Lauterbrunnen is a charming village nestled in one of the most picturesque valleys in the Bernese Alps, Switzerland. Not only is it famed for its beauty, with 72 waterfalls pounding down the valley rock faces, but also for the wide range of attractions and activities you can do in the area. We have visited and stayed in Lauterbrunnen on numerous occasions and have completely fallen in love with the valley. So, is Lauterbrunnen worth visiting and what are the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen?
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Is Lauterbrunnen worth visiting?
100% yes, Lauterbrunnen is worth visiting! If you want to experience a real slice of Switzerland then this is the place to go at any time of the year. We particularly love visiting in the spring or the autumn as there are fewer tourists and the weather is perfect for hiking, but Lauterbrunnen is worth visiting throughout the year if you want to see snow-topped mountains, cows with their bells clanging in the valley, and landscapes so perfect they could be a postcard.
Lauterbrunnen Map
18 Best things to do in Lauterbrunnen
1. Walk behind Staubbach Falls
Lauterbrunnen may be well known for its waterfalls but the most famous of them all is Staubbach Falls. This easily seen and visited waterfall is only a short walk from the train station and can even be walked up to and behind if the weather is favourable, and not icy. Just be warned it can get a bit of a queue if this walking path is open.
2. Explore Mürren
Mürren is often overlooked for its two neighbours of Lauterbrunnen and Schilthorn, but this car-free mountain village is, in our opinion, one of the prettiest places to stop in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. With traditional timber houses along every street, incredible mountain views both up to the peaks above and down into the valley below, and a good eatery or two, Mürren is definitely worth visiting. We can highly recommend stopping for a drink, or a meal, in Hotel Edelweiss Superior along the Hehmatten, as not only are the staff extremely friendly and the food and drinks lovely, but the views are something else!
3. Visit Gimmelwald
If you are visiting Mürren chances are that you may have come from Stechelberg via the cable car, (you can also take the train up to it from Lauterbrunnen main station, but this isn’t always running as we found out during our trip in May), and if you have taken the cable car, the first stop is in the tiny car-free village of Gimmelwald. Located at 1400m and with 13 farms and a few flower-covered houses, there isn’t much there but it a beautiful village to visit for the village for itself as well as the views.
4. Hike between Mürren to Gimmelwald
When visiting Mürren, rather than just heading up and down the mountainside via cable car, why not hike between Mürren and Gimmelwald, which is the first stopping point for the cable car from Stechelberg. The hike isn’t particularly long, and it goes downhill the entire way, but you have some of the most incredible views and perfect spots to stop for a picnic. You may even get a chance to watch the paragliders taking off and heading down into the valley.
5. Do the Mürren Via Ferrata
Whilst in Mürren why not try out the Mürren Via Ferrata, (which can be seen if you take the cable car up from Stechelberg). This protected climbing route made from ladders, cables, and a few iron rungs that connect to the cliff face, is not for the faint-hearted, but definitely a thrilling experience!
6. Take a trip up Schilthorn / Piz Gloria
From Mürren you can head further up the mountains to Allmendhubel, (at 1907m), Birg, (at 2677m, there are some great hikes from here back down in the summer months), and finally up to Piz Gloria, also known as Schilthorn at 2970m. On a clear day you can have views not only of the surrounding Alpine peaks, but also of Mont Blanc in the east and the Black Forest in the north, (we always end up visiting mountain peaks when the visibility isn’t great / there is a cloud inversion, so we are yet to see this far anywhere!). Schilthorn is also rather well known as being the film location for On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, a James Bond film, so be sure to book tickets in advance if you want to dine in the 360-degree restaurant!
Schilthorn tickets – From 108CHF return per adult, and 54CHF return per child from Stechelberg. For more information and tickets that include a James Bond Brunch, check out the Schilthorn website here.
7. Walk along the Lauterbrunnen Valley to Stechelberg
One of the easiest walks you can do in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and one of the best for witnessing the numerous waterfalls that make the valley so famous, as well as some cute cows, the Wasserweg from Lauterbrunnen village to Stechelberg is beautiful. It passes along the roadway between Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg before following the river along through some woodland and ending at the cable car station up to Mürren and Piz Gloria.
8. Visit Trümmelbach Falls
One of the most iconic waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen, (and possibly Switzerland), is Trümmelbach Falls and it is easy to see why! You can hear these waterfalls before you see them, and even the access to the waterfalls, (which are all hidden in the mountainside), is an adventure by itself. With 10 waterfall drops in total to climb up and down in the cliff to see, as well as beautiful views out and down into the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Trümmelbach Falls is very much worth visiting.
Tickets can be bought at the entrance to Trümmelbachfälle and cost 14 CHF for adults and 6 CHF for children aged 6 to 15.
