Lauterbrunnen is a small village located in a valley in the Swiss Alps and it is one of the most magical places you’ll ever see. There are 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen valley! It is a popular tourist destination due to its stunning natural beauty, with towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and lush green forests surrounding the village. The valley is also home to several other picturesque villages, hiking trails and extreme sports such as river rafting or base jumping, making it a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts. It’s also well-known for its iconic mountain railway, which provides amazing views of the surrounding scenery. Read on for everything you need to know so you can start planning your trip to Lauterbrunnen in this complete travel guide!
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Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
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Getting to Lauterbrunnen
By train:
By car:
The village is located on the main road between Interlaken and Wengen, and is easily accessible from major highways in Switzerland. A lot of the hotels also offer parking for their guests as well!
By plane:
If you’re coming from outside Switzerland, the closest major airport is Zürich Airport. From there, you can take a train or rent a car to reach Lauterbrunnen. Another option is to fly into Geneva Airport, which is also well-connected to Lauterbrunnen by train.
By bus:
You can also reach Lauterbrunnen by bus. There are regular bus services from Interlaken and other nearby towns.
Getting Around Lauterbrunnen
Walking:
The best way to explore Lauterbrunnen is on foot. The village is small and easily walkable, with plenty of pedestrian paths and trails to explore.
Biking:
Another popular way to get around Lauterbrunnen is by bike. There are several bike rental shops in the village, with a range of bikes for all skill levels. There are several scenic bike routes in the surrounding area, including the Lauterbrunnen Valley Loop and the Wengen-Grindelwald Bike Tour.
Public Transportation:
If you want to venture further out, Lauterbrunnen is well-connected by public transportation. There are regular bus services to nearby towns and attractions, as well as a mountain railway that provides amazing views of the surrounding mountains. The railway connects Lauterbrunnen to Wengen and Mürren, two little villages perched on the mountainside.
Driving:
While driving in Lauterbrunnen itself is not recommended due to narrow and winding roads, renting a car can be a great way to explore the surrounding area at your own pace. From Lauterbrunnen, you can easily reach nearby attractions such as the Jungfraujoch, Interlaken, and Lake Thun.
Best Areas To Stay In Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen Village:
If you’re looking for a quintessential Swiss mountain experience, staying in the heart of Lauterbrunnen village is a great option. This is what we did and we loved it. The village is compact and easily walkable, with restaurants, cafés, and shops to explore.
One thing to note is that the village is truly tiny with only a handful of dining options. This can make it tricky to get a table during busy times.
Wengen:
Perched on a mountainside above Lauterbrunnen, Wengen is a car-free village with stunning views of the surrounding mountains. Accommodations in Wengen range from cozy apartments to luxurious hotels, and the village has several charming restaurants, shops, and attractions. Wengen is easily accessible from Lauterbrunnen via the mountain railway, which is a fun experience in itself!
Mürren:
Another car-free village on the mountainside above Lauterbrunnen. Mürren has incredible views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains. The village is accessible by cable car from Lauterbrunnen, and accommodations range from cozy apartments to luxurious hotels. Mürren is known for its excellent skiing and hiking opportunities.
Best Hotels In Lauterbrunnen
Beausite Park Hotel Wengen AG: $$$
A lovely, family-run 4-star hotel that is slightly elevated from the village.
Hotel Silberhorn: $$
3-star hotel right in the village with a cute restaurant attached. This is where we stayed and it was a great, affordable option.
Hotel Oberland: $$
This charming 3-star hotel has clean, comfortable rooms and a cozy restaurant.
Hotel Staubbach: $$
Family-run hotel with cozy rooms and views of the Staubbach waterfall, as well as a restaurant serving traditional Swiss cuisine.
Valley Hostel: $
If you’re on a budget, this hostel offers dormitory-style rooms as well as private rooms, and is located just a short walk from the center of Lauterbrunnen.
Best Restaurants In Lauterbrunnen
Restaurant Oberland:
Located in the heart of Lauterbrunnen as part of Hotel Oberland. They serve traditional Swiss cuisine in a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. Specialties include raclette, fondue, and veal dishes. The restaurant also has a nice selection of local wines and beers.
Airtime Café Bakery:
A cute little café specializing in vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options.
Restaurant Caprice:
About a 10 minute train ride from Lauterbrunnen. It is a cozy, fine-dining restaurant with amazing views of the Jungfrau mountain.
Things To Do In Lauterbrunnen
SHOPPING
Lauterbrunnen’s main street:
The main street is lined with a bunch of little shops with souvenirs and gifts from the surrounding region, such as handmade Swiss knives, cuckoo clocks, and Swiss Army watches. You can also find some outdoor gear and apparel for hiking and skiing.
