Bernese Oberland · BE
Photoshoot at the Iseltwald pier
Iseltwald is a small village on the south shore of Lake Brienz, near Interlaken, known for the wooden pier that appeared in the Korean drama Crash Landing on You. Alpiora arranges photoshoots here with independent local photographers, from CHF 650.
Pricing
From CHF 650
- Region
- Bernese Oberland
- Elevation
- 566 m
- Photo spots
- 5
Starting price. The exact price depends on photographer, place, date, time and add-ons, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
Quick answers
- How much does it cost?
- Photoshoot in Iseltwald starts from CHF 650. The final price depends on the place, duration, date, time of day, travel and any add-ons such as video, and is stated in your proposal before you book.
- When is the best time?
- The single most useful decision is the hour.
- Which experiences are available here?
- Proposal Photography, Couple Photoshoot, Honeymoon Photography, and Engagement Photography
- Getting there
- Bus 103 runs from Interlaken West via Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald in about 20 minutes, roughly every 30 minutes.
- Where does it take place?
- Popular places include The Iseltwald pier; Village lakefront and harbour; Schloss Seeburg view; Lakeside path to Giessbach. Your photographer suggests the best spot for your date, the light and the crowds.
- How does booking work?
- Send a free request with your place, date and plans. Alpiora checks which photographers are available and replies with a proposal stating the photographer, the package and the exact price. Nothing is booked until you accept.
Iseltwald is a fishing village of a few hundred people on a small peninsula in Lake Brienz, twenty minutes by bus from Interlaken. Its short wooden pier, reaching out over turquoise water with forested slopes across the lake, became world-famous after the series Crash Landing on You, and today it is one of the most photographed places in the Bernese Oberland.
That fame shapes every shoot here. Since spring 2023 the pier sits behind a turnstile, and from mid-morning there is usually a queue of visitors waiting for their turn at the end. A good session in Iseltwald uses the pier for a few strong frames at a quiet hour, then moves to the lakeshore, the path towards Giessbach or the boat, where you have space and time.
Iseltwald is priced as an Alpine location, from CHF 650 for 90 minutes. It is a favourite for proposals at the Iseltwald pier and for couple photoshoots, and pairs naturally with Brienz and the Giessbach Falls further along the lake.
Photo spots — Iseltwald
- 01
The Iseltwald pier
A narrow wooden jetty with a bench-like platform at its end, looking out across the lake to the steep, wooded north shore. The water beneath is clear and turquoise on sunny days. Access is through a turnstile that charges 5 francs per person, payable with Swiss coins or card; the machine does not take notes. Visitors queue for their turn at the end, so plan a few minutes there, not a whole session.
- Best time
- Shortly after sunrise and in the first hours of the morning, before the tour groups; calm mornings give the glassiest water.
- Access
- A few minutes on foot from the Iseltwald bus stops and the boat landing; flat.
- 02
Village lakefront and harbour
Beyond the pier, the lakefront has old wooden houses, moored boats and small jetties with the same turquoise water and no turnstile. Here you can walk, sit on the stone edge and take the relaxed frames that the pier queue does not allow.
- Best time
- Morning for soft light; late afternoon when the day visitors have left.
- Access
- Right in the village, along the lakeside lane.
- 03
Schloss Seeburg view
At the tip of the Iseltwald peninsula stands Schloss Seeburg, a small castle in private ownership that you can photograph but not visit. From the lakeside path heading east, you look back at it across the water, with its reflection on calm days.
- Best time
- Calm mornings for the reflection.
- Access
- A short walk from the village onto the lakeside path towards Giessbach.
- 04
Lakeside path to Giessbach
The shoreline path from Iseltwald to Giessbach runs almost entirely along the lake through old mountain forest, with gnarled trees, pebble coves and views over the water. It is the best place near Iseltwald for unhurried, natural photographs.
- Best time
- Any time from late morning to evening; the forest gives open shade on bright days.
- Access
- Starts at the village; about 1.5 to 2 hours on foot to the Giessbach Falls, with some ups and downs. Return by boat from Giessbach See in season.
- 05
Lake Brienz boat
Arriving by boat gives you frames on deck with the lake all around, and the approach to Iseltwald from the water. On many summer days in 2026 the historic paddle steamer Lötschberg sails the lake.
- Best time
- Summer, on the late-morning and afternoon sailings.
- Access
- BLS boats between Interlaken Ost and Brienz stop at Iseltwald from 3 April to 6 December 2026; about 40 minutes from Interlaken Ost.
