How to Visit Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland (+ Things to Do + Complete Guide!)
Are you planning a trip to Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland? This postcard-worthy Swiss town deserves a place on any Switzerland itinerary, and in this guide, we’ll help you plan your visit! We’ll share all the great things to do in Lauterbrunnen, our favorite viewpoint, how to get to Lauterbrunnen, passes you’ll need, when to go, what to pack, and more!
Lauterbrunnen is one of those towns that just perfectly embodies the vibe of Switzerland. It’s what you probably picture when you dream of visiting Switzerland. With its cute houses and buildings beaming with colorful flower boxes and beautiful mountain architecture, quaint streets lined with cafes and shops, distant snowy mountain views, and plenty of those adorable cows with the famous large Swiss bells, Lauterbrunnen is one of the most idyllic Swiss mountain towns.
In addition, the town of Lauterbrunnen sits in a picturesque valley tucked between towering cliffs, with 72 waterfalls cascading down their sides- it almost looks and sounds like something out of a movie. And hey! It actually is! Well, kind of…
Lauterbrunnen is so beautiful, it was actually the inspiration for the hamlet of Rivendell in Middle Earth in the Lord of the Rings Series!
With that kind of recognition, you know this place must be good…
A visit to Lauterbrunnen usually makes it onto most Switzerland itineraries, and we’re here to help you plan it! In this Lauterbrunnen guide, we’ll go over everything you need to know to plan your trip, including how to get to Lauterbrunnen, things to do, when to go, how much time you need, and more!
So, let’s get to it!
In this Lauterbrunnen guide:
Where is Lauterbrunnen?
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Lauterbrunnen is a picturesque Swiss town in the heart of the Bernese Oberland. Specifically, it’s found in a valley within the popular Jungfrau area near Interlaken.
The Jungfrau area has many mountain towns and villages, and Lauterbrunnen is a pretty central place and a good base for exploring the whole area. While the town is worthy enough on its own for visiting, sightseeing, and exploring, you can take a handful of cable cars and trains to get to a lot of the other mountain towns, trails, excursion sights and viewpoints throughout the Jungfrau region.
Map of Lauterbrunnen
This map of the Jungfrau region helps give a good idea of where Lauterbrunnen is located in relation to everything else in the Jungfrau region. We’ve labeled Lauterbrunnen, as well as some of the most popular nearby towns and excursion sites, and the modes of transportation out of Lauterbrunnen to various other places.
This map is taken from the Jungfrau website and we’ve highlighted some of the key towns and modes of transport we mention in this Lauterbrunnen guide. In general, the solid yellow lines are train routes and the dashed yellow lines are cable car routes. We’ve highlighted where Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, Murren, Wengen, and the Schilthorn are in relation to eachother, and highlighted the transportation routes in between.
How to Get to Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland
The gateway into the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, where Lauterbrunnen is located, is via the town of Interlaken.
Here are some distances to Interlaken from other popular cities in Switzerland:
Geneva to Interlaken: 3 hours by train or 2.5 hours by car
Zurich to Interlaken: 2 hours by train or car
Zermatt to Interlaken: 2.5 hours by train or car
Once you’re in Interlaken, it’s about a half hour by car or train into Lauterbrunnen Valley.
The road through Lauterbrunnen Valley
Do you need a car to travel to Lauterbrunnen?
While you can drive to Lauterbrunnen, you definitely don’t need a car here, and in fact, we kind of recommend against it, especially if the Jungfrau region is the main area you plan on visiting during your Switzerland itinerary.
Lauterbrunnen is quite walkable, and most of the other towns in this area are car-free. Regardless of if you do have a car or not, you’ll be taking lots of cogwheel trains and cable cars to get around the entire area, and your car will just be sitting in Lauterbrunnen. So we recommend saving on the car rental fees and just travelling to Lauterbrunnen by train.
The train system in Switzerland is super easy to figure out and very convenient. Trains run frequently and are often quite scenic. For tons more information about train travel in Switzerland, be sure to check out our Complete Guide to the Jungfrau region!
