“Great to enjoy with family when the weather is nice, it’s even better! A proper walk and plenty of fresh air. Just make sure to plan more than an afternoon if you want to do everything or come back.”
Ophélia
on Ticket BallenbergBern Region · 3858
Brienz
Brienz is situated at 566 m above sea level and is a popular tourist resort in the Bernese Oberland. It is very idyllically situated between the Brienzer Rothorn and the Brienzersee. From Brienz there are excursions to the mountains as well as activities on the lake. The local mountain, which reaches 2350 meters above sea level, is well served by a rack railroad. The ride on the steam locomotive takes an hour and is an experience in itself. The village is known for its woodcarving art and the popular open-air museum Ballenberg.
Mon3–6°Cloudy
Discover categories
Sights nearby
Train travel to Brienz
Official SBB partnerGetting around: passes & scenic trains
- Rail ticket between Interlaken Ost and Zermatt
Rail ticket between Interlaken Ost and Zermatt
Interlaken
from £82
7 more
- Golden Pass Express Ticket from Interlaken Ost or Montreux (without reservation)
- Lucerne - Interlaken Express Ticket (without reservation)
- Gotthard Panorama Express Ticket
- Lucerne Travel Pass 2nd Class
- Day trip train ticket to Engelberg from Lucerne self-guided
- Lucerne City Pass
- Rail ticket between Berne and Lucerne through the Emmental valley
Aerial image © swisstopo
Bookable experiences, places and events at a glance
Explore on the mapEvents in Brienz
Trending in Brienz
- Beatenberg paragliding tandem from Interlaken
Beatenberg paragliding tandem from Interlaken
Interlaken · Top rated
from £181
- Beatenberg paragliding in tandem from Interlaken
Beatenberg paragliding in tandem from Interlaken
Interlaken · Top rated
from £181
- Jungfrau Region Skydiving from the airplane
Jungfrau Region Skydiving from the airplane
Interlaken · In demand
from £404
- "The Golden Eagle" Beatenberg Paragliding from Interlaken
"The Golden Eagle" Beatenberg Paragliding from Interlaken
Interlaken
from £171
- Canyon Swing Grindelwald Glacier Canyon
Canyon Swing Grindelwald Glacier Canyon
Interlaken · Top rated
from £133
From travellers like you
“Where tradition meets modernity, with many lovingly crafted details. Definitely worth seeing.”
Beatrice
on Ticket Kuhniversum Trauffer World of ExperienceHiking routes
Hike from Brienzerberg to Iseltwald
Brienzerberg → Iseltwald · 6.8 km · 2 h 22 min
Easy hike from Oberried am Brienzersee to Ebligen via Hirscheren
Oberried am Brienzersee → Ebligen · 3.9 km · 2 h 2 min
Axalp-Schnitzlerweg
Axalp, Sportbahnen · 6.0 km · 2 h 53 min
Via Alpina, Stage 10/20
Meiringen → Grindelwald · 23 km · 10 h 15 min
Hike from Brünig-Hasliberg to Lungern
Brünig-Hasliberg → Lungern · 4.8 km · 1 h 44 min
Easy hike from Unterbach BE via Birglennollen
Unterbach BE · 3.7 km · 56 min
Easy hike from Niederried via Ringgenberg
Niederried · 7.4 km · 2 h 19 min
Hike from Niederried via Ringgenberg
Niederried · 16 km · 4 h 50 min
Hikes nearby
Everything within a 20 min drive
- Private hike to Augstmatthorn with a Swiss triathlete from Interlaken
Private hike to Augstmatthorn with a Swiss triathlete from Interlaken
Interlaken
from £295
- Hike from Brienz via Schwendeli
Hike from Brienz via Schwendeli
Wanderweg · Brienz · 13 km · 5 h 34 min
- Easy hike from Brienz BE via Glyssen
Easy hike from Brienz BE via Glyssen
Wanderweg · Brienz BE · 4.8 km · 1 h 36 min
- Easy hike from Brienz BE via Wellenberg
Easy hike from Brienz BE via Wellenberg
Wanderweg · Brienz BE · 6.6 km · 2 h 15 min
