Lake Thun & Brienz Boat Day Pass from Interlaken
Lake Thun & Brienz Day Pass Prices & Availability
Real-time availability from GetYourGuide. Reserve now, pay later. Note: Lake Brienz boats run April through mid-October only; Lake Thun runs year-round on a reduced winter schedule.
Should you get the Lake Thun & Brienz boat day pass? Yes, if you'd rather take a slow, scenic, hop-on-hop-off route between Thun, Spiez, Interlaken and Brienz instead of moving by train. For $51 you get unlimited rides on all scheduled BLS boats on both lakes for one day — passing castles, the St. Beatus Caves, the 500-metre Giessbach Falls and the Iseltwald pier. Wheelchair accessible. Rated 4.1 across 208 reviews — fair for a transit-style activity, with a 3.9 value sub-score being the honest weak point (Switzerland is expensive). One important hack: if you already have a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, scheduled boats are free or 50% off respectively — don't buy this on top.
What You Get
- Unlimited rides on all scheduled BLS boats on Lake Thun (year-round)
- Unlimited rides on Lake Brienz too (only April through mid-October)
- Hop-on hop-off at any port: Thun, Spiez, Interlaken West & Ost, Brienz
- Access to lakeside attractions: St. Beatus Caves, Giessbach Falls, three castles
- Wheelchair accessible boats (entire BLS fleet except the small MS Interlaken)
Good to Know
- If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, scheduled boats are free — don't buy this on top
- Pass is 2nd class (lower deck). 1st class upper-deck upgrade is paid on board
- Cross-lake trips involve two boats — change at Interlaken West/Ost
- Reviewers note: "wish the timetable was easier to read" — plan before you go
- Reduced winter schedule (Lake Brienz closed Dec-Mar; Lake Thun fewer departures)
The Lake Thun & Brienz Boat Network
Two long alpine lakes joined at Interlaken, with five main ports and a handful of attractions along the shores. The pass is good on all scheduled departures between them for one day.
Lake Thun: Thun ↔ Interlaken West
The full west-to-east stretch takes about 2 hours of pure boat time with multiple intermediate stops (Hilterfingen, Oberhofen, Gunten, Spiez, Faulensee, Beatenbucht for the St. Beatus Caves). 1st class on the upper deck via paid upgrade on board.
5-Minute Train Hop: Interlaken West → Ost
The two lakes aren't directly connected by water — change at Interlaken. The train between Interlaken West and Ost (East) takes 5 minutes; you can also walk in about 30 minutes through town.
Lake Brienz: Interlaken Ost ↔ Brienz
About 1.5 hours one way, with stops at Iseltwald (the Crash Landing on You pier) and Giessbach (for the 500-metre falls and the Grand Hotel). Operates April through mid-October only.
Both Lakes in One Day — Honestly?
Mathematically possible but tight. Most travellers pick one lake and use the pass to hop on and off at attractions — Lake Thun for castles, Lake Brienz for the falls and Iseltwald. Doing both means racing the timetable.
Lake Thun & Brienz Boat Photos
Sights Along the Lake Thun & Brienz Routes
The pass lets you hop off at any port. Here are the stops worth the detour, organised by lake. Entry fees for attractions aren't included.
Thun Castle Lake Thun · West End
12th-century castle right at Thun harbour with a museum and views over the lake. Two-minute walk from the boat dock. Most visited castle on the route.
Oberhofen Castle Lake Thun · North Shore
The fairytale castle on the lake itself — a tower rising directly from the water. Boats stop at the Oberhofen pier. Museum with period rooms and lakeside park.
St. Beatus Caves Lake Thun · North Shore
Show caves with stalactites and underground waterfalls. Stop at "Beatenbucht" pier, then a steep walk or local funicular up. Entry fee ~CHF 22 not included.
Spiez Castle Lake Thun · Middle
Less famous than Thun or Oberhofen but the prettiest setting — Romanesque tower on a vineyard-covered peninsula. Walk uphill from the Spiez boat dock (~10 min).
Iseltwald Pier Lake Brienz · South
The wooden pier made famous by the 2019 Korean drama "Crash Landing on You". Walk onto the pier costs an extra 5 CHF (paid to the village). Best photographed early or late in the day.
Giessbach Falls Lake Brienz · East
500-metre waterfall in 14 cascades into the lake. Stop at the Giessbach pier, then up to the Grand Hotel by Europe's oldest funicular (CHF 10 return, well worth it).
What's Included in the Boat Day Pass
A simple transit pass — unlimited boat rides for the day. Entry fees, food, drinks and 1st class upgrade are paid separately on the day.
Lake Thun Day Pass Included
Unlimited rides on all scheduled BLS boats on Lake Thun for one calendar day. Operates year-round (reduced winter timetable December to March).
Lake Brienz Day Pass Included (Apr-Oct)
Same as Lake Thun but for Lake Brienz — only during the warm season. Service stops in early December and resumes in April.
2nd Class (Lower Deck) Included
The pass covers lower-deck seating. Indoor and outdoor sections both available. 1st class upper deck is a separate upgrade purchased on board.
Food & Drinks Pay on Board
BLS catering operates a restaurant on each larger boat. Coffee, beer, sandwiches and full meals are available for purchase. Cash (CHF or EUR) and cards both accepted.
Attraction Entry Fees Not Included
Castles, the St. Beatus Caves (CHF 22), the Giessbach funicular (CHF 10), and the Iseltwald pier (CHF 5) are all paid separately. Budget a few extra CHF per stop.