The train sitting at the Lauterbrunnen station
A quick note on travel passes for Lauterbrunnen
When you’re planning your trip to Switzerland, you’ll probably be a bit overwhelmed by all the different trains, cable cars, and modes of transportation that you’ll have to use to get around. When visiting Lauterbrunnen, you can choose from a handful of different cogwheel trains and cable cars to get to other nearby places like Murren, Gimmelwald, the Schilthorn, Wengen, and Jungfrajoch- and all the tickets for these can add up fast!
Cable cars and trains leave Lauterbrunnen to head up to destinations higher up in the mountains!
The train between Grutschalp and Murren (which sit on the cliffs above Lauterbrunnen)
To save money in Lauterbrunnen, we recommend looking into one or more Switzerland travel passes. These passes are a one-time purchase that are good for a fixed number of days and give you free or discounted travel on transportation in specific regions or throughout the country.
There are a lot of different passes, and they all have different prices, discounts, and places where they work, so it can be a bit overwhelming trying to figure out which one(s) to get.
Here’s a brief overview of the travel passes that are relevant for a visit to Lauterbrunnen.
The Swiss Travel Pass- This pass gets you unlimited free travel on trains, boats, and buses throughout the country, plus a 50% discount on most cable cars, including those in the Jungfrau area. You can buy it for a set number of days, but it is quite an expensive pass.
The Swiss Half Fare Card- This pass, as the name suggests, gives you 50% off all trains, boats, buses, and most cable cars throughout the country. It’s good for a month and is pretty reasonably priced if you plan on using lots of different transport types during your trip.
The Jungfrau Travel Pass- This pass gives you unlimited or discounted travel on the trains, boats, buses, and cable cars specifically in the Jungfrau region for a set number of days. If you only plan to stay in the Jungfrau area during your Switzerland trip, then this might be the most cost-efficient pass.
The Bernese Oberland Pass- This pass gives you unlimited or discounted travel on the trains, boats, buses, and cable cars in the entire Bernese Oberland region, which includes the Jungfrau area, so it’s good if you plan on traveling beyond the Jungfrau area on your Switzerland itinerary.
Things to Do in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Alright, let’s get to the good stuff now!
Lauterbrunnen is a small town tucked in between the Swiss Alps. Not only is the town very scenic and beautiful, but there are some awesome things to do here as well. Plus, it serves as a great base for exploring the greater Jungfrau region.
Let’s get more into these things now…
Stroll through Lauterbrunnen town
Lauterbrunnen has a certain idyllic charm to it. Lying within a valley, the town is sandwiched between towering cliffs, beautifully coated by lots of cascading waterfalls (72 of them to be exact!). Exploring its streets, perusing the cute shops and cafes, exploring the town’s nooks and crannies, saying hello to the famous Swiss cows, and admiring the Swiss architecture and quaint houses adorned with colorful flower boxes is a must-do when visiting Lauterbrunnen. You might even stumble upon a street vendor selling something delicious, like the amazing fruit waffles we got to taste while enjoying the mountain views!
Strolling down the main street of Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Saying hello to the famous Swiss cows in Lauterbrunnen!
Wandering the streets of Lauterbrunnen and grabbing a bite to eat is a great way to spend some relaxing downtime in between the other adventures you’ll likely be having in the Jungfrau region. We especially liked visiting Lauterbrunnen in the evening after many of the lifts had stopped for the day. We were able to wind down from the busy day and watch the warm alpen glow light up the snowy mountains in the distance.
Evening in Lauterbrunnen
With all this said, it is a pretty crowded place. Lauterbrunnen is a hub in the Jungfrau region, and it’s not a car-free town, so the streets tend to be packed with people and cars, even into the evening. We felt it did take away a little bit from the overall feel of the town, which is often portrayed as very peaceful and quiet, but the town is still beautiful and worth visiting nonetheless.
