From Strasbourg to Interlaken: Our Swiss Adventure Begins
Switzerland might just be the ultimate postcard come to life. Snow-capped mountains, impossibly blue lakes, charming villages and trains that seem to run like clockwork - it's the kind of place where you can look out the window and wonder if the scenery is even real.
But if you're working with a short itinerary, don't worry. You can still experience some of Switzerland's most beautiful scenery without trying to squeeze everything into one trip.
In the first part of my Switzerland travel series, I'm taking you to Interlaken - how we got there from Strasbourg, what we did along the way, and one of the most scenic boat rides of the trip across Lake Brienz to the beautiful village of Iseltwald.
Getting to Interlaken: Strasbourg to Basel
We started our Switzerland adventure from Strasbourg, France. If you're travelling from Strasbourg, Basel is a convenient entry point into Switzerland, and from there, it's easy to continue by train towards Interlaken.
This was also my first proper introduction to Switzerland's famous railway system.
Swiss trains are known for being punctual, clean and incredibly well organised. More importantly, the connections are easy to navigate, which makes travelling between cities and mountain towns much less stressful.
And honestly, the train ride itself is already part of the experience.
As the train moves further into Switzerland, the scenery gradually changes. Before long, you're looking at green countryside, traditional houses and mountains appearing in the distance. It doesn't take long before you start thinking, "Okay, this really does look like Switzerland."
Swiss Travel Pass or Day Pass?
If you're staying longer and travelling around Switzerland extensively, the Swiss Travel Pass may be worth considering. For our shorter trip (3 days), a day pass worked well as we had several journeys planned in one day.
We downloaded the Swiss travel app (SBB) before our trip and bought our tickets there, which made everything really convenient. We could check the different ticket options, compare what worked best for each journey and even purchase some tickets a few weeks in advance. This was especially useful for the Saver Day Pass, which can sell out quickly for popular dates.
Once you're on the train or boat, your ticket is right there in the app. If an inspector comes around, simply show the QR code on your phone. No fuss, no paper tickets, and no need to queue at a ticket machine.
Switzerland's public transport isn't cheap, so it's worth comparing the different pass options before your trip to see what works best for your itinerary. But one of the biggest advantages is how well connected the transport network is. You can go from train to boat and back to train without having to worry too much about arranging separate transfers.
And that brings us to one of my favourite parts of the journey.
Interlaken to Iseltwald: Cruising Across Lake Brienz
Once we reached Interlaken Ost, we headed towards the ferry terminal for our boat ride across Lake Brienz.
If you've seen photos of Lake Brienz, you'll know exactly why I was looking forward to this.
The water is an incredible turquoise blue, surrounded by mountains and little villages tucked along the shoreline. It almost looks like someone turned up the saturation.
But there's actually a reason for that striking colour. Lake Brienz gets much of its distinctive turquoise appearance from fine glacial sediment carried into the lake by the surrounding rivers. When sunlight hits the water, it creates that beautiful blue-green colour that makes the lake so photogenic.
The ferry ride was one of those moments when you don't really need to do anything.
Just find a good spot on the boat, sit back and soak in the view.
As we moved across the lake, we passed mountain slopes, forests, traditional Swiss chalets and small villages along the shoreline. With the Alps rising behind them, the whole scene looked almost too perfect.
It was definitely one of the most scenic ferry rides I've experienced.
Iseltwald: A Tiny Village with a Big View
Our ferry took us to Iseltwald, a small lakeside village on the southern shore of Lake Brienz.
And yes, if you're a K-drama fan, you might recognise it.
Iseltwald became particularly popular among fans of Crash Landing on You after the village appeared in the series. The famous lakeside pier has since become a popular photo spot for visitors.
But even if you've never watched the drama, Iseltwald is still worth a visit.
The village is tiny, so you don't need hours to explore it. We simply walked around, took in the lake views and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere.
There are traditional wooden houses, little paths along the waterfront and, of course, the beautiful view of the lake with the mountains in the background.
We also couldn't resist taking a few photos along the lake with Seeburg Castle in the background. The castle sits right on the edge of Lake Brienz, and with the turquoise water and mountains behind it, it makes for one of those picture-perfect Swiss views.
Tranquility overload.
If you're used to busy European cities filled with tourists and traffic, Iseltwald feels like stepping into a completely different world.
It's quiet, scenic and wonderfully slow.
The Famous Iseltwald Photo Spot
One of the most photographed spots is the little wooden jetty extending into Lake Brienz. It's easy to reach from the village and gives you a beautiful view back towards the surrounding mountains.
If you're hoping to take photos without too many people in the background, timing matters. The village is small, and the jetty can get busy, particularly when tour groups arrive.
That said, don't spend your entire visit waiting for the perfect shot.
The best part of Iseltwald is simply being there.
A Few Things to Know Before Visiting Iseltwald
Check the ferry timetable. This is probably the most important tip if you're visiting as part of a day trip. Boat services can vary depending on the season, so check the schedule before leaving Interlaken and make a note of the return journey.
Wear comfortable shoes. Iseltwald is small, but there are slopes and some walking involved. You don't need serious hiking shoes, but comfortable footwear will definitely make the visit easier.
Don't rush. If your itinerary allows it, give yourself enough time to sit by the lake, walk around the village and simply enjoy the scenery. Iseltwald isn't a place where you need a long checklist of attractions.
Back to Interlaken
After exploring Iseltwald, we made our way back to Interlaken. We didn't take the ferry this time. It continues to other stops around Lake Brienz, but we decided to take the bus instead. It was quicker and worked better with our schedule.
By this point, I was already starting to understand why Interlaken is such a popular base for exploring the Bernese Oberland. From here, you have easy access to lakes, mountain towns, scenic train routes and some of Switzerland's most spectacular landscapes, while still having a good options of restaurants and accommodation options in town.
But we weren't staying in Interlaken for the night.
Our next stop was Grindelwald, where we would trade the turquoise waters of Lake Brienz for dramatic Alpine peaks.
Arriving in Grindelwald
We arrived in Grindelwald before 7 PM, but it was already raining. We waited for a little while at the bus stop, hoping the rain would ease up, before catching the local bus to our hotel.
Our hotel was located in the upper part of the town, and luckily, the bus was free with the guest card provided by our accommodation (we ride free even though we haven't checked-in).
Then we discovered something important: the 7 PM bus was the last one heading up to our area.
Talk about lucky timing!
We made it just in time. By then, it was already getting late, and with the rain still coming down, we decided there wasn't much point in heading back out to explore.
So, we called it a night.
Little did we know that the view waiting for us the next morning would make staying up there completely worth it.
And that's when Grindelwald really began.
23 Sep '24