Fun on the water – Oeschinen Lake
Swimming, fishing, a turn at the oars on a rowing boat – Oeschinen Lake has everything you need for a perfect summer excursion
Rent a rowing boat and explore the lake as a romantic outing, or to send out a fishing line. Maybe you’ll be lucky and land a fish. Discover the untouched nature around Oeschinen Lake while swimming, fishing and boating. Let your soul unwind and enjoy the stunning views of the Blüemlisalp massif.
With the train travel from Bern directly to Kandersteg. You can reach Oeschinensee from the upper station of the Oeschinensee gondola lift on foot in 25 minutes or by electric vehicle in 10 minutes.
Attraction
Boat rental
Let your soul unwind out on the lake.
People have been taking romantic rowing boat rides on the lake for some 120 years. And to this day, time stands still on a boat trip on Oeschinen Lake. Sit down, cast off and forget the world.
Fishing on the mountain lake
Fishing is a year-round activity out on picturesque Oeschinen Lake. Practice (and patience) makes perfect, as mountain lake fishing is a discipline all of its own. The time of day and the weather are critical to your success.
Try your luck! Day and weekly passes can be purchased from the restaurants on Oeschinen Lake, and fishing boats can be rented from the Berghaus Arva Oeschinensee. Just remember that you will need to bring equipment such as grubs, worms, hooks and rods with you. The Mountain Lakes Fishing Law of the Canton of Bern applies when fishing on Oeschinen Lake.
Swimming in the lake
Enjoy a refreshing dip in the clear mountain lake. The water is very clean, but very cold throughout most of the year. In high summer, however, the water temperature can reach 20°C, making it a very popular place to swim. Simple bathing areas with pebble beaches can be found on the western banks of the lake. Infrastructure such as changing huts is not available.
Opening times Available on 10.05.2025
Rowing boats
10 May to 9 November 2025
Boats available during the operating times of the gondola cableway and only in fair weather.
Gondola cableway
17 March to 9 May 2025 – gondola cableway closed
10 May to 21 September 2025: 08.30–18.00 hours
22 September to 9 November 2025: 08.30–17.00 hours
Sports equipment (such as bicycles) will not be carried.
Restaurants
The restaurants are open during the operating times of the gondola cableway.
Subject to change without prior notice
Rates
Smart ticketing for the Kandersteg - Oeschinensee gondola lift
Online booking recommended
- Boarding pass with time slot for the ascent: choose a fixed time slot for the ascent when purchasing your ticket and avoid waiting times.
- Flexible planning: time slots can be easily rebooked online free of charge.
- The descent can be started at any time.
- Tickets can still be purchased on site at the ticket machines as long as capacity is available.
Gondola cableway fares
- CHF 27.20 Adults, one-way 10.05.-14.06.25 / 16.09.-09.11.25
- CHF 31.20 Adults, one-way 15.06.-15.09.25
- CHF 36.00 Adults, return 10.05.-14.06.25 / 16.09.-09.11.25
- CHF 40.00 Adults, return 15.06.-15.09.25
- CHF 13.10 Children (6–15.99 years) / Half-Fare / GA, one-way 10.05.-14.06.25 / 16.09.-09.11.25
- CHF 18.10 Children (6–15.99 years) / Half-Fare / GA, one-way 15.06.-15.09.25
- CHF 18.50 Children (6–15.99 years) / Half-Fare / GA, return 10.05.-14.06.25 / 16.09.-09.11.25
- CHF 22.50 Children (6–15.99 years) / Half-Fare / GA, return 15.06.-15.09.25
Tariffs gondola cableway descent without timeslot
- CHF 26.20 Erwachsene, Talfahrt
- CHF 13.10 Kinder (6–15.99 Jahre) / Halbtax / GA, Talfahrt
Rowing boat rental
- CHF 29.00 Rowing boat 1 hour
- CHF 20.00 Rowing boat 30 minutes
- CHF 60.00 Fishing boat 1/2 day
- CHF 100.00 Fishing boat 1/1 day
A maximum of 4 people are allowed per rowing boat.
The fishing boats have a fish box and anchor. For a half-day rental, you can choose between morning 09.00-12.00 or afternoon 15.00-18.00. A full day rental is from 09.00-18.00.
If Chalet Arva is closed (on Mondays and Tuesdays and in May, June, September and October), fishing boats are only available before 10:30 a.m. with advance reservation by 12:00 noon the day before.
You can reserve the boats at the following telephone number:
- +41 33 675 11 66 Arva – Berghaus am Oeschinensee
Fishing patents
- CHF 32.00 Adults
- CHF 20.00 Children up to 15.99 years
Prices in CHF incl. VAT / Prices and products subject to alteration
MagicBlue Kandersteg Aktion: 1 Pass, 2 Lakes, 3 Cable cars
Visit the three most popular excursion destinations in the Kandersteg region with the MagicBlue Pass and benefit from an attractive price reduction.
- Lake Oeschinen
- Arvenseeli on Sunnbüel
- Allmenalp
- MagicBlue-Pass 1 Pass, 2 Lakes, 3 Cable cars (Oeschinensee, Sunnbüel, Allmenalp)
BLS suggestion
Grill Bag To Go
Without planning, thinking, packing and lugging... Why not leave your rucksack at home for a change and order your takeaway meal conveniently while you're on the move? All you have to do is pick up your grill bag filled with all kinds of delicacies at the Oeschinensee mountain restaurant.Prices per person
- CHF 37.00 Barbecue
Included in the price:
- Firewood / eco grill bag
- Bernese Oberland Bratwurst (veal/pork) or veggie sausage
- Homemade bread
- Mixed salad
- Chips, tomatoes, mustard, etc.
- Oeschi water
Prices are subject to change
How to get there
Take the UNESCO electric bus to the Oeschinensee mountain lake
The environmentally friendly electric bus takes you comfortably to Oeschinen Lake and back again.
Timetable
Mid-May to mid-October
First trip from gondola cableway mountain station 11.00 hours
First trip from Berghotel Oeschinensee 11.30 hours
