Lake Brienz Boat Trip from Interlaken: 2026 Prices, Tickets and the Best Route
+8A Lake Brienz boat trip from Interlaken Ost costs CHF 21 one way to Iseltwald, CHF 31 to the Giessbach Falls and CHF 39 to Brienz in 2026 (about US$25, US$38 and US$47), and a day pass for unlimited rides costs CHF 75 (about US$91). With a Swiss Travel Pass, Bernese Oberland Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass the boats are free, with a Half Fare Card you pay half. The best route for a first visit is Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald by boat, the lakeside trail to Giessbach, and the next boat on to Brienz. We spent the week of July 4 to 11, 2026, in Brienz with our dog Miley, watched the boats come in at Iseltwald and on the quay in Brienz, and checked every fare and timetable for this guide in October 2026. Below you find out which ticket is cheapest for your plan, where to sit, and what the guidebooks leave out, such as the Giessbach funicular that no pass covers.
Official BLS boat tickets for Lake Brienz at the BLS fare: day pass from CHF 75 (about US$91), Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald and back CHF 42, free cancellation up to 24 hours before (Oct 2026).
Check Lake Brienz boat ticketsLake Brienz boat trip at a glance
| Operator | BLS Schifffahrt, four ships including the paddle steamer Lötschberg (1914) |
|---|---|
| Route | Interlaken Ost to Brienz with stops at Bönigen, Ringgenberg, Niederried, Iseltwald, Oberried and Giessbach |
| Season 2026 | April 3 to December 6; summer timetable May 23 to October 11; no boats in winter |
| Travel time | Iseltwald about 45 minutes, Giessbach about 1 hour, Brienz about 1 hour 15 minutes |
| Single fares 2026 | Iseltwald CHF 21 (≈ US$25), Giessbach CHF 31 (≈ US$38), Brienz CHF 39 (≈ US$47), 2nd class from Interlaken Ost |
| Return to Iseltwald | CHF 42 (≈ US$51) |
| Day pass | Lake Brienz CHF 75 (≈ US$91), Lake Thun and Lake Brienz CHF 83 (≈ US$100) |
| Discounts | Half Fare Card 50 percent; children 6 to 15 half price; under 6 free |
| Free with | Swiss Travel Pass, Bernese Oberland Pass, Jungfrau Travel Pass |
| Not included anywhere | Giessbach funicular, CHF 7 one way or CHF 14 return |
Fares from the BLS fare list 2026 and Swiss Activities (checked October 19, 2026), Giessbach funicular from the operator’s 2026 price list. US dollars at 1 CHF = 1.21 USD.
- The route and the ships
- Timetable 2026
- Ticket prices 2026
- Which ticket is cheapest for you?
- Where to buy: on board, BLS or online
- The best day on the lake
- Iseltwald by boat
- Giessbach Falls and the funicular
- Arriving in Brienz
- The paddle steamer Lötschberg
- Is the boat trip worth it?
- Honest downsides
- With a dog
- FAQ
The route and the ships
The boats on Lake Brienz run from the boat station at Interlaken Ost to Brienz at the eastern end of the lake, 14 kilometres away. On the way they call at Bönigen, Ringgenberg, Niederried, Iseltwald, Oberried and Giessbach, although not every boat stops everywhere.
BLS runs four ships on the lake: the paddle steamer Lötschberg and the motor ships MS Brienz, MS Jungfrau and MS Interlaken, most with a restaurant or bistro. There are no seat reservations. The boat station Interlaken Ost (Lanzenen 1, 3800 Interlaken) is a few steps behind the train station, the landing in Brienz (Quai 1, 3855 Brienz) next to Brienz station.
Which side to sit on: towards Brienz, sit on the right. Iseltwald, its castle peninsula and Giessbach are on the south shore.
