Order & timing for stops on lake Brienz ( giessbach falls & iseltwald)

Timetable for the lake steamers is here:

https://www.bls-schiff.ch/sites/default/files/2026-05/fahrplan_bls_schifffahrt_2026.pdf

You could take the boat to Iseltwald, spend an hour there, then continue to Giesbach, spend some time there (and maybe have lunch) and then take a boat back to Interlaken.

Note: I would not reserve a seat on the Luzern - Interlaken train.

You can see the boat schedule here to get an overview

https://www.bls-schiff.ch/en/lake-cruise/timetable/boat-schedule

Or use SBB and choose IInterlaken Ost (See), Iseltwald (See), etc. You could also change the settings in the SBB app to show boats only - select “means of transport” and deselect everything except “ship”.

There is very little to see In Iseltwald, just the dock that was used in a tv show and is therefore popular.

The bus that leaves Giessbach goes to Brienz, from there you would have to take the train back to Interlaken. It doesn’t run very frequently either, so your best bet is to plan your departure time from Giessbach and stick to it.

Edit: oops, I see WengenK beat me to it :-)

you can take your luggage on the boat, there are (or were) lockers at Brienz.

Do you really need to backtrack all the way the length of Lake Brienz?

From Brienz, you can easily take the train to Lucerne via Meiringen. It's a more scenic way to Lucerne than Interlaken, IMHO. Boat dock is right at the train station. There are also lockers at the train station, but not very many.

I think that your plan is a very good one. Traveling is not always about “how can I get the most straight forward, seamless route that never backtracks?” I think it is more about “how can I see/experience the things that I want to?”

Basically you want to take on the boat on the Brienzersee, see Iseltwald and Giessbach Falls. A wonderful plan!

If you are feeling that time is short, you can also check out the option of taking the bus to Iseltwald Dorfplatz. It departs right from Interlaken Ost at 9:05, arriving at 9:21. Then catch the boat from Iseltwald at 9:52 to Giessbach. This gives you a bit of time in Iseltwald (again, it is very small, not that much to see, everything is right there - bus stop, boat dock, village centre).

Giessbach is very much worth the visit, in my books, especially if you are able to do short hikes. Going in behind the waterfall is a fantastic experience - you can walk completely behind it, in one direction and out the other and the water is so powerful it is quite an experience!

I was on the train passing through Brienz last week and they were renovating the train station, so I am not sure what the locker situation is currently like there, and of course they might be done by the time of your trip in September. That would be something to check out if you do go with the above suggestions to store luggage there.

the SBB station information page for Brienz shows no luggage storage room but does show lockers, open from start of day to end of day - 0600-2359.

Thank you all for your input. You are ALL so helpful .My reason for stopping at Iseltwald was that my daughter-in-law went there and said you have to stop. It’s so beautiful:) Wengen thank you for your tip on NOT reserving a seat. I just read so many remarks that you have to sit on the “right” side of the train for the amazing views from interlaken to Lucerne that I figured I better reserve one because I’m sure everyone else reads that ! With as popular of a route as that is I don’t have to worry about not having a seat??? Or a good seat ? My reason for backtracking on the lake was to get my luggage in Interlaken . It never even dawned on me to take the train from Brienz to Lucerne I will have to check that out. Thank you Swiss nomad I am new to the app and hadn’t really played around with de-selecting yet thank you for that tip I definitely have some work to do before we leave on our trip . I appreciate your tips. Thank you for your input- with gratefulness Joan

just to manage expectations on the train between Brienz and Luzern, the seat side matters less because you will already have been along the lake and seen the Falls at Giessbach, and the views imho are significantly better in the Luzern to Interlaken direction.

Still very good but a bit less impressive in the towards Luzern direction.

To be honest, having ridden that line so many times I am not gorping out the window as often now.

Unlike Nigel, I actually never tire of enjoying the view on that route. Even after Brienz there are the waterfalls on the way to Meiringen to enjoy out the right hand side, then train will head out in the opposite direction, but if you stay where you are ( now the left side) you get nice views down the valley as you climb over the Brünig pass. Then some sweet little Swiss farms which I always photograph when I pass, followed by the stunning downhill ride where the church, mountains and Lake Lungern all look beautiful. More great photo opps as you ride around the curve near the end of the lake.
We are having a very dry summer so far, so if the water in the lake is quite low, it is not as spectacular, also for those who do this route from Luzern to Brienz/Interlaken, it is not quite as scenic, in my opinion.
Note that the lockers at the train station are accessible 24/7, and the work in Brienz is scheduled to end this month.