Grandhotel Giessbach

We had a beautiful double large room #112, with balcony and views of both the lake and falls. Our room had a comfortable bed with table and chairs plus a fantastic bathroom. Lots of light, a fan we requested, and quite. Very clean and maintained historic hotel. We had a four course dinner included and both evenings the food was excellent. Breakfast was included as a buffet and it was excellent as well. For dinner both evenings we had a direct view of the falls-in our room it gave us a wonderful soothing sleep. The grounds are alive with flowers and pool is a nice reprieve during hot summer. Funicular to boat landing is very nice as well. Staff was super helpful and friendly. Would definitely stay here again.

We absolutely loved our stay at the Giessbach Grand Hotel. The property is simply stunning — perched between the mountains, overlooking the lake, and with its very own waterfall right on the grounds. It’s hard to imagine a more breathtaking location.||The staff deserves special mention — everyone we met was friendly, courteous, and genuinely helpful, making us feel very welcome from the moment we arrived.||We had both dinner and breakfast at the hotel, and the food was excellent. As vegetarians, we were pleasantly surprised at the variety and flavor — it wasn’t Indian cuisine, yet it was among the tastiest vegetarian meals we’ve had while traveling. Truly a highlight of our stay!||The only aspect to be aware of is the commute. While there are hotel shuttles and a free boat service, the timings are limited. If your schedule doesn’t align, the alternative is a taxi to Brienz (the nearest train station), which costs around 50 CHF each way. For a short stay like ours (2 days), this wasn’t a big issue — we just planned around it and did one paid round trip. Honestly, for the experience of staying in such a gorgeous property with such wonderful staff, the extra cost felt worthwhile.||Overall, Giessbach Grand Hotel is not just a place to stay — it’s a destination in itself. I’d highly recommend it to anyone visiting Switzerland.

Grand Hotel Geissbach - This hotel is without question one of the most amazing hotels I have ever seen and stayed in. It is very traditional with a long history. Although a little auspicious at first presentation the reception staff are fantastic at setting the scene and making you feel at home. There is a fantastic waterfall next to the hotel which is a real feature. They have two restaurants - (a little pricey but good). The hotel itself is very well decorated and there is some art as well. The views of the lake from the hotel are exceptional. As you are in the forest/nature reserve take appropriate clothing it can be wet at times. If you stay at the hotel take advantage of the Nostalgia Pass and the free funicular. I would recommend.

We stayed two nights in June. The hotel is majestic and of course historic. The grounds are elegant and the Giessbach Falls are spectacular. We hiked to the top of the falls and also enjoyed the natural swimming pool- no chemicals, cleaned by the grasses and stones, and swam with the newts. The pool umbrellas and chairs are very nice and on a hill so you can see a lot of the beautiful grounds. It’s great to walk around and see the garden and greenhouse and there are plenty of hiking trails next to the hotel. Of course riding the Giessbach Funicular was special and enjoyable, as well as the Lake Brienz boat ride we took from Interlaken to arrive at the Giessbach See. The hotel’s front terrace is not to be missed! Spectacular views!! Our room was spacious and the bathroom was very modern and nice. We most enjoyed eating Kehrli Terrace casual restaurant. The fish and chips and potato/leek soup with sausage were sure hits! We also ate at Elisa one evening and it was very good, but service was pretty slow. They were full and only had two waiters. Overall, this was a fantastic and not to be missed experience at a wonderfully historic Swiss hotel. The staff were all very friendly and helpful and the breakfast was wonderful. Thank you for a forever memory.

One of the most beautiful places in Switzerland! Grandhotel Giessbach offers a unique atmosphere – a stunning historic building overlooking Lake Brienz, surrounded by forest, with the impressive Giessbach waterfall just behind the hotel. The area feels like a fairytale – perfect for walking, photography, or simply relaxing on the terrace with breathtaking views. There are several ways to reach the hotel – many visitors enjoy arriving by boat from Brienz and taking the historic funicular up to the hotel. However, most VIP clients and high-end travelers prefer the comfort and privacy of arriving directly by car – which is fully understandable, especially when using private drivers or transfer services. Since May 2025, however, a new access system for vehicles has been introduced, which can be quite frustrating. On the road leading to the hotel, there’s a sign with a QR code – drivers must scan it and purchase an online entry permit, otherwise the barrier won’t open. In practice, this means vehicles often stop in the middle of the narrow road while drivers figure out the process, causing traffic buildup and unnecessary stress – especially for tourists without Swiss internet or unfamiliar with the system. It's unclear why such a setup was introduced without better planning. Unfortunately, such a majestic location is sometimes let down by the quality of the staff. Not everyone you encounter here is friendly, experienced, or professionally trained – which is disappointing for a hotel of this standard. That being said, the setting remains unforgettable. The nature, tranquility, views, and historic charm of the place make it worth visiting – just be well-prepared in advance, and don’t expect everything to run perfectly.