- Easy hike from Brienz West to Ballenberg West via Oberschwanden
Easy hike from Brienz West to Ballenberg West via Oberschwanden
Wanderweg · Brienz West → Ballenberg West · 7.0 km · 2 h 18 min
- Challenging hike from Brienz West to Planalp via Brienz BE
Challenging hike from Brienz West to Planalp via Brienz BE
Wanderweg · Brienz West → Planalp · 7.1 km · 3 h 59 min
- Easy hike from Ballenberg West to Brienzwiler
Easy hike from Ballenberg West to Brienzwiler
Wanderweg · Ballenberg West → Brienzwiler · 2.6 km · 48 min
- Easy hike from Brienzwiler via Moos
Easy hike from Brienzwiler via Moos
Wanderweg · Brienzwiler · 5.2 km · 1 h 40 min
- Obwaldner Höhenweg, Stage 4/6
Obwaldner Höhenweg, Stage 4/6
Bergwanderweg · Brünigpass → Melchsee-Frutt · 24 km · 11 h 20 min
- Brienzersee Drei Wasserfälleweg, Stage 2/2
Brienzersee Drei Wasserfälleweg, Stage 2/2
Bergwanderweg · Iseltwald → Brienz · 12 km · 4 h 10 min
Bike tours nearby
Everything within a 25 min drive
- E-bike tour to the waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen
E-bike tour to the waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen
Interlaken
from £190
- Alpine Bike, Stage 11/16
Alpine Bike, Stage 11/16
Mountain bike routes · Meiringen → Grindelwald · 37 km
- Berner Oberland-Route, Stage 2/2
Berner Oberland-Route, Stage 2/2
Cycling routes · Interlaken → Meiringen · 51 km
- E-Bike Tour Interlaken Valley from Interlaken
E-Bike Tour Interlaken Valley from Interlaken
Interlaken
from £104
- Alpine Bike, Stage 13/16
Alpine Bike, Stage 13/16
Mountain bike routes · Interlaken → Adelboden · 62 km
New on Swiss Activities
- Private hike from Grindelwald First to Bachalpsee with a Swiss triathlete starting in Grindelwald
Private hike from Grindelwald First to Bachalpsee with a Swiss triathlete starting in Grindelwald
Grindelwald · Also available Nov 3
from £295
- Private hike to Harder Kulm with Swiss triathlete from Interlaken
Private hike to Harder Kulm with Swiss triathlete from Interlaken
Interlaken · Also available Nov 3
from £152
- Ticket Kuhniversum Trauffer World of Experience
Ticket Kuhniversum Trauffer World of Experience
Hofstetten bei Brienz
from £15
- Day admission fitness and sauna at Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort in Grindelwald
Day admission fitness and sauna at Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort in Grindelwald
Grindelwald · Also available Nov 3
from £38
- Day Spa at the Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort in Grindelwald
Day Spa at the Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort in Grindelwald
Grindelwald · Also available Nov 3
from £186
- Private whirlpool with prosecco at Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort in Grindelwald
Private whirlpool with prosecco at Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort in Grindelwald
Grindelwald · Also available Nov 3
from £15
Museums & exhibitions
Everything within a 20 min drive
- Ballenberg, Switzerland's open-air museum
Ballenberg, Switzerland's open-air museum
Museum · Hofstetten bei Brienz
- Alte Pinte - Museum / Galerie / KulturRaum
Alte Pinte - Museum / Galerie / KulturRaum
Museum · Bönigen
Food & drink nearby
Everything within a 60 min drive
- "Fondue Tuk" - city tour with the Tuk Tuk in Lucerne
"Fondue Tuk" - city tour with the Tuk Tuk in Lucerne
Lucerne
from £266
- "Fire kitchen" cooking over the fire private
"Fire kitchen" cooking over the fire private
Bern
from £29
- "Pedalo Z'Morge": Breakfast on Lake Lucerne
"Pedalo Z'Morge": Breakfast on Lake Lucerne
Küssnacht am Rigi
from £93
- Cheese Fondue in the Fondue Igloo on Engstligenalp
