Stay in Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen for one night?
A traveler named Uallin is planning a trip to Switzerland in February and is trying to decide between staying in Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen for one night. They want to visit the Top of Europe and also experience Wengen and Grindelwald, arriving around noon and leaving for Zermatt by 3 PM.
- Interlaken offers easier access for visiting Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, and Grindelwald, making it a better base for your short stay.
- Be prepared for potentially snowy paths in Lauterbrunnen, and consider bringing solid shoes to navigate.
- The Swiss Travel Pass can be convenient for train travel, allowing for easy transfers between towns and attractions.
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Hi there! Trying to book our accommodation for next February and are undecided whether we should base in Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen. Our intent is to visit Top of Europe and we only have one night. We will come from Germany so arriving time at Interlaken/Lauterbunnen would be about 12pm(6hr train ride). If weather is good, we will try to head up to Top of Europe from about 1pm and head down on the last 5pm train. If there were delays, we will go Top of Europe early next morning about 7am. We wish to set off for Zermatt by 3pm. In the time we have at Interlaken/Lauterbunnen, we would also like to visit Wengen and Grindelwald to enjoy more of the Swiss Alps. Where would you recommend we stay?
Thank you.
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Hi Uallin,
Although Lauterbrunnen is more scenic than Interlaken, I would pick Interlaken in this case. The round trip via Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald will be slightly easier from there. Please see here for Jungfraujoch route details.
For hotel suggestions, please see:
Thank you, Arno, for your invaluable feedback.
Hi Arno. Apologies for dwelling on this subject. Have been reading the threads and posts in this site and my inclination to stay in Lauterbrunnen lingers.. Looks really nice to stay and wake up close to the Alps. Hence, would like to know how is the round trip via Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Grindelwald will be slightly easier from Interlaken. Also, how are the roads in Lauterbrunnen in winter (Feb)? Are they well plowed? Considering the difficulty level if to walk to accommodation with luggage. Thanks!
No problem Uallin! Lauterbrunnen is perfectly fine if you don’t mind one extra change in Zweilütschinen on your way back from Grindelwald. The scenery is certainly better than in Interlaken. It’s a small village with a few hotels and restaurants, and just one supermarket.
In general small roads and sidewalks are not plowed. If there is snow in the valley, which is not guaranteed even in February, you will need solid shoes.
Hi Arno, just want to clarify did you mean there may not be snow in Lauterbrunnen in February? I thought that’s winter and was expecting snow everywhere. Any snow in Wengen, Grindelwald ? Then I suppose Interlaken, which is of lower altitude, wouldn’t have snow either?
Hi Uallin,
The higher you go, the bigger the chance of snow. From low to high, the order of towns in the region is Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren.
January and February are the best months to experience snow (myswissalps.com/ besttimetovisit). But there is no guarantee for snow on the ground in places as low as Lauterbrunnen (about 800 m). Global warming is having a clear effect on the Alps too, unfortunately. There have been winters when it took very long until the first substantial snowfall occurred (no white Christmas). But also there have been lots of snow as early as late November. One just can’t tell, and the climate tends to show more ups and downs than decades ago. So snow in Lauterbrunnen is likely but not guaranteed. As you go up you will certainly find snow.
Hi I went to Switzerland last year in February 2016
i stayed in interlaken for 2 nights and Lauterbrunnen for 3 nights.
Both were great small towns. Each town offers little hidden gems.
For the Swiss Alps experience, I would stay in Lauteebrunnwn
as far as to top of Europe, it’s easier from Lauteerbrunnen.
Its just one town over from Interlaken. And from there it’s about 3 towns to Klein Scheidegg. The final stop to Top of Europe
it take awhile to get there. About hour and half. Lots of transfer but very easy and there is always a train every few minutes and just across platform.
I would take time to enjoy town of Grindelwald
below are some photos of my trip enjoy!
Swisss, so expensive but so damn beautiful
Thanks Arno and bouboucadeau. Both your posts have been very helpful. I’m considering booking an apartment at the end of town. At Hotel Horner. Not sure if that’s too far to lug our luggage there in winter. Is it possible to get a taxi to the Hotel Horner from the train station. Any idea what it would cost?
Hi
no it should be easy to walk as the path should be cleared of snow. In winter the buses in Lauterbrunnen are free. But it’s a pleasant walk in winter
Your hotel is at the end of the main road. Past the staubbach falls.
Photos are town of Lauterbrunnen in February 2016
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