the Lake of an Eternal Love
The first time I learned about this gorgeous lake was through a friend’s facebook post, I was completely drawn to the beauty of it, it looks unreal and magical.
Blausee, the remarkable crystal-clear and turquoise blue lake, is one of the best-known mountain lakes in Switzerland. It is located in the midst of a 20 hectare large nature park with a landscape formed by a rock slide that led to the creation of the lake.
This striking clear blue lake is located in the Kander Valley at an altitude of 887 meters. It is a nature reserve (Blausee Naturpark) where you can see trout swimming in the clear water. A lovely place near Kandersteg for a walk or a picnic.
The Romantic Legend of Blausee & the Sunken Statue
Once upon a time, a young maiden who gave her heart to a young shepherd was living nearby.
On the bright evenings, when the moonlight was shining down on the dark tree tops of the firs and while it was swiping its silver furrow thru the water, the two of them were wandering the short distance to the lake, got onto a boat and dreamt away some wonderful hours of their young lives.
Then the shepherd was falling down to death over a cliff as he was walking down from the rocks with a load of hay. From that moment on the young maiden was brokenhearted. In the midnight hour she was often sneaking up to the lake, rowing up to the middle and was leaving herself to her pain while she was screaming her mind to the heavens to give her back her love or simply to be at odds because of his horrible fate.
That’s how the child’s senses became slowly distracted. Vainly the parents warned her to give up the nightly visits – a secret force was attracting the unhappy one to the same place where she was once so happy.
One morning one found the boat and the young maiden on the bottom of the lake. But the water which wasn’t much different from the water of other lakes before, suddenly was deep blue: People were saying, it would be because of the tears of the poor young maiden which were escaping from her blue eyes.
The lake definitely stands as a symbol for eternal love.
How to Get There?
It is very easy and convenient to travel around Switzerland. The distance between Zürich and Blausee is about 177 KM, you can either take public transportation or rent a car.
- By Train & Bus:
From Zürich, take a train from the main train station Zürich HB to Frutigen, the closer town to Blausee. It is not a direct train, you will have to switch to another train in Bern, you will have sufficient time to walk to another platform. Then, from Frutigen train station, get on the bus #230, in less than 15 minutes, you will reach your stop, Blausee BE. Check the bus schedule for your return transfer in order to maximise the time by the lake.
The total travelling time is approximately 2 hours 10 mins.
You may purchase and check the train schedule & boarding platform from the SBB Website.
- By Car Rental:
Driving in Switzerland is very easy & safe, it’s probably an ideal way of exploring the beautiful country at your own pace. If you are travelling in a group of 3 or 4, renting a car would be a good choice, you will also save a lot of money after splitting the cost.
While taking a train is rather expensive in Switzerland, renting a car is very affordable. There are a few locations in Zürich where you can pick up your car, but the cheapest deal would be picking up at the airport. The more days you are renting it, the better the price is. Estimate a daily rental between USD40-USD60 for 3 days rental and above. The price includes basic theft and 3rd party insurance, all taxes and fees, unlimited mileage, etc. You have the option to pay for the Premium Excess Protection for an additional of USD23 per day, which includes Accident Excess Coverage, Car Damage Cover, Damages to wheels/ tires/ rims/ glass/ mirror/ windscreen/ undercarriage.
Driving time from Zürich to Blausee is around 2 hours.
Nature Park Opening Hours
Daily from 0900 – 2100
Entry Fee
0900 – 1700 |
Mon – Fri |
Sat – Sun + Holidays |
| Adults | CHF 10.00 | CHF 12.00 |
| 6 to 15 years | CHF 6.00 | CHF 8.00 |
| Children up to 5 years | free of charge | free of charge |
1700 – 2100 |
Mon – Fri |
Sat – Sun + Holidays |
| Adults | CHF 8.00 | CHF 10.00 |
| 6 to 15 years | CHF 4.00 | CHF 6.00 |
| Children up to 5 years | free of charge | free of charge |
The entrance includes:
- Nature park tour
- Visit of the organic trout farm
- Barbecue area & wood
- Playground
- Boat ride (until 1700)
What to Do?
Blausee is a place for you to unwind yourself, soak yourself in the beautiful surrounding by taking a walk in the nature park. It is a place you’ll get rejuvenated and inspired.
It is a small lake, you’ll probably see the whole park in about an hour. Many would spend more time there by relaxing at the bench, having a picnic, while admiring the stunning view. There’re also cafe and restaurant by the lake, you can enjoy their signature trout dish, even just enjoying a cup of hot coffee/ tea is another experience there.
You will be blown away as soon as you arrive at the lake, it’s like entering a wonderland. For photographers and instagrammers, I am sure you will spend a long time there, every corner is picturesque.
The boat ride, which is included in your ticket is a must. With the glass bottom, you’ll have an absolute clear view of the bottom of the lake, as you sail across it. The old man who rows the boat will tell you the story about the beautiful place.
Lastly, you can visit the organic trout farm and learn how they breed their trouts.
The Blausee hosts the ideal source of life for their trouts. Thanks to the excellent water quality, slow growth of the fish as well as their breeding philosophy, “quality before quantity”, makes the Blausee trout a high-value and pure natural product.
Where to Stay?
Blausee is a perfect place for a half day trip from Zürich, or nearby lovely towns like Kandersteg, Frutigen, Spiez, Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, etc. I’d recommend you combining your visit to Blausee with other attractions nearby. To be honest, Switzerland is so beautiful, you will easily find a place you like.
If you really love Blausee and wish to spend the night by the lake, Hotel & Spa Blausee is located just right next to the beautiful lake.
“Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence! ”
– Hal Borland
My Itinerary
Zürich > Blausee > Kandersteg > Täsch > Zermatt
We rented a car online one week before the trip and picking up at Zürich Airport. After having breakfast at our hotel, we departed at 0700 to maximise our time for exploration. Switzerland is definitely one of the best countries in the world to drive. You don’t get heavy traffic at most places, people drive very carefully and the roads are very scenic. The lakes, the mountains & the charming little towns will keep you company the entire drive, it is very pleasant and enjoyable.
Slightly over 0900, and we arrived at the Blausee carpark, just at the perfect time where the nature park opens. Good thing to get there early, we enjoyed the park without many other visitors. It could get very busy after 12pm, be there early to have an even better experience.
For us, we easily spent 2-3 hours in Blausee. It was November when we were there, the temperature was around 5-6 degree. After walking in the park, we had to go to the cafe, get a cup of cappuccino, to stay warm. We took a look at the menu of the restaurant, considering to have our lunch there, trying their signature trout dish, but it was expensive for us. If you have the budget, maybe you should try it out.
Blausee is stunning all year round, no matter which season you go, you will get different colour palettes.
Our next stop was Kandersteg, we were hoping to do the “Mountain Coaster” sliding down the Swiss Alps. Unfortunately, it was closed that day. I was so disappointed, I have always wanted to do it. If you are planning on going for the ride, please check the weather forecast, as it only operates during dry weather, and only during the Summer months (8th May to 24th Oct).
We had our lunch in Kandersteg and bought some food and snacks in the supermarket, then we continued on our journey to Täsch, before getting on the train to Zermatt, where we spent 2 nights.