Lake Oeschinen curbs the crowds – reservations now mandatory

Crowded old town streets, mountains of rubbish in the countryside and annoyed residents – more and more popular travel destinations are struggling with overtourism. Cities such as Venice have already taken action; since last year, day visitors must pay an entrance fee during the high season.

The Swiss municipality of Iseltwald on Lake Brienz has also responded by installing a turnstile to manage crowds. Visitors hoping to stand on the famous boat dock now have to pay a five-franc fee.

Now another Instagram hotspot is following suit: According to Travelnews research, Lake Oeschinen will introduce an online reservation system for the gondola lift, starting with the summer season on May 10, 2025.

Digital booking instead of waiting in line

Anyone wishing to take the Kandersteg–Oeschinensee gondola lift must now reserve a time slot online in advance. «We want to use this to better manage visitor flows, reduce waiting times and, above all, relieve the burden on nature in the Unesco World Heritage Site», says Christoph Wandfluh, Chairman of the Gondola Lift Board of Directors, when asked.

The decision was not a knee-jerk reaction but rather the result of years of development. «We didn’t want to be forced into action out of necessity, so we carefully planned the implementation.»

The exchange with other popular excursion destinations such as Lake Prags in South Tyrol was also incorporated into the decision.

The digital ticket system provides real-time updates on the number of available seats for the gondola ride. While Wandfluh does not specify a strict limit on the number of guests per time unit, the cable car's capacity defines a strict upper limit.

If you are unable to make your planned excursion, you won't lose your ticket: a booking can be rebooked free of charge up to three times per year.

More protection for nature – and employees

The measure is intended to benefit both the natural environment around Lake Oeschinen and the employees. «We have top people and we want to prevent them from being completely exhausted at the end of the high season», explains Wandfluh.

In addition to the reservation system, rangers in the area and information shared on social media aim to encourage visitors to treat nature with respect. «It's important to us that we don't come across as schoolmasters but rather as promoters of awareness», says the chairman of the gondola cable car.

Lake Oeschinen is neither the first nor the last tourist destination to prepare for an influx of visitors. While some may find the new restrictions frustrating, controlled access is expected to create a more relaxed and enjoyable experience of nature.