Grandhotel Giessbach is the most romantic old hotel in the Jungfrau Region and also one of the best value. It stands high above the turquoise water of Lake Brienz beside the Giessbach Falls, which tumble down the forested slope over 14 rocky ledges. The hotel opened in 1875 and was designed by the architect Horace Edouard Davinet. It was saved from demolition in the 1980s by the Franz Weber Foundation, which still looks after it. You arrive by lake steamer and ride the hotel's own funicular, opened in 1879, up from the boat landing.
It suits couples who want atmosphere over polish: a Belle Époque ballroom, creaking floors, tower rooms and a park of about 22 hectares. At night the falls are lit and the day-trippers have gone home. The restaurant terrace looks straight at the waterfall.
It is a four-star hotel, not a luxury resort. Rooms vary and some are simple. There is no big spa. It is also seasonal, with a full summer season and a shorter winter schedule. For a two-night stop with a story, few places in Switzerland compare.
Highlights at a glance
- Opened in 1875 beside the Giessbach Falls
- Historic funicular from 1879
- About 22 hectares of park and forest
- Lake-view and tower rooms
- Terrace dining facing the waterfall
Why Couples Love Giessbach
The arrival sets the tone. You step off a lake boat at a small pier, climb into a funicular car that has been doing this run since 1879 and rise through the trees to a pale yellow palace beside a waterfall. It feels like the opening of an old film.
The hotel itself is wonderfully old-fashioned. Public rooms have high ceilings, painted details and big windows facing the lake. The ballroom still hosts concerts and weddings. Paths lead from the terrace into the forest and along the falls. One trail passes behind a curtain of water, which is best right after rain.
The evenings are the reward. Most visitors come for a few hours and leave on the last boat. Overnight guests get the lit waterfall, a quiet park and the lake turning silver below. In 2004 the hotel was named Historic Hotel of the Year in Switzerland. It is easy to see why.
Rooms and Suites to Book
The hotel has about 70 rooms, tower rooms and suites. Because it is a historic building, rooms differ a lot in size, layout and view. Book with care.
- Lake-view rooms: the main reason to stay. Watching the light change on Lake Brienz from your window is the highlight.
- Waterfall-view rooms: you fall asleep to the sound of the falls, which some couples love and light sleepers may not.
- Tower rooms: the most romantic choice, with unusual shapes and more character.
- Suites: more space for a longer stay.
For a honeymoon, request a lake-view room or a tower room and say it is a special trip. Avoid the cheapest categories if you can, since they may face the back of the building. Expect period furnishings rather than sleek modern design. That is the point of staying here.
Food, Drink and the Spa
Dinner at Les Cascades, the park restaurant, comes with a front-row view of the falls. Book a table on the terrace in summer and stay for the moment the lights come on over the water. The menu leans toward Swiss and French classics with local produce.
Elisa is a more casual bistro with a terrace, good for lunch after a walk. The hotel also offers vegetarian and vegan menus. There is a bar for a nightcap in the historic rooms.
Giessbach is not a spa hotel. There is an outdoor natural-style swimming pool in the park for warm summer days, but no large wellness area. Couples who want long spa sessions should pair Giessbach with a night or two at the Victoria-Jungfrau in Interlaken. Most guests are happy to trade a spa for the setting, the walks and the lake below.
Why guests fall for it
Things to Do
Giessbach is a place to slow down, but the region is close.
- Walk the falls: paths climb alongside the 14 cascades and pass behind the water at one point.
- Lake Brienz by boat: cruise to Brienz for woodcarving shops or to Interlaken for the trains.
- Brienz Rothorn Bahn: a historic steam cog railway up to big views of the lake and the Alps.
- Ballenberg Open-Air Museum: old Swiss farmhouses moved from around the country.
- Jungfrau Region day trips: Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are within easy reach via Interlaken.
Direct bookings can include the hotel's Nostalgie-Pass in season. It covers extras such as lake boat trips, the Rothorn railway, Ballenberg and a local chairlift. Ask which items are included during your dates.
Getting There
From Zurich Airport (ZRH), take the train to Brienz in about two and a half hours, usually with a change in Lucerne or Interlaken. The scenic route over the Brünig Pass from Lucerne is worth it. From Brienz, the lake steamer connects to the Giessbach landing in summer and the funicular brings you up to the hotel.
By road, the hotel is reached via a narrow lane above the lake. Car access requires a prebooked online ticket, though hotel guests receive theirs automatically.
In winter, boats run less often and the funicular schedule may change, so ask the hotel how to arrive during your dates. Taxis from Brienz or Interlaken are an easy fallback.
Is It Worth It?
For atmosphere, yes. The value is also strong for Switzerland. A winter three-for-two offer on the official site starts at CHF 530 for two people for three nights with breakfast, approximate. Summer rates are higher, but still well below the grand hotels in Interlaken or Gstaad.
Couples who expect five-star polish, modern bathrooms and a full spa may be disappointed. Rooms vary and the building shows its age in places. Check the season too. The hotel runs a full summer season and a shorter winter schedule, with winter opening limited to certain days of the week. If you want a lake, a waterfall and a story to tell, book two nights in a lake-view or tower room and enjoy the evenings.
Insider tips
- Request a lake-view or tower room when booking.
- Book directly to get the Nostalgie-Pass extras in season.
- Reserve a terrace table at Les Cascades for the evening light.
- Check winter opening days and boat schedules before planning.
