Getting to the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum

GPS / Google Maps

• Ballenberg West: Museumsstrasse 100, 3858 Hofstetten
• Ballenberg East: Museumsstrasse 431, 3856 Brienzwiler

Directions

The best routes to take to Ballenberg are as follows:

• Via Lausanne – Bern – Interlaken – Brienz
• Via Zurich – Lucerne – Brünig Pass
• Via Chiasso – Gotthard – Göschenen – Brienz

From Brienz, Meiringen or the Brünig Pass, follow signs for Ballenberg West (3858 Hofstetten) or Ballenberg Ost (3856 Brienzwiler).

Parking

Parking is available at the West and East entrances.

Parking charges

• One hour: CHF 1.00
• Each additional hour: CHF 1.00
• Daily rate: CHF 5.00

You can pay for parking in cash on site or electronically using the PayByPhone app. To pay electronically via the app, you will first need to install the PayByPhone app on your mobile phone.

More information about the PayByPhone app

Visitors travelling by train can take the Zentralbahn from Interlaken or Lucerne directly to Brienz or to the Brünig Pass. There is a public bus that runs between Brienz and Brünig train stations and the Ballenberg West and East entrances.

Timetables

• Timetable for Ballenberg West, Hofstetten
• Timetable for Ballenberg East, Brienzwiler

If you want to take a boat trip before or after visiting the Ballenberg Open-Air Museum, you can incorporate a trip on Lake Brienz into your journey. Boats operated by BLS run regularly between Interlaken Ost and Brienz in summer.

• Lake Brienz timetable

Parking during the day

While visiting the Swiss Open-Air Museum Ballenberg, motorhomes must be parked in the usual car parking spaces at the East Entrance (Brienzwiler) or West Entrance (Hofstetten) during opening hours. Large vehicles may be parked in the parking spaces reserved for coaches.  

Parking spaces for self-sufficient motorhomes

Parking spaces for self-sufficient motorhomes are provided at the East Entrance, Brienzwiler. These spaces may be used from mid-April to the end of October, daily from 4 pm to 10 am. After 10 am, vehicles must be parked in the car park opposite. The motorhome parking spaces are subject to a fee (CHF 15 per motorhome). A rubbish bin and a plastic recycling bin are provided for waste. Other infrastructure such as water, sewage disposal, etc. are not provided. The toilet facilities at the East Entrance may be used during the museum season (mid-April to the end of October). You can find more information here.

The car park near the West Entrance (Hofstetten) may not be used for overnight stays in a motorhome.