From Interlaken we caught a boat across the turquoise water of Lake Brienz to Giessbach.
The hike there follows the Giessbach Falls, a string of waterfalls pouring down through the forest, and it’s a powerful sight up close. The falls drop 400m in 14 tiers, and a funicular, the Giessbachbahn, has climbed from the landing stage up to the hotel since 1879. We stopped at the viewpoints on the way before walking down to Iseltwald, a pretty village on the lake whose jetty became famous after appearing in a Korean TV drama. Wandering past the colourful houses and along the quiet shoreline was a calm way to finish, and then we took the bus back to Interlaken.
Good to know
- Giessbach Falls: the falls drop 400m in 14 tiers. Boats from Interlaken Ost and Brienz stop at Giessbach See from April to October. Giessbach
- The funicular: the Giessbachbahn, from the landing stage up to the hotel, opened in 1879. MySwitzerland
- Iseltwald: the jetty that became famous from a Korean TV drama now has a CHF 5 turnstile.
We checked these details in October 2026. Times, prices and rules do change, so it’s worth a quick look at the official sites before you go.