A valley that is PHENOMENAL whether in WINTER or SUMMER !!!

You must have seen a lot of stunning pictures and videos of Switzerland, and it is not hard at all to understand why it is being rated one of the most beautiful countries in the world. Switzerland encompasses a great diversity of landscapes such as the Swiss Alps, glacier, waterfalls, lakes, forests, valleys, mountain villages, etc., making it a dream destination for everyone.

The Lauterbrunnen Valley is one of the deepest in the Alpine chain when compared with the height of the mountains that rise directly on either side. In places the cliff walls are up to 1,000 meters high. It is to this form of the valley that it owes the numerous waterfalls from which it derives its name. The streams descending from the adjoining mountains, on reaching the verge of the rocky walls of the valley, form cascades so high that they are almost lost in spray before they reach the level of the valley. The most famous of these is Staubbach Falls, less than 1 km from the village of Lauterbrunnen. The 297 meters high Staubbach is the highest free falling waterfall in Switzerland.

Lauterbrunnen Valley is comprised of the small towns of Wengen, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Stechelberg, and Isenfluh. Mürren, Gimmelwald and Wengen are only accessible by gondola or by foot creating this magical rural countryside feeling.

Swiss Travel Pass

One awesome way of travelling in Switzerland is to have your Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll save time queueing at the stations buying tickets, you’ll save money, you’ll enjoy up to 50% discount on most mountain excursions (Gornergrat, Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, Mt. Schilthorn, Mt. Titlis, Jungfraujoch, etc.), you’ll also have free entrance to more than 500 museums.

The Swiss Travel Pass is a single ticket that lets you travel around Switzerland as much as you want by train, bus and boat for a set amount of travel days. You can use a Swiss Travel Pass if you’re a tourist and permanently reside outside Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein.

There are 3 types of Swiss Travel Pass:

1. Swiss Travel Pass
The Swiss Travel Pass allows unlimited travel around Switzerland and free entry to over 480 attractions and museums. Swiss Travel Pass options include 3, 4, 8 and 15 consecutive days of travel.

2. Swiss Travel Pass Flex
The Swiss Travel Pass Flex offers a set number of travel days (3, 4, 8 or 15) in a given time period (1 month). On your travel days, which don’t need to be consecutive, you can take as many trains as you want. With the Swiss Travel Pass Flex, you can also get discounts on Swiss attractions and museums.

3. Swiss Travel Pass Flex Promo
With the Swiss Travel Pass Flex Promo, you can get unlimited travel around Switzerland for 5 or 10 non-consecutive days within 3 months​. You’re also entitled to discounts on different Swiss attractions and museums.

You may check out for more details and purchase the Swiss Travel Pass from the SBB website.

Or you can also go to Klook website for purchasing, they offer discount from time to time, one thing I love about buying from Klook is, you are going to earn some Klook points, which can be converted into spending credit to use in your future purchase in Klook. 

How to Get There?

The distance between Zürich and Lauterbrunnen is about 131 km.

It is just 15 km away from Grindelwald if you are going from there. Grindelwald is another beautiful village at the base of Mt. Eiger, it offers easy access to the top of Europe, Jungfraujoch. 

• By Train:
  It is very easy to get to Lauterbrunnen by train, even more if you have the Swiss Travel Pass. 

Check for the train schedule & boarding platform from the SBB Website.

If you are travelling from Zürich, the total travelling time to Lauterbrunnen takes between 2 hours 25 mins to 2 hours 55 mins, depending on the train connection.

• By Car Rental:
  
  If you are driving from Zürich, you might want to make a stop at Lucerne, take a walk on the Chapel Bridge by the Lake Lucerne, this covered wooden bridge dates from the 14th century. You can also take the cable car up to Mt. Pilatus for the panorama views of the lakes and mountains in Central Switzerland. 

Before getting to Lauterbrunnen, you will pass by Interlaken. Total driving time from Zürich to Lauterbrunnen is slightly over 2 hours without stop. 

What to Do in Lauterbrunnen?

When you envision Switzerland, you’ll probably picture a place like Lauterbrunnen — a mystical land of snow, water, towering trees, gargantuan mountains, lush green valley and crisp air. In this tucked away mountain village with the altitude of 802 meters, you feel like you are in a hidden paradise where no one could find you, it’s other-worldly. 

