Lake Brienz Lake

Website: https://www.brienz.ch/en/

Lake Brienz (Brienzersee) is a glacial lake in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland, situated east of Interlaken. The lake sits at about 564 metres above sea level and is roughly 14 kilometres long.

The water is noted for its vivid turquoise colour set against steep, forested shorelines; boat services connect Brienz and Interlaken Ost, offering regular lake cruises. The northern shore features the Giessbach Falls and the historic Grandhotel Giessbach, both accessible by short walks and visible from lake boats.

The Brienzer Rothorn rises above the southern shore and is served by a historic steam rack railway from Brienz, providing panoramic viewpoints across the lake and the Bernese Alps.

Lake Brienz was formed by glacial erosion and has long been used for transport and local commerce; tourism developed around the lake in the 19th century with the arrival of steamboat services and alpine hotels.

The lake lies in the Bernese Oberland, immediately east of Interlaken and framed by high alpine slopes; settlements are concentrated along the northern and southern shores with road and boat access.

• Size and colour: Known for its striking turquoise water and steep forested shores; the lake sits at about 564 metres above sea level and is roughly 14 kilometres long.
• Best viewpoints: The Brienzer Rothorn summit and the Giessbach Falls provide two of the best panoramic viewpoints over the lake and surrounding Alps.

What to See#

• Brienz (town): The lakeside town that serves as the main gateway for boat services, the Brienz Rothorn rack railway and local tourism on the eastern shore.
• Iseltwald: A small lakeside village on the southern shore known for its picture-postcard quay and access to short lakeside walks.
• Giessbach Falls and Grandhotel Giessbach: A multi-tiered waterfall on the northern shore adjacent to a historic grand hotel, reachable by short path from the lakeside and visible from boats.
• Brienzer Rothorn Railway: A historic steam rack railway that climbs from Brienz to the summit of the Brienzer Rothorn, offering panoramic views over the lake and Bernese Alps.

Lake Brienz is reached easily from Interlaken Ost railway station in the Bernese Oberland; Interlaken is served by regular trains from Bern, Lucerne and Zurich. From Interlaken Ost you can walk (about 5-10 minutes) to the lakefront or take local trains (to Brienz) and seasonal boat services operated on Lake Brienz by BLS to lakeside villages such as Brienz and Iseltwald.

• Take an early-morning BLS steamer from Interlaken Ost or Brienz for calm water, good light for photos, and access to smaller stops such as Iseltwald that are quieter before coach excursions arrive.
• Combine a lakeshore stroll from Brienz with the short funicular hike to Giessbach Falls and the Grandhotel Giessbach - the falls are one of the lake's highlights and are easiest to reach from the southern shore.