Best time
Seasons
The lake is at its most turquoise in summer, when meltwater carries fine glacial rock flour from the Aare and the Lütschine into Lake Brienz; June to September also brings the most visitors. September and October keep good colour with fewer people. From December to early April the boats do not run and the village is very quiet, which suits a winter shoot if you come by bus or car.
Time of day
The single most useful decision is the hour. Early morning gives you the pier almost alone and the calmest water. From late morning to mid-afternoon the queue at the turnstile can be long, especially when tour coaches arrive. Late afternoon and evening are quieter again, with softer light on the far shore.
Weather
Colour depends on sun: on overcast days the lake turns a flat grey-green, although soft light is kinder to faces. Wind ripples the surface, so reflections need still mornings. Summer afternoons can bring showers over the lake; with a flexible time slot your photographer can move the session to a clearer window.
Getting there
Bus 103 runs from Interlaken West via Interlaken Ost to Iseltwald in about 20 minutes, roughly every 30 minutes. From April to early December, BLS boats from Interlaken Ost reach Iseltwald in about 40 minutes and continue to Giessbach and Brienz; in summer the first boats arrive around 10.00, too late for sunrise. By car, Iseltwald has its own exit on the A8, but parking in the village is limited in high season and tour coaches are subject to local controls.
Good to know
The pier fee is 5 francs per person through a turnstile, introduced by the municipality in 2023 and still in place in 2025; the public toilets have a separate turnstile. Everyone who steps onto the pier pays, including a photographer who joins you there. Be considerate of the queue: long setups on the pier are not realistic at busy times. For drones, the Jungfrau region asks pilots to stay in permitted open areas, away from people; check the federal drone map at map.geo.admin.ch and ask your photographer before planning aerial shots. Schloss Seeburg and private gardens are off limits.
- Bring a few Swiss franc coins or a card for the turnstile; there is no change for notes.
- Plan two or three minutes on the pier and the rest of the session elsewhere in the village.
- Soft, light colours and white read beautifully against turquoise water; avoid wearing the same turquoise.
- Combine Iseltwald with the boat to Brienz or a walk to the Giessbach Falls for more variety.
- In summer, arrive by the first buses of the day rather than by boat if you want the pier to yourselves.
Experiences in Iseltwald
Related experiences
From CHF 650
Proposal Photography
A photographer who hides, catches the moment you ask, and then takes relaxed portraits of the two of you. Planned with you in advance.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 390
Couple Photoshoot
A guided session for two, in a Swiss old town, by a lake or in the mountains, with a photographer who knows the light there.
1 hourExplore
From CHF 650
Honeymoon Photography
Ninety unhurried minutes for newlyweds, at the stop of your Swiss trip that matters most, with a photographer who knows it.
1 h 30 minExplore
From CHF 390
Engagement Photography
A session for engaged couples, planned around what the photos are for: save-the-dates, invitations, a wedding website or your walls.
1 hourExplore
Photographer availability
We confirm availability for your date personally — send a request and we will check which reviewed photographers are free for this place and session.
Find a Photographer in IseltwaldFrequently asked questions
Do you have to pay to go on the Iseltwald pier?
Yes. Access to the pier is through a turnstile that charges 5 francs per person, introduced in 2023. You can pay with Swiss coins or by card, but the machine does not change notes. Check on the spot in case the rules have changed.
When is the Iseltwald pier least crowded?
Early morning, shortly after sunrise, is the quietest time, and late afternoon to evening is the second-best window. From late morning to mid-afternoon tour groups often queue for the pier. A photographer will usually plan the pier first and the rest of the session afterwards.
Is the Iseltwald pier a good place to propose?
It can be, if you choose the hour well: at sunrise the pier is often empty, while at midday you would propose in front of a queue. Many couples do the proposal at the pier early and continue with photographs along the quieter lakefront. The page on proposal photography in Iseltwald covers the details.
How do I get from Interlaken to Iseltwald?
Bus 103 from Interlaken West or Interlaken Ost takes about 20 minutes and runs roughly every half hour. Between April and early December you can also take the boat from Interlaken Ost, which takes about 40 minutes. Driving is possible, but parking is limited in summer.
Why is the water in Iseltwald so turquoise?
Rivers fed by glaciers, mainly the Aare and the Lütschine, carry very fine rock flour into Lake Brienz, which reflects blue-green light. The colour is strongest in summer on sunny days and fades to grey-green under cloud. That is why sunny summer mornings are the favourite time for photographs.
How much does a photoshoot in Iseltwald cost?
Sessions in Iseltwald start at CHF 650 for 90 minutes, the Alpine floor for the Bernese Oberland. The price depends on the photographer, the time of day and whether you combine Iseltwald with other places. Send an availability request and you receive a proposal with the full price.
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