Giessbach Falls

I'm happy to be corrected, but I don't know of any route directly along the lake. The area around there is quite steep. I do know of the paths up to the hotel from the landing stage and up to the waterfall. There is a path up to the carpark at the top. The main road would not be suitable because there is quite a long tunnel in the direction of Brienz. But there is a lane from the other side of the road which is connected by paths and lanes to the lake level but far inland, where you could walk towards the town of Brienz and the train/ship station.

I'm not sure that's exactly what you wanted.

I've been to the hotel and walking paths by car and the ship landing (many times). Visualising the shore as we sail to Brienz I just can't visualise a footpath...

but I could be wrong.... good luck

Thank you for your reply. Maybe I’m wrong and it is not by the shore, but a path to walk to the train station. If there is one, how long would the walk be? Or is there a better option to get to the train station? Thanks!

I always go by boat. Arrive by boat, up to the hotel, walk around and under the waterfall, back down to the next boat, next stop is the joint Brienz railway station / boat landing.

I think you’re confused. Giessbach is on the opposite side of the lake of Brienz. After Geissbach, you can walk along the water to Iseltwald where you can catch a bus back to Interlaken or you can take the boat from Giessbach or Iseltwald across the lake to Brienz, where you can then train back to Interlaken. The train runs along the north side of the lake, where Brienz is. On the south side, where Giessbach & Iseltwald are, it’s only accessible by boat or bus.

This is the hike you are thinking of. It leads from Bönigen (near Interlaken) all the way to Brienz, or you can do a section of the trail, as you are suggesting, from Giessbach Falls to Brienz.

Here it is on various websites:

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/experiences/trail-of-the-three-waterfalls/

https://schweizmobil.ch/en/hiking-in-switzerland/route-360

Stage1 Bönigen - Iseltwald

I have hiked this section, it is a lot of up and down on a narrow path and rarely can you see through the trees to the lake.

Stage 2: Iseltwald - Brienz

Note that this is a different route from the lakeside path between Iseltwald and Giessbach. If you look at the map right now you will see the red circle with a person walking in the centre of it - this is showing that the lakeside path is not currently open (winter closure). If you are going in the summer it is an easy and very scenic route most often right along the lake.

I have not hiked the Giessbach - Brienz section so can not personally comment on it. My general opinion is that there are many more hikes you can choose from in the area, and if you are thinking of 4-5 great hikes to do on a holiday I would not list this as one of them.

Zoom in on the map to see photos at exact locations to get an idea of the route.

If you like using AllTrails, here it is on there:

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/switzerland/bern/brienzersee-drei-wasserfalleweg-bonigen-brienz

Edited to add:
The section from Giessbach Falls to Brienz is

• 4.8km
• Ascent - 88m
• Descent - 194m (mostly all in one stretch of about 1km, then basically flat)
• Duration - 1h 18min of hiking time - some of it along the lake