Timetable 2026
In 2026 the Lake Brienz boats run from April 3 to December 6. In the summer timetable from May 23 to October 11 there are five departures a day from Interlaken Ost, plus a Saturday evening cruise; in spring there are five a day starting later, and in autumn only two.
| Period 2026 | From Interlaken Ost | From Brienz |
|---|---|---|
| Spring, April 3 to May 22 | 5 boats a day, first at 10:07 | 5 boats a day |
| Summer, May 23 to October 11 | 9:07, 11:07, 12:07, 14:07, 16:07; Saturdays also 19:07 | 10:40, 12:40, 13:40, 15:40, 17:40; Saturdays also 20:40 |
| Autumn, October 12 to December 6 | 11:40 and 15:10 | 13:20 and 16:20 |
| Winter, December 7 to early April | No scheduled boats on Lake Brienz | |
Iseltwald and Giessbach are served by all summer boats, the small north shore landings only by some. The Saturday evening cruise runs until August 29, 2026 (not on August 1). Check the SBB app or bls-schiff.ch for your travel day.
Ticket prices 2026
A single ticket from Interlaken Ost costs CHF 21 to Iseltwald, CHF 31 to Giessbach and CHF 39 to Brienz in second class, and the Lake Brienz day pass costs CHF 75. First class costs about 65 percent more. Children from 6 to 15 pay half, children under 6 ride free.
| Route (2026, adult) | One way, 2nd class | One way, 1st class | Return, 2nd class | With Half Fare Card |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald | CHF 21 (≈ US$25) | CHF 35 | CHF 42 (≈ US$51) | CHF 10.50 one way |
| Interlaken Ost to Giessbach | CHF 31 (≈ US$38) | CHF 51 | CHF 62 | CHF 15.50 one way |
| Interlaken Ost to Brienz | CHF 39 (≈ US$47) | CHF 64 | CHF 78 (≈ US$94) | CHF 19.50 one way |
| Iseltwald to Giessbach | CHF 18 (≈ US$22) | CHF 30 | CHF 36 | CHF 9 one way |
| Iseltwald to Brienz | CHF 24 (≈ US$29) | CHF 40 | CHF 48 | CHF 12 one way |
| Giessbach to Brienz | CHF 13 (≈ US$16) | CHF 21 | CHF 26 | CHF 6.50 one way |
| Day pass Lake Brienz | CHF 75 (≈ US$91) | CHF 112 | unlimited rides | CHF 37.50 |
| Day pass Lake Thun and Lake Brienz | CHF 83 (≈ US$100) | CHF 125 | unlimited rides | CHF 41.50 |
The children’s day pass costs CHF 15, and there is a family day pass for two adults and up to four children. The two-lake day pass also covers the train between Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost. All fares are from the BLS fare list valid until December 13, 2026, and match what Swiss Activities showed on October 19, 2026.
The boats are included in the Swiss Travel Pass, the Bernese Oberland Pass and the Jungfrau Travel Pass, in the class of your pass. If you already have one of these, you do not need any boat ticket at all.
Travelling without a car? The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains, buses and boats across the country and gives discounts on many mountain railways. Our pass guide shows when it pays off. Tip: Klook often shows discount codes at checkout (in October 2026 for example 5% off orders over US$300); whether one applies to the pass you see in the cart.
Check Swiss Travel Pass pricesWhich ticket is cheapest for you?
For one stop and back, buy a return ticket; for a classic day with a walk between two landings, buy two single tickets; only buy the day pass if you ride three or more legs, for example the full round trip with stops. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass or a regional pass, buy nothing.
| Your plan (adult, 2nd class, summer) | Single tickets | Day pass | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald and back by boat | CHF 42 | CHF 75 | Return ticket, CHF 33 less |
| Boat to Iseltwald, walk to Giessbach, boat to Brienz, train back | CHF 21 + 13 = CHF 34 plus the train | CHF 75 plus the train | Two single tickets |
| Full round trip Interlaken Ost to Brienz and back by boat | CHF 78 | CHF 75 | Day pass, CHF 3 less |
| Hop on and off: Iseltwald, Giessbach, Brienz, boat back | CHF 21 + 18 + 13 + 39 = CHF 91 | CHF 75 | Day pass, CHF 16 less |
| Lake Thun in the morning, Lake Brienz in the afternoon | depends on route | CHF 83 (two lakes) | Two-lake day pass |
| You have a Swiss Travel Pass, Bernese Oberland Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass | CHF 0 for the boat | No ticket needed | |
The second line is the day most people should do, and there the day pass is the wrong buy. The train from Brienz back to Interlaken Ost takes about 20 minutes and costs a fraction of the boat fare (see the SBB app). With a Half Fare Card, halve every number.