Let’s take a look some of the THINGS TO DO in Lauterbrunnen:

Explore the Village

On arrival in the village, one of the first things you will notice are the huge rock faces surrounding the town.  Nestled in a valley, the village sits surrounded by these huge cliff faces from which 72 waterfalls spill over, and each morning you wake up to the soothing sounds of water rushing over the rocks.  

The Lauterbrunnen waterfalls are a real feature of the town and are a tourist attraction in their own right.

The village’s main street is lined with hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops selling outdoor gear, souvenir shops and a Coop supermarket.

After a stroll in the crisp mountain air, there’s nothing better than rewarding yourself with a typical Swiss meal or a coffee at a sunny outdoor café looking out at the massive mountain peaks.

Hike to Staubbach Falls

Staubbach Falls is the landmark of Lauterbrunnen, it is the eye-catching picture you will see when you search on internet about this place. 

It is the position that made Staubbach Falls so striking. It’s so close to the village and as soon as you arrive by bus or train, you will see it right away. 

Staubbach Falls complemented the landscape, which included steep, glaciated U-shaped valley walls as well as the iconic Swiss Alps peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. This is the quintessential Swiss scenery that made Lauterbrunnen so popular. 

The 297 meters high Staubbach Waterfall is the third highest waterfall in Switzerland and one of the tallest single-drop waterfalls in the world. A small hike out of the town takes you to this iconic waterfall. Then, tourists can hike up the well-marked pathways to reach the tunnel. At the end of the tunnel, is a narrow observation point amidst mountains that clings to the edge of the cliff. The views of the valley below through the curtain of gushing water from such a high altitude are definitely something to be experienced.

Note: The trail up to Staubbach Falls only open during summer time, and it is FREE.

Trümmelbach Falls

After Staubbach Falls, you can take a detour of less than 30 minutes to Trümmelbach Falls, they’re located inside a cave with loud thundering and roaring crashing water surround you.

These falls are responsible for draining the glaciers of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau – that’s why these falls are so impressive! They are Europe’s largest subterranean waterfalls and are located in the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Trümmelbach comprises no fewer than 10 glacier fed waterfalls inside a mountain. The impressive falls – floodlit and accessible by a special tunnel lift – carry up to 20,000 litres of water every second! The Trümmelbach Falls are open from 0900 to 1700 daily from the beginning of April to the beginning of November and from 0830 to 1800 in July and August.

Ticket is CHF 11 for adult and CHF 4 for child, if you have Swiss Travel Pass, the entrance is FREE.

Mountain Railway Ride to Mürren

A visit to Mürren is a must if you are visiting Lauterbrunnen – not only this village is beautifully situated on the mountain, right at the foot of the Schilthorn peak, the cable car plus mountain railway ride from the village of Lauterbrunnen to Mürren is one of the most scenic & nostalgic rides you’ll ever experience.  

At an elevation of 1,638 meters above sea level, Mürren cannot be reached by public road, making it a car-free town. It is a place that no matter which season you go, you will truly enjoy the breathtaking scenery with plenty of activities to do. The village features a view of the three towering mountains Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.

The scenic ride from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren includes a 5 minutes cable car ride to Grütschalp and then the iconic cogwheel train journey from Grütschalp to Mürren for another 15 minutes.

Mürren is the highest village in the Jungfrau region. It usually gets plenty of snow in winter, therefore it’s one of the best places to enjoy winter sports and other snow activities like sledging and winter hiking.

In summer time, because of the cliff, this area is one of the best spots in the world for base-jumping. But there are many less risky sports to enjoy as well, like hiking, mountain biking and paragliding.

Please check the cable car and train schedule from the SBB Website.

Schilthorn Peak

Above the town of  Mürren is the famous Schilthorn Peak at 10,000 feet high where they filmed the old James Bond movie. 

A 30 minutes cable car ride from Mürren takes you to the summit of the 2,970 meters high Schilthorn, where you can enjoy the spectacular 360° view of the mountain world. 

The Schilthorn provides the perfect opportunity to see the entire Jungfrau area in all its glory as you view the mountainous peaks of Jungfrau, Eiger, and Mönch, among others (there are more than 200 peaks to see from the top). 

On a clear day you can also see as far as Mont Blanc in France and the Black Forest in Germany!

This spectacular location also boasts the honour of being featured in the blockbuster 1969 Bond movie – On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Bond fans might be interested to learn that arch-villain Blofeld’s “allergy laboratory” now serves as a revolving restaurant called Piz Gloria!

