Lake Brienz boat trip

Lake Brienz options

Lake Brienz is situated east of Interlaken, and it's a bit smaller than Lake Thun west of Interlaken. The boat trip from Interlaken to Brienz takes about 75 minutes. There are other towns along the way where you can board as well. The boats have 1st and 2nd class sections. First class is usually located at the upper deck. Also there's either a restaurant or a bistro on board.

Boat trip and Giessbach Falls combined

You can take a boat to Giessbach and watch the falls.

Boat and Brienzer Rothorn combined

The cogwheel trains to the Brienzer Rothorn depart just minutes away from the boat dock in Brienz. These two trips are easy to combine.

Boat and train

A nice round trip is to travel from Interlaken to Brienz by boat, and back by train.

Boat and Golden Pass

The Golden Pass train route (Lucerne - Interlaken - Montreux) runs along Lake Brienz. Taking the boat between Brienz and Interlaken is a great way to make the journey even more diverse.

 Preparation

Although sunny clear weather is great for a boat trip, it's still worth it if it's cloudy or drizzling. Check the timetable in order to see which boat suits you best.

Boat trips on the Rhine from Basel

The boat trips

There are three types of boat trips. Apart from the little ferries, they all depart from the dock in the center of town, called 'Schifflände'. These are the trips:

• A quick Rhine crossing with one of the four little pedestrian ferries in Basel.
• 'Stadt- und Hafenrundfahrten': round trips to the city and the harbour. A lunch boat is available too on this route. Expect a mixture of pretty old town sights and the harbour with its industrial buildings and terminals. The trip takes 75 to 90 minutes. Availability: from mid May to mid October. Check the timetable for details.
• 'Schleusenfahrten': trips from Basel to Rheinfelden. During this trip, the ship needs to pass through a lock ('Schleuse') twice. You will see the pretty old town center of Basel, but also industrial activity, farmland and a few towns. A single trip takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Availability: from February to mid October. Check the timetable for details.
   

  Combine boat and train

  If you want to make the trip from Basel to Rheinfelden (or vice versa), you can do a round trip or a single trip. In case of a single trip from Basel, we recommend to get off the boat in either Kaiseraugst or Rheinfelden. In Kaiseraugst, it's a 7 minute walk to the train station, where you can take a train back to Basel (15 minute ride). In Rheinfelden it takes 8 minutes to reach the station on foot. Train rides back to Basel take about 15 minutes. Be sure to visit the small historical town center of Rheinfelden before taking a train back. It's just a minute on foot from the boat dock.
   

  About the river Rhine

  Basel is split into two parts by the Rhine: 'Kleinbasel' (Lesser Basel) in the North and 'Grossbasel' (Greater Basel) in the South. There are five bridges connecting both parts of town. The middle one ('Mittlere Rheinbrücke') is the picturesque one, dating back to 1226, but replaced in 1905. All boats departs from the 'Schifflände' (dock), right next to this bridge. Outside of the city, the river marks the border of Switzerland and Germany.

  Preparation

  Although sunshine is great for a boat trip, it's still worth it if it's cloudy or drizzling. Take along sun glasses and sunscreen. Check the timetable as the number of boat services is limited.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

The Stanserhorn

The Stanserhorn is a mountain of 1850 m with a panoramic restaurant and several hiking opportunities.

A trip to the Stanserhorn

The trip Stanserhorn can be reached from the village of Stans, where you take the funicular and the cable car up the mountain. The cable car, called CabriO, has two decks. The upper deck is open and offers a great opportunity to take pictures.

A wide view unfolds at the top. You can see the Pilatus and Lake Lucerne in the north, and the Bernese Alps in the south. There is a 30 minute walking path on the summit, but the Stanserhorn is also the starting point for much longer hikes into the valley. Also there's a small mountain marmot zoo where you can watch the animals up close.

The panoramic restaurant has a section with a revolving floor, allowing guests to view the 360° panorama in 45 minutes, without leaving their seat.

Preparation

Check the weather forecast to make sure it will be clear enough to enjoy the views. Also check the timetable. The Stanserhorn cannot be reached in Winter.