Does a Half Fare Card or a pass pay off just for the boat? No. The Swiss Half Fare Card costs CHF 150 and only makes sense if you travel by train and mountain railway on several days; our guide to the Half Fare Card has the maths, and the overview of Swiss rail passes shows which pass fits which trip.
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Where to buy: on board, BLS or online
You can buy Lake Brienz boat tickets on board, at the boat stations in Interlaken Ost and Brienz, in the BLS webshop or the SBB app, or in advance at Swiss Activities. The price is the same everywhere: Swiss Activities sells the official BLS ticket at the BLS fare, without a discount and, on the product pages we checked, without a booking fee.
- On board or at the boat station: card, TWINT or cash in francs or euros. Fine for a spontaneous single ticket.
- SBB app or BLS webshop: good if you already use the SBB app for your trains. The Fairtiq and EasyRide check-in apps also work on the boats.
- Swiss Activities: mobile ticket by e-mail, no Swiss app account needed, free cancellation up to 24 hours before the travel day, and the Half Fare discount can be selected when you book. The supplier on the ticket is BLS Schifffahrt AG. Worth it if you want the day sorted before you travel or book several activities in one place.
Our advice: booking online saves you the counter, not money. If the weather is uncertain, buy on the day.
The best day on the lake
The best Lake Brienz day without a car is: boat from Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald, a stroll through the village, the lakeside trail to Giessbach, a look at the falls, and the boat from Giessbach to Brienz, with the train back to Interlaken. It needs about seven hours with breaks and costs CHF 34 in boat tickets plus the train.
- 9:07 or 11:07, Interlaken Ost: take the boat to Iseltwald, about 45 minutes. The 11:07 is a paddle steamer run from Wednesday to Sunday until September 27.
- Iseltwald, 1 to 1.5 hours: pier, castle view, a swim in summer. Details in our Iseltwald guide.
- Lakeside trail to Giessbach: the signpost in the village says 1 h 35 min, BLS gives 5.3 km. With photo stops and a picnic, plan about two hours.
- Giessbach, 45 minutes to 1.5 hours: the loop path at the falls, optionally the funicular up to the Grandhotel.
- Boat to Brienz: about 10 minutes, CHF 13. In summer boats leave Giessbach towards Brienz at 10:09, 12:09, 13:09, 15:09 and 17:09, according to the Giessbach funicular timetable.
- Brienz: promenade, old village, and the train back to Interlaken Ost in about 20 minutes.
Shorter version: boat to Iseltwald and back, two to three hours, CHF 42. Longer version: add the steam train up the Brienzer Rothorn from Brienz, which starts opposite the boat landing.
Iseltwald by boat
Iseltwald is the most popular stop, about 45 minutes from Interlaken Ost, and the boat lands next to the famous pier from the Netflix series Crash Landing on You. The pier costs CHF 5; the view from the shore is free.
We were in Iseltwald on the afternoon of Friday, July 10, 2026. We came by car, and that is exactly why we recommend the boat: at 13:20 the car park was almost full. From the shore we watched the boats come and go. At 14:06 the MS Brienz docked and a large crowd boarded for Interlaken; the boat left about four minutes later with a full upper deck. At 14:50 the paddle steamer Lötschberg came round the headland from the Interlaken side, on its way to Brienz. Both landed a few metres from the pier.
A good rhythm: boat there, PostBus 103 back to Interlaken Ost (every 30 minutes, about 15 to 20 minutes). Pier fee, swimming and parking are in our Iseltwald guide.
