Villas in Brienz

About Brienz

Brienz stands on the northern shore of Lake Brienz at the foot of the Brienzer Rothorn, at about 566 metres, and has around 3,100 residents. Woodcarving runs through the place: the Cantonal Woodcarving School was established in 1862, and Brunngasse, listed as a Swiss heritage site, is a cobbled street of wooden houses decorated with flowers and carvings. The homes are spread around the village rather than in one block, and are mostly for two to four people, with a garden at most and a fireplace at some. None has a pool. The lake is the draw instead, green from glacier particles, with the Lötschberg paddle steamer, kayak tours and jetboats on the water. The Rothorn steam railway runs only between June and October, and the village has a natural ice rink.

Is Brienz right for you?

Best for

Couples and small families wanting lake, boats and rail

Not for you if

You want a pool at the house or warm lake water for swimming.

Near Brienz

• Giessbach Falls

  Reached by boat from Brienz and then a funicular; a trail leads close to the waterfall and at one point behind it.

• Ballenberg

  The open-air museum in Hofstetten bei Brienz, linked to Brienz village by bus.

• Ringgenberg

  Another north-shore village, about 14 minutes away by train or car, with the small Burgseeli and its sheltered natural bathing beach.

• Interlaken

  The larger resort town between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, reached by the Brünig line train or by boat to Interlaken Ost.

Getting to Brienz

Zurich Airport is about an hour and a half away by car, or around three and a half hours by train via Lucerne. Brienz station has two trains an hour to Interlaken and Meiringen, and buses link the village to Ballenberg, so a car is helpful but not essential.

When to go to Brienz

The Rothorn steam railway runs between June and October, and summer is the time for boat trips, the paddle steamer and the Giessbach Falls. The lake stays cold, so even in summer few people swim. Outside the railway season the village has a natural ice rink, so check timetables before planning day trips.

Brienz villa holidays: questions answered

Nearby towns to Brienz

• Grindelwald (268)
• Adelboden (232)
• Lenk (142)
• Gstaad (121)
• Lauterbrunnen (116)
• Zweisimmen (111)
• All of Bernese Oberland