An amazing resurrection of a 19th century grand hotel, now preserved by a trust for future generations. Best approached by boat from Interlaken, it is perched half way up a mountain and reached from the shore by its original funicular railway. Next to it is the equally impressive and tranquilising Giessbach waterfall that grows to a torrent when it rains. The interiors and furnishings of the hotel are meticulously in keeping with its late 19th century heyday, with antique furniture, chandeliers and a profusion of grand pianos. If you don’t feel like hiking up the mountain, you can relax in the mountain stream swimming pool or enjoy people-watching while you sip tea, coffee or something stronger in the luxuriously large salons or on the terrace. Excellent food, comfortable beds and friendly and helpful staff. Impossible to recommend too highly - and good value for money!

Grandhotel Giessbach overlooks Lake Brienz in the Bernese Oberland, near Brienz. You can take a boat across the lake and hop on the funicular that climbs from the hotel’s private dock up to the terrace. The views of turquoise water and Giessbach Falls crashing beside the hotel are worth the trip. We explored the forest paths and gardens before the crowds arrived, enjoying fresh mountain air and waterfall mist. Inside, halls feel elegant. An easy, rewarding stop if you want class.

We had an absolutely wonderful stay at Grandhotel Giessbach. The location is breathtaking – surrounded by majestic nature with stunning views in every direction. The hotel itself exudes old-world charm and elegance, and the service was exceptional from start to finish.|One of the highlights was the live pianist, he played beautiful music during breakfast and again in the evening before dinner. |Everything about our stay was perfect. We’re already looking forward to coming back!

This place is a step back in time with lots of class. You almost feel like you're royalty staying here. Heck, it's such a landmark that visitors will come just to have a drink. If you are looking for an experience with your hotel stay, this is the place for it. The atmosphere is breathtaking. Listen to some live piano music while sipping on a cocktail in the lounge and taking in views everywhere you look with a waterfall on one side and the magnificent Lake Brienz on the other. During the day you'll see a trolley that transports guests up and down to a ferry on the lake. My only note is that the comfort factor may not be quite as high as some other places, but the charm more than makes up for it. The buffet breakfast was what dreams are made of. Cheeses from local pastures, honey straight off the comb, fresh pastries, the best coffee and espresso--and that's just a few of my favorites. You also have your pick of fresh fruit, cereals, pancakes, eggs, sausage, bacon, etc.

The Grandhotel Giessbach is an adventure back into the grand lifestyle of the rich and famous! After you take the Funicular to the top you are greeted​ by the most sumptuous​ of gardens of spring flowers carefully​maintained​ by a dedicate horticulturist​. Venture inside​ (although why would you when the Swiss Alps demand you to stay and pay homage to their almighty majesty) to find a most elegant of interiors harking back to the Belle Epoque of yesteryear. The main dining​ rooms, billiard rooms, bar, ​and restaurant​ are all well maintained and serve the most picturesque​ views of the majestic falls... even the water they serve comes from this. Don't​ miss taking the trails up and into the fall this is as close to Mother Nature herself as one might suspect. Don't​ miss the four-course​ dinner served in their dining room, and the MAGNIFICANT​ BREAKFAST served daily - this is an adventure in fine dining as one can expect​ from a GRANDHOTEL!

Beautiful location, wonderful hotel, TERRIBLE service. Bill number 4715. 4th of June. First of all she ignored our table completely for about 10 minutes. After I went personally to her to tell her we are waiting, she finally decided to take our order. (Attitude from the beginning!) We ordered two Cappuccino, together with cake from the display. It took her another while to serve the Cappuccino. Unfortunately WITHOUT the cake. She said, she would bring the cake immediately (which would make sense because the cake was standing ready in the display area). Another five minutes later my husband was starting dtinking his coffee because he gave up. I decided to wait for my cake. That was a mistake. We waited another 10 minutes before she finally showed up with the cake (no word of excuse). Well, my Cappuccino was cold. I asked her to bring a new one because that was the idea to have both together. In between our waiting periods I watched her having lovely conversations with elder people which, obviously, stood in the hotel. It would have been ALL ok, if you don't pay CHF 25 for two Cappuccino and two cake and expect a top notch service in a top notch hotel and restaurant. We would have even spent more money or stayed around for lunch if her attitude towards us (and other non residential guest) wouldn't have been so disappointing. I would highly recommend that the restaurant management trains their stuff in the perspective that the guest is the one to be served. Somehow the waitress got the wrong idea about her job and ruined our experience at this place. Cappuccino was good. Cake was nice either.

What can one criticize about Swiss nature? Yet another breathtaking corner discovered while staying at the Grandhotel.