Blausee is a small, intensely blue lake in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland, set inside a privately operated nature park near Kandergrund and Kandersteg. Its clear groundwater, forest setting, trout-filled water, short walking paths, picnic areas, and seasonal boat ride make it an easy half-day stop for families, couples, photographers, and travelers exploring the Kandertal. Because admission prices, opening hours, and temporary restrictions can change, a little planning makes the visit much easier.
Quick Answer
Blausee is a small blue lake inside a 20-hectare nature park in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. Visit for short forest walks, trout-filled water, picnic areas, a playground, and a summer glass-bottom boat ride. Arrive by bus from Frutigen or Kandersteg, and check current tickets and temporary park notices before you go.
Key Takeaways
- Use the train to Frutigen or Kandersteg, then take the bus to the Blausee BE stop.
- Admission is charged, and prices vary by age, weekday versus weekend/holiday, and daytime versus evening entry.
- A seasonal glass-bottom rowing-boat ride is included with qualifying daytime admission in summer.
- Swimming and fishing are not permitted during normal visits.
- The main paved route is generally suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, but smaller woodland paths are not.
- Check the official Blausee website shortly before visiting because special opening hours, fire restrictions, and attraction availability can change.
Blausee at a Glance
| Location | Blausee-Mitholz, Kandertal, Bernese Oberland, Switzerland |
| Normal Opening | Daily, 365 days a year, normally from 9:00 AM; special closing times can apply |
| Public Transport | Train to Frutigen or Kandersteg, then bus to Blausee BE; approximately 350 metres on foot from the bus stop |
| Main Activities | Forest walks, lakeside views, summer glass-bottom boat ride, playground, picnicking, dining, and trout viewing |
| Swimming / Fishing | Not permitted during normal visits |
How to Get to Blausee: Transportation and Directions
Blausee is in the Kandertal between Frutigen and Kandersteg. Bern can be used as a starting point, but there is no need to drive all the way to the lake. Switzerland’s rail-and-bus network makes public transport straightforward.
Getting to Blausee by Train and Bus
The official visitor instructions say to take a train to Frutigen or Kandersteg and change there to the local bus. Get off at Blausee BE. From that stop, the walk to the lake is approximately 350 metres. Check your exact connection with the SBB timetable because schedules can vary by date.
Blausee-Mitholz is a place name associated with the area and its railway history, but visitors should not plan a normal Blausee trip around a passenger train stop there. Follow the current Blausee directions through Frutigen or Kandersteg instead.
Driving and Parking
If you drive, approach from Spiez in the direction of Frutigen and Kandersteg. Shortly after Kandergrund, follow the signs for Blausee. The official attraction operates several paid car parks along the main road. Depending on the parking area you use, expect to walk roughly 300 to 550 metres to the lake.
Pro Tip: Public transport is especially useful on busy weekends and during events because the official operator warns that parking can fill up. Buying your admission ticket online can also reduce waiting at the entrance.
Blausee Tickets, Opening Hours, and Discounts
Blausee Nature Park charges admission because the park is privately owned and maintained. According to the official Blausee visitor page, the following prices were listed when this guide was updated on August 17, 2026:
| Ticket | Mon-Fri | Weekends & Holidays |
| Adult daytime | CHF 11 | CHF 13 |
| Age 6-15 daytime | CHF 7 | CHF 9 |
| Adult from 6:00 PM | CHF 9 | CHF 11 |
| Age 6-15 from 6:00 PM | CHF 5 | CHF 7 |
| Children under 6 | Free | Free |
Visitors who come on their birthday receive free nature-park admission when they show identification. The official FAQ also states that the Bernese Oberland Pass and eligible guest cards from the Kandersteg, Adelboden, or Lenk regions provide a 50% admission discount. Half-Fare, GA, and Swiss Travel Pass holders do not receive the same admission reduction solely from those passes.
Note: Prices and closing times can change by season, day, or event. Check the official Blausee website on the day of your trip instead of relying permanently on the prices above.
Exploring the Natural Beauty of Blausee: Hiking Trails and Scenic Views
The easiest way to experience Blausee is on foot. The park has a network of short nature and woodland paths rather than one major mountain trek. The official park map identifies routes around the lake and through the surrounding forest, including the Gorge path, Forest path, Sommerau path, and lakeside sections.
These paths pass moss-covered rocks, tree roots, wooded areas, lake viewpoints, and small gorge-like formations. Some sections are uneven underfoot, so supportive footwear is useful even though the park itself is compact.
The walk immediately around Blausee is suitable for a relaxed sightseeing visit, while travelers looking for longer alpine hiking can continue their day elsewhere in the Kandertal or around Kandersteg. Niesen, sometimes called the “Swiss Pyramid,” is another Bernese Oberland mountain excursion, but it should not be treated as a hiking trail that begins inside Blausee Nature Park.