There are numerous Bond-themed attractions on the summit, as well as a thrill walk and glass-floored viewing platform at the Birg intermediate station, making a visit to the Schilthorn a fantastic excursion.

Schilthorn is a popular ski field to visit during the winter months. If you wish to spend a day skiing in Lauterbrunnen, Schilthorn is the place to go. If skiing is not your thing, you can still head up to the famous Piz Gloria viewpoint regardless to enjoy the magnificent views.

You may check the ticket and ski pass from this official Schilthorn website. Return ticket price for an adult from Mürren – Schilthorn is CHF 85.60, it includes the “Bond World – the interactive exhibition at Schilthorn” &
the “Skyline Walk & Thrill Walk at Birg”. If you have Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll get a 50% discount off the ticket.

Skyline Walk & Thrill Walk at Birg

If you take the cable car from Mürren to  Schilthorn Peak, do remember to make a stop halfway at Birg for the thrilling & scenic experience that is going to blow your mind away. 

The Birg station is proudly situated on the rocky massif, 1,000 meters above Mürren. Birg is the middle station of the cable car between Mürren and Schilthorn. This station provides a lot of adrenalin, it is definitely worth making a stop, after all it is already included in your ticket to Schilthorn.

The Skyline Walk opens up new perspectives. This platform is situated over a vertical precipice, offering stunning and exhilarating panoramic views!

At the opposite of the Skyline Walk is the entrance to the Thrill Walk, which leads down into the perpendicular walls of the imposing rock massif. The steel structure clings to the rock before swerving under the observation deck and cableway to end below the cable car station. Features including a crawl-through tunnel, glass-bottomed floor, rope and cattle grid lend an additional frisson of thrill to this spine-tingling adventure.

Wengen

Located on the other side of the valley, at an elevation of 1,274 meters is another Swiss alpine village which is also car-free, Wengen has cute timber chalets and traditional hotels. The only way to get from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen is by the 12-minute iconic yellow train journey with frequent services. Winter sports lovers will adore the skiing on offer, and in the summer, the village is a mecca for hikers of all levels. 

From Wengen, you may continue on the train journey up to Kleine Scheidegg, and then onwards to Jungfraujoch, the top of Europe!

Wengen is in a perfect location for long and short hikes. If you are willing to do longer hikes, you can get to peaks like Männlichen or mountain passes like Kleine Scheidegg.

If you would like to take it easy, you can hike down to Lauterbrunnen, even though it is an easy hike, you will still get the full package of spectacular views.

Männlichen

Männlichen, at an elevation of 2,343 meters, located above Wengen, is a mountain with spectacular close views of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, it can be accessed by aerial cableway from Lauterbrunnen/Wengen. From the top, it also offer amazing view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. 

In summer, you can choose to hike from Wengen to Männlichen. This will not be an easy hike as you will have to gain over 1,000 meters in elevation, but it’s absolutely doable if you take it easy. OR, you can do it the other way round, take a cable car from Wengen to the top and then hike down. 

The hike from Wengen to Männlichen will take you up to 3 hours with the distance of 5 kilometers. The hike is pretty steep most of the times, so be ready for a great workout session. 

To the Top of Europe –  Jungfraujoch

Located 3,454 meters above sea level is the Top of Europe – Jungfraujoch.

“Top of Europe” is the name given to the station, which is the terminus of the train to the Jungfraujoch inside the Sphinx. Already the ride with the Jungfrau Railway is an experience of a special kind. From the valley station of Kleine Scheidegg, Jungfraujoch has been accessible by Jungfrau Railway since 1912. It takes 35 minutes to get there.

Once at the top, you will be able to view the UNESCO-listed landscape and explore summit attractions such as the Ice Palace, Sphinx Vantage Terrace, 360° Cinematic Experience, Alpine sensation, and the Snow Fun Park with a knowledgeable guide.

The return ticket to the Top of Europe is around CHF 220, you can go from either Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. It’s expensive to be honest, but if you would like to have a Swiss Alps experience, plus if the weather is clear and sunny, I think it is still worth it to pay for the experience.

Kindly check the official Jungfrau website for booking the ticket and more details about it.

Paragliding

Have you ever thought of flying freely over the stunning Swiss Alps landscape, gliding through the lush green valley, and admire the snow-capped mountains up close? 

If you have an adventurous spirit, why not trying paragliding in Lauterbrunnen, not only you’ll have the experience of a lifetime, you’ll also get to admire the stunning scenery from a whole new perspective.