9. Watch paragliders or even take to the skies yourself
The Jungfrau Region is a great location in Switzerland to get your adrenalin thrill, (Interlaken is the capital of adventure sports in Switzerland!), and the Lauterbrunnen Valley is no different. Even just walking along the valley floor between Lauterbrunnen village and Trümmelbach Falls you can see numerous paragliders if the weather is good. If you want to experience the flying life for yourself, you can take to the skies from Mürren before landing at Stechelberg.
For one of the best paragliding tours in the area check out this tour from Get Your Guide.
10. Keep an eye out for Base Jumpers
As well as paragliding, base jumping is also quite a big sport in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. They often jump from the cliff tops along the Alte Stechelbergstrasse, also known as the Wasserweg zooming past overhead before opening their wings last minute to a round of applause on the ground!
11. Stay at Camping Jungfrau
Every time we have visited Lauterbrunnen we have always stayed at Camping Jungfrau as not only is it in a great location, only a short walk from the train station, but it also has numerous accommodation options and some of the loveliest people who run the place as well. With options for camping with a tent or campervan, log cabins for two people, all the way up to log bungalows for up to 6 people. We have stayed in both the Bungalow, (with family) and the Fuchsbau cabin, (just us), and both were perfect!
12. Eat at Restaurant Weidstübli
Even if you aren’t staying at Camping Jungfrau you should try and eat at the campsite restaurant, Restaurant Weidstübli. They have delicious local and regional food on offer including Lauterbrunnen Rösti, Raclette, Cordon Bleu, and Berner Oberländer Käse Fondue. Be sure to book in advance though as it fills up quickly, especially in the summer and winter camping seasons.
13. Take the cogwheel railway to Wengen
The longest cogwheel railway in the world, the Wengernalp Railway, connects Lauterbrunnen with Wengen and up to Kleine Scheidegg, (more on that further down our list of best things to do in Lauterbrunnen), as is worth just the ride up even if you don’t fancy stopping in Wengen. Wengen itself is a beautiful little car-free mountain village, with incredible views back down to Lauterbrunnen, flower box-filled streets, a rather lovely bakery with delicious freshly made cakes and pastries each day, and of course, a quaint church which has not only a great view but also a number of benches that are just perfect for eating your breakfast or lunch on.
14. Hike Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
For some of the best and most panoramic views in all of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, you simply have to hike the Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg route. This is quite possibly the most beautiful hiking trail that you can follow throughout the year, with views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau on a clear day, and views back to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald too. It is also a very easy hike to follow as well as actually walking, with only a couple of short inclines, so could be a great option for those who want to do some hiking around Switzerland but haven’t got much experience.
15. Grab a coffee at the base of Staubbach Falls
If you are after a coffee whilst walking through Lauterbrunnen then be sure to head to the pop-up coffee stand at the base of Staubbach Falls, Cycling Coffee Shop. Not only are the coffees and hot chocolates really quite delicious, but you can enjoy them in one of the most picturesque places in the valley.
16. Eat donuts from under the falls
Similar to above, if you have a craving for something sweet and calorific after all of that hiking you are bound to have done in and around Lauterbrunnen, then be sure to stop at Mini Donuts & Waffeln. There is more often than not a queue for the delicious tiny donuts, but they are very much worth it, especially when you are queuing with a view of Staubbach Falls.
17. Buy local cheese from a fridge on a hiking route
Yes, you read that correctly, you can indeed buy local cheese from a fridge on a hiking route along the Lauterbrunnen Valley! So be sure to have some cash on you, (it is a self-serve and works on an honor system so please do pay for what you take) and means you can get your hands on some traditionally made and local dairy goods, perfect to take along with you on a hike.
18. Go stargazing in the valley
Due to its location in the Jungfrau region, the Lauterbrunnen Valley is a great spot for stargazing. In the center of the village, you will get some light pollution but as soon as you start walking out of the village to the south, (towards Stechelberg), you will lose the artificial light and be met with the Milky Way. We spent hours just watching for shooting stars and satellites, both of which we saw easily!
Where to stay in Lauterbrunnen
There is only one place that we recommend that you stay at in Lauterbrunnen, and it is the wonderful Camping Jungfrau. Not only do they have the normal pitches for tents, campervans, and motorhomes, but they also have some of the most beautiful cabins and bungalows that you can stay in throughout the year as well. We´ve most recently stayed in one of the Fuchsbau cabins utilising the communal kitchen facilities and on-site shop, and it was wonderful.
Best Day trips from Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a great place to base yourself for a few days, or even a week, to enjoy the Lauterbrunnen valley as well as taking day trips out to the nearby towns. Two of the best day trips from Lauterbrunnen are the towns of Grindelwald and Interlaken, both quite different from Lauterbrunnen, but both equally as wonderful.
