Lake Blausee in Switzerland – All you need to know for a perfect visit

Lake Blausee in Switzerland needs to be seen in person as photos do not do justice to this beautiful place. You have to go and see this special Swiss lake for yourself. Only then can you believe how crystal clear the water is and understand why it is such a famous lake in Switzerland.

Switzerland counts about 1500 lakes (probably even more) . To pick the best one is simply impossible. They are all special, unique and breathtaking in their own way. From the popular lakes for a summer swim to crystal clear alpine lakes, each lake in Switzerland has its own charm.

Lake Blausee is very easily accessible and has many facilities to offer. Not like some other Blue Lakes in Switzerland that can only be reached after some hours of hiking, this one is a bit different.

And because it has all kinds of facilities and is easily accessible, the Blausee gets busy in the peak summer season of July and August.

Something else which is different with this lake is that it is gated and only accessible with a payable entry ticket. I be honest, I don’t like to pay to visit a natural alpine lake, but if you want to visit Blausee in Kandersteg, it is the only way to enter the nature area.

Luckily the entry prices are affordable and it is a nice spot. So why not.

Park your car or exit the public bus at the “Blausee Kandersteg” bus stop and in less than 5 minutes you will be standing on the shore of Lake Blausee in Kandersteg.

Although most people do arrive by car you can also hike to the Blausee. More information below on the “How to get there” section.

Map of Blausee

To get the Google Map location you can click here.

Facts about Lake Blausee before you visit

• Opening hours daily: from 9 am to 9 pm.
• Maximum depth: 12 meters
• Water temperature: approximately 8°C
• Size: 0.64 hectares
• Altitude: 887 meters above sea level

Restaurant Blausee in Kandersteg Switzerland

Questions & Answers about Lake Blausee

Is Blausee worth visiting?

• This is always a question I don’t like to answer, as it depends on what you want from this trip.
  I would definitely say, yes, it is worth visiting Lake Blausee in the Bernese Oberland. In fact, it may even be a contender for your Swiss bucket list.
  You can make a very nice day out with the family. Make a nice fire, grill sausages, the kids can play at the playground, walk around the lake and be in a nice natural environment. Or maybe you want to know more about the Trout fish farm on site. What a better place to learn how they are farmed and all that goes with it.

Can I stay at Blausee?

• Yes you can. The Hotel & Spa Blausee is a great place to spend the night end enjoy this beautiful place. In fact, it is a very good idea to spend the night here because this gives you the opportunity to see Blausee without the crowds and when the lake is illuminated at night

When is the best time to visit Blausee in Switzerland?

• If you can avoid peak summer season, Mid-June to late August, then do so. We visited Blausee on a winter day in March and I think I counted 10 person maximum in the park. It was perfect and the contrast between the snow and the blue lake water was stunning.
  Autumn at Blausee is another favourite amongst many photographers that know the place. Just imagine the autumn shades with the reflection of the sun in the blue lake water. Just beautiful. Also, the natural light to catch this perfect scene with your lens will be just right. Try to be there early mornings when the lake will be at its calmest.

When is the best time to photograph Lake Blausee?

• As always in photography early mornings and late afternoons are best to catch the sun’s rays shining through the trees and onto the water. This will bring out the hue of the lake colour even more.
  To get the calm lake in your photo I would suggest to be at lake Blausee early in the morning.
  I would definitely suggest winter and autumn months as the best time of year to visit.

Is it allowed to swim in Blausee?

• No, you are not allowed to swim in the lake. The lake is part of a Trout farm and you will see much large fish calmly swimming around and coming close to the surface. And please do not feed the fish.
  The hotel has organised in previous years a “Silvester schwimmen am Blausee” ( New Years’ swimming). Maybe they still do this event, best to contact them directly.

Can I fly my drone at Blausee in Switzerland?

• No, drones are not allowed within the Nature Park at Blausee.

Is the path around Blausee accessible with pushchairs or wheelchairs?

• The main path by the hotel-restaurant and to the BBQ station is accessible with a wheelchair or a pushchair. But the forest trails aren’t wheelchair nor pushchair friendly. You can see on the map above the trails which you can access.

How much time do I need to plan to visit Blausee in Switzerland?

• If you have the whole day, then perfect, bring a picnic. There are dedicated fire pitches so relax and take in the surrounding nature for as long as you like. You could also book some time in the hotel wellness & spa area.Should you be on a tight schedule I would suggest to count 2 hours for the visit. This will give you enough time to walk around the lake and discover some of the forest trails as well. A quick visit to the trout farm and enjoy a coffee on the sunny terrace at the restaurant.

 Can we bring our dog to Lake Blausee?

• Yes, you can, but as always in places like these, dogs must be on a leash. And please ensure your dog is not jumping in the lake. The no swimming policy at Blausee applies also to dogs.

