I am hoping to combine together a day that starts early from our hotel in Wengen with the goals being to Cruise Lake Brienz, go up to Geissbach Falls, wander around Brienz, and take a train from Brienz to Aareschlucht Gorge before heading back to Wengen at the end of all that. The only real stops we would be planning to spend time off the cruise would be Brienz and Geissbach Falls. But my issue is how to structure the day. But how to get it planned out?
1- Does the Cruise between Interlaken and Brienz stop on the way between Interlaken and Brienz, or on the way back to Interlaken from Brienz? This would help us to know if we need to plan the falls in the morning before Brienz and the Gorge or in the afternoon after Brienz and the Gorge.
2- How long is reasonable to spend at the gorge? How about at Geissbach Falls?
If you have done these things and have some thoughts on the best way to connect the dots please let me know and we much appreciate your time and info!
Posted by
Arctophilia, Northamptonshire, England
35184 posts
the ship stops in both directions, and stops elsewhere too.
I have never done the Aareschlucht but it looks like about an hour to me, train one way, walk the other.
I regularly get off the boat at Giessbach and hike up or take the antique funicular (check the price if you are not a hotel guest before you get on, it is less expensive for guests) up. I often ride up and walk down. Because I like to go for walks in the area I'm usually there 2 or 3 hours. Depending on the boat schedules (they are not all that frequent) you may take one less departure time to be back down for the boat.
To get to the Aareschlucht it will be a train from Brienz to Meiringen and another, outside the station to the gorge.
Also in Meiringen is Reichenbach Falls of Sherlock Holmes infamy, with its own funicular up about 2/3 of the way. Good views.
And Meiringen is a very pleasant little town.
Posted by
Chicago
3612 posts
Like Nigel mentioned, you will be at the mercy of the boat schedule.
If you know what day you are going, you can see the boat schedule on SBB. Make sure you are searching the boat schedule. If you are on the website, you want to click on settings, then means for transport, and uncheck everything except for ship.
Depending on time of year and time of day, the boats might run hourly or longer. I’m usually there for just an hour and that’s been sufficient for me. When I go in June, my options have been 1 hour or 3 hours because of the boat schedule. One or two hours would be ideal, if you can time it with the boat schedule, as you have other things you’d like to see that day.
I like to catch the boat in Brienz (taking the train there), stop at Geissbach Falls, and then head to Interlaken. I have found the boat to be less crowded this way. It seems most like to start in Interlaken.
I’m not familiar with Aareschlucht, but could you start there? Then head to Brienz for the boat. Again, check the boat schedule ahead of time so you can plan everything out ahead of time. I hate to have a set schedule, but as the boats don’t run as often as the trains, you really have to be mindful of the times so you’re not “stuck” somewhere longer than you’d like. Not that it would be horrible to be stuck at the Falls. :-)
Posted by
Switzerland
252 posts
Here is the boat schedule for the year if you want to see an overview. Scroll all the way down to Breinzersee Sommer for May 10 - October 19 schedule:
https://www.bls-schiff.ch/sites/default/files/2025-05/timetable_bls-lake-cruise-2025.pdf
For example, you could catch a boat from Interlaken Ost at 9:07 AM, arriving at Giessbach See at 10:09 AM. Then take the next boat at 12:09 PM to Brienz, arriving at 12:20 PM. If that’s too early a start, take the later sailing and spend just one hour at the falls, or stay later into the afternoon.
How much hiking would you like to do at the falls? And how early are you willing to start your day? Knowing these things will help you with scheduling.
Either way, I would visit Giessbach Falls first—it gives you time to see the Aare Gorge afterward and then still enjoy Brienz or Meiringen. You’ll have transport back to Wengen from either of these towns late into the night, so you can stay as long as you like, walk around, have dinner or whatever at a leisurely pace without worrying you will miss the last train home.
I visited the Aare Gorge a few years ago. You can enter from either end, but most people go west to east, which we did too—it worked well and felt like going with the natural flow of traffic. I think we spent closer to two hours there, but my memory on that is foggy.
For your return, check the SBB app or website for schedules from Aareschlucht Ost (Bahn) to Brienz. Trains run every 30 minutes, though at some times of the day only once an hour, so you will want to take a look at that as well.
Scroll down to see the map to get an idea of the layout of the gorge:
Posted by
Switzerland
252 posts
An additional thought: any train station employee can help you with routes and times for anywhere in the country (and beyond). The staff in Wengen will very likely also have personal experience with these locations. If you have the chance stop by and they can work out your whole day for you.
Asking at the Wengen TI can also help, and if you like having the physical brochures for these locations, as well as the boat schedule, they will probably have those on hand.
Posted by
OP
16 posts
Thanks very much all! Very helpful answers and much appreciated!
Safe Travels!