Hyun-Bin, were filmed in Iseltwald, and the wooden boat pier from the series has become a photo stop.²⁵ The municipality charges a CHF 5 entrance fee to step onto it, payable in Swiss coins of 5, 2 and 1 franc or by credit card.⁴ Have the coins ready before you reach the gate, so the short wait at the entrance does not hold up the people behind you.

The municipality asks visitors to respect that the pier has kept its original function as a boat pier, with boats moored to it and people coming and going.²⁴ Take your photo, then make room for the next person and for anyone loading a boat. Early in the day the light on the water is soft, and the mountains across the lake make a calm background for your picture. Later in the day the light turns warmer, which suits a second look on your way back to the boat.

Public toilets near the Iseltwald bus stop cost CHF 1, payable in Swiss coins or by credit card.²⁶ A few spare coins in your pocket cover both small fees of the visit. If you come by bus, you can still take the boat on to Giessbach in season and return to Interlaken by water. Check the boat time back before you settle into a café.

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.⁶ ⁷
In Google Maps ↗
2
Bönigen
Landing stage and the jetboat base at the quay; bus 103 from Interlaken Ost takes about 10 minutes.²⁷ ²⁸ ²⁹
In Google Maps ↗
3
Ringgenberg
Landing stage below a village first mentioned in 1240.²⁷ ³⁰
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.¹ ⁴
In Google Maps ↗
5
Oberried
One of the 8 Lake Brienz landing stages on the north shore.²⁷
In Google Maps ↗
6
Giessbach See
About 1 hour from Interlaken Ost; the funicular climbs to the Grandhotel, 100 metres above the pier.³ ¹⁷
In Google Maps ↗
7
Brienz
About 1 hour 15 minutes by boat from Interlaken Ost, about 20 minutes back by train.³¹
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.³² ³³ ³⁴
In Google Maps ↗
9
Neuhaus
Landing stage by a nature reserve, with a lido and a free bathing area.³⁵ ³⁶
In Google Maps ↗
10
Beatushöhlen
Boat station for the St. Beatus Caves, a 20-25 minute walk uphill.³⁷
In Google Maps ↗
11
Merligen
Departure point of a private charter boat on Lake Thun.³⁸
In Google Maps ↗
12
Beatenbucht
Landing stage on the north shore of Lake Thun.³⁹
In Google Maps ↗
13
Spiez
Spiez Castle is a 5-minute walk from the boat station.⁴⁰
In Google Maps ↗
14
Oberhofen
The boat landing is by Oberhofen Castle.⁴¹
In Google Maps ↗
15
Hilterfingen
One of the 15 Lake Thun landing stages.³⁹
In Google Maps ↗
16
Thun
About 2 hours 10 minutes by boat from Interlaken West.⁴²
In Google Maps ↗

Open the map in Google Maps

Checklist

Packed for the south shore

Money

Swiss coins of 5, 2 and 1 franc, or a card, for the pier⁴
A coin of 1 franc for the toilets near the bus stop²⁶
A boat ticket or pass, also on a guided hike

On the day

Funicular hours for your date: 10.00 to 18.00 in summer 2026⁴³
Walking shoes for the 1.5-hour shore trail¹⁵
Room for boats and people at the working pier²⁴

Cost calculator

What a booked trip costs your group

Enter your group size to compare the bookable options.

Boat and hikeGuidedfrom $183 E-quadBy roadfrom $160 Day passBoth lakesfrom $52 JetboatFrom Bönigenfrom $147

People 2

Total from$366

per guest from $183

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.

Video

Interlaken to Iseltwald- Most Scenic Boat Ride in Switzerland

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The Giessbach Falls and the funicular

The boat from Interlaken to Giessbach stops at the landing stage Giessbach See, below the falls.²⁷ The Giessbach Falls tumble past the Grandhotel Giessbach in 14 tiers, plunging 400 metres.¹⁶ Trails run along the falls, you can see them from above at the funicular's top station, and they are lit up at night.⁴⁴ Standing beside the white water after the calm of the boat is quite a contrast.