Official BLS boat tickets for Lake Brienz at the BLS fare: day pass from CHF 75 (about US$91), Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald and back CHF 42, free cancellation up to 24 hours before (Oct 2026).
Check Lake Brienz boat ticketsGiessbach Falls and the funicular
The Giessbach Falls drop in 14 cascades through the forest into Lake Brienz, and from the Giessbach See landing a historic funicular climbs about 100 metres to the Grandhotel Giessbach and the best viewpoints. The boat from Interlaken Ost to Giessbach costs CHF 31 and takes about an hour; the funicular costs extra.
We did not get to Giessbach on this trip, so everything here comes from the operators, checked in October 2026. The funicular opened in July 1879 and is, according to the Grandhotel, the world’s first funicular built for tourists; it has run on electricity since 1948. Its 2026 prices:
| Giessbach funicular 2026 | One way | Return |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | CHF 7 (≈ US$8.50) | CHF 14 (≈ US$17) |
| Child 6 to 16 | CHF 3.50 | CHF 7 |
| Adult with a BLS lake pass (“Seepass”) | CHF 7 | CHF 11 |
| Hotel guests and children under 6 | free | |
This is the one ticket on Lake Brienz that no pass covers. The price list says clearly: the Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card, Jungfrau Travel Pass, GA and Eurail are not valid. In summer (May 23 to October 11, 2026) the funicular runs from 10:00 to 18:00, timed to the boats, with a break around midday; in spring from 11:00 to 17:00, and from October 28 to December 6 only Wednesday to Sunday. At peak times there can be a wait, and the funicular does not guarantee your boat connection, so go down early. It is not wheelchair accessible.
You do not have to ride it: a footpath leads up from the landing, and the loop path at the falls (30 to 45 minutes) passes behind one of the cascades. Wear proper shoes. By car, Giessbach is only accessible with an entry ticket booked online in advance.
Arriving in Brienz
Brienz is the end of the line, about 1 hour 15 minutes from Interlaken Ost by boat. The landing is next to the train station, so you can switch straight to the train back or walk across the road to the Brienz Rothorn steam railway.
Brienz was our base for the whole week. On July 4 at about 19:15 the quay was full of locals sitting on the stone walls with their feet above the water, and the low sun lit up the lake towards Interlaken. After the boat, walk the promenade or up into the old Brunngasse with its flower-decked wooden houses. Our Brienz guide covers the village, parking and where to eat.
If you want to stay by the lake instead of in Interlaken, Brienz is a quiet, good-value base with the train, the boats and the Rothorn on the doorstep.
The paddle steamer Lötschberg
The Lötschberg is the only steamship on Lake Brienz, a paddle steamer built in 1914 by Escher Wyss in Zurich, and you ride it with a normal ticket or pass at no extra charge. In 2026 it runs from May 23 to September 27, Wednesday to Sunday, on the 11:07 and 14:07 departures from Interlaken Ost and the 12:40 and 15:40 departures from Brienz.
The ship is 56.5 metres long, carries up to 800 passengers and was restored in 2000 and 2001. On Mondays and Tuesdays and from September 28 a motor ship takes over, and on Saturdays until August 29 (except August 1) the Lötschberg also runs the 19:07 evening round trip.
We watched it arrive at Iseltwald at 14:50 on July 10, exactly on time for the 14:07 run. You hear it before you see it: the paddle wheels churn the turquoise water into a wide white wake as it turns in to the landing.
Is the boat trip worth it?
Yes, if you combine it with a stop. The boat is the most relaxed way to Iseltwald and the only easy way to the Giessbach Falls without a car, and on a sunny day the lake is spectacularly turquoise. As a pure round trip without getting off, three hours on the same water are long for most people.
- Worth it for: travellers without a car, pass holders (it is free), families, and anyone who wants Iseltwald without the parking stress.
- Less worth it for: drivers with only half a day, and late autumn, when only two boats run.
