Lauterbrunnen in 5 days

A sheer-walled glacial valley of 72 waterfalls, car-free cliff-top villages and cable cars, with Swiss Alps hiking from your doorstep. Best time to visit: Mid-June to September, plus December to March for snow. Daily budget (budget traveller): CHF 130 to CHF 450.

Arrive and walk to Staubbach Falls

Morning: Train to Interlaken Ost, then the BOB to Lauterbrunnen (about 20 minutes). Drop bags at Valley Hostel, which has set reception hours, so check yours before you arrive.

Afternoon: Walk five minutes to Staubbach Falls and climb the short path to the gallery behind the water (closed in winter). Photograph the church and falls from the main road.

Evening: Stock up at the Coop by the station, then dinner at the Hotel Oberland restaurant or a cook-up in the hostel kitchen. Watch the falls light up at dusk.

Valley floor walk and Trümmelbach Falls

Morning: Walk the flat valley path south past waterfalls and meadows to Trümmelbach Falls, about 45-60 minutes. Pay about CHF 16-18 at the door (open roughly early April to early November).

Afternoon: Continue on foot to Stechelberg, then bus 141 back. Watch the BASE jumpers land in the valley-floor meadows near the village. Stay off the landing field.

Evening: Rösti at Restaurant Weidstübli in Lauterbrunnen and an early night before the cliff-top day.

Grütschalp, Mürren and down to Gimmelwald

Morning: BLM cable car to Grütschalp, then walk the panorama path to Mürren (about 1 to 1.5 hours) with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau across the valley.

Afternoon: Funicular up to Allmendhubel and walk the Northface Trail back to Mürren (about 2.5 hours), or the shorter Flower Trail. Then walk down to Gimmelwald (30-40 minutes).

Evening: Buy cheese at a Gimmelwald honesty-box shop, then cable car to Stechelberg and bus 141 back. Or stay a night at the Mountain Hostel.

Schilthorn summit and the Thrill Walk

Morning: Check the summit webcam, then bus 141 to Stechelberg for an early cable car to the Schilthorn via Mürren and Birg (CHF 115 return, half with a Half Fare Card). The early Schilthorn Brunch ticket is a fun treat.

Afternoon: Stop at Birg for the Thrill Walk. If the weather is settled and you have a head for heights, hire gear in Mürren and do the via ferrata to Gimmelwald.

Evening: Cheese fondue at Restaurant Stägerstübli in Mürren, then the cable car back down before the last departure.

Wengen, the Royal Walk and Kleine Scheidegg

Morning: Cog train to Wengen (about 15 minutes), then the cable car to Männlichen. Climb the 15-20 minute Royal Walk to the crown viewpoint.

Afternoon: Hike the panorama trail beneath the Eiger north face to Kleine Scheidegg (about 1.5 hours). Lunch on the terrace, then the WAB train back down to Wengen.

Evening: Pizza at Ristorante Da Sina in Wengen, then the train down to Lauterbrunnen.

Heading home: For the airport or station, see Getting there in the full Lauterbrunnen guide.

What to eat in Lauterbrunnen

Rösti: crisp pan-fried grated potato, often topped with a fried egg, cheese or ham, the standard hiker's lunch at mountain restaurants
Cheese fondue: a shared pot of melted Swiss cheese, white wine and garlic with bread for dipping, served for one or more at places like Restaurant Stägerstübli in Mürren
Älplermagronen: Alpine herdsman's macaroni baked with potatoes, cream and cheese, served with apple sauce on the side
Raclette: melted cheese scraped over boiled potatoes with pickled onions and gherkins, at its best on a cold evening
Alpkäse: hard cheese made on the summer pastures, sold at alp huts and Gimmelwald's honesty-box shops
Meringues with double cream: a Bernese Oberland dessert from nearby Meiringen, crunchy outside and chewy inside, served with plenty of cream
Bergkäse and Trockenfleisch platter: cured mountain meats, cheese and bread, the classic shared snack in a hut after a long walk

Hidden gems

Isenfluh and the little Sulwald cable car, a quiet hamlet on the valley's northern shoulder with a walk up to the Lobhornhütte and its classic view of the big three peaks
Berghotel Obersteinberg, a candlelit summer-only mountain inn about 2.5 to 3 hours' climb above Stechelberg, with the glacier-fed Oberhornsee another hour beyond
The Sprutz waterfall above Gimmelwald, a short forest walk to a fall you can step behind, far from the Staubbach crowds
Gimmelwald's honesty-box farm shops, where you leave cash in a tin for local cheese, eggs and sausages
The Sefinental below Gimmelwald, a wild side valley of torrents and forest that sees a fraction of the valley's visitors

Getting around

You do not need a car. Bernese Oberland Railway (BOB) trains run from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen in about 20 minutes, roughly every half hour. From Lauterbrunnen, the Wengernalp Railway (WAB) cog train climbs to Wengen in about 15 minutes and continues to Kleine Scheidegg for the Jungfraujoch trains. On the other side, the Bergbahn Lauterbrunnen-Mürren (BLM) cable car rises to Grütschalp, where a small train runs along the cliff to Mürren. PostBus line 141 runs along the valley floor to Stechelberg, stopping at Trümmelbach Falls. From Stechelberg, a new direct cable car opened in December 2024 runs to Mürren, and the older cable cars via Gimmelwald still operate. Wengen and Mürren are car-free, so if you drive, leave the car in the multi-storey car park by Lauterbrunnen station. The valley floor is flat and easy to walk or cycle. Check the official timetables before late trips, and note that lifts close for maintenance in spring and autumn.

Safety

Lauterbrunnen is very safe, with very little crime against visitors. The real risks are in the mountains. Weather changes fast: summer afternoons often bring thunderstorms, so start high-altitude hikes early and come down if the sky darkens. Stay on marked trails, as rockfall and steep, wet grass are common hazards on the valley walls, and some paths close after storms or snow. Keep your distance from cows with calves, and never walk between a mother and calf. Do not attempt the via ferrata without proper gear and a head for heights. At the Jungfraujoch, move slowly at 3,454 metres, drink water and go down if you feel dizzy or sick. Wear sunglasses and suncream on glaciers and snow. Check your travel insurance covers mountain rescue, because helicopter evacuations are expensive. In winter, follow avalanche closures. The emergency numbers are 112 (general), 144 (ambulance) and 1414 (Rega air rescue).

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Lauterbrunnen in 3 days | Lauterbrunnen in 7 days | Full Lauterbrunnen guide