Bönigen on Lake Brienz

Bönigen lies on the lower shore of Lake Brienz between two mountain ranges. Meadows and wooden houses, including buildings dating from the 16th century, shape the village’s appearance. When looking for hotels in Bönigen, you might first consider whether you are especially interested in the historic village centre, the lake, or activities on the water.

Historic houses and village history

Bönigen was first mentioned in a document in 1239 under the name «Wernherus de Boningen». The village centre is home to wooden houses dating from the 16th to 18th centuries; the oldest part of the village is of national importance. The «Housihuus», built in 1757, was the first inn in Bönigen. King Frederick of Württemberg stayed there in 1808. «Christi’s Spycher» dates from 1746 and is still used as a cheese storehouse.

The fountain square and the church also add distinctive features to the village. The fountain square is slightly sloped and square; its limestone fountain probably dates from the second half of the 19th century. The church is a plastered hall church with a slender pointed-roof tower dating from 1957 and stands slightly above the village. Step-free access to the church and the Chapellihus was created in 2010. If accessibility is important for your visit, confirm the current arrangements in advance.

Museum and walking tour

The «Alte Pinte» village museum is housed in a traditional building dating from 1772 and features a permanent exhibition on the village’s history. It includes a rural kitchen and a rural room with furniture, fittings, and everyday objects from the period between 1730 and 1920. Three special exhibitions on changing themes are added each year.

The Historic Houses Trail leads through narrow lanes past buildings dating from the 16th to 18th centuries, with intricately carved wooden façades. If you would prefer a digital guide for the walk, you can also follow the trail as an interactive SmarTrail in your web browser.

Lake Brienz: lido and kayaking

The lakeside area includes a promenade and a boat landing. Some historic hotel buildings stand near the former station of the Bödelibahn railway. Right on Lake Brienz, the Bönigen lido offers a heated swimming pool, a natural beach, an aquapark, a trampoline, a restaurant, and a playground. You can also rent pedal boats, kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards there.

The lido is a few minutes’ walk from the boat landing and the Bönigen-See bus stop, and is easy to reach by public transport. A winter kayaking tour on Lake Brienz starts in Bönigen. The Hightide Kayak School offers evening and winter kayaking tours on the lake and rents kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and surfskis in Bönigen. It also enables people with disabilities to kayak on Lake Brienz.

Walks and other experiences

From Bönigen, you can walk along the shore of Lake Brienz towards Iseltwald. The Vereinigte Lütschine offers a different landscape: it flows into the lake near Bönigen at an elevation of 565 metres above sea level; its upper section runs through a narrow, heavily wooded valley gorge.

Families can enjoy the «Treasure Hunt in Bönigen», an adventure involving a walk through the village and puzzles. The public barbecue area in Bönigen has grills, picnic tables, and a covered shelter. If you would also like to include other trails in your trip plans, the wider Jungfrau Region has more than 500 kilometres of signposted routes, ranging from easy walks and themed trails to challenging mountain hikes and via ferratas.

Discover more destinations: Grindelwald, Unterseen, Lütschental, Ringgenberg, Wilderswil, Beatenberg, Axalp, Leissigen

For the main travel overview: Interlaken.