- Lake Brienz or Lake Thun? Lake Brienz is shorter, quieter and more turquoise; Lake Thun has castles and longer routes. Compare them in our guide to the lakes of the Bernese Oberland.
For the view from above, go up the Rothorn: on July 8 we saw the whole boat route from the summit.
Honest downsides
The Lake Brienz boats are not perfect: there are no seat reservations, summer afternoons are crowded, the autumn and spring timetables are thin, and there are no boats at all in winter. Plan around these points and the trip is easy.
- Crowds: the boats around midday in July and August are full, especially at Iseltwald. Our tip: take the first boat of the day, before most day visitors arrive.
- Thin timetable outside summer: from October 12 only two boats a day. Miss one and you take the bus or train.
- No winter service: from December 7 to early April, Lake Brienz has no scheduled boats.
- Giessbach funicular extra: CHF 14 return, no pass or Half Fare Card valid.
- Accessibility: according to BLS, all ships except the MS Interlaken have wheelchair-accessible main decks and toilets; the Giessbach funicular is not accessible.
- Weather: under grey skies the lake is dark green, not turquoise.
With a dog
Dogs are welcome on all Lake Brienz boats, inside and in the restaurant. Small dogs up to 30 cm shoulder height ride free in a carrier; all other dogs need a dog ticket at half the second-class fare or a dog day pass.
Miley swam in Lake Brienz every day of our week; in Iseltwald there is clear, shallow water a few minutes west of the landing. On board, keep the dog on a leash and away from the Lötschberg’s paddle wheels. More in our guide to the Bernese Oberland with a dog.
Boat tickets and tours
For the scheduled boats you only need a ticket, no tour. These are the official BLS tickets that Swiss Activities sells at the BLS fare, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before:
Unlimited BLS boat rides between Interlaken Ost and Brienz for one day; worth it from three legs.
Check prices & availabilityReturn boat ticket, about 45 minutes each way; the cheapest option for Iseltwald only.
Check prices & availabilityOne-way boat ticket, about 1 hour; the Giessbach funicular (CHF 7) is extra.
Check prices & availabilityOne-way boat ticket over the whole lake, about 1 hour 15 minutes; back by train in 20 minutes.
Check prices & availabilityBoth lakes in one day, including the train Interlaken West to Interlaken Ost.
Check prices & availabilityOfficial BLS boat tickets for Lake Brienz at the BLS fare: day pass from CHF 75 (about US$91), Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald and back CHF 42, free cancellation up to 24 hours before (Oct 2026).
Check Lake Brienz boat ticketsFAQ: Lake Brienz boat trip
How long is the boat ride from Interlaken to Brienz?
About 1 hour 15 minutes from Interlaken Ost to Brienz. Iseltwald is about 45 minutes away, Giessbach about an hour.
How much is the Lake Brienz boat in 2026?
From Interlaken Ost CHF 21 to Iseltwald, CHF 31 to Giessbach and CHF 39 to Brienz, one way in second class. The day pass costs CHF 75, the two-lake day pass CHF 83. With a Half Fare Card you pay half.
Is the Lake Brienz boat free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes. The Swiss Travel Pass, Bernese Oberland Pass and Jungfrau Travel Pass all include the scheduled boats on Lake Brienz. The Giessbach funicular is not included in any of them.
Do I need to book the Lake Brienz boat in advance?
No. There are no seat reservations, and tickets cost the same on board.
Is the Lake Brienz day pass worth it?
Only if you ride three or more legs, for example Interlaken to Iseltwald, Giessbach, Brienz and back by boat. For one stop and back, a return ticket is CHF 33 cheaper.
Do the boats run in winter?
No. In 2026 the Lake Brienz boats run from April 3 to December 6. In winter you reach Iseltwald by PostBus and Brienz by train.
The boat is only one way to see the lake. Our Lake Brienz guide covers villages, beaches and our secret swimming spot, the Bernese Oberland guide the whole region. For more boat trips, see Lake Lucerne cruises, and for all mountain and lake tickets in Switzerland our overview of excursions and mountain railways. Or start on the Swiss Detours home page.
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