Lauterbrunnen in the Jungfrau Region - travel guide with our honest review 

What to see and do near Lauterbrunnen 

Find excursions near Lauterbrunnen

The 3 must-do's in Lauterbrunnen

If your time in Lauterbrunnen is limited, we suggest you do at least these 3 things:

1. Visit the Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn - or even both! They're the most famous mountaintops in the Bernese Oberland, and for good reason: the views and the journeys to the top are breathtaking.
2. Make an easy walk with great views. Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg is a beautiful path in the valley. Grütschalp to Mürren or Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg are great trails higher up.
3. Watch the Staubbach Fall in the village.

Winter activities in Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is on the valley floor at about 800 m. This means that snow in town is not guaranteed.

But you can easily access these nearby ski areas for all sorts of snow fun:

• Mürren (25 minutes by cable car and train)
• Wengen (11 minutes by train)
• Grindelwald (37 minutes by train via Zweilütschinen, or 1h40 by cogwheel trains via Kleine Scheidegg)

Bad-weather activities

Staying in Lauterbrunnen means you depend on the weather, as nearly all activities are outdoors. Some ideas for rainy days:

• Go shopping in Interlaken, or consider one of the other bad-weather options near Interlaken. Find tips here.
• Visit the national capital Bern.
• Visit the town of Thun.
• Go to the nearby Trümmelbach Falls: they're in caves, so certainly an option in rainy weather.

Lauterbrunnen travel tips and map 

Traveling to and in Lauterbrunnen: quick overview

Lauterbrunnen can be reached by train and by car. The area can be explored by train, cableway, and on foot. Most of the region is car-free.

How to reach Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen can be reached by train and by car. It takes 20 minutes by train to get there from Interlaken.

Note that the same train also heads for Grindelwald. It's split into two separate sections at the rail station of Zweilütschinen. Information boards on the train and at the platforms indicate where you have to be seated to reach Lauterbrunnen (this is mostly sector A of the train and platform).

There is a paid parking garage next to the train station. Most hotels have parking lots for their guests too. The garage is mainly used by people going up to car-free Wengen or Mürren.

Come by train if you can. Even though there's a road to Lauterbrunnen, most of the area south of the village is car-free. You can plan your trip with the aid of the timetable.

How to get around in the Lauterbrunnen Valley

Public transport gets you to all spots in the Jungfrau Region:

• You can reach Mürren and the Schilthorn via two routes: either via cableway to Grütschalp and train to Mürren, or by bus to Stechelberg and by cable car to Mürren. Learn more in our Lauterbrunnen-Mürren travel guide.
• A cogwheel train takes you to Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg and eventually Jungfraujoch. Check our Lauterbrunnen-Wengen guide for details.
• There's also the train to Interlaken, and from there you can continue to other parts of the Bernese Oberland and Switzerland.
• Grindelwald can be reached via the village of Zweilütschinen in the valley. Alternatively, you can take the scenic cogwheel trains to Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg and Grindelwald.

You can reach Interlaken, Grindelwald and Stechelberg by car. The rest of the area is car-free.

Travel discounts with your Guest Card

The hotels in Lauterbrunnen provide a free Guest Card when you check in. The card provides various discounts on local attractions and cableways.

Rail passes for your stay in Lauterbrunnen

If you own a rail pass, you will usually get a better discount than those provided by the Guest Card. We advise you to check these passes:

• The Berner Oberland Pass. We recommend this option if you want to explore the Jungfrau Region, but other areas of the Bernese Oberland too.
• The Jungfrau Travel Pass. This one's suitable if you're sure you'll focus on the Jungfrau Region south of Lauterbrunnen only.
• The Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card. These are often best if your itinerary includes other parts of Switzerland too.

Use our free tools to determine which pass is best for your plans.

Location of Lauterbrunnen on a map of Switzerland

Travel guides for Lauterbrunnen 

The best time to visit Lauterbrunnen 

The best months to go to Lauterbrunnen early January to late February and early April to late October. 

Lauterbrunnen in spring: April, May and June

• April is a beautiful month nature-wise. The meadows of the Lauterbrunnen Valley will show fresh green grass and spring flowers, and you can still enjoy snow on the mountaintops. Not all mountains are accessible yet, and it's generally too early to hike in the mountains.
• May is similar to April. A few more cable cars start to operate, for example the ones to Männlichen and Schilthorn.
• By June, weather in the Lauterbrunnen Valley can already be summer-like. Pretty much all mountaintops can be visited now. The highest hiking trails may still be snow-covered.

Lauterbrunnen in summer: July, August and early September

• July and August are high season for tourists. This means that popular activities, such as the Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn, can be crowded. You can leave early in the day or arrange for a guaranteed seat in advance though.
• Things will get a bit quieter in September.
• These are the best months for mountain biking and alpine hikes.

Lauterbrunnen in autumn: mid-September and October

We love to be in Lauterbrunnen during fall: this is when you can enjoy the spectacular scenery in peace and quiet. The trees in the valley start coloring. Most mountain transport in the Jungfrau Region operates until mid- or late-October.

Lauterbrunnen in winter: January and February

January and February are best for a winter stay in Lauterbrunnen. Don't expect snow in the village. Although this can happen, you'll often have to travel up to ski areas first.

Weather in Lauterbrunnen 

What's weather like in Lauterbrunnen?

Winter temperatures are pretty mild in Lauterbrunnen. During daytime, count on a temperature range of 5°C to 10°C. It can freeze during the night. Snow in the village may fall, but this is certainly no guarantee for Lauterbrunnen.

The warmest months are July and August, with average temperatures in the village ranging from 19°C to 23°C. Heatwaves with higher temperatures do occur.

The rainiest months in Lauterbrunnen are May, June, July and August. During warm summer days, showers typically occur in the (late) afternoon, while the mornings are sunny and clear.

5-day forecast for Lauterbrunnen

Accommodation in Lauterbrunnen 

Lauterbrunnen offers several hotels, from budget to 3-star options. They're nearly all within walking distance of the rail station.

In addition, there are holiday homes and the well-rated "Jungfrau" campsite with views of the Staubbach Fall.

If you're debating between Lauterbrunnen and other towns, check our Jungfrau Region accommodation tips.

Lauterbrunnen hotel overview

Other websites of interest

• www.truemmelbachfaelle.ch: Trümmelbach Falls
• www.jungfrau.