Train & Bus Connection Included
Libero Zone 750 is included with the day pass — the 5-minute train between Interlaken West and Ost, plus Interlaken local buses. Useful if you're switching lakes mid-day.
How a Pass Day Unfolds
- Collect the pass, board in InterlakenSecond class; upgrade on board if you like.
- Cruise the first lakeHop off at any of the five main ports.
- Hop back on laterBoats run to schedule all day — no rebooking.
- Switch lakesThun in the morning, Brienz after lunch works well.
- Last sailing homeOne calendar day, unlimited rides.
Other Ways to See the Lakes
Scenic Jetboat on Lake Brienz
Three times the price for a single 50-minute ride, but with 360° spins, captain comedy and a free photo. Lake Brienz only, summer.
Lake Brienz Kayak Tour
Paddle the water yourself in a small group — 1.5 hours past Ringgenberg Castle, with a guide.
E-Quad Tour to Iseltwald
Ride to the Crash Landing on You pier instead of taking the boat. 1.5 hours with a 15-minute photo stop and a small-group convoy.
Is the Lake Thun & Brienz Boat Day Pass Worth It?
It depends on whether you have a rail pass. If you don't — yes, this is a fair-priced way to see the lakes scenically rather than rushing past on a train. $51 for unlimited rides between five ports across two lakes is reasonable if you actually hop off at multiple sights. Reviewers from June 2026 highlight "wonderful experience, hop on hop off, you can pretty much go wherever you'd like" (Greece). The boats are clean, well-organised by BLS Navigation, and run on time.
If you already have a Swiss Travel Pass — don't buy this. Scheduled boats on both lakes are free with the pass. If you have the Swiss Half Fare Card, you get scheduled boats at 50% off, which often beats this day pass too. Several reviewers explicitly point this out: "It was a great value, especially with the Swiss 1/2 Pass" (Mike, USA, July 2025). The 3.9 value-for-money sub-score is largely about Swiss-baseline pricing, not the pass itself — Chandresh (USA): "We paid $100 for just 2 hours… costs are unnecessarily overbearing" reflects the country, not this product.
Practical flags. Both lakes in one day is tight — possible on the summer timetable, but you'll spend most of the day on boats. Most travellers pick one lake. 1st class isn't included — Louise (2019) flagged: "Only first-class ticket holders allowed upstairs and in the restaurant. Upgrades available on board." If panoramic upper-deck views matter, budget for the upgrade. And read the timetable before you go — multiple reviewers wished the schedule was easier to plan around. The BLS website (bls-schiff.ch) has the current one.
Yes — if you don't already have a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card, and if you plan to hop off at multiple sights. For $51 you get unlimited boat rides between five ports across both lakes for a full day. Rated 4.1 across 208 reviews. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, scheduled boats are already free — don't buy this on top.
Technically yes during the April-October season when both lakes operate, but it's tight. Lake Thun end-to-end is about 2 hours; Lake Brienz end-to-end about 1.5 hours; plus a 5-minute train hop between Interlaken West and Ost. If you race the timetable you'll be on boats most of the day with little time to hop off at attractions. Most travellers pick one lake and use the pass to explore that lake's sights properly.
Five main ports: Thun (Seestrasse 9), Spiez (Seestrasse 69), and Interlaken West (Kanalpromenade 1) operate year-round. Interlaken Ost (Lanzenen 1) and Brienz (Quai 1) operate April through mid-October only. All five docks are directly next to or a short walk from the train stations.
Yes — the day pass is 2nd class, which is the lower deck (indoor and outdoor sections). 1st class is the smaller upper deck, including the restaurant, and is less crowded. The upgrade is paid separately on board. If panoramic top-deck views or the restaurant matter to you, factor in the upgrade cost when comparing.
You don't need this pass at all if you already have a Swiss Travel Pass — scheduled boats on both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are 100% included in 2nd class. The same is true for the Jungfrau Travel Pass and Eurail/Interrail (with a date entered). The Half Fare Card gives you 50% off — often still cheaper than this day pass for a one-day visit.
On Lake Thun: Thun Castle, Oberhofen Castle (on the water), Spiez Castle (vineyard peninsula), and the St. Beatus Caves (stalactite show caves). On Lake Brienz: Iseltwald (the Crash Landing on You pier) and the 500-metre Giessbach Falls in 14 cascades. Entry fees aren't included — budget around CHF 5-22 per attraction.
Lake Thun runs year-round on a reduced winter timetable. Lake Brienz boats stop in early December and resume in April. If you book a day pass for the winter months, you'll only be able to use it on Lake Thun. The boats themselves are heated and run reliably.
Yes — the entire BLS fleet is wheelchair accessible except for the smallest boat (MS Interlaken). Access routes to outdoor decks and 2nd class restaurants are level. MS Berner Oberland and MS Thun also have lifts to the 1st class area. Disabled WCs are on every boat except MS Interlaken.
The official BLS Navigation timetable is at lakeinterlaken.ch/timetable. Several reviewers note that planning ahead is essential — connections aren't as frequent as a train network, and missing one can mean a 90-minute wait. Plan your route the night before, not on the boat itself.
Ready to Sail Both Lakes?
Reserve now, pay later. Lake Thun runs year-round; Lake Brienz only April-October. Don't buy this if you already have a Swiss Travel Pass — scheduled boats are already free with it.
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