Why Is Blausee So Blue?
Blausee’s strong blue appearance is not simply the reflection of the surrounding forest. According to the official nature-park information, the lake is fed by groundwater from the Kander valley and is exceptionally clear. Clear water preferentially absorbs longer red wavelengths of visible light, helping blue wavelengths dominate what our eyes perceive across a sufficient depth of water.
The surrounding landscape also has a dramatic geological history. Blausee says the roughly 20-hectare park landscape was shaped about 15,000 years ago by a large rockfall from the Fisistock mountain. Rocks, tree trunks, forest, and extremely clear water now combine to create the lake’s distinctive appearance.
There is also a traditional local legend. The Blausee saga tells of a grieving young woman whose tears supposedly turned the lake the same deep blue as her eyes. It is folklore rather than the scientific explanation, but the story remains part of the attraction’s cultural identity.
The Unique Flora and Fauna of Blausee: Wildlife and Plant Life
| Category | Verified Details |
| Location | Blausee Nature Park, Kandertal, Bernese Oberland |
| Fish | Trout are a major feature; the organic farm raises rainbow and salmon trout, and the official FAQ also refers to sturgeon in the lake |
| Plant Life | Woodland with fir and deciduous trees, moss-covered rocks, and other naturally occurring forest vegetation |
| Park Status | Privately owned 20-hectare nature park |
Fish are among the easiest animals to observe because the water is so clear. Blausee’s organic trout farm raises rainbow and salmon trout in cold mountain spring water. The official operator says the lake remains close to 8°C throughout the year.
The surrounding woodland is just as important to the character of the park. Rather than expecting specific rare alpine flowers at the lakeshore, visitors should look for the combination of mature forest, mossy boulders, woodland plants, and seasonal changes in foliage.
Llamas also spend the summer season in the Sommerau area of the park, and the operator offers separate llama-trekking experiences by reservation. These animals are managed attractions rather than native Blausee wildlife.
Activities at Blausee: Boating, Fishing, and Picnicking
Glass-Bottom Boat Ride
In summer, visitors can see the lake from the water on a glass-bottom rowing boat. The ride is included with qualifying daytime nature-park admission and gives passengers a closer look at Blausee’s unusually clear water, submerged rocks, and fish. It should be described as an included operated boat experience, not as unrestricted rowboat rental.
Fishing
Visitors cannot fish at Blausee. The official FAQ specifically prohibits fishing. If you are interested in the trout, you can observe them in the lake, visit the trout-farm area when it is open, buy trout products from the shop, or order trout in the restaurant.
Picnicking and Barbecue Areas
Picnic areas and a children’s playground make Blausee convenient for families. The park normally has designated barbecue areas and provides firewood as part of admission.
Warning: As of August 17, 2026, Blausee’s official website says barbecuing is prohibited until further notice because of forest-fire danger. Picnic areas remain open. Check the current notice before your visit because this restriction may change.
Swimming
Swimming is not permitted during normal visits. The rule protects the lake and its fish. Blausee occasionally holds a separately organized charity swimming event, but that special event does not make recreational swimming generally permissible.
The Blausee Experience: Hotels, Restaurants, and Local Culture
Blausee is more than a viewpoint. Visitors can eat, stay overnight, or make the lake part of a longer Kandertal trip. The Hotel & Spa Blausee stands inside the nature park and dates to 1878. The hotel currently has 21 rooms with a combination of main-building rooms, chalet suites, and separate forest houses.
Staying overnight lets you experience the setting after many daytime visitors have left. Hotel guests receive nature-park access and parking among their included services, along with breakfast and spa access according to the hotel’s current terms.
For food, the site has the Blausee Restaurant, café facilities, and the seasonal Wasserhaus self-service bistro. Trout from the property’s organic farm is a signature ingredient, alongside meat, vegetarian dishes, drinks, desserts, and seasonal offerings. Restaurant and bistro hours can differ from nature-park hours, so check them separately.
The Blausee saga adds a cultural layer to the trip. A stone figure in the lake refers to the traditional story of the grieving young woman whose tears supposedly gave Blausee its famous color. Knowing the legend can make the lakeside walk more meaningful, even though the lake’s actual appearance has a natural optical explanation.
Tips for Visiting Blausee: What to Pack and When to Go
Spring and Summer
Warmer months are ideal if you want green woodland, comfortable walking conditions, the seasonal boat experience, outdoor dining, and the fullest range of family activities. Bring comfortable shoes, sun protection, drinking water, and a light rain layer. Mountain weather can change quickly even on a pleasant day.
