Lake Brienz
Lake Brienz features on the Gingerguide audio walk through Interlaken. Give it roughly ~60 min: enough to look, hear a two to three minute story on the spot, and ask the AI guide whatever the story leaves open.
- Type nature
- Suggested visit ~60 min
- Interlaken Interlaken guide
About Lake Brienz
The deep turquoise lake east of Interlaken, among the cleanest in Switzerland, with steep wooded shores, the Giessbach Falls, the village of Brienz and a paddle steamer of 1914.
Lake Brienz, the Brienzersee, is the lake that lies east of Interlaken, a deep, vivid turquoise sheet of water about fourteen kilometres long and up to 260 metres deep. Fed by glacier streams and poor in nutrients, it is among the cleanest lakes in Switzerland, and its steep, wooded shores plunge straight down into the water. On the north shore lies the village of Brienz, famous for woodcarving, and on the south the hamlet of Iseltwald.
Passenger boats have run here since 1839, and the fleet includes the Lötschberg, the lake's only paddle steamer, built in 1914. From the south shore the Giessbach Falls tumble into the lake in a series of cascades below their historic grand hotel, and near the eastern end is the Ballenberg open-air museum. Like Lake Thun, Lake Brienz is a remnant of the single lake that once filled the valley; a cruise from Interlaken Ost is the classic way to take it in.
Did you know? Fed by glacier streams and poor in nutrients, Lake Brienz is among the cleanest lakes in Switzerland, its steep shores dropping straight into deep turquoise water up to 260 metres deep.
How long is a visit to Lake Brienz?
Set aside roughly ~60 min for Lake Brienz. That covers a good look and the narrated story, and because you set the pace you can always stay on.
Is Lake Brienz worth your time?
Lake Brienz is among the 13 narrated highlights the Gingerguide team chose for Interlaken, so it is worth a look. Hear the story for the context, then ask the AI guide for anything more.
Nearby stops in Interlaken
Sources and further reading
Where to check the facts about Lake Brienz and read more:
Day 2 of the Interlaken in 2 days itinerary →
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Hear the story of Lake Brienz
Preview the Interlaken tour free in the Gingerguide app.