The village of Bönigen is just minutes by bus from the amenities of Interlaken, yet feels a world away with its tranquil atmosphere. Nestling between two mountain ranges on sparkling Lake Brienz, this is the perfect spot for a restful holiday. Many of the picturesque houses date from the 16th century and the majestic mountains are reflected in the deep blue waters of the lake. You can take a dip in the lake at the Bönigen Lido, which also offers heated swimming pools and pedaloes. If you prefer to simply admire the water however, a visit to the thundering Giessbach Falls is a must. These mighty falls gush over several rocky stages to reach their destination on the southern shore of the lake.
To get a real taste of the past, visit the Alte Pinte village museum, which dates from 1772 and provides an insight into a typical Bernese Oberland chalet with its rustic kitchen and furnishings dating from 1730-1920. Bönigen really does have it all: history, scenery and relaxation. Hotel guests benefit from the FREE Interlaken Visitor's Card, allowing you to hop on and off the local buses and trains.
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Bönigen holiday ideas 2025
Stay in our handpicked Bönigen hotel
Things to see and do from Bönigen
Bönigen is perfectly placed for discovering the region's lakes and mountains. An obvious jaunt is a cruise on Lake Brienz, as the boats call here; you can even enjoy lunch on board. Another recommendation is the journey on the Brienzer Rothorn steam train, which is just magical and the views at the summit are breathtaking. You could also travel up to pretty Meiringen to view the famous Reichenbach Falls, or discover Swiss history at the Ballenberg open air museum.
With Interlaken close at hand, it is worth exploring the two local mountains of Harder Kulm and Heimwehfluh, both of which offer walks and restaurants with lovely views. You can even head for the high Alps: the spectacular Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe and the Schilthorn-Piz Gloria with its revolving restaurant have excellent connections from Interlaken. Your journeys into the mountains are a joy in themselves, travelling on a variety of cable cars, funiculars and mountain railways. Please click here for our summary of the best the region has to offer.
Visit a UNESCO World Heritage Site from Bönigen
Take a day to visit the amazing Jungfrau-Aletsch Glacier with a stunning mountain rail journey to the Jungfraujoch and awesome views across the glacier from the summit. You can also reach the beautifully historic Old Town of Bern from Bönigen. Find more Swiss World Heritage Sites here.
Explore the Bernese Oberland region with our great value travel passes
Our holidays include the Half Fare Card, which entitles you to a 50% discount on most rail, mountain railways, cable cars, boats and PostBuses across Switzerland.
If you are planning daily outings, it can be well worth pre-booking the Bernese Oberland Regional Pass, as it saves you a great deal of money - and helps you avoid the queues at the ticket office! Other passes such as the Swiss Travel Pass and the Jungfrau Travel Pass are also available. We will be delighted to help you choose the one that's right for you. Call us on 0800 619 1200 for more advice.
Scenic rail holidays from Bönigen
Enjoy a fantastic two or multi centre holiday, with a scenic rail journey connecting your resorts.
Take the short transfer to Interlaken, to join the GoldenPass Express (for Montreux) or Luzern-Interlaken Express (for Lucerne). From Lucerne you can also pick up the scenic boat and rail journey of the Gotthard Panorama Express to the Ticino region.
If you prefer to be based solely in Bönigen, there are many lakes and mountains journeys to be enjoyed locally. We can tailor make any itinerary you choose, please contact us for details on 0800 619 1200.
How to get to Bönigen
Your ticket wallet will contain comprehensive travel instructions to help you reach your destination with ease, including recommended rail connection times and platform numbers. These are the most common routes for your Bönigen holiday.
Fly to Zurich
Flights available from London, Luton, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow.
Swiss Railways: Zurich Airport > Interlaken (and taxi service to Bönigen) with a transfer time of around 2 hours 30 minutes.
Fly to Geneva
Flights available from London, Luton, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle.
Swiss Railways: Geneva Airport > Bern > Interlaken (and taxi service to Bönigen) with a transfer time of around 3 hours 15 minutes.
Travel by international rail
Rail from London St. Pancras via Paris to Basel.
Swiss Railways: Basel > Interlaken (and taxi service to Bönigen) with a transfer time of around 2 hours 20 minutes.
Request your holiday quotation
Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com