Cheese Fondue in the Fondue Igloo on Engstligenalp
Adelboden
from £38
Mountain huts & restaurants
Everything within a 30 min drive
Playgrounds nearby
Everything within a 40 min drive
- Winter-Kinderspielplatz Schlaraffenland
Winter-Kinderspielplatz Schlaraffenland
Playground · Zwischenflüh
Zoos & theme parks
Everything within a 60 min drive
- Visitor Centre of the Ornithological Station
Visitor Centre of the Ornithological Station
Zoo & animal park · Sempach
- Wildlife observation trail at Niederbauen
Wildlife observation trail at Niederbauen
Zoo & animal park · Emmetten
Mountain railways & scenic rides
Everything within a 55 min drive
- PostBus pass journey across the Central Alps
PostBus pass journey across the Central Alps
Panoramic transport · Meiringen
From the journal
- 40 interesting, fun and astonishing facts about Switzerland
40 interesting, fun and astonishing facts about Switzerland
Journal
- Switzerland language: Everything you need to know and where they are spoken
Switzerland language: Everything you need to know and where they are spoken
Journal
15 more
- Ticket Ballenberg
- Rent a motorboat with no exam required from Brienz
- Pedalo rental Lake Brienz from Brienz
- Stand Up Paddle Board Rental Lake Brienz from Brienz
- Kayak hire on Lake Brienz from Brienz
- Rowing boat rental Lake Brienz from Brienz
- Ticket Brienz Rothorn Railway
- Hiking ticket Brienzer Rothorn
- Ticket Kuhniversum Trauffer World of Experience
- Trauffer factory tour for groups
- Full Moon Tour to Brienzer Rothorn with Three-Course Dinner
- Hot Tub Rental Lake Brienz
- Lounge Boat Rental Lake Brienz
- Brienzer Rothorn private hike with a Swiss triathlete starting from Brienz
- Nostalgia train: steam train ride from Brienz to Planalp
Frequently asked questions
What sights does Brienz have?
Brienz is located directly on Lake Brienz. The open-air museum Ballenberg is one of the most famous sights of Brienz. Woodcarving has a long tradition in the village. The so-called Edelweiss furniture pieces are well known. The woodcarving school, founded in 1884, is today a cantonal technical school and training workshop. A game park above Brienz was founded especially for the students' studies.
What activities can you do in Brienz?
On hikes or bike rides around the lake you will discover various natural beauties. Mountain hikes are best started with a trip to the Brienzer Rothorn. Various high-altitude trails are popular and have extremely attractive views
In winter, both the Brienzer Rothorn and the Axalp are winter sports areas. In summer, hiking is also popular at the Axalp. Water sports on Lake Brienz are very diverse. These include, for example, sailing, windsurfing, water skiing, wake surfing, wakeboarding or wake skating.
Which destinations can you reach from Brienz?
The Giessbach Falls are about 5 km south of Brienz. They tumble down in 14 steps as water cascades over a total height difference of 500 meters. There are hiking trails from the lakeside to the top. The Giessbachbahn is the oldest funicular in Europe and connects the lake with a grand hotel over 100 meters in altitude.
1535 meters above sea level lies the Axalp. You can reach it by car as well as by post bus in less than 40 min from Brienz. Axalp has been used as a summering area for cattle since the 13th century.
The Brienzer Rothorn reaches 2350 m above sea level and is the local mountain of Brienz. Besides Lake Brienz, a sea of 690 mountain peaks can be seen from here.
Planning your trip to Brienz?
Alpi knows the best experiences on the ground and builds you a route to match.