If you are in Interlaken or on Lake Brienz, you should definitely visit the small village of Iseltwald. Iseltwald stands out as the most beautiful and spectacular of the several villages on Lake Brienz. Its special charm lies in the unique bay, which extends picturesquely into the turquoise-blue waters of Lake Brienz. The numerous charming wooden chalets, lovingly decorated with flowers, give Iseltwald its idyllic appearance.
In recent years, the village has exploded in popularity thanks to the Netflix series “Crash Landing on You”, which has led to certain problems – but more on that later in the article.
In addition to the breathtaking view, there are many other reasons to visit Iseltwald, which we will tell you about in detail in this article.
The most important facts in brief
- Iseltwald is an idyllic village in Switzerland, situated on the picturesque Lake Brienz.
- Popular places: Steg known from the Netflix series “Crash Landing On You” and the historic Seeburg Castle.
- Activities: Hikes to the Mülibach and Giessbach Falls, boat tours on Lake Brienz, water sports such as kayaking and SUP.
- Best times to visit: Summer for warm weather and water sports; autumn with bright colors and clear skies; winter for snow-covered landscapes and fewer tourists; spring with blossoming nature and pleasant temperatures.
About Iseltwald
What makes Iseltwald so special is immediately apparent when you look at the overall picture of the village. Nestled in the Swiss Alps, it looks like a fairytale village, with one of the most beautiful lakes right on its doorstep.
The traditional wooden chalets, some of which are decorated with beautiful flowers, and the turquoise-green lake create a dreamlike backdrop. In Iseltwald, you will also find a promenade along the lake, which offers the best view of the glistening water.
Interestingly, the entire village of Iseltwald is part of Switzerland’s inventory of sites worthy of protection, which underlines its cultural and historical significance. Due to its small population of only 415 people and the manageable number of stores, the focus in Iseltwald is on enjoying the beautiful nature and surroundings.
Tourists have been drawn here since 1871, initially arriving in the village mainly by steamboat. Even today, an important part of the local economy is still based on tourism.
In recent years, Iseltwald has gained popularity, especially among Asian visitors, due to the Korean Netflix drama series “Crash Landing on You”. The series featured a key scene on Lake Brienz in Iseltwald, which inspired many fans to visit this picturesque place themselves.
The crowds were so great that a turnstile was installed at the jetty where the scene in question was filmed to regulate the flow of visitors. However, we assume that the large crowds will subside somewhat in the coming years.
Although Iseltwald is a small village, it has enough to keep visitors enthralled for a few hours. Normally, 2 to 3 hours are enough to explore the village, unless you want to take your time to hike in the beautiful surroundings and soak up the atmosphere.
We filmed a walking tour during our last visit. Join us as we explore the village without commentary and overstimulating editing, just a walk through the Iseltwald.
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What you can do in Iseltwald
Walk through the village
A walk through Iseltwald is definitely an experience, even though the village is really small. You shouldn’t expect any huge buildings or numerous attractions – what else would you expect with just 400 inhabitants. But that’s exactly what makes it so charming: The few existing buildings are incredibly attractive.
During our last visit in the fall, the flowers and lush vegetation were not in full bloom, but it was still beautiful. In spring and summer, however, the village is in full bloom, with many colorful flowers adorning the wooden chalets and small gardens.
The houses of Iseltwald are close together and nestle against the headland that juts out into the lake, giving the whole area the feeling of a cozy nest.
It was lovely to stroll through the few narrow streets and explore every nook and cranny. The local gardens and traditional Swiss chalets with their impressive architecture are simply enchanting.
What we particularly like about Iseltwald is the authentic feeling it conveys. There are real, traditional Swiss houses to be found here – no artificial tourist kitsch, but a place where you can forget the hustle and bustle of everyday life and immerse yourself in the quiet, picturesque beauty of Switzerland.
Buy Seeburg Castle
Yes, you read that right. This search term was suggested to me in a Google search, which indicates that the desire to buy this picturesque castle is apparently widespread.
For most of us, myself included, however, it will probably remain an unattainable dream. But that doesn’t stop us from admiring the castle from afar and “owning” at least one photo as a souvenir.
Although we initially thought that Iseltwald had no major attractions, we now have to revise that somewhat. Seeburg Castle has become one of the most beautiful and popular Instagram hotspots on Lake Brienz. With its classic perspective over the bay, it looks impressive and majestic.
Interestingly, in 1907, the builder of the castle had the buildings that stood on the site at the time torn down and rebuilt at the entrance to the village to make room for his villa on the peninsula. The “Schnäggeinseli”, the small island off the bay in Iseltwald, is also privately owned by Seeburg Castle.
Even though the building is unfortunately not open to the public, the bay and Seeburg Castle still provide an ideal backdrop for impressive photos. So don’t forget to get your camera ready and take a few snaps for your next Instagram posts ;-).
