When Is the Best Time to Visit Interlaken?
Updated October 21, 2026 · 5 min read
The short answer
There is no single best month: the season depends on what you want to do on the water. For a relaxed first visit, come in spring or summer, because the Boat Day Pass on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz offers time on Lake Brienz only in the spring and summer months. It costs €44.77 and has 4.2 stars from 223 reviews. In winter the lake option is a different kind of day: a three-hour paddle in a drysuit instead of a boat ride.
Three lake days and their seasons
| Tour | Season on the booking page | From | Rating | Fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interlaken: Boat Day Pass on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz | Lake Brienz in spring and summer | €44.77 | 4.2 · 223 | a relaxed day aboard |
| Interlaken: Kayak Tour of the Turquoise Lake Brienz | no season named | €134.84 | 4.9 · 289 | an active morning for all levels |
| Interlaken: Small-Group Winter Kayak Tour on Lake Brienz | winter | €149.94 | 4.9 · 281 | the cold months, small group |
Spring and summer
This is the window for the boat pass. Its description centres on a full day on Lake Thun and adds Lake Brienz for spring and summer, so a day in April or July is the one the product was written for. Do not count on both lakes outside those months.
Check availability and prices for the Boat Day Pass
The pass is a poor fit if you dislike spending most of a day aboard or have only a few hours. The standard kayak tour takes three hours, is described as guided and suitable for all levels, and its page names no season; our Lake Brienz kayak comparison sets the two kayak tours side by side.
Check availability and prices for the Lake Brienz kayak tour
Autumn and winter
None of the three pages names autumn dates, so treat September to November as a time to confirm directly with the operator rather than assume the spring-and-summer lake programme still runs. For the cold months the clear choice is the winter tour: three hours, a small group and a fully sealed expedition drysuit and tranquil alpine scenery. It costs €15.10 more than the standard kayak tour and is the opposite of sheltered sightseeing.
Check availability and prices for the winter kayak tour
When clouds sit on the peaks
A lake day depends less on summit visibility than the seven-hour guided Jungfraujoch tour, so on a grey forecast it is the better use of a day. Keep the high-mountain trip for the clearest day you can get.
Our recommendation
For most first-time visitors, choose spring or summer and book the Boat Day Pass. Come in winter on purpose, for snow and quiet, and book the drysuit kayak tour rather than expecting the summer boat programme.
