The municipality in the Seftigen district of Canton Bern is divided into two sections: the flat floodplains of the Gürbe with the village centre and the Grundbach area on a slope with views of Lake Thun and the Bernese Alps. In recent decades the village has developed into a residential area, with many of the working population commuters employed mainly around Thun. The church and rectory are of cultural interest. The new church was built in 1683 and furnished with the baptismal font and bell from the old building. A former mansion, renovated in baroque style in 1702 serves as the rectory. A beautifully painted traditional storage hut dating from 1802 stands above the village at Grundmoos. The local museum on the top floor of the old village school near the church reveals the history of Wattenwil.

The Burgerwald forest is ideal for extensive walks and hikes up into the Gurnigel area. Worth seeing is the group of buildings at Fallbach in neighbouring Blumenstein: the church, rectory, Küherhaus and Pfrundscheune (buildings of national importance). A steep alternative, a hike up the Stockhorn mountain starts from here.

Visible from afar, Burgistein Castle sits on a ledge above the village of the same name to the north of Wattenwil. It still retains the Renaissance features it received during 16th century renovations. The plains of the Gürbetal are especially popular with cyclists.

Several small lakes lie within the catchment area of the upper Gürbetal and Stockental. The nearest to Wattenwil is the Dittligsee, lying in a small dell and completely ringed with reeds. The high nutrient input makes the little lake extremely eutrophic and low in oxygen in summer.