Lauterbrunnen is a magical little mountain town in south-central Switzerland that should be on everyone’s Swiss bucket list. It’s got it all: insane views of the Swiss Alps, endless waterfalls, hiking and tons of other outdoor activities, and an adorable village full of wooden cabins. Here’s my advice with a couple days in this enchanting town.
How to get there: Switzerland is connected with a fantastic train system. Its clean, efficient, fast, and provides the best views of the Alps as you ride, though a bit pricey. Note that Switzerland is NOT part of the Eurail system so you can’t use your pass here. You can get to Lauterbrunnen from pretty much anywhere else in Switzerland, but it may require a few separate trains. Upon further research, I learned that you can also drive to Lauterbrunnen if you rented a car for your Swiss trip. The closest airports are Bern and Zurich, from which you can take a train to Lauterbrunnen.
Where to stay: You can get a dorm room for around €30 (yikes), or a hotel for starting around €120. There are limited choices because it’s a tiny town. I stayed at the Valley Hostel and couldn’t be more thrilled with it – they gave me free Swiss chocolate on my birthday, have super comfortable, cozy beds in a cabin-like setup, and a real authentic Swiss vibe.
Getting around: Lauterbrunnen is best seen on foot! It’s a very small village, perhaps only a couple kilometers long, and the surrounding area is perfect for day hiking and exploring. There’s bike rentals available too, also a good option to take full advantage of the scenery!
What to do: Drop your bags in the hotel/hostel and soak up every bit of nature that you can while here! The main landmark in Lauterbrunnen is the famous waterfall called Staubbach Falls. You can see it from anywhere it town – it’s beautiful and imposing – but go explore around to find your favorite views of it. Lauterbrunnen is actually nicknamed “Valley of 72 Waterfalls” because there are literally waterfalls for days. Go for a run, a walk, or a bike ride around the surrounding trails to discover more!
There’s also paragliding available for you thrill-seekers. Starting at a steep €170, I opted to watch them from below instead. Others in my hostel who had done it said it was incredible, though, so if you have the money and no fear of heights, you should go for it! You can also take a cable car up to Murren and/or Grimmelwald, two towns perched a couple thousand feet above Lauterbrunnen on top of the Alps. The views from up there will leave you absolutely speechless, but also significantly set back on money at a pricey €50 round trip. I went in the middle of summer, but in winter, there is fantastic skiing here!
Other tips: Switzerland uses the Swiss Franc, not the Euro like its neighbors. There’s plenty of ATMs to withdraw Francs, and also exchange offices – though they do close rather early in the afternoon. Like the rest of Switzerland, it’s pretty pricey here. I treated myself to dinner at a mid-range restaurant in town and spent €25 including a glass of wine. A coffee the next morning cost me nearly €6. Switzerland, and especially Lauterbrunnen, are totally worth the expensive prices, though!
