Day Trip to Lauterbrunnen: Best Things to Do

If you are looking to spend one day in Lauterbrunnen, this article is for you!

It may be hard to believe that a place like Lauterbrunnen really exists, until you get a chance to see it in real life.

Imagine the most postcard perfect Swiss village cradled in a valley, with a free-flowing waterfall right above.

This exquisite destination really does exist, and luckily, it’s location and small size make it an ideal day trip from Interlaken, Zurich or anywhere in Switzerland really. Here is how to plan the perfect day trip to Lauterbrunnen!

About Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is a sleepy village, that idyllically captures the true essence of what one would expect from a Swiss alpine village.

Situated in the Jungfrau Valley region of Switzerland, Lauterbunnen is more or less located right in the center of the country. This makes it an ideal day trip from almost anywhere within the country (with a car), but easy to access by public transportation thanks to the train station within the town.

It used to be a very quiet little paradise, tucked away from the world. The small local population of about 2,500 people only had to share their home with the cows grazing on the grass flanks nearby.

Thanks to tourism, this is not really the case anymore since Lauterbrunnen is now hot on the tourist trail for adrenaline junkies, photographers, families, backpackers – you name it.

It seems the secret is out and as a result, Lauterbrunnen sees a huge number of visitors every year now.

Is Lauterbrunnen Worth Visiting?

This country has no shortage of amazing Swiss villages that are easy on the eyes, but Lauterbrunnen is unique in a number of ways.

Perhaps most impressively, this small village is home to no less than 72 waterfalls in and around the actual village. This is what draws in most visitors, but some also come to enjoy the outdoor sports opportunities.

From activities as mild as hiking, to the more adrenaline inducing stuff like paragliding and climbing, there are an immense number of things to do in Lauterbrunnen.

Despite all these qualities, I still believe the best aspect of visiting Lauterbrunnen is purely aesthetics. It’s quite simply, a gorgeous place, and you really need to see it at least once in your life!

When to Go

When planning your day trip to Lauterbrunnen, you should consider the timing. For example, if your main reason for visiting Lauterbrunnen is to go hiking, you should really only opt to visit in summer or early autumn.

Here is what to expect in different seasons in Lauterbrunnen.

Lauterbrunnen in Spring

There won’t be nearly as many visitors in spring as in summer, as temperatures still can be bitterly cold until late May. However, if you visit later in spring, you may get to see the alpine wildflowers that bloom around Late April and May.

Lauterbrunnen in Summer

If you want to hike, visit the waterfalls and partake in adventure sports, summer is the best season to visit. You have the best weather, and very little chance of snow on the trail even at the higher elevations.

You have longer days, and much more frequent days of clear skies as well which are ideal for trekking and hiking. Even in the peak of summer, it never gets too hot in this area, so you won’t have to worry about the heat, unlike in most other European destinations in summer.

The only downside, is that this will be the busiest time of year, so you’ll have higher prices and higher competition with others for a hotel room and seat at the bar.

Want More Swiss Summer Destinations? Read: Most Beautiful Places in Ticino

Lauterbrunnen in Autumn

A visit in autumn will show off the stunning fall foliage from the trees valley, as they changes colors for the season. The temperature can be quite chilly, but on a sunny day, it’s still comfortable enough to spend the whole day outside.

For me personally, autumn is the ideal time to visit Lauterbrunnen. It’s much quieter than summer, so you can really enjoy yourself without the large number of tourists around.

Lauterbrunnen in Winter

Lauterbrunnen is a fabulous Swiss village to visit in the winter time. This valley gets a good amount of snow in winter, which may deter some travelers. But if you’re willing to brave the cold, it’s definitely rewarding to see it in winter.

See More: Everything You Need to Know When Visiting Lauterbrunnen in Winter

Unfortunately, if you want to hike, winter will not be a good time to plan a trip to Luterbrunnen. There are options to do snowshoeing treks in winter, but that is, understandably, not everyone’s cup of tea.

If you do venture towards Lauterbrunnen in winter, opt to stop by nearby destinations such as Grindelwald and Interlaken – both great wintertime destinations in Switzerland.

Visiting Switzerland in Winter? Read: Guide to Zermatt in Winter

Getting There

You can get to Lauterbrunnen by car, within a couple hours from almost anywhere in Switzerland. If you don’t have a car, it’s possible to take the train which conveniently takes you right to the village itself.