Visit Staubbach Falls
Of the 72 waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen, Staubbach Falls is perhaps the most famous. Its nearly 300 meter cascade can be seen throughout town. Visiting Staubbach Falls and admiring it from around town is definitely one of the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen.
Staubbach Falls as seen from downtown Lauterbrunnen
There are a few ways to admire Staubbach Falls.
To get to the base of Staubbach Falls for an up-close look, walk from the Lauterbrunnen train station down the main street in the direction of the waterfall.
Just past the Hotel Staubbach (which will be on your left after about ten minutes of walking, or after about 0.6 km), the main road veers to the left, while a walking path starts here and heads straight towards Staubbach Falls. Take this path and before you know it, you’ll be right at the base of the falls.
Often, Swiss cows with their famous big bells will be grazing in the meadows in front of Staubbach Falls, and they are neat to watch and hear their bells clang.
Swiss cows grazing in front of Staubbach Falls
You can also actually walk behind Staubbach Falls. To do this, walk from the base of the falls back along the walking path until you come to the Cycling Bean coffee shop. A paved path leads behind this shop and connects to a short but steep zigzagging trail up through the meadows near the waterfall.
At the top of this path, the trail then cuts into the cliffs next to Staubbach Falls, and from here, you’ll be walking up a slick path through rock caves and along an exposed cliffside (but don’t worry…there’s a metal fence along the path) with great views out over Lauterbrunnen Valley, ending behind the waterfall itself.
A view of people walking up the path to get behind Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen
Here’s the path up to Staubbach Falls as seen from a viewpoint over town
Throughout town, you can find a number of scenic views of Staubbach Falls. This one in particular is pretty famous (but it was super crowded when we happened to stumble upon it). If you wander around, you’ll definitely find less crowded but equally picturesque spots to capture some great photos!
A famous view of Lauterbrunnen, with Staubbach Falls running down the tall cliffside
Walk or bike from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg
Stechelberg is another small mountain town at the far end of Lauterbrunnen Valley. You can drive there, but there’s also an easy and scenic 5 kilometer paved walking path between the two towns. Walking along this path is definitely one of the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen, because along the way, you can admire the towering cliffs that sandwich the valley, and it’s fun to see how many waterfalls you can spot cascading down the rock walls. It should take about an hour and a half to walk it each way.
The views on the path from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg
The path from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg
Though many walk this path, a common thing to do in Lauterbrunnen is to rent a bike right in town (you can do this at the Imboden Bike Shop) and ride the path to Stechelberg and back.
We definitely recommend venturing out on this walking path, whether by bike or on foot, at least for a little bit, if not the whole way. It’s one of the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen to escape the hustle and bustle back in the downtown area, and the further out you go, the more peaceful the walk will be. Out on this path, you can experience the more quiet and tranquil side of Lauterbrunnen, which is a great way to take in all the views around you.
Views down Lauterbrunnen Valley
Once you get to Stechelberg, you can hop on the local bus and take that back to Lauterbrunnen if you don’t feel like walking back (tickets can be bought using the SBB app and website or onboard with the driver).
We walked most of this path on the way to Trummelbach Falls (next on our list!) but didn’t go all the way to Stechelberg. For the walk back, we decided to follow the main road back to town, which traverses along the opposite side of the valley from the walking path. We figured that by doing this, we could have some different views. But we wouldn’t recommend this…the road is actually pretty busy, and there are no sidewalks or pedestrian areas over here!
Walking the road back to Lauterbrunnen
Cows and waterfalls- common sights in Lauterbrunnen!
Visit Trummelbach Falls
Trummelbach Falls is another popular and well-known waterfall in Lauterbrunnen, but it’s a bit more unique than the others.
The Trummelbach Falls is a series of ten cascades that are actually subterranean- meaning instead of cascading down the face of the cliffs, they have created a pathway through the cliff. The Trummelbach Falls are pretty powerful, as they are the sole drainage point for the entire Jungfrau massif. Experiencing these unique falls was definitely one of our favorite things to do in Lauterbrunnen!
