The Beautiful Swiss Alps of Lauterbrunnen Switzerland
The Beautiful Swiss Alps of Lauterbrunnen Switzerland
Lauterbrunnen, in the district of Bern, was on our short list of places to stay while in Switzerland. Images of snowcapped alps, Alpine meadows and Swiss chalets had always intrigued me, and I’d always wanted to visit. So, we made Switzerland part of our two month trip which began in Paris and ended in Italy. This town is straight out of a fairytale, so very quintessential Switzerland.
COVID TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS as of May 2022: Travel to Switzerland is permitted. See all Covid restrictions for travel to Switzerland here .
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
The name, Lauter Brunnen, means many fountains. There are 72 waterfalls in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. The most famous of these waterfalls is Staubbach Falls. It plunges almost 1,000 feet from the rock face, and we were fortunate to have a front row seat to witness these spectacular falls.
The town lies at the bottom of a U-shaped valley full of quintessential Swiss chalets. This lush green valley is one of the deepest in the Alpine chain.
Things to See and Do in Lauterbrunnen
Take a Free Walking Tour
The scenery in Lauterbrunnen is stunning! We really enjoyed just strolling the town and seeing the little steepled churches with the alps in the background, the streams, chalets, and even beautiful cemeteries. The weather was warm in the daytime and cool at night in August, making for the perfect vacation!!
You can take a FREE walking tour with a local from Interlaken Free Walks. The walks take place each Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Book your free tour here, and please remember that even though the tour is free, your guide is working for tips.
Staubbach Falls
Right from the center of this enchanting town, just 10 minutes from the train station, is beautiful Staubbach Falls. It is 974 feet high over the valley, and is really the premier falls throughout Switzerland. You can see the impressive Staubbach Falls from pretty much anywhere in the town, but these majestic Falls really deserve a closeup look. You can take a short but steep hike into the mountain to see the Falls from behind, or just walk close to the front of the Falls. Oh, and make sure you get out to see the Falls at night, as well. They are lit up and something you absolutely must see!
Friedhof Cemetery
If you’re at the base of the Falls, don’t miss taking a walk through the town’s immaculate cemetery where each of the graves is marked with colorful flowers. Friedhof Cemetery is a beautiful spot from where to see the Falls, as well as visit with grazing sheep and cows.
Jungfrau Railway
One thing you really have to do when here is take the Jungfrau Cog Railway to the Top of Europe!! The Railway is open year round for daily trips to the Jungfrau, which is one of the main summits of the Bernese Alps, and it is over 13,000 feet. The train takes you on an absolutely stunning one hour ride through some of the most incredible scenery until you reach the very top of Europe. My very important travel tip for the Jungfrau is BRING A COAT!! It’s COLD up here.
When you reach the top on the train there is a hotel, a couple of restaurants (which are actually very good – try the fries and gravy), an observatory, a research station and a ski school. The views from the observatory are incredible. A few helicopters landed in the snow below the observatory the day we were there – it was such a beautiful sight! Also at the top are tunnels that lead out to a flat, snow-covered area where you can take a stroll and look out to the surrounding mountains and the Aletsch Glacier.
Ice Palace
While at the Top of Europe, don’t miss going into the very, very slippery “Ice Palace”. Stairs take you downward into the Ice Palace. HOLD ON TIGHT to the railings and walk very slowly. I’m not kidding when I say it’s very, very slippery! It’s like being on an mirror smooth ice rink. As you walk through the palace (HOLDING ON THE ENTIRE TIME – I can’t stress this enough… we saw a few people fall), you see beautiful works of art in the nooks and crannies of the Palace – ice carvings of Eagles, Bears, Penguins, igloos… It is truly a magical scene. It’s kept at minus 3 degrees Celsius so make sure you bring a coat!!
Take a Hike
There are almost 400 hiking trails in the Lauterbrunnen valley, some easy and some quite difficult. See this link to find a trail to match your abilities.
Have a Cocktail in Lauterbrunnen’s Only Pub
Yep, you read that right… Lauterbrunnen has only one lonesome pub, the Horner Pub. Enjoy your cocktail outside on their terrace to take in the incredible views, or drink your beer inside while playing darts. Horner Pub and its food kitchen is open each day from 9am to midnight.
If you’re not done partying at midnight, you can head upstairs behind the pub to continue enjoying your night with foosball, pinball, or dancing along with music on the jukebox. Dance until 2:30am each Friday and Saturday.
Try Traditional Rosti
Another must do is eat Rosti. OMG – this stuff is so good… craving it now!! It is basically just hash browns with cheese and egg on top, but it’s so delicious! We had ours at Hotel Oberland. This restaurant is the most popular in Lauterbrunnen, and for good reason! Rosti is just one of the great things on their menu. They also have some fantastic bratwurst and delicious strudel.
Take a Day Trip to Grindelwald
Activities in Grindelwald are endless, and the train ride from Lauterbrunnen is short and scenic. There are cliff walks, ziplines, lots of great hikes, and racing on a Trottibike or mountain cart.
Grindelwald has a great five minute cable car ride. A trip up the Pfingstegg will have you oohing and aahing at the views of the valley below. Once you’re at the top you can take a thrilling ride on the summer toboggan, or do one of the several other activities offered.
Top Tours for Lauterbrunnen
See all Viator tours for Lauterbrunnen
Annual Festivals and Events
Plan a trip around one of Lauterbrunnen’s annual festivals and events.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit depends on whether you want to ski or not have to deal with snow. If you want to ski and enjoy all of the other benefits of winter in Switzerland, you’ll want to go in the winter, of course. But, for the most comfortable temperatures, the best time to visit is from June until September. It will still be a little chilly, around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but the weather will be dry.
Where to Stay in Lauterbrunnen
Hotel Staubbach
We stayed at the Hotel Staubbach in a room overlooking the beautiful Staubbach Falls. These Falls are one of the highest in Europe at almost 1,000 feet. Our room had a balcony, and my favorite way to spend time was just sitting out there watching and listening to the Falls, especially at night when the Falls are lit. In fact, we spent one night eating salami, cheese and bread while enjoying the view from our balcony – you just can’t beat it! See the video of the views from our room.
Finding and Booking Accommodations
Lodging is one of the most important aspects of planning a trip. You want to find the right place for the best price. Our favorite resource when making reservations for lodging is Booking.com. They really seem to have the best deals on hotels, B&B’s and rental properties. Read more about finding and booking accommodations.
How to Get Here
The closest airport to Lauterbrunnen is Bern Airport (“BRN”), which is approximately 30 miles away. Zurich International Airport (“ZRH”) is the next closest airport, about 66 miles away, and it’s much larger. To get to Lauterbrunnen from either of these airports you can either rent a car from AutoEurope, and drive on your own, or take the train. See Trainline.com for schedules and fees, and to book your ride. See how to get the best deals on flights.
DON’T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT, and make sure your passport is up to date! Most countries will not permit you to enter unless your passport has more than six months remaining before it expires.
Do you need a Visa or Vaccinations?
With ivisa.com, you can check to see what documents you will need to enter Switzerland, and you can apply right there for expedited travel documents, including visas and health declaration forms.
Getting Around
My travel tip for getting around Lauterbrunnen is park your rental car, and leave it there! There’s no need for a car in this very small town. Everything you want to see and do is within walking distance, including the railway station.
Share Your Travel Tips & Comments
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