Giessbach Falls If not for a fairly infrequent boat ferry that crosses Brienzersee (Lake Brienz) between Interlaken Ost and Brienz while stopping at Giessbach Falls, this is actually a pretty easy waterfall to visit. Near the boat dock, there's a funicular that takes you up to the historic Giessbach Hotel and an attractive frontal view of the main section of the waterfall. Even though it was very windy (to the point that the Reichenbachbahn [note that "bahn" = "train" in German] was closed), the Giessbachbahn remained open because it's sheltered from the easterly winds. It was interesting to see all the white caps on Lake Brienz except for its far south side. By the way, this funicular is said to be the oldest funicular in the country since 1879.
Just before the bridge crossing the falls, the path follows alongside the stream (upstream) before looping behind one of the tiers of Giessbach Falls and coming back down towards the misty bridge. Walking this loop was about all the time we were afforded given the inconvenient boat schedule (as our next departure was coming up and the following boat departure wasn't for another two hours). Even though we mistakenly bought a two-way ticket for the funicular, had I been able to do this all over again, I'd personally recommend taking the funicular up (just a one-way ticket), walk the loop behind the falls, check out the historic hotel, and then walk back down to the boat dock. Hindsight's always 20/20 isn't it? Other ways of catching a glimpse of the falls include the train between Interlaken Ost and Brienz. However, you'll need a quick DSLR camera and some good timing in order to photograph the falls from the quick-moving train. You can also see the lower parts of the falls from the boat. According to this brochure we picked up, the Summer Fahrplan (Schedule) is as follows:Going East (Cruise Number in parentheses)
For the record, we took the 14:45 boat from Brienz to Giessbach. And then we took the 16:16 boat from Giessbach back to Brienz. Based on this schedule, we barely had an hour at the Giessbach Falls, and I felt it was a bit rushed. I don't know what's the deal with boats and bad schedules, but we had a similar experience at the Nachi Waterfall in Japan, but that was due to an utterly useless boat schedule to and from the Hotel Urashima. But anyways, I digress...
TRIP REPORTSFor more information about our experiences with this waterfall, check out the following travel stories.GUIDEBOOKS / OTHER RESOURCESNEARBY WATERFALLSHave You Been To This Waterfall?
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From the top of the funicular, there's a path that crosses behind the hotel and towards some car park. But the walking path switches back towards the stream as it ascends towards a bridge crossing between the waterfall's middle tiers. And along this ascent, there's also a junction where the trail descends before the misty base before continuing alongside the lower tiers of the falls all the way down to the boat dock. 
Another option (if you think you won't get seasick) is to take the boat directly from Interlaken Ost to Giessbach or vice versa, and then take the short boat ride to the opposite end of the lake and follow that up with a train to complete the round trip. You'll just have to work with the schedule given above.
The Giessbachbahn (aka the Giessbach Funicular)
The historic Giessbach Hotel
Looking up at the falls from the misty footbridge
Going behind Giessbach Falls
Last look at the falls as the boat goes back to Brienz
Returning to Brienz
Giessbach Falls as seen across Brienzersee from the train
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