📍 Grindelwald
Roughly 40 minutes from Lauterbrunnen via train, which included for switching trains at Zweilütschinen, Grindelwald is a village in the adjacent valley, with beautiful hikes, an impressive array of outdoor equipment shops, and of course, views of the wonderful Bernese Alps. Here you should make sure you take a trip up Grindelwald First and then hike out to Bachalpsee, or just enjoy one of the many mountain activities you can do on this mountain peak.
📍 Interlaken
Approximately 20 minutes via train from Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken is the Swiss home of adventure sports, with helicopter skydives, base jumping, and paragliding all on offer. The town itself is full of beautiful architecture and riverside parks to relax in as well. From here you can also visit Harder Kulm, a mountain peak overlooking Interlaken, for views of both Thunersee and Brienzursee and the Bernese Alps.
Other locations that are great day trips from Lauterbrunnen are Mürren, Wengen, and Scheidegg Platte.
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Is Lauterbrunnen worth visiting? Things to do in Lauterbrunnen FAQs
Where is Lauterbrunnen?
Lauterbrunnen is located in the Bernese Alps, Jungfrau Region of the canton of Bern. Due to its location being fairly central in Switzerland it is easy to get to from across the country with a central transport hub located at Interlaken, a short train ride away.
How to get to Lauterbrunnen
By far the easiest way to get to Lauterbrunnen is via train. No hassle of driving mountain passes or waiting for the trains to cross the road, just sit back relax and take in the simply stunning views. You can of course drive to Lauterbrunnen, but just be sure you are happy driving the vehicle through some tighter roads.
To get to Lauterbrunnen via train you will have to pass through Interlaken Ost, from wherever you may have come from within Switzerland. Be sure to get on the correct carriages of the train here as the train splits in two at Zweilütschinen, half going to Lauterbrunnen and half to Grindelwald. In roughly 20 minutes you will then arrive into Lauterbrunnen.
📍 How to get to Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken – From the centre of Interlaken you will need to head to the Interlaken Ost train station in order to take the train to Lauterbrunnen.
📍 How to get to Lauterbrunnen from Zurich – From Zurich it takes roughly 2.5 hours on the train to get to Lauterbrunnen, with changes at Bern and Interlaken Ost. From Interlaken Ost, it is then a quick 20-minute train to Lauterbrunnen.
📍 How to get to Lauterbrunnen from Basel – From Basel, it also takes 2.5 hours on the train to get to Lauterbrunnen, however, you only need to change once at Interlaken Ost.
How much time do you need in Lauterbrunnen?
If you just want to see the village of Lauterbrunnen then you can easily do this in one day, however, if you want to experience the valley fully and do a hike or two, then you really need at least 4 days in Lauterbrunnen.
How do you spend a day in Lauterbrunnen?
If you only have one day in Lauterbrunnen then we would recommend starting the day early with a hike down the valley to Trümmelbach Falls. After this, you can take your pick of hikes to do in the afternoon from either Mürren or Wengen. Finish up the day with a visit to Staubbach Falls before hopping on a train to your next destination.
What is Lauterbrunnen best known for?
Lauterbrunnen is best known for its impressive glacial valley with towering cliffs that have numerous waterfalls falling down into the valley. The most famous are the waterfalls in Staubbach Falls or Trümmebach Falls.
Should you visit Lauterbrunnen in the winter or the summer?
Lauterbrunnen is great to visit throughout the year, but depending on your interests, visiting in the summer or winter may be more beneficial. For example, if you are into snow sports then Lauterbrunnen is a great place to visit in the winter, however, if you prefer the warmer weather and associated activities such as hiking, then it would be better to visit Lauterbrunnen in the summer.
Is Lauterbrunnen expensive?
Lauterbrunnen is a hot spot for tourists, especially in the summer months, so it can get expensive in terms of accommodation. This is a destination in Switzerland as well, so you have to be prepared for it to be somewhat pricey! To reduce costs be sure to book accommodation in advance and take full advantage of any offers you are given upon check-in, such as discounts to the nearby Trümmelbach Falls, as well as utilising the Swiss Railway travel passes.
What languages are spoken in Lauterbrunnen?
Swiss is the main language spoken in Lauterbrunnen, but almost all places will also speak German and English as well, due to the number of tourists that pass through the valley.
Which is better Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald?
Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald are not comparable as one is a small and quaint village in the valley and the other is a mountain town brimming with designer shops and outdoor equipment stores. Both are definitely worth visiting, but will show different sides to the area. We prefer someone to stay that is a little quieter so opted for Lauterbrunnen over Grindelwald.
Tours to Lauterbrunnen
Conclusion: Is Lauterbrunnen worth visiting? Things to do in Lauterbrunnen
So there is our guide on the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen. Hopefully, it inspires you to visit this wonderful part of Switzerland, with the stunning waterfalls, incredible hikes, and a rather nice campsite all thrown in the mix!
Gemma Tedaldi
Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.