“Fischknusperli” meal
After a relaxing stroll through idyllic Iseltwald, your stomach may be rumbling. Fortunately, the village has some wonderful restaurants right on the lake, which not only offer culinary delights but also a perfect view of the glistening Lake Brienz.
You can sample various local specialties in these restaurants. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the classic Fischknusperli, small fish deep-fried in a crispy batter coating. However, these and Iseltwald have a strong connection due to a memory from my childhood. Because when we visited the village with my grandmother, who lived in the region, we enjoyed this specialty here.
visit “Crash Landing On You” filming location
For all fans of the Korean Netflix series “Crash Landing On You”, there are two places in Iseltwald that you simply cannot miss.
(1) The first is the famous bridge where Jeong-hyeok played his piano solo. This small, picturesque jetty is located right next to the landing stage for the Lake Brienz boats.
Due to the series hype, Iseltwald was virtually overrun by visitors, which is why a turnstile has now been installed at the jetty. For a small fee, you can enter the jetty and then have the perfect backdrop all to yourself to take those coveted souvenir photos.
There is a lot going on here, especially in the high season, but popularity could return to normal in the coming years. A little tip: visit the jetty in the morning to avoid the crowds.
(2) The second important location for fans of the series is at the other end of the village, directly on the lakeside promenade in front of the lido. This is the location from the intro to the series, where the two main characters stand together in front of Seeburg Castle.
It is a beautiful spot that is a must-see not only for fans of the series, but for every visitor.
Hike to the Giessbach Falls
A recommended activity you can undertake during your visit to Iseltwald is a hike along Lake Brienz to the impressive Giessbach Falls.
These waterfalls, which are located near an old grand hotel, have 14 steps and are at their most impressive in spring when the snow melts or after a downpour, which gives them a special appearance.
The hiking trail begins when you follow the lakeside promenade to the lido. The first part of the route takes you along the shore of the lake for a long time. This section is flat and easy to walk on, probably even with a baby carriage.
After a while, the path becomes a little more uphill, but overall it is also manageable for children. There are barbecue areas halfway along the trail and the forest looks almost fairytale-like at this point – a great play area for children.
Although the 6km hike itself is relatively easy – there are no major differences in altitude, with the exception of the section from the Giessbach boat station up to the Grand Hotel, where a funicular also runs in high season – it can take between 2 and 4 hours, depending on your pace and breaks. We spent about 2.5 hours on the trail, walking at a brisk pace but also making plenty of stops to take photos and film.
Remember that there are no refreshment stops on the way to the waterfalls, so make sure you pack something to eat and drink.
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Hike to the Mülibach waterfall
The hike to the Mülibach waterfall is something of an insider tip in Iseltwald. This waterfall is much less well known than the popular Giessbach Falls. Sure, it’s also a lot smaller, but it’s still definitely worth a visit, especially if you only have time for a short hike.
To get to the Mülibach Falls, you have to walk just over 2 kilometers from the center of Iseltwald. The ascent is steep, but short and manageable for most people with a good basic level of fitness.
The hiking trail is mostly surrounded by forest. When you arrive at the Mülibach Falls, you can see the water cascading down from above before following the path that runs behind the waterfall. This hike is an opportunity to discover a lesser-known side of Iseltwald while enjoying the breathtaking nature.
How to get to Iseltwald:
Iseltwald is quite easily accessible for visitors. There are several ways to travel to and from the village. In the following text I will go into more detail about transportation to Iseltwald.
By car
If you want to visit Iseltwald, it’s probably best to do so by car. Not only will you reach the tiny village quite quickly this way, but you will also have the opportunity to easily visit other great highlights nearby.
It is only a 20-minute drive from Interlaken, as it is 9 km away. If you stay overnight in Lauterbrunnen, it will take you around 35 minutes to cover the 21 km distance.
When you arrive at the entrance to the village, you will find several parking spaces. From here it is only a 3 minute walk to the center of Iseltwald. You have to pay around CHF 1 for an hour’s parking!
By public transportation
Another way to get to Iseltwald is by public transport. As Iseltwald is such a small village, it does not have its own train station. However, you can always take the bus from Interlaken Ost!
The bus ride from Interlaken to Iseltwald only takes about 20 minutes. A one-way ticket without concessions costs around CHF 6.
By boat
If you are looking for a fun and scenic way to get to Iseltwald, you should definitely take the boat!
There are several boat circuits on Lake Brienz, which also stop off in Iseltwald. During this boat trip you can also visit other places, as the scheduled boats also stop at the Giessbach waterfalls and Brienz.
The journey from Interlaken Ost normally takes about 41 minutes. The average price for these ferries is around CHF 9 and there are 5 scheduled boats on Lake Brienz throughout the day (fewer in the low season).
The boat trip is definitely the most beautiful route to this fairytale village!
Final thoughts
If you are traveling in the Lake Brienz region, we can highly recommend the excursion to Iseltwald. We also particularly like the hike to the Giessbach Falls. The scenic route along the lake and through forests far away from any roads or traffic is something we have already done several times and will certainly return to in the future.