One of the cascades of Trummelbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen
A set of unique terraces and walkways overlook the cascades of Trummelbach Falls
To visit the falls, a series of pathways and stairs cuts through the cliffside and follows the water from the first cascade at the bottom of the falls, all the way up to the tenth cascade at the top.
However, you can also take an elevator from the bottom all the way up to just beneath the 7th cascade. The elevator is really cool- it’s tiny and goes through a narrow shaft cut through the cliff and a window at the top allows you to see the tunnel as you ascend.
The Trummelbach Falls elevator shaft
Our recommended route through Trummelbach Falls? Take the elevator up to the top to avoid most of the climbing. From there, walk the rest of the way up the path the see the top three falls. Then make your way all the way back down to the bottom via the paths and stairs, passing by all the individual cascades along the way.
The path along the cascades cuts through rock tunnels, enters small gorges, and provide overlooks for the roaring water below. As you walk along Trummelbach Falls and get such up close views, you can see how powerful these cascades are, hear the thundering of the water as it reverberates off the cliff walls, and see all the cool rock formations that have been carved through the mountainside thanks to the strength of the falls. It’s definitely a cool experience! At first, I was a little unsure that it would be worth it, but I’m definitely glad we did it.
The narrow walkways allow you to admire Trummelbach Falls and the cool rock formations in the cliffside
All in all, it took us about an hour to visit Trummelbach Falls. It may take longer if it’s really busy and there are crowds and long lines for the elevator.
We visited later in the afternoon, and while it looked like it was going to be very busy, it was actually starting to clear out! Large groups and tours often visit here, but they must have been finishing up for the day, and the crowd level actually wasn’t too bad.
How to get to Trummelbach Falls
You can easily walk to Trummelbach Falls by taking the walking path we described above that connects Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg. This is a great way to combine two of the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen!
After almost 2 km (a half hour) of walking down this path, you’ll follow signs to Trummelbach Falls, where it will have you cross a meadow to the other side of the valley. Then after about 10 minutes or so, you’ll cross a small stream and come to the main road. Walk just a few minutes up this road to find the entrance for Trummelbach Falls. It took us about 45 minutes in total to walk from Lauterbrunnen to Trummelbach Falls.
Walking from Lauterbrunnen to Trummelbach Falls
Look for this sign off the main road pointing towards the Trummelbach Falls entrance
If you don’t feel like walking, you can also take the local bus that picks up right next to the train station in Lauterbrunnen. You can pay for a ticket either on the SBB app or website, or pay the driver as you get on.
How much does Trummelbach Falls cost?
An adult ticket for Trummelbach Falls costs 15 CHF, with discounts for kids. Unfortunately, there are no additional discounts for any of Switzerland’s travel passes. Tickets are sold right on site and you can pay with cash or credit card.
The Trummelbach Falls ticket booth
Best time to visit Trummelbach Falls
Trummelbach Falls is only open from early April to mid-November. You can visit from 9 am to 5 pm (with longer hours in the summer months of July and August from 8:30 am to 6 pm), although they may close randomly for bad weather, as the paths and walkways can become too slick and dangerous to walk on.
We recommend coming either first thing in the morning, or later in the afternoon (about an hour or so before closing). This is when the paths will be the least crowded.
Hike the trail from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen
Our favorite views of Lauterbrunnen from the trail to Wengen!
Wengen is a small car-free mountain town perched on the hillside above Lauterbrunnen Valley. A cogwheel train runs between Lauterbrunnen and Wengen, however, there’s also a hiking trail between the two as well. It’s a steep walk up, and we don’t necessarily recommend hiking the entire trail, however, we do recommend walking just a little ways up- because it leads to our favorite place in Lauterbrunnen!
The early parts of the trail out of Lauterbrunnen have some of the best views of Lauterbrunnen Valley you can find. You’ll get postcard-worthy photo-ops over the town, its waterfalls, and the distant snowy peaks.
