Lauterbrunnen

Valley of 72 waterfalls

Lauterbrunnen in Switzerland is a village surrounded by steep mountains and wide valleys filled with waterfalls. The area has many streams that flow into the river, creating a calm but lively atmosphere. People visit to see natural beauty up close without traveling far from town. Traditional wooden houses line narrow streets alongside shops selling local food and crafts. Hiking trails start near the village center, leading through forests and past meadows with wildflowers in summer. Winter brings snow that covers rooftops and paths, making it a quiet place year-round.

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Village in Switzerland

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 8.2

General Safety:	9
Health & medical:	7
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	10

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4/5

Most people in Lauterbrunnen, especially in hotels, restaurants, and tourist services, speak good English. However, learning a few basic German phrases can be helpful.

Highlights Attractions Getting there Hotels Tips Travel costs Safety Articles

Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Lauterbrunnen Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
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World-class for alpine valleys and waterfalls. Hike scenic trails, photograph towering cliffs, visit mountain villages and take cable cars to high alpine views.

Place score

9.1

Best at:

Natural sites

Waterfalls

Mountains

Spotless

Hiking

Personal score

Suited for

👶 5

Families

🧓 5

Seniors

👩 8

Solo

❤️ 7

Couples

Switzerland – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	230 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type C , Type J Type C: Type J: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Swiss Franc (CHF) £1 ≈ CHF 1.10
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Switzerland is very cashless-friendly, with credit and debit cards widely accepted. Mobile payments like Apple Pay and Google Pay are also increasingly common. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory in Switzerland. Most service charges are included in bills. In restaurants, rounding up to the nearest 5 CHF or leaving 5-10% is common. Taxi drivers and hotel staff appreciate small tips for exceptional service.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is allowed and socially acceptable in Switzerland, but being disruptive is frowned upon. Alcohol can be consumed in parks, trains, and outdoor events.
Public smoking:	Smoking is banned indoors in public places but allowed in designated areas. Outdoor smoking is common.

Swiss National Day (August)	Expect celebrations, parades, and fireworks throughout the country.
Christmas (December)	Markets and festive events are common, with tourist areas being busier than usual.
Easter (March/April)	Many attractions are closed, but some areas offer special events and celebrations.

Emergency contact:	Emergency Number: 112 (Police, Fire, Ambulance)
Taxi apps:	Uber, Bolt
Other:	Switzerland is famous for its natural beauty, well-organised transport, and multilingual culture. The Swiss Travel Pass is highly recommended for tourists.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland

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Jan

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Feb

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Mar

❄️

Apr

🌧️

May

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Jun

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Jul

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Aug

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Sep

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Oct

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Nov

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Dec

High season:	June - Sep.
Shoulder season:	Jan. - Feb., May, Oct., Dec.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Many mountain railways and cable cars close for maintenance in parts of April, May and November, and some hotels close too

Ski season December to March in Wengen and Mürren; Jungfraujoch open year-round

Waterfalls strongest May to August with snowmelt; some are floodlit at night in winter and spring

Don't miss

💦 Admire the towering Staubbach Falls cascading nearby
🌊 Explore the glacier-fed Trümmelbach Falls inside a mountain
🥾 Hike the scenic Valley of 72 Waterfalls trail
🚡 Take a cable car to Schilthorn and visit Piz Gloria
🏞️ Stroll through Lauterbrunnen village, soak alpine charm

You've been here?

Why travel to Lauterbrunnen?

If you've ever dreamed of a fairytale mountain village, Lauterbrunnen is it. The valley is lined with towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls and lush meadows. From here, you can take scenic train rides to Jungfraujoch, hike through some of the most beautiful alpine landscapes or simply soak in the peaceful atmosphere. In winter, it transforms into a gateway for some of Switzerland's best skiing and snowboarding.

