BRIENZ

The laid back lakeside town of Brienz on the northrern shore of Lake Brienz is a must-visit on the lake area. Brienz is a home to the Ballenberg Open Air Museum where also outdoor theatre plays are performed during the summer. The Brienz Rothorn Bahn which is the fourth highest railway and the only line offering a full steam service in Switzerland starts from Brienz.
Don’t miss the area of Brunngasse, once awarded as the most beautiful street in Europe with its cute decorated wooden houses and the gorgeous lake promenade. Before tourism provided an additional source of income Brienz was more famous for its wood carving tradition and the annual wood-carving festival still takes place in the town.

KAYAK & SUP RENTAL: BRIENZ LIDO

Brienz Lido has a direct lake access and you can hire a kayak or a SUP-board from the spot. Lido is situated right on the shore, a short 10-minute walk from Brienz Railway Station.

Other Useful Information

Public Toilets: Can be found at the railway station

Tourist Information: Opposite the ferry landing & railway station

ATM: Banks and the Post Office are just down the road to the West of the railway station.

Local Shops: There is a Kiosk at the railways station and a snack bar at the ferry landing.  On the main road West of the railway station is a large COOP, bakery and range of other amenities.

THINGS TO DO

SWIM & RELAX: BRIENZ LIDO

Brienz has a family-friendly lido equipped with a water trampoline, a paddling pool, a playground and a large sunbathing meadow. Lido is situated right on the shore, a short 10-minute walk from Brienz Railway Station. On a hot summer day Lake Brienz is a perfect place to spend a relaxing and fun day playing games and enjoying the sun and the crystal-clear water.

BRIENZER ROTHORN RAILWAY

Steaming up by rail to the top of the Brienzer Rothorn: it’s not just railway enthusiasts who go into raptures at the sight of these sheer rocky ridges and the views of Lake Brienz.

Experience the thrill of travelling by vintage steam railway as it negotiates 1,680 m in altitude difference and puffs its way up to the Brienzer Rothorn. The journey from Brienz takes around one hour, through a landscape of pastures, meadows and forests, past the soaring rock faces of the sheer ridge. Up on the Brienzer Rothorn itself, the Alps of central Switzerland await, along with the peaks of the Bernese Alps rising to over 4,000 m.

BALLENBERG OPEN-AIR MUSEUM

At the Ballenberg Open Air Museum, Switzerland is just as it once was.  100 original, century-old buildings from all over Switzerland, original gardens and fields, demonstrations of traditional handicrafts, lots of special events, and 250 farmyard animals recreate a vivid impression of the past in rural Ballenberg.

PADDLE STEAMBOAT & LAKE CRUISES: BLS

Turquoise blue waters, mountain peaks capped with eternal snows, and a cool breeze in your face – high time for a cruise on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz!

So switch off and come to life! Leave your everyday worries behind, let your thoughts soar, and relax and unwind. A cruise on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz takes you past picturesque fishing villages and castles steeped in history. So whether it’s Mediterranean flair on Lake Thun or a cruise through crystal-clear glacier waters on Lake Brienz, on every steamer the ship’s kitchens are there to cater to our guests’ well-being.

WALKS & MOUNTAIN HIKES FROM BRIENZ

GIESSBACH FALLS

The Giessbach brook tumbles in 14 stages, over a length of 500 meters and out of the high valleys of the Faulhorn area down to Lake Brienz. Historic Grand Hotel Giessbach is located at the foot of this nature spectacle. The hotel is accessible by means of Europe’s oldest funicular.

EATING AND SLEEPING

HOTEL RESTAURANT WILDBACH

Our nice 2-star hotel is located about 1 km out of Brienz, in Panorama Street in the direction of Interlaken. It is just on the shore of the blue-green Lake of Brienz, which gives you the chance to take a swim in the cleanest lake of Switzerland just in front of the house. And, as you will see, the view from here is amazing with the tall mountains, covered by wild vegetation, cut by a strong and proud waterfall, falling into the lake on the other shore.

RESTAURANT STRANDBAD BRIENZ

Right on the lake, restaurant Strandbad offers breathtaking views of lake and mountains. From our terrace or our lounges you have a breathtaking view of the beautiful lake and mountain scenery. The Strandbadrestaurant is known for its delicious, freshly prepared salads. A secret tip of the regular customers is the Strami-Burger.

GRANDHOTEL GIESSBACH

Today, just as it was one hundred years ago, the historical hotel residence, by the celebrated silvery Giessbach Falls, high above Lake Brienz, is quite simply a world of its own. Surrounded by mountains, forests and alpine meadows, this fairytale-castle boasts a breathtaking view of the unspoiled landscapes of Lake Brienz.
Fine dining, from traditional to cosmopolitan, all served in a place where hospitality is lived. However, the best food on its own is not enough. Combined with enjoyment, style and entertainment, it comes to life at any time of the day or night.

YOUTH HOSTEL

Cosy rooms and all the leisure activities and excursions one could wish for. That’s what’s on offer when you take a family holiday at the Brienz Youth Hostel, a homely hostel in the Bernese Oberland. The Youth Hostel in Brienz is not just a miniature holiday paradise in Summer, when guests can relax, play or go swimming, but also at quieter times of the year. After all, there’s plenty to see, in and around Brienz, right through from Spring to Autumn.

PRICES AND DISTANCES