Stunning views of Lauterbrunnen Valley
And the best part? You might have it all to yourself!
Seriously, we couldn’t believe it. After being a tad overwhelmed by the crowds back in town and near the famous waterfalls, we didn’t have high hopes for this path. But we ended up having it entirely to ourselves, and we got to enjoy the picture-perfect views in peace as the evening set in. It was definitely a welcome respite from the crowds.
It also brought back a sense of those idyllic mountain vibes that we were in search of but couldn’t quite fully get elsewhere due to the crowds. We felt as if we had stumbled upon a secret hidden gem in Lauterbrunnen!
The easiest way to find the trail to Wengen is to go behind the train station. From the station, exit out the backside, and you’ll immediately see a bunch of trail signs. Follow the ones to Wengen. By doing this, you’ll head right out of the station and then cross a bridge.
Trail signs behind the Lauterbrunnen train station
Crossing the bridge at the start of the trail to Wengen
Views down Lauterbrunnen Valley from the bridge
From here, you’ll find yourself walking uphill through a peaceful part of town. There are plenty of trail signs, so just keep following the ones towards Wengen.
The uphill walk through a quiet part of town on the way to Wengen
Alternatively, if you are already in downtown Lauterbrunnen and not near the train station, turn onto the street at this intersection off the main road, following signs to Wengen. This road will take you up to the same quiet neighborhood.
Once in the neighborhood, simply continue following signs to Wengen. They’ll lead you to the top of the neighborhood, where you’ll cross a small bridge and come to a fork in the road. Head right here and continue up.
Walking to Wengen with awesome views over Lauterbrunnen
Head right at this fork to continue to on the path towards Wengen
As you continue walking, start looking back, because the view over Lauterbrunnen is stunning. The first two zig zags on this path are really the best viewpoints over Lauterbrunnen (as you go higher, the view starts getting obstructed by more and more trees).
The path from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen gets a little steep, but you don’t have to go too far before the views get good!
It only took us about 15 minutes to hike up here, but the payout was huge. Spend some time up here enjoying the view and taking it all in.
Just look at this view over Lauterbrunnen Valley!
Visit Wengen and beyond
It might be weird to say, but one of the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen is to…well, leave Lauterbrunnen!
Lauterbrunnen is nice to visit in its own right, but it also serves as a great base for exploring other areas of the Jungfrau region. On either side of the valley are two high mountain plateaus filled with scenic mountain villages, epic hikes, and fun things to do.
The mountain plateau to the east of Lauterbrunnen separates Lauterbrunnen Valley from Grindelwald Valley. To reach this plateau from Lauterbrunnen, you can take the Wengernalpbahn, the world’s longest cogwheel train which connects Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald, and stops at several scenic mountain stations along the way.
The cogwheel train that runs from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen and beyond
The first is Wengen, a small mountain town that sits just above Lauterbrunnen. In Wengen, you can get off the train and transfer to a cable car that will bring you to the high mountain excursion site of Mannlichen.
Here, you’ll get epic views of the Jungfrau massif, and can start one of those most scenic hikes in the Jungfrau region, the Mannlichen Panorama Trail that links Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg.
You can also take the Wengernalpbahn directly to Kleine Scheidegg, and from here, you can transfer onto the Jungfrau Railway which gives access to one of the most popular places in the Jungfrau region- Jungfraujoch.
Jungfraujoch is an alpine site that sits amongst the peaks of the Jungfrau massif and lies at the top of Europe’s highest rail station. Up here, you’ll feel totally immersed in the mountain environment, surrounded by jagged peaks and impressive glaciers on all sides. You can get an epic view over the Aletsch Glacier (the longest glacier in the Alps!), visit an ice palace, hike on the snow to an alpine hut, and more.
Visit Murren and the Schilthorn
The west side of Lauterbrunnen Valley is lined by another high mountain plateau, with two quaint car-free mountain towns perched on its cliffs: Murren and Gimmelwald.