If you are coming from a major city, it can be easy to take the train to Lauterbrunnen. Travelers easily take the train from Zurich or Bern on a day trip to Lauterbrunnen.

Driving From Zurich

The drive to Lauterbrunnen takes about 2 hours from Zurich, if you head out early enough to avoid traffic. Even if you don’t no worries, traffic in Switzerland really isn’t all that bad.

Want more day trips from Zurich? Read: A Guide to Visiting St. Gallen

On the way you will pass Lake Brienz and and Interlaken, both places well worth a stop for at least a half an hour. If you are an eager beaver and want to waste no time on the way to Lauterbrunnen, you should at least plan to stop for a few minutes to see the lake.

Lake Brienz

The waters are a crazy deep and bright blue color, a result of the type of glacial water that melted to create it. It is a beautiful sight, and trust me, it’s hard to just drive by without stopping to have a look.

Interlaken

In Interlaken, there is a cute city center area, ideal for a morning walk along the river. You can also pay to take the cablecar up to Harder Kulm for a beautiful view over the lake and city.

It would be wise to stop by LIDL supermarket before you leave Interlaken, to pick up snacks and picnic supplies for the day.

Spoiler: There is no supermarket in Lauterbrunnen itself. If you don’t want to eat in overpriced restaurants while there, plan ahead.

By Train

You can take a train from Zurich Main Station, to Bern or Spiez, then switch to another train headed towards Interlaken. From there, you’ll have to switch again and hop on a regional train to get to Lauterbrunnen. The whole journey takes 3.5 to 4 hours.

Although the trains are super clean, convenient and punctual, they are insanely expensive in Switzerland. If you can rent a car and split the cost with someone, it will save you time and money.

I use Trainline when booking trains in Switzerland. It’s great because you can compare times and fare prices, because news flash: Swiss train fares are expensive AF.

Ready to book? Book your train with Trainline Here.

Where to Stay

Hotel Silberhorn: This hotel offers the best value in location, style, and comfort. The interiors feature exposed wooden beams for a rustic feel, with large windows, great views, and modern touches. Not to mention a fabulous breakfast buffest of regional goodies included!

Hotel Steinbock: This hotel is great for those who’d like to experience staying in a wooden chalet style house. The offerings are much more basic, but you do get a balcony with amazing views of the mountains.

Wasserfallhüsli: This charming home offers the best in mountain cabin comfort. It’s the best option for groups or families, or couples looking for the ultimate in coziness and ambience. It’s more of an apartment than a hotel, with 2 bedrooms, a living room, balcony and kitchen – perfect for longer stays.

Things to Do in Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is not just a village, but the entire municipal area that encompasses the village and the surroundings.

The village itself is teeny tiny, and while it’s beautiful, you’ll want to explore the valley and surrounding area for the best experience while here.

I’ve included ideas for things to do around the valley and in the mountains. Here are the best things to in Lauterbrunnen.

Staubbach Falls

This will be the first thing you probably notice in Lauterbrunnen. This waterfall sets the most epic background for this quaint village. It is the tallest free falling waterfall in Europe, and water flows from it year round, including in winter.

There is a short trail leading up to an observation area, which is a little cove behind the waterfall, carved into the cliff itself.

It’s a narrow path and lots of stairs leading to this observation area. From here, you have the best view of the village below. Watch out for electronics and your camera, as the spray of the waterfall will splash you.

The observation deck is open all year except in winter, when this trail is closed due to the dangers of falling ice.

Trummelbach Falls

The second most famous waterfall in this area, is Trummelbach Falls. This waterfall is located in the interior of a mountain completely.

The water that flows through this waterfall travel through deeply carved out canyons between the rock. This waterfall is powerful and loud, echoing like thunder throughout the canyon.

This waterfall would otherwise be largely unaccessible to people, but today it can be easily accessed by taking an underground lift down into the mountain. Once inside, you will walk through the cavernous tunnels before stepping onto a manmade viewing platform.

Explore the Village

Lauterbrunnen Village is small enough to discover on foot. The most notable landmark is the church, which dominates the village in photos.

