My husband and I will be in Switzerland 5 days at the end of June/early July, Interlaken 2 nights and Wengen 3 nights. We will definitely be doing a lot of hiking but are also thinking about one day getting on Lake Thun or Lake Brienz either via some kind of boat/kayak/etc. Which lake do you suggest? Might I add we are on a tight budget 😁 But hoping we can still make it work!
Posted by
Milwaukee, WI, USA
197 posts
Both are beautiful lakes so I think it would depend on where you are staying. There are kayak rentals near both train stations. From Interlaken itself, that would be the Interlaken West station. From Wengen, that would be the Interlaken Ost station where the local trains into the Lauterbrunnen valley (to Wengen) leave from. Both stations have the lake cruise boats leaving from just outside the stations. Interlaken West has the Thunersee boats; Interlaken Ost has the Brienzersee boats. Be advised the round trip lake boat cruise from Interlaken West to Thun and back is about 4 1/2 hrs.; I usually do the cruise to Thun and take the train back to Interlaken. The Brienzersee lake cruise is about 2 1/2 hours round trip. I have never done kayaking but that sounds like a special way to see either of the lakes!
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you're on a tight budget the choose the Hotel Staubbach in Lauterbrunnen or the Chalet Fontana in Murren - best bargain in the alps. Lakes Thun and Brienz are both accessible via Interlaken which is only a little 20 minute train ride from Lauterbrunnen. Lauterbrunnen lies in the valley between Murren and Wengen.