Views from Murren
There are three ways to get to these towns from Lauterbrunnen:
You can take a cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp, and then transfer to a train that takes you to Murren.
Alternatively, you can walk or take a bus from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg. In Stechelberg, a cable car heads to Gimmelwald, and in Gimmelwald, another cable car connects to Murren.
You can also walk from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg and then take a cable car directly to Murren (bypassing Gimmelwald).
Downtown Murren
Murren has some of the most incredible mountain views!
Another one of the area’s most popular excursion sites can also be accessed via Murren- the Schilthorn. From Murren, a series of two cable cars head up to this scenic summit overlooking the entire Jungfrau massif. At the top, a viewing terrace provides panoramic views of the Swiss Alps, and you can even eat in a rotating restaurant!
For more information about all the things to do in and around Murren, Gimmelwald, and the Schilthorn, be sure to check out our guide to the Jungfrau region.
Go paragliding
Paragliding is a common activity to do in Switzerland, and it’s not hard to see why! The breathtaking mountain views would be incredible to see while sailing through the sky.
In Lauterbrunnen, Airtime Paragliding seems to be the main company recommended by the Lauterbrunnen tourism board, so if this is something you’re interested in, then check them out!
Take a helicopter tour
If it’s in the budget, a helicopter tour is another unique and worthwhile thing to do in Lauterbrunnen. Getting to see the jagged peaks, glaciers, and waterfalls from the air would be epic, and we saw plenty of them flying around the skies while we were in the Jungfrau area.
Air Glacier is the company recommended on the Lauterbrunnen tourism site, but there seem to be quite a few companies that would be worth looking into.
How Much Time Do You Need in Lauterbrunnen?
With all these amazing things to do in Lauterbrunnen, how much time should you plan for this scenic corner of Switzerland?
Well, we’d say a half to full day is good to dedicate to Lauterbrunnen itself depending on what you want to do.
With a half day in Lauterbrunnen, we’d recommend:
Walking around town to grab a bite to eat, pop in a shop or two, and admire Staubbach Falls from different viewpoints.
Take the quick walk behind Staubbach Falls
Continue your walk out to Trummelbach Falls. Explore those falls and head back to town.
Finally, walk up to the Lauterbrunnen viewpoints along the trail to Wengen.
If you did all of this, it should take you about 5 hours.
If you want to spend a full day in Lauterbrunnen, you can do the entire walk to Stechelberg and back (or rent bikes to do this), and take part in an adventure activity like paragliding.
Most people, however, don’t come here just to visit Lauterbrunnen. They come to experience the entire Jungfrau region. For that, we’d recommend having about 3 to 4 days in your Switzerland itinerary. This will give you time to explore Grindelwald, the high mountain plateaus (to see places like Murren, the Schilthorn, Kleine Scheidegg, Mannlichen, and Jungfraujoch that we mentioned above), and areas closer to Interlaken.
Where to Stay in Lauterbrunnen
There are plenty of hotels, guesthouse, and BnB options available in Lauterbrunnen, and even a campground if you’re traveling on a tight budget.
Staying in Lauterbrunnen makes for a convenient base to explore the Jungfrau region, as it’s easy to get to most places from there. However, it can be quite expensive. Also, it doesn’t quite have that quaint small mountain town feel, as it’s tucked in a valley with limited mountain views and isn’t car-free or quiet by any means.
If you’re looking for more of that idyllic mountain town charm while exploring Lauterbrunnen and beyond, you can also stay at one of the high mountain villages just above the valley, such as Wengen, Murren, or Gimmelwald. Just know that staying at any of these high mountain towns will require a bit more time and money for transportation to travel around the Jungfrau area, as getting to and from these towns back down to the valleys requires a mix of trains and cable cars.
