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Lake Thun & Lake Brienz Beaches & Dog Swim Spots

🇨🇭Interlaken, Switzerland·Updated 14 June 2026

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Interlaken straddles two glacier-fed alpine lakes: turquoise Lake Brienz to the east and deeper Lake Thun to the west. Both are bathing-grade in summer (water 18-22 °C from late June to early September). Bernese Gemeinde rules ban dogs from official Strandbäder in summer (1 May to 30 September) but the wider lakeshore offers pebble bays where leashed dogs are welcome year-round and off-leash swimming is tolerated off-season.

Iseltwald Lakeshore (Lake Brienz)

Iseltwald / Lake Brienz · Seestrasse, 3807 Iseltwald

Quiet south-shore village 12 km from Interlaken Ost by bus 103 or BLS boat, with a small peninsula crowned by a former castle and a string of pebble bays. The famous Crash Landing on You footbridge is a 5-minute walk. Off-season swimming is allowed, leashed in summer.

🐾 Leashed dogs welcome year-round; off-leash swimming tolerated October-April off the rocky points outside the bathing perimeter

💡 Take BLS boat from Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald (35 min), walk the 1 km Schloss path to the pebble bays, swim, walk back along the lakeside road.

🏨 Pet-friendly hotels nearby →🌐 Visit official website →📍 View on Google Maps →

Faulensee (Lake Thun)

Faulensee / Spiez area · Seestrasse, 3705 Faulensee

Sheltered fishing-village bay on the south shore of Lake Thun, 18 minutes by BLS train from Interlaken West via Spiez. Reedbeds, pebble entries and the cleanest water on the lake; the public Strandbad bans dogs in summer, but the public lakeshore east and west of the perimeter is dog-friendly.

🐾 Leashed dogs welcome year-round on public lakeshore; off-leash swimming tolerated October-April; banned inside the paid Strandbad perimeter 1 May-30 September

💡 Combine with a walk along the Spiez Buchten promenade, 3 km of lakeside path between Faulensee and Spiez vineyard castle, dog-friendly the whole way.

🏨 Pet-friendly hotels nearby →🌐 Visit official website →📍 View on Google Maps →

Bönigen Lakeshore (Lake Brienz)

Bönigen · Seestrasse, 3806 Bönigen

Quiet residential village on the western shore of Lake Brienz, a 10-minute bus 104 ride from Interlaken Ost. A continuous public lakeside path with several pebble entries and the village Strandbad; off the bathing perimeter, dogs are welcome leashed year-round.

🐾 Leashed dogs welcome year-round outside the paid Strandbad; off-leash swimming tolerated October-April

💡 From Bönigen, walk the lakeside path 3 km east to the Giessbach falls boat pier, take BLS back to Interlaken Ost. Three hours, two transport modes, dog-friendly all the way.

🏨 Pet-friendly hotels nearby →🌐 Visit official website →📍 View on Google Maps →

💡 Quick Tips

1.Both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are bathing-grade alpine lakes; the official Strandbäder fall under Bernese Gemeinde rules and ban dogs 1 May to 30 September, with fines up to CHF 100. Use the public-shore alternatives instead.
2.Glacier-fed Lake Brienz stays colder than Lake Thun: 14-18 °C in July-August versus 18-22 °C on Thun. Short swims only for thin-coated breeds.
3.Bring a quick-dry towel and rinse coats with fresh water, glacial silt can leave a fine mineral residue that dulls double coats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dogs swim in Lake Thun and Lake Brienz?

Yes outside the official Strandbäder. Dogs swim freely at Iseltwald, Bönigen and Faulensee public lakeshore, and on dozens of unmarked pebble bays year-round. Inside the paid Strandbäder, dogs are banned 1 May to 30 September under Bernese Gemeinde rules.

Is the lake water safe for dogs?

Generally yes, both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are monitored weekly for E. coli and intestinal enterococci and consistently rate excellent. Avoid swimming for 24 h after heavy rain (raised glacial silt and run-off).

More Interlaken guides

🍽️Restaurants 🌳Parks & Walks 🚇Transport 🏥Vets 💡Local Tips 🏛️Attractions 🐶Pet Sitting

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💡 Quick Tips

1.Both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz are bathing-grade alpine lakes; the official Strandbäder fall under Bernese Gemeinde rules and ban dogs 1 May to 30 September, with fines up to CHF 100. Use the public-shore alternatives instead.

2.Glacier-fed Lake Brienz stays colder than Lake Thun: 14-18 °C in July-August versus 18-22 °C on Thun. Short swims only for thin-coated breeds.

3.Bring a quick-dry towel and rinse coats with fresh water, glacial silt can leave a fine mineral residue that dulls double coats.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can dogs swim in Lake Thun and Lake Brienz?

Is the lake water safe for dogs?