Why is the water so blue at Blausee in Kandersteg?

• The reason why the water at Blausee is so crystal clear is because it consists of mineral-rich mountain spring water from an underground source. Or if you prefer the fairytale, then read below the legend of the Blausee.

How to get to Lake Blausee in Switzerland

Lake Blausee is in the Kander Valley near Interlaken in the Bernese Oberland. There are many ways to reach Lake Blausee

Arriving by car
From Interlaken, it will take about 35 minutes to the Blausee parking lot. You won’t miss it as a large sign indicates the area. The parking will be on your right amongst the trees.

Arriving by Public Transportation
You need to make your way to Kandersteg or Frutigen from where you take the bus Nr.230. The journey takes less than 15 minutes, until you reach your stop: “Blausee BE”. Be aware that there is only one bus every hour.

To plan your trip you can check the SBB timetable.

Hiking or biking to Lake Blausee
Yes, you can also hike or bike to the beautiful lake Blausee which is actually quite a nice way to access it. From the Kandersteg train station follow the hiking path Nr.743. (Kulturweg Frutigenland).

This family-friendly hike to Blausee will take you about,1h30 (less if you bike). The path is fairly straight apart from a 300m descent /ascent on the roundtrip.

If you visit during the winter months and are enjoying it with your snowshoes you may want to allow a bit longer.
This path along the Kander river is leading you directly to the Blausee. A new footbridge crosses the river which leads directly to the Blausee playground and BBQ station.

You are asked to pay for the entrance ticket at the main entrance.

If you are planning to take the bus back, you will find the bus stop on the main road next to the parking lot.

TRAVEL TIP: If you are only in the area for one day, I highly suggest you also visit the nearby Lake Oeschinesee.

Read how to get there on our blog article “Oeschinensee hike with kids”.If you visit lake Oeschinen with older kids, you may want to Hike the Panorama Trail at Oeschinensee.

Things to do & Events at Blausee Switzerland

Apart from admiring this beautiful place, you have several other activities to do and events to attend at Blausee.

Boat ride
Hop on the glass bottom boat and enjoy a round of the lake. This is probably the shortest boat trip you will be on but as it is included in your entry ticket during the summer season, why not.
But be prepared that it will literally just take 2-3 minutes. If you love a boat trip you will also love this one, despite its duration.

Open-air Movies & Concerts
During the summer months, Lake Blausee holds some great open-air movie evenings and concerts for all tastes.

Diving at Lake Blausee
From November through to April it is possible to dive at Blausee. Although this is only possible in combination with the 4-course gourmet dinner at the Blausee Restaurant. The cost is Chf 99.- per person. You also need to have a diving certificate.

Treat yourself to a massage or wellness day
The Hotel Blausee has a wellness area and even if you are not staying overnight, you can book a massage of your choice. The wellness & spa area includes a sauna, samarium, steam grotto, whirlpool, and bathtub garden.

Best to contact the hotel directly to reserve your wellness experience at Hotel Blausee.

Brunch and Dine
On weekends the restaurant offers a great brunch experience which is served on the terrace overlooking lake Blausee or in their restaurant. Reservations are advisable.

The story behind the sunken statue in Lake Blausee

I like how people tell stories which keep the legends alive. The same with the sunken statue at Blausee.

You will find her by the bridge and the tale involves a beautiful maiden and a shepherd who fell in love.
The lake was the place where they met up and had many romantic hours together. Tragically the shepherd passed away one day, leaving behind the widow.

To grieve she rowed out onto the lake alone, but one night her boat sank. The legend says that it was from that moment on that Lake Blausee changed its colour to the eternal blue it is now. Apparently because of the tears from the woman’s blue eyes.

Whether this heartbreak legend is the reason why Blausee got its stunning turquoise-blue colour or not. Fact is, it is one of Switzerland’s most famous blue lakes.

Other activities in the Bernese Oberland Area

If you are spending a few days in the Bernese Oberland than check out these different activities!

And read some of our Blog Articles to get inspired by the region even more.

• Hike the Panorama Trail at lake Oeschinensee
• Adleboden, Hiking along the Vogellisi Theme trail
• A day at the Hasliberg in Meiringen
• Grimsel Pass – Family Hike Oberaarsee and Glacier
• The Giessbachfälle – Waterfall at Lake Brienz
• Meiringen Hasliberg – The perfect winter resort for families
• Visit Lake Brienz in the Interlaken Region

I hope that the information provided here will prove itself useful when planning your visit to Lake Blausee in Switzerland.

If I have left anything out or you have a question, please ask your questions in the comments below.  This way other readers can join in the conversation and benefit from your queries also.

Thank you & Never Forget to Explore

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