TRAVEL GUIDE FOR LAKE BLAUSEE IN BERNER OBERLAND
Lake Blausee is one of several stunning lakes in Switzerland. And though Switzerland is rich in gorgeous lakes, Blausee is a unique lake that cannot be compared with any other lake in the country (I am all about #ChasingLakes).
Why? Find out more about visiting Lake Blausee, how much to pay, how to get there, things to do and see, and why this lake is different from any other lake in Switzerland.
So far, I have visited twice (yes, as much as I love exploring new places, I also love revisiting places). In German, See means lake – so saying Lake Blausee is like saying Lake Blue Lake… Either way, I sometimes refer to the lake as Blausee and sometimes Lake Blausee.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE VISITING BLAUSEE
- Water temperature: approximately 8°C
- Maximum depth: 12 meters
- Size: 0.64 hectares
- Altitude: 887 meters
- Dogs are allowed but must be on a leash
- No drones allowed
- No swimming allowed
- Don´t feed the fish (trouts)
- The main path is accessible with a wheelchair, but forest trails aren’t wheelchair friendly.
- Opening hours daily: from 9 am to 9 pm.
- The visitor center is at the entrance of the national park
FACILITIES AT BLAUSEE
Blausee is a small nature park, but it is well-prepared for its visitors.
- At the entrance gate (next to the parking slot), you will find a small shop where you can buy your tickets, snacks, drinks, and souvenirs.
- There is also a Blausee Cafe that has outdoor seating
- Hotel Blausee is located right next to Blausee – the perfect place to chill and relax (they also offer many different spa treatments). The hotel also has a restaurant with a view of Lake Blausee
- There are restrooms for visitors as well
BLAUSEE WITH KIDS
Is Lake Blausee a good place to visit with children? I haven’t visited Blausee with kids, but Blausee seems very kid-friendly.
There is a playground for kids (in summer), they can hop on the boat and do a quick boat cruise (free), watch the fish in the water, do run around – no need to worry much as the park area is traffic-free.
There is no entrance fee for kids under the age of 6 years.
BLAUSEE WITH DOGS
Are dogs allowed at Lake Blausee? Yes, dogs are allowed at Lake Blausee.
On one of my trips, I brought my dog with me, and Lake Blausee is a dog-friendly place. A few things to keep in mind: Take your dog on a leash, dogs- like humans – are not allowed to swim in the lake. And there is no entrance fee for dogs at Lake Blausee.
CREATION OF BLAUSEE
After a landslide about 15,000 years ago, parts of the nearby glaciers were carried away, and one of the new places that emerged was Blausee. Blausee translates to “Blue Lake.“ The water seems more green than blue, but I often have a different opinion than others. Just below the wooden bridge, it seems blue.
WHY IS THE COLOR SO BLUE?
ANSWER 1: There is a river just a few meters from Blausee fed by the groundwater stream of the Kander Valley. The watercolor comes from its clarity, and only the blue part of the light is fully absorbed, so it has this unique watercolor.
So, you can pick whatever answer you like better.
HOW TO GET TO BLAUSEE
Blausee is located in Kandersteg, in Bernese Oberland’s region (my favorite area in Switzerland) – just between Frutigen and Kandersteg.
CAR
Can you drive to Lake Blausee by car? Yes, you can and you can park your car quite close to the shores of the lake, however, a bit of walking (3-5 minutes) is needed once you have parked your car.
- From Interlaken, it takes about 70 minutes by car – even though it is just 55km away.
- From Thun, it takes about 35 minutes.
- There is a big car park (parking costs about $4 for 4 hours) just in front of the entrance.
BUS
Can you get to Lake Blausee by public transport? Yes, you can get to Blausee by bus.
- If you come from places like Interlaken or Thun, you will have to get a train to Spiez first and then change to the bus (and change buses in Frutingen).
- Yes, it is a little bit annoying to get there, so I highly suggest combining it with a trip to Oeschinensee so that you can see at least 2 stunning places in 1 day.
BEST TIME TO VISIT LAKE BLAUSEE
I have visited Lake Blausee twice – and both times in the summer. I do believe it looks incredible on a sunny day in the summer months. However, I have also seen pictures from Lake Blausee in the fall with the fall foliage, and it looks beautiful.
In winter, you can expect a winter wonderland at Blausee.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT BLAUSEE?
You might be surprised to hear that there is an entrance fee for Lake Blausee, but unfortunately, it is true. You cannot see the lake for free.
Ticket prices are quite high for such a small lake. On my first trip 5 years ago, I paid about CHF 5. On my second trip, it was already twice as much – CHF 10, which equals about $11.
It is even more expensive on the weekends or holidays (about CHF 12) – but it gets slightly cheaper in the evenings or during shoulder season.
I enjoyed my trip (otherwise, I would not have revisited it), but I think it is pretty expensive given that many lakes (maybe even all the others) are free to visit and there is not much to do.
So, I cannot really say whether Blausee is worth a visit. If you get here by public transportation and do not have enough time to visit Oeschinensee, it would probably not be worth it.
But getting there with a car when doing a Switzerland road trip and heading then to Oeschinensee is worth it.
THINGS TO DO AT BLAUSEE
Though Lake Blausee is quite small, there are a couple of activities for you to do.
WALK AROUND LAKE BLAUSEE
The lake is very tiny, so it will not take long to walk around it, but it is lovely to see from different angles. It took me less than 30 minutes to walk around the lake (breaks included).
BOAT TOUR
You might know that I am a fan of boat tours. And boat trips with a glass bottom are even cooler. The boat cruise on Lake Blausee was probably the shortest boat tour I have ever been on. It just takes a few minutes and runs every 30 minutes or so.
Just wait at the “boat station” where you will also find out about the next tour. It is included in the entrance fee, so why not enjoy the boat ride? This is only offered in the summer months, though.
And though it is a rowing boat, you can relax. A captain is doing the work for you, so it is just about looking around.
PICNIC AND BARBECUE PLACES AT BLAUSEE
If you are not in a rush, you can enjoy a picnic here or use one of the free fireplaces and have a barbecue. There are firewood and fireplaces included in the entry fee.
PLAYGROUND
Kids will love Blausee for its boats, the trout in the water, and of course, the playground.
SPA TIME AT BLAUSEE
If you are into spas and want to take some “me” time, you might want to check out the offers at the hotels, including a sauna, samarium, steamed grotto, whirlpool, and bathtub garden.
DIVING AT BLAUSEE
Here is quite a unique activity at Blausee: Though swimming is not allowed, you can book a diving session.
From November until the end of March, people with a diving certificate can book a four-course, gourmet surprise menu (priced around CHF 99) and get the chance to dive there before dinner. There is also a stone sculpture below the bridge from the popular Blausee-tale that you can see while diving.
SAFE TRAVELS!
IS BLAUSEE WORTH VISITING?
I think that Blausee is one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland. It has a unique color (I have seen quite a lot of lakes in Switzerland, but this color is exceptional), and it is quite a tranquil place despite the many people visiting. However, if you are on a budget or only have a few minutes (I needed less than 1 hour on both of my trips), I would probably skip it.
Switzerland is so rich in lakes that I do not see a real reason to pay up to CHF 12 ($14) for this one. However, it is the perfect place to visit in combination with the stunning Lake Oeschinen.
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