“No experience necessary – just an appetite for adventure!”

Take a deep breath, put your best foot forward, a few steps together down the hill and soar high up into the sky!               – Airtime Paragliding

Please check out Airtime Paragliding for more details and make your booking.

Where to Stay?

There are plenty of accommodation choices to choose from in this beautiful valley, from budget to luxury.

If you prefer even more quiet place with higher altitude to spend your holiday, you may consider Wengen or Mürren, both charming mountain villages located above Lauterbrunnen, giving you the feeling of being isolated from the daily hustle.

I was staying at BASE Cafe during my visit, the location is perfect, it’s just a few minutes walk from the bus/train station. I was paying around USD95 for 2 nights, absolutely great value for money.

Set 801 meters away from Staubbach Falls, BASE Cafe offers accommodations with a restaurant, a bar and a shared kitchen for your convenience. The homestay features both WiFi and private parking free of charge.

Since dining in restaurants is expensive in Switzerland in general, staying at AirBnB or homestay with a kitchen really helps saving a lot of money. BASE Cafe is just a few minutes walk from the Coop supermarket, I was basically cooking my meals most of the times during my stay. 

The staff at BASE Cafe are very welcoming allowing me early check-in and gave me a lot of insights about Lauterbrunnen. The room is very clean and cozy, there’s a big table for me to eat and work, a small wardrobe for me to hang my jacket and what I love the most is the big window offering breathtaking view of the valley, and allowing a lot of sunlight into the room. 

You can search for your accommodation from the Lauterbrunnen.Swiss website, or from booking.com.

My Itinerary

ZÜRICH > lauterbrunnen > Jungfraujoch > WENGEN > mürren > spiez

 

I bought a 3 days Swiss Travel Pass one week before my trip since I was travelling alone. I was determined to explore as much as I possibly can, taking trains, buses, cable car and ferry, with the goal of getting my money’s worth, hehe! (I think I did, lol) 

I started my trip in Zürich, taking the train to Interlaken before changing to bus continuing to Lauterbrunnen. The entire journey took me about 3 hours, it was an enjoyable and scenic ride getting to the beautiful valley. 

I am always looking forward taking train while travelling, every time when I get on the train, looking for my cabin and my seat, that immediately gives me the feeling of excitement, “Yesssss, I am going on vacation!!!” 

Before arriving Interlaken, I had this gorgeous lake view on my left, it’s Thunersee (Lake Thun). When you are on your way to Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken, do look around because you are entering one of the most beautiful and deepest valleys in Switzerland, look at both sides, the scenery is captivating. 

Arriving Lauterbrunnen village at noon, I checked-in my accommodation, after settling down and freshen up myself, I couldn’t wait to go out and explore. 

This is what I did on my 3 days trip to Lauterbrunnen: 

• DAY 1: Take a stroll and explore the village | Easy walk to Staubbach Falls | Visit Trümmelbach Falls
• DAY 2: Visit the Top of Europe – Jungfraujoch | Make a stop at Wengen on the way back (from Wengen, you can go to Männlichen if you have time)
• DAY 3: Take cable car and mountain railway to Mürren | Make an excursion to Schilthorn & Birg (unfortunately it was closed for maintenance when I was there)

On my last day, I took the train to Spiez, had my late lunch at a restaurant overlooking the peaceful deep blue Lake Thun, then I walked around the town. 

Spiez is a small, quaint little town on the south shore of Lake Thun. It has a wonderful medieval castle and offers spectacular views across the lake.

A nice little walk by the lake, listening to the birds chirping, enjoying the fresh air, I felt so refreshing and alive. Sometimes, we do need some serenity to heal our body and soul. Sitting by the lake, the whole world seemed slowing down.

“Travel makes one modest, you see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.”

– Gustave Flaubert

Since the boat/ferry rides are included in the Swiss Travel Pass, I decided not to take the train leaving Spiez, but I chose the experience sailing across Lake Thun on a boat to Thun, before I switch to train for returning to Zürich. 

It was an amazing 46 minutes journey on the boat, I enjoyed every second of it, taking a lot of pictures and admiring the beauty of the surroundings. 

Please check the timetable of the boat/ferry from the BLS website in order to plan your time well. The frequency is quite rare, it is important that you don’t miss your ferry going to Thun. 

Lastly, I hope you like my contents and enjoy reading. If you are planning on a trip to Lauterbrunnen, trust me it’s going to be one of your best trips.