As far as we’re concerned, the Giessbach waterfall is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Switzerland. Not only because the water crashes down in several layers here, but especially because you can experience the waterfall from all sides. You don’t just look at it: you walk alongside it, behind it and meanwhile enjoy views over Lake Brienz.
We visited the Giessbach Falls, or Giessbachfälle as you often see it written in Switzerland, during our trip through the Bernese Oberland. And honestly: this is not one of those places where you quickly stop for one photo. In the end, it took us an hour and a half to two hours before we were back at the car.
That actually says enough. The combination of the waterfall, the historic Grandhotel Giessbach, the path behind the water and the view over the bright blue lake makes this a real must-do if you are near Brienz, Interlaken or Meiringen. In this blog, I’ll share our experience and practical tips for parking, walking, visiting with a stroller and staying overnight nearby.
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What is the Giessbach waterfall?
The Giessbach waterfall is located by Lake Brienz, not far from Brienz and Interlaken. The water comes from the high valleys around the Faulhorn area and drops down in several stages towards the lake.
What makes this waterfall so fun is that it is not one single straight stream. The Giessbach falls down in 14 different levels. That means you keep seeing new sections along the way: small rapids, wider stretches of water and then suddenly another powerful drop downwards.
And perhaps the best part: you can walk behind the waterfall. That makes the Giessbach waterfall, in our opinion, a stop you really shouldn’t rush through too quickly.
Arriving at Giessbach: arrange your parking ticket in advance
Before you even reach the waterfall, the little adventure already begins. The road up is narrow. On some sections, two cars can only just pass each other, so you need to drive calmly and pay attention. The rim of my car will remember this forever, unfortunately.
You arrange parking in advance through the Giessbach website. You buy a parking ticket online and then receive a QR code that opens the barrier. For us, parking cost around CHF 15.
And believe me: really arrange this beforehand. We saw several people standing at the barrier struggling to buy tickets, or even blocking the entrance. There was even a staff member there to keep things moving a little. In high season, this really seems like a bottleneck to me. Whether digitalisation really solves a problem here… I’m not sure.
The car park itself is not huge, but when we were there at the end of April, it was perfectly manageable. In summer, I would go early or later in the day.
Our route: straight up, but afterwards I would do it differently
From the car park, you can immediately take a path upwards. A kind of shortcut. So that’s what I did.
You then come out halfway up the waterfall and walk higher and higher via a zigzag path. Every few minutes, you pass another new section of the waterfall. That makes the walk really varied. It is not an extreme hike, but you do feel it. In any case, I came back down sweaty.
In hindsight, I would do it differently. Because you start halfway up, you first miss the full overview. Only when I came down and saw everything at once did I think: okay, this is actually impressive.
My tip: start down by the hotel for the best overall view. Or do it like I did, but then definitely walk down afterwards too. Otherwise, you actually miss the most beautiful view of the waterfall with the Grandhotel Giessbach and the lake behind it.
Walking behind the Giessbach waterfall
One of the highlights is that you can walk behind the waterfall. And the good thing: you don’t even have to climb far for it. From the lower section, you get there quite quickly.
You hear the water crashing down hard beside you, feel the mist and literally stand behind the force of nature. This is one of those moments where you just stand still for a while. Photos are nice, but they don’t fully capture it. You especially need to hear the sound and feel that cool water mist.
The path can be slippery, especially close to the water. So wear shoes with some grip. You don’t need hiking boots, but I wouldn’t do this in flip-flops.
Giessbach waterfall with a stroller: what is and isn’t possible?
We were also here with a stroller, and that is doable. But with limitations.
You can reach the hotel without any problems and stay around the lower part of the waterfall. There are also benches where you can sit quietly and enjoy the view. So you don’t necessarily have to hike to find this place beautiful.
If you want to go higher along the waterfall, it becomes less convenient. You then end up on paths that are not really suitable for a stroller. Via the paved road, you can go a bit further up, but that is still quite a climb.
Our conclusion: the Giessbach waterfall is perfectly fine as a relaxed stop with a stroller, but not everything is accessible. If you really want to walk, it is better to bring a baby carrier.
Sit down and enjoy for a while
Something else we liked: you don’t necessarily have to buy anything here. Near the hotel and around the waterfall, there are benches where you can simply sit. We could easily have brought something with us and relaxed there for a while with a view of the waterfall.
That also makes it a nice place to take things slowly. Especially if you have already had an active day or are travelling between several stops. We came for a short stop, but stayed much longer than planned. And actually, that was exactly right.
