Get Lost in Lauterbrunnen

At the edge of the Swiss Alps and in the heart of the Jungfrau region lies the incredibly scenic Lauterbrunnen Valley, one of my personal favorites and a perfect place to bring our visitors! Lauterbrunnen was one of the first towns I visited after moving to Switzerland, and I immediately fell in love!

It's impossible not to love it with towering mountains surrounding you from each town and valley. For many years I lived just two hours from the Appalachian Mountains in North Carolina, so to be able to hop on a train and be only two hours from the Swiss Alps is incredible.

When visiting Lauterbrunnen, we typically stay in Interlaken, which is only 12km away. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we will be featuring the Jungfrau area, and will include more details on where to stay!

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Lauterbrunnen

In the Valley of 72 Waterfalls

With a history dating as far back as 1240, Lauterbrunnen has seen it's fair share of history. The recent history was the most interesting for us.

Pop culture or film buffs may recognize the town from the James Bond (007) film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, from 1969. Gamers may realize it's an inspiration in the Forza Motorsport track Bernese Alps. My literary fans will find this interesting: Lauterbrunnen was the inspiration for Rivendell, the fictitious Elven valley in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R Tolkein.

The Lauterbrunnen Valley, often referred to as the Valley of 72 Waterfalls, is easy to access by car or train. If you travel by car, be a bit careful here! The Bern Police don't mind fining you for being just a few km or miles above the seemingly ever-changing speed limit areas! After experiencing this first hand, I recommend traveling by rail!

What to Do in Lauterbrunnen

While I plan to get deep into the details on our upcoming Jungfrau Region Guide, there are several town specific recommendations that we can share! Here’s a quick day trip plan for you! There's plenty to do in a day here, perhaps a weekend. If you are considering spending more time here, I recommend visiting other nearby towns during your stay because Lauterbrunnen is small and easily conquerable in 1-2 days!

Visit Lauterbrunnen Church

This lovely church is worth a quick visit after parking. Its steeple can be seen from several areas in Lauterbrunnen and is incredibly photogenic.

Walk Through the Town

There's plenty to do outside of the valley surrounded by nature, but first, take a quick walk through town on the way to the trailhead! We stopped and grabbed a quick flat white and breakfast at Airtime first! There are several stores in the town you may want to check out too!

Staubbach Falls

This is one of the first things you'll find and one of the first awe-inspiring scenes when you arrive in Lauterbrunnen. The misty fall is the one closest to the town and can quickly be reached on foot, and there's a pathway up to it! This is one of the most well-known sites you'll see on Instagram and Pinterest!

Walk Lauterbrunnen Valley

This 8km stretch is comfortable and suitable for walkers, hikers, families, and a leisurely cycle. Parking is accessible near the church if you arrive by car. To access the trailhead, walk the main road, past Staubbach Falls, and eventually find yourself on the path! There is little elevation change on this path, but the mountain walls surrounding the valley make for a fantastic walk or ride!

Trümmelbach Falls

This 10-glacial waterfall system is pouring out 20,000 liters of water PER SECOND from the glacial runoff from the Eiger, Mönach, and Jungfrau. That's right, 20,000! It alone is the exit point for all of the water, and it's all inside of the mountain. There are platforms, rails, etc., so yes - it's safe. It is intense, though! Check out the website for seasonal and time updates.

Visit Mürren and Schilthorn

You likely won't be able to fit this one in on the same day, but if you're in Lauterbrunnen for a weekend or just a couple of days, it's more than worth it! The railway up to Mürren, then to Schilthorn, and a delicious lunch will provide a lifetime memory you won't want to miss. Stay tuned for details on this soon!