A funicular links the pier with the Grandhotel, which stands 100 metres above the lake.¹⁷ It opened on 21 July 1879; its designer, Roman Abt, made it the first single-track funicular with a passing switch in the middle.⁴⁵ It was electrified in 1948.⁴⁶ The hotel calls it one of the oldest funiculars in the world, still almost in its original condition, and Interlaken Tourism calls it Europe's oldest.⁴⁷ ⁴⁸

From April to October the funicular carries at most 40 people per trip, with direct connections to the BLS boats.⁴⁹ In 2026 its summer timetable ran from 23 May to 11 October, 10.00 to 18.00; it then runs daily until 25 October and from Wednesday to Sunday until 6 December.⁴³ ⁵⁰ Adults pay CHF 7.00 one way and CHF 14.00 return.⁵ Its 2026 price list says the Swiss Travel Pass, the GA and the Half-Fare travelcard are not valid on it.⁵¹

The Grandhotel and the trail between the stops

The Grandhotel Giessbach gives 1875 as its opening year, while Interlaken Tourism says it has stood above the lake since 1873/1874.⁵² ⁵³ In November 1983 Franz Weber, with Helvetia Nostra and a foundation, bought the estate with its 22 hectares and had it listed as a heritage site.⁵⁴ The foundation he created that year still owns the funicular.⁴⁶ From 21 October 2026 to 20 March 2027 the hotel is open from Wednesday to Sunday.⁵⁵

BLS sells a combined ticket called Time travel, with a return boat between Interlaken Ost and Giessbach, the funicular and a 3-course lunch at the Grandhotel, from CHF 80.00.²³ In 2026 it ran daily from 3 April to 11 October and from Wednesday to Sunday from 14 October to 6 December.²³ If you drive instead, you must book a ticket online in advance, or the barrier and parking stay closed to you.⁵⁶

The two stops are also linked on foot. The lakeside trail from Iseltwald to the Giessbach Falls and the Grandhotel takes about 1.5 hours, says the municipality.¹⁵ Take the boat to Iseltwald in the morning, walk the trail, ride the funicular down and catch a boat back from Giessbach. Good shoes, water and a light jacket are enough for this forest path above the shore. Check the last boat from Giessbach before you start walking, so the funicular ride down never turns into a race.

Guided and faster ways to see both

A guided small-group trip from Interlaken takes the boat to Giessbach, rides the funicular to the Grandhotel, walks behind the waterfall and hikes along the shore to the Iseltwald pier, in 5 hours, from $183. The group is limited to 5 people and meets in front of the Coop supermarket at Interlaken Ost. Train and boat tickets are not included, and a valid ticket for the day is mandatory.

The listing says that a valid Swiss Travel Pass means no extra ticket is needed for the day. The Giessbach funicular's own price list, however, does not accept the Swiss Travel Pass, so keep that fare in mind.⁵¹ The tour runs in the morning and at other times on request, and the return to Interlaken Ost is by boat or by bus. For a slower day, a private steamer tour to Brienz passes the Iseltwald dock and the Giessbach Falls from the deck, from $493.

For a short visit there is a road option. A guided e-quad tour rides about 20 minutes to Iseltwald, allows about 15 minutes there to visit the pier, and returns the same way, from $160. Drivers need a valid car license. The jetboat sold on this site leaves from Bönigen for 50 minutes on the lake, and its listing names Iseltwald and the Giessbach Falls among the sights; OUTDOOR's own page describes a short pause in front of the falls.⁵⁷

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.

How long is the boat ride to Iseltwald?

About 40 to 45 minutes. BLS gives around 45 minutes from Interlaken Ost, the municipality about 40 minutes.¹ ²

Is there a fee for the famous pier?

Yes, CHF 5. The municipality charges it, payable in Swiss coins or by credit card.⁴

Do boats reach Iseltwald in winter?

No, but a bus does. BLS runs no Lake Brienz cruises from 7 December, and the bus from Interlaken takes 30 minutes all year.¹¹ ¹³

Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover the Giessbach funicular?

Not according to its own price list. The funicular's 2026 price list says the Swiss Travel Pass is not valid on it; adults pay CHF 7.00 one way.⁵¹ ⁵ The guided boat-and-hike listing says a valid Swiss Travel Pass saves you an extra ticket for its tour day, so keep the fare at hand.

When does the funicular run?

Mainly April to October. In 2026 it runs daily until 25 October, then from Wednesday to Sunday until 6 December.⁴⁹ ⁵⁰

Can I walk from Iseltwald to the falls?

Yes, in about 1.5 hours. The lakeside trail leads from Iseltwald to the Giessbach Falls and the Grandhotel.¹⁵

Does the jetboat stop at Giessbach?

OUTDOOR says it pauses in front of the falls. OUTDOOR's own page describes a short break at the falls; the listing names them as a sight and lists no stops.⁵⁷

Sources