Hotel views from Murren
You can also stay in Interlaken. It’s only a half hour train ride away from Lauterbrunnen, and while it’s not right in the Jungfrau area nor does it have any sort of mountain village feel to it, it can make a good base if you plan on spending time not only in the Jungfrau region but also in the broader Bernese Oberland region, as Interlaken is sort of a transport center for the area. You might also be able to find slightly cheaper accommodations here.
Best Time to Visit Lauterbrunnen
We’d recommend visiting the Jungfrau area in general from late June to the end of September. This is when you’ll have the best shot at snow-free trails and nice weather for hiking and sightseeing.
However, the shoulder seasons of June and September can be a hit or miss in any given year depending on how the snow decides to fall.
We visited Lauterbrunnen in early to mid-September, and while weather is typically good during this month, we had unusually bad weather, with an early polar vortex dropping feet of snow across the high mountain plateaus. Several trails were closed, and the rest were slick and challenging, so we weren’t able to do much of what we had planned!
So, if you visit Lauterbrunnen during a shoulder season- come prepared for anything. We experienced a temperature range of 80 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the span of just ten days!
Luckily, even in rainy weather, Lauterbrunnen itself is a good place to visit, as the rain only enhances all the waterfalls that are cascading down the cliffs. Just be sure to pack your raincoat!
In terms of crowds in Lauterbrunnen, we don’t think you can really avoid them here! July and August are said to be the busiest, but even by mid-September, things were still pretty chaotic in the Jungfrau region and the crowds were a bit overwhelming- so just mentally prepare for that.
What to Pack for Lauterbrunnen
Here are some things we specifically recommend having for a trip to Lauterbrunnen.
Rain gear: This is essential not only in case of bad weather, but also for visiting the waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen. If you plan to walk behind Staubbachh Falls or to visit Trummelbach Falls, you’ll likely get pretty wet! Have a rain coat and even a pack cover to keep your belongings dry.
Layers: Even in the summer months, the temperatures up at the higher mountain plateaus and especially at excursion sites like Jungfraujoch can be very different from those in the valleys below. You might even want to consider packing a light hat and gloves if you plan on visiting Jungfraujoch or if visiting in the cooler shoulder months. When we visited in September, it got quite cold during bad weather and I was so happy to have lots of layers and gloves!
Sun protection: Make sure to wear sunscreen and bring hats and sunglasses. Most of the Jungfrau area is at high elevation and completely exposed to the sun. Also, in areas covered in snow like Jungfraujoch, sunglasses are super helpful to reduce the sun glare off the snow.
Good walking or hiking shoes: Even if you don’t plan on doing any major hiking in the area, we still recommend having solid walking or hiking shoes with good traction, and even good waterproofing. The paths around the falls in Lauterbrunnen can be slick and wet. And in general, you’ll likely be doing a lot of walking in the Lauterbrunnen area, so comfy shoes are a must!
More Switzerland Guides
Planning your Switzerland itinerary? Be sure to check out all our Switzerland guides for more inspiration, tips, things to do, and more!
JUNGFRAU GUIDES
How to Visit the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland + Best Things to Do
How to Visit the Eggishorn Viewpoint in Switzerland- The BEST Viewpoint over the Aletsch Glacier
How to Visit the Aareschlucht Gorge and Reichenbach Falls: A Good Rainy Day Activity in Switzerland
ZERMATT GUIDES
Best Things to Do in Zermatt (+ Complete Summer Travel Guide!)
The PERFECT One to Four Day Zermatt Itinerary (Summer Edition)
How to Visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Zermatt + BEST Things to Do
How to Visit Rothorn, Blauherd, and Sunnegga in Zermatt + BEST Things to Do
The Matterhorn Glacier Trail in Zermatt: Complete Trail Guide, Map + Tips
How to Hike to the Hornlihutte in Zermatt: Complete Trail Guide
Hiking the Crystal Trail (Kristallweg) in Zermatt: Complete Trail Guide, Map, + Tips
ALPS ITINERARY
Are you planning to visit Lauterbrunnen? Which of these things to do in Lauterbrunnen is at the top of your list? Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below and as always, happy travels!