Spiez Travel Guide

  Idyllic view of Spiez's marina and...
by slothtraveller
 
  • Idyllic view of Spiez's marina and castle
      Idyllic view of Spiez's marina and...
    by slothtraveller
  • The marina
      The marina
    by slothtraveller
  • View from my window. Where did the mountains go?!
      View from my window. Where did the...
    by slothtraveller
  • The hotel is at the bottom of this steep hill
      The hotel is at the bottom of this steep...
    by slothtraveller
  • Waterfront of Spiez,Canton Bern, Switzerland.
      Waterfront of Spiez,Canton Bern,...
    by Greggor58
 

Pro

Rhondaj profile photo

 lake, rolling mountains, charming, good take off point for rail riding 


Con

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 A Bit Islotaed 


In a nutshell

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 Stunningly scenic mountain life with all season weather combined with surprisingly good transport connections, populated by a generally conservative Swiss farming community. 

 

Explore Spiez

Things to Do  

Hiking: Homebase Spiez

Hiking: Homebase Spiez, Spiez

 SuperChief Says:  There are a few fantastic peaks that will definitely be great hikes starting from Spiez (by train or bus). The peak right behind Spiez is the Nisen. A post auto (bus) can take you to a veriety of base locations, and there is a train that can take you down at the end of a... 

step up the tower

step up the tower, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  While you are exploring the interior of the Schloss Spiez, a lot of steps will lead you upwards to the tower of the castle and I may really highly recomend to take these extra-steps for an excellent panorama-view of the vinyards next to the castle , the village of Spiez with... 

Dont miss this lovely house

Dont miss this lovely house, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  Dont miss this lovely house next to the chapel of St.Columban, it has a great balcony facing the Thuner See and a nice painting behind that balcony. When arriving from the lake you will see it, when arriving from the castle of Spiez you might easyly miss it, because that... 

Festsaal / the hall for festivities

Festsaal / the hall for festivities, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  The Festsaal is the largest and also one of the most beautiful rooms of the Schloss Spiez. All over the ceiling and sidewalls it has precious and unique stucco-works. It was funny for me to learn, that these great stuccoworks are left over only because of the fact, that the... 

Great interior of the Schloss Spiez

Great interior of the Schloss Spiez, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  You may visit the park of Schloss Spiez all year long, but the museum in the interior is open for the visitors only during the summer-season, staring normally at friday before easter-sunday. Take a look at my 3rd picture : that is a medieval bed, it has a door that will be... 

See the great interior of the castle !

See the great interior of the castle !, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  Schloss Spiez looks great from outside already, but it really makes sense to go inside as well ! You may walk around the castle on your own and may see interesting exhibits of different centuries.On my 1st pic : my favorite room with a giant painting and a precious wooden... 

Hotels  

Strandhotel Belvedere

 12 Opinions

Restaurants  

Cisalpino dining car: Dining in (!) the Alps

Cisalpino dining car: Dining in (!) the Alps, Spiez

 Nemorino Says:  The Cisalpino dining cars are run by Italian crews and have the kind of menu you would expect at an Italian (not Swiss) restaurant, with Antipasta, first course and second course selections. You could get a full Italian three course meal (with a "complimentary" aperitivo)... 

Berner Oberland: Floating Elegance

Berner Oberland: Floating Elegance, Spiez

 steventilly Says:  The bar/restaurant on the Berner Oberland.It's a lovely ship with a beautiful wood-panelled interior, though, and I'm sure any meaty meals will be OK for you carnivores :-) Beer and Ice Cream!!! Sorry, but that's all we had, as there was nothing particularly appealing to we... 

Transportation  

cruising-daytickets in spring for both lakes

cruising-daytickets in spring for both lakes, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  In spring You may get a dayticket for Thunersee and Brienzersee for just 25 sfr (1st class is 35 sfr). This ticket will include all of the cruises, BUT NO trains ! So you would have to pay a seperate fee of 2,20 sfr for the train between Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West (... 

EVERY MONDAY : cheap dayticket for both lakes

EVERY MONDAY : cheap dayticket for both lakes, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  When you are on vacation in Spiez, it makes sense to leave the cruises of Thuner See and Brienzer See for a monday, because every MONDAY throughout the summer-season you may get a day-ticket for all ships of both lakes for just 25 euros ! It might make sense to think about... 