Be sure to cross over the river, and wander around on the other side as well. From there, you’ll get the full view of Staubbach Waterfall from further away (also better for photos).

While in the village, there isn’t much of a destination as much as just admiring the local life and mountain village vibes. You’ll pass by super cute traditional Swiss wooden chalets, and plenty of cows peacefully grazing in the grass.

Go Hiking

Lauterbrunnen is located in a valley surrounded by some of the most beautiful mountains in Switzerland. As a result, this area offers an endless possibility for hiking adventures.

You don’t even have to leave the valley to hike. You can embark on a easy hike from Staubbach Falls to Trummelbach Falls. The hike is about 1 hour in each direction, at a liesurely pace.

It’s one of the best way to soak in the beauty of the valley floor on a sunny day.

If you prefer some elevation, you can head to Murren, a traditional car-free alpine village, which can be reached by cable car. From there you’ll have countless hiking trails to choose from, which offer stunning views into the valley below as well as the peaks of the mountains around.

You can also hike from Isenfluh to Suwwald, two villages located on one of the flanks of the mountain in the valley.

If you plan to hike, you should start your day trip to Lauterbrunnen very early in the day as to have more daylight hours and time to complete your trek.

Love Hiking? Read: Guide to Hiking Alpstein in Switzerland

Take the Train

A train ride from Lauterbrunnen into the mountains and surrounding alpine villages is another good way to discover the area.

It may just be one of the most scenic train rides of your life, taking you up to the mountains with stunning views of the peaks and valley below.

Some popular routes by train, are from Lauterbrunnen to Wilderswil, or Lauterbrunnen to Wengen. Both rides are short, only about 15 minutes. No matter which once you pick, you’ll have guaranteed, beautiful scenery along the ride.

The train station in Lauterbrunnen can be found here.

Visit the Car-free Village of Murren

This alpine village high up on the mountains, is unique in the fact that there are no cars allowed. That means you can only reach it by cable car, or by hiking.

The upside to this is that is maintains it’s original beauty as a remote alpine village, with almost all of it’s traditional appearance still in tact.

This village is where you’ll find traditional alpine chalets, and is the starting point for a lot of the popular hiking trails in this area.

Paragliding

Paragliding in Lauterbrunnen is possible year round, and is an exciting way to experience the valley from above.

You can book a trip, with Airtime Paragliding, with trips starting at 180 CHF ($195 USD). There is no experience required, and all equipment is provided.

Rock Climbing

If rock climbing is your sport, there are endless opportunities in Lauterbrunnen. You can look up shops to rent gear if you need it, or ask about best routes or climbing areas.

Via Ferrata

If you aren’t a rock climber but still lust for elevation, you can opt to try climbing the via ferrata routes. The best thing, is that it’s actually free and available to everyone who meets the health and fitness requirements.

These two requirements are: that you must be at least 145 cm tall, and weigh between 40 kg to 120 kg. This is solely for safety reasons.

The entrance to the via ferrata in located in Murren, and will take you above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, ending by descending 400 meters into the valley itself.

You can rent all equipment needed for the via feratta at Staeger Sports located near the entrance.

There is no age limit, but you will need a signed parental consent form if you are under 18. The via ferrata is open from June through October.

Where to Eat

Lauterbrunnen is not really a place you come for the food. First of all, the restaurants are overpriced, and definitely meant to cater to the tourists who come.

Switzerland is already expensive, so expect to really pay your ass off for a sit down meal.

If weather is permitting, you’d do better to buy food from a supermarket on the way to Lauterbrunnen, and have a picnic during your hike, or on a bench in the valley.

But, if you choose to dine here these are the best options I saw:

The Bell Restaurant: Instagram worthy dishes, served in a modern but rustic dining setting. You can come for one of their signature dishes, the most interesting possibly being the Swiss tacos, or have a cocktail on the terrace.

Oberland Restaurant: Located in the Oberland Hotel, offering Swiss staples, including both cheese and chocolate fondue, and snitzel.

Airtime Cafe: A cafe located right on the main road, that offers coffee, baked desserts and sandwiches.

And there you have it! A guide on how to have the perfect day trip to Lauterbrunnen and its surroundings. It’s one of those postcard perfect places, and once you see it in real life, it’s hard to forget. While here, you just may have to keep pinching yourself to make sure it’s real.

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