Autumn
Autumn adds warm leaf colors to the forest and can be excellent for photography. Cooler temperatures also make the woodland paths comfortable for walking. A light insulated layer and rain protection are useful.
Winter
Blausee remains a year-round destination. Snow around the forest and lake can create striking scenery, but paths may be cold or slippery. Wear warm layers and shoes with good traction, and check special seasonal events and opening information before traveling.
Pro Tip: For quieter photographs, arrive close to opening time or visit on a weekday. The clearest lake views often come from changing your angle around the shoreline rather than relying on a single viewpoint.
Accessibility, Families, Dogs, and Visitor Facilities
From the main entrance, the official FAQ describes an approximately 300-metre asphalted route to the lake. It rises and falls slightly but is generally suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The restaurant, playground, and wheelchair-accessible toilet can therefore be reached by many visitors with mobility needs.
The smaller nature-park trails are different. Their roots, rocks, soft ground, and uneven surfaces make them unsuitable for wheelchairs and many pushchairs.
Families have access to a nature playground, picnic areas, toilets, and changing facilities. Luggage lockers are available in the main parking area near the entrance shop. The official FAQ currently lists the locker fee as CHF 5 per day, payable in Swiss-franc cash.
Dogs are welcome free of charge but must remain on a leash. Dogs are not allowed to swim in Blausee and have restrictions in certain areas, including the summer llama pasture. The park does not currently provide public electric-car charging stations.
Preserving the Beauty of Blausee: Sustainable Travel and Conservation
Blausee is a privately maintained nature park, so responsible visitor behavior directly helps protect its woodland, paths, water, and animals. Stay on established paths, use waste facilities, and follow temporary fire rules.
Do not swim or fish in the lake. Do not feed the trout or sturgeon, and do not throw stones into the water because fish can mistake them for food. Recreational drone flying is also prohibited inside the nature park according to the official FAQ.
Using public transport can reduce parking pressure during busy periods. Visitors who bring food can use the picnic areas while respecting any current fire restrictions. These simple choices help preserve the calm setting that makes Blausee attractive in the first place.
If you’re planning a trip to the serene and picturesque Blausee, you might also be interested in exploring culinary ideas at home. For a separate food-related read, see this article on delicious homemade cottage cheese.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Blausee?
Blausee is a small, exceptionally clear blue lake in the Kandertal area of Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland. It sits inside a privately owned 20-hectare nature park with woodland paths, picnic facilities, a playground, dining, accommodation, and a trout farm.
How do I get to Blausee by public transport?
Take a train to Frutigen or Kandersteg, then transfer to a bus and get off at Blausee BE. The official FAQ says the walk from the bus stop to the lake is approximately 350 metres.
How much does it cost to visit Blausee?
Prices vary by age, day, and entry time. As of August 17, 2026, daytime adult admission was listed at CHF 11 Monday-Friday and CHF 13 on weekends and holidays. Children under 6 were free. Always check the official ticket page for the current price before traveling.
Can you swim in Blausee?
No. Recreational swimming is not permitted during normal visits. Special organized events may occasionally use the lake under separate arrangements.
Can you fish at Blausee?
No. Fishing is prohibited, and visitors cannot buy a normal recreational fishing permit for the lake. Trout can instead be observed in the water or enjoyed through the restaurant, shop, and organic trout farm.
Is the Blausee boat ride included with admission?
During summer, the glass-bottom rowing-boat ride is included with qualifying daytime admission. Evening tickets do not include the boat because it does not operate in the evening.
Is Blausee wheelchair and stroller accessible?
The approximately 300-metre asphalted route from the main entrance to the lake is generally suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs despite some slopes. Smaller woodland paths are uneven and are not considered suitable.
Are dogs allowed at Blausee?
Yes. Dogs are welcome free of charge but must remain on a leash. They cannot swim in Blausee and are excluded from some areas, including the llama pasture during summer.
What is the best time to visit Blausee?
Blausee is open year-round and each season offers a different experience. Summer provides the broadest activity range and the seasonal boat ride, autumn is attractive for colorful woodland, and winter can provide snowy scenery. Weekdays and early visits are usually the better choice if you want a quieter experience.
Sources
- Blausee AG: Contact, Directions, Opening Hours and Tickets – current admission prices, opening information, public transport, and driving directions.
- Blausee AG: Frequently Asked Questions – parking, accessibility, swimming, fishing, dogs, discounts, luggage lockers, and visitor rules.
- Blausee AG: Nature Park – park size, geology, walking paths, glass-bottom boat, playground, picnic facilities, seasonal animals, and current park notices.
- Blausee AG: Organic Trout Farm – verified trout information and water conditions.
- Hotel & Spa Blausee – accommodation and hotel facilities.
- U.S. Geological Survey: Water Color – scientific explanation of why clear water can appear blue.