Cisalpino (CIS) tilting trains

Cisalpino (CIS) tilting trains, Spiez

 Nemorino Says:  The Cisalpino company is an Italian-Swiss joint venture with the Italian and Swiss railway systems as equal partners. Cisaplino tilting trains have been running through the Alps between Switzerland and Italy since 1996.The advantage of the tilting trains is that they can... 

Veloland Switzerland

Veloland Switzerland, Spiez

 Nemorino Says:  When you get off the train at Spiez, as at all other Swiss railroad stations that I know of, you will soon find signs pointing the way along the national and regional cycling routes.Note that there are two different bicycle symbols on the signs, one for normal bicycles and... 

InterCityExpress (ICE) trains from Germany

InterCityExpress (ICE) trains from Germany, Spiez

 Nemorino Says:  Within Germany there is one ICE train per hour on most routes, including the route through the Rhine Valley between Frankfurt am Main and Basel.Five of these ICE trains per day also continue beyond Basel into Switzerland, stopping at Olten, Bern, Thun, Spiez and Interlaken.... 

Warnings and Dangers  

I almost drowned here in Spiez
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dannebro 17 reviews

I almost drowned in Spiez, while I was a child and we made an excursion with our school-class. When the ship landed I somehow slipped into the water, my teacher had to pull me out and the excursion was over for the whole class. Still today I feel guilty that I had spoiled a great excursion for the whole class, because I and my teacher had been totally wet and had to go home to get dry and change clothes.
It is so many years ago and still I have a bad feeling when I am in Spiez.

Written Jan 22, 2007

Related to:
 Family Travel

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Tourist Traps  

Do Not Pay! (Unless, of course, you're desperate)
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Rhondaj 771 reviews
At the mercy of McClean's toilets.

This McClean toilet at the Spiez train station charges women 2CHF to use their 'service.'
Men they charge 1CHF. That alone pisses me off!

Unique Suggestions: Dribble on the seat and leave toilet paper on the floor...(a few suggestions; you can probably come up with plenty more ideas yourself)

Fun Alternatives: Go for free on the train!

Written Aug 19, 2004

Related to:
 Family Travel

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Off The Beaten Path  

St.Beatus-Hoehle is closeby as well

St.Beatus-Hoehle is closeby as well, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  Beatushoehle might be an interesting place to go, when the weather is not good enough for a hike or mountain-tour. You will find this cave at the northern bank of Thunersee, about 10km north-east of Spiez. You may get there by car or much easyer by a cruise on Thunersee.... 

Huenegg - an Art Nouveau-palace

Huenegg - an Art Nouveau-palace, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  Schloss Huenegg is the next stop after Oberhofen, when you are taking a cruise at Thunersee from Spiez. Huenegg castle is in Huenibach, a small village at the northern bank of Thunersee, opposite of Spiez, in a distance of just 6km. Schloss Huenegg was built in french... 

Johann II von Bubenberg bought the castle in 1338

Johann II von Bubenberg bought the castle in 1338, Spiez

 globetrott Says:  Johann II von Bubenberg bought the castle in 1338 including the villages of Spiez; Faulensee, Hondrich, Spiezwieler and Einingen for a total amount of 5600 pounds (that is equivalent to 5 million euros). He was a Schultheis (judge) in Bern and members of his family had... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Sailing
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german_eagle 1923 reviews
church with the bay and boats

Lake Thun offers a large variety of water sports. The bay of Spiez is very well known for their sailing school.

Due to the nearby mountains the wind conditions are usually excellent.

Equipment: You can rent everything you need.

Written Oct 2, 2003

Website: www.segelschule-thunersee.ch

Related to:
 Sailing and Boating
 Family Travel

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Favorites  

Lake Promenades

Lake Promenades, Spiez

 german_eagle Says:  When in Spiez you *have* to go down to the lake and enjoy the recreation area there. Beside all sorts of water sports like sailing, surfing, just swimming or so, tennis and other activities are offered.Don't miss a walk along the lake promenades. Especially on the bank... 

Comments

Map of Spiez