SIGHTSEEING/ACTIVITIES
Waterfalls:
As mentioned before, Lauterbrunnen has 72 waterfalls! These include the famous Staubbach Falls and Trümmelbach Falls. One of the first things we did upon arrival was walk through the valley and admire the many waterfalls cascading down the mountain on both sides.
Staubbach Falls is located at the end of the main street and is one of Europe’s highest free-falling waterfalls!
Trümmelbach Falls is made up of 10 glacier-fed waterfalls and located in a cave in the mountain. You can reach them by a 30 minute walk from town or you can take the 8 minute bus ride to Stechelberg and get off at the Trümmelbach Falls stop.
Paragliding:
For adrenaline junkies, paragliding is a popular activity in Lauterbrunnen. We constantly saw people gliding around the valley living their best lives!
Adventure Sports:
Lauterbrunnen is especially well known for its range of adventure sports, such as bungee jumping, canyoning, and rafting. We opted for white water river rafting and had a BLAST!
HOT TIP: Honestly, if you visit Lauterbrunnen it really is a must to try some of the many adventurous activities or at least explore the hikes.
Cable Cars:
Lauterbrunnen has cable cars that provide access to the stunning mountain views, such as the Schilthorn Cable Car and the Mürren Cable Car.
Hiking:
Lauterbrunnen is known for its hiking trails, such as the famous Eiger Trail and the Schilthorn Trail. This place is all about the beautiful surrounding nature so you definitely need to check out the trails and pack accordingly!
CULTURE
Cultural Events:
Lauterbrunnen hosts a bunch of fun events throughout the year such as a Folklore evening in August, an Autumn market, the Jungfrau Marathon, and a cheese market in September (to name a few). You can check out a calendar of events here.
Talmuseum Lauterbrunnen (Valley Museum):
A cute little museum located in a former mill from the 16th century. It has a lot of cool artifacts and information about the valley.
Hidden Gems In Lauterbrunnen
Visit Isenfluh:
Isenfluh is a little hamlet (small settlement) located about 400 meters above Lauterbrunnen with magnificent views. It is accessible by car or by bus (about 14 minutes travel time). From Isenfluh, you can hike or take a cable car to Sulwald for more views and trails!
Schiltalp Cheese Farm:
Attention cheese lovers! This one’s for you! Take the 20-minute cable car ride to Mürren. From there you can walk to the farm. (It’s only accessible by foot, so wear good shoes!) You can take a guided tour and learn all about how the cheese is made, and at the end you are given a tasty breakfast!
HOT TIP: The farm is only open for tours during the summer (mid-July to early September) and you must make a reservation!
Attend a Local Festival:
There are a range of local festivals throughout the year in the surrounding areas. A popular one is the Alpabzug, which celebrates the return of cows from the mountain pastures.
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FAQ
How many days should you spend in Lauterbrunnen?
It really depends on what you’re after! Lauterbrunnen could be a day-trip while you visit the region including Grindelwald and Interlaken, or you could stay here for several days if you’re planning to take advantage of the many outdoor activities in the area.
How expensive is Lauterbrunnen?
This place really is geared towards nature lovers, backpackers and outdoor enthusiasts and you can make your stay as budget-friendly as you like, or as extravagant as you can handle. You could stay at Valley Hostel and spend your days hiking and mountain-biking at little expense or stay at 4-star Beausite Hotel in Wengen and sign up for exhilarating (and pricey) excursions and activities.
When is the best time to visit Lauterbrunnen?
While there are great skiing resorts nearby, Lauterbrunnen really should be visited in the Summer to enjoy all the outdoor activities.
About Us
We are Sandro & Juli! Sandro is a Swiss native and Juli was born and raised in California. We LOVE to travel - especially to Sandro's home country. We are often asked by friends and acquaintances where to visit in Switzerland, so we decided to dedicate a place where our knowledge of all things Switzerland can live. We are always adding to our travels, so follow along as we share all our best tips, hidden gems, travel guides and everything in-between.
Happy travels!
About Us
We are Sandro & Juli! Sandro is a Swiss native and Juli was born and raised in California. We LOVE to travel - especially to Sandro's home country. We are often asked by friends and acquaintances where to visit in Switzerland, so we decided to dedicate a place where our knowledge of all things Switzerland can live. We are always adding to our travels, so follow along as we share all our best tips, hidden gems, travel guides and everything in-between.
Happy travels!