Grandhotel Giessbach: sleeping by the waterfall
Next to the waterfall lies the iconic Grandhotel Giessbach. This hotel was built in the 19th century, during a time when wealthy travellers flocked to the Alps for fresh air, views and luxury in the middle of nature.
What makes it special is the location. On one side, you hear the waterfall, while on the other side you look out over Lake Brienz. Even if you don’t sleep here, it is fun to walk around for a bit and admire the hotel from the outside.
If you do want to stay here, then Grandhotel Giessbach is of course the most special option. It is usually not cheap, but in terms of location, it doesn’t get much better.
Combining Giessbach with Meiringen and the Aareschlucht
The Giessbach waterfall is perfect to combine with other stops in the region. For example, we did this in one day with Meiringen and the Aareschlucht. In the end, that turned into a really nice day with plenty of variety: eating meringue, Sherlock Holmes, a gorge and a waterfall.
Meiringen is convenient if you want to combine the Aareschlucht, Reichenbach Falls and Giessbach. You are more central and quieter there than in Interlaken, while still being able to go in many directions. Read my extensive blog about things to do in Meiringen.
The Aareschlucht is located close to Meiringen and we thought it was an ideal stop along the way. There, you walk via wooden paths and tunnels through a narrow gorge where the Aare River flows beneath you. Also read my blog about visiting the Aareschlucht near Meiringen.
Staying overnight near the Giessbach waterfall
You don’t have to sleep directly next to the Giessbach waterfall, but it is smart to stay somewhere in the region if you want to combine several stops. Meiringen, Brienz and Interlaken are the most logical choices. On the map below, you can see where the Giessbach waterfall is located and which places therefore make sense for staying overnight around the waterfall.
Staying overnight in Meiringen
Meiringen is convenient if you want to combine Giessbach with the Aareschlucht, Reichenbach Falls and perhaps Hasliberg. Good options include Hotel Victoria Meiringen, Hotel Dakota Meiringen or the themed Das Hotel Sherlock Holmes.
Staying overnight in Brienz
Brienz is the best choice if you like staying close to Lake Brienz. Besides Grandhotel Giessbach, you can also look at Hotel Lindenhof, Hotel Brienzerburli or Hotel Steinbock. Prefer camping? Then Camping Aaregg is a beautiful option directly on Lake Brienz.
Staying around Interlaken
Interlaken is more practical if you want to make several day trips in the Jungfrau region. We personally stayed at Kiwi Chalet – Mountain Views & Cozy NZ Vibes in Goldswil. A really lovely chalet with a nod to New Zealand, which we of course especially enjoyed. Other nice options include Hotel Krebs Interlaken, Hotel Lötschberg and Hotel Central Continental.
For campers, TCS Camping Interlaken, Camping Manor Farm and Camping Lazy Rancho are logical options. Do note: Interlaken is busier and more touristy than Meiringen or Brienz.
Giessbach waterfall as a stop during your road trip
The Giessbach waterfall fits perfectly into a road trip through Switzerland. You can combine it with Brienz, Interlaken, Meiringen, the Aareschlucht or Lake Brienz, for example. If you come by car, you are flexible and can visit several places in one day.
Do keep in mind that driving to Giessbach requires a little extra attention because of the narrow road and the online parking system. But once you have arranged that properly, it really is a highlight of your road trip!
Practical tips for visiting Giessbach
- Buy your parking ticket online in advance. Without a QR code, you won’t get through the barrier.
- Come early or later in the day. Especially in summer, the car park can fill up quickly.
- Start down by the hotel. That way, you first get the most beautiful overall view of the waterfall.
- Definitely walk behind the waterfall. In our opinion, that is the highlight.
- Wear shoes with grip. The paths can be wet and slippery. Sneakers can still work… but they are not ideal.
- Partly possible with a stroller. The hotel and lower section are fine, but higher up it becomes less convenient.
- Bring something to drink or a snack. There are plenty of benches where you can sit quietly for a while.
Is the Giessbach waterfall worth it?
Yes, absolutely. And more than we expected beforehand.
The Giessbach waterfall is not just a place where you quickly take a photo and move on. You can walk there, pass behind the water and sit quietly with views of the Grandhotel and Lake Brienz.
We arrived without a big plan and eventually spent an hour and a half to two hours there. Those are often the best stops during a trip: easy to reach, beautiful, not too complicated and yet just a little bit special.
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