🏙️Cities & Regions

1 Wengen
This Swiss valley showcases dramatic waterfalls and iconic cliffside villages like Wengen. While crowded in summer, the area offers serene hiking trails away from the main tourist paths for a quieter alpine experience.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Kleine Scheidegg
2 Mürren
3 Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe
4 Grindelwald-First

🎡Places for activities

1 First Cliff Walk by Tissot
2 Drehrestaurant Piz Gloria

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Jungfraujoch
This Swiss mountain region features dramatic peaks, deep valleys and crystal-clear lakes. The landscape offers breathtaking alpine scenery with charming villages nestled among towering glaciers and pristine nature trails winding through rugged terrain.
2 Staubbach Fall
A towering waterfall plunges 300 meters into a deep valley, surrounded by steep cliffs and lush pine forests. The sound of cascading water echoes through the alpine landscape, offering a dramatic natural spectacle.
3 Trümmelbach Falls
A powerful waterfall carved through granite, accessible via a tunnel in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland. The site features dramatic rock formations and underground streams that create an impressive natural spectacle for visitors exploring the region.
4 Schilthorn
Perched above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, this iconic mountain offers panoramic views of the Jungfrau region and a revolving restaurant that has hosted film scenes. The cable‑car journey showcases dramatic alpine scenery.
5 Oeschinensee
6 Aletsch Glacier
7 Harder Kulm

🛍️Shopping

1 Coop
2 Swiss Chocolate Chalet

🎈Events

Inferno Ski Race
Jungfrau Marathon
Swiss National Day Celebrations
Lauterbrunnen Village Festival
Schilthorn Sunrise Hikes
Alphorn Festival
Grindelwald Snow Festival
Interlaken Christmas Markets
Swiss Yodeling Festival
Cow Descent (Alpabzug)

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Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Valley of 72 waterfalls; base for Jungfrau Region exploration.
Stay in Lauterbrunnen or nearby Mürren for scenic access and easy hikes.
Buy a Bernese Oberland pass if multiple rides/trains are planned.
Trümmelbach Falls are a hidden underground cascade best accessed early or late in the day.

How to travel to Lauterbrunnen

The nearest major airport is Zurich Airport (ZRH). From Zurich, take a train to Interlaken Ost, then transfer to the Bernese Oberland Railway to Lauterbrunnen. The journey takes around 2.5–3 hours and offers stunning scenery along the way.

Access summary

From Zurich Airport (ZRH): Trains via Bern/Interlaken Ost, about 2.5–3 hours.
From Interlaken Ost: Direct regional trains to Lauterbrunnen, roughly 20–25 minutes.
From Geneva or Basel airports: Train connections via Interlaken, typically 3–3.5 hours.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen offers charming alpine hotels, cozy guesthouses and mountain lodges. Camping is also an option, with some of the most scenic campsites in Switzerland. For luxury, stay in nearby Wengen or Mürren.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort

Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel

9.3

Derby Swiss Quality Hotel

9.0

Hotel Victoria Lauberhorn Wengen, a Faern Collection Hotel

9.0

Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Lauterbrunnen

Walking is the best way to explore Lauterbrunnen itself. For reaching surrounding villages and mountain peaks, scenic trains, cable cars and gondolas are well-connected and efficient. The Jungfrau Railway is a must for breathtaking views.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

+58 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 58% higher than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot more on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

+6 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to CHF) is 6% worse than in recent years. That means travelling now is more expensive compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Interlaken, Switzerland - 10 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£93	£219	£601
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£30	£90	£225
🍝 Food per day	£50	£113	£306
🚕 Transportation per day	£13	£16	£70

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£39
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£31
🍟 Fast food combo	£14
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£17
☕ Cappuccino	£3.40
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£7

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£3.30
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£42
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1.70

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£19
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£95
🤧 Cold medication	£13
💇 Basic haircut	£34

Safety information overview

General safety

Lauterbrunnen is extremely safe with very low crime rates. However, weather in the mountains can change rapidly, so always check forecasts before hiking or skiing.

Health & Medical

Basic medical services are available, but for serious emergencies, the nearest major hospitals are in Interlaken. Travel insurance covering outdoor activities is recommended.

Accessibility

Many scenic routes and trains are wheelchair accessible, but some mountain trails and cable cars may have limited access for those with mobility challenges.

Tap water

Swiss tap water is among the purest in the world. It’s safe to drink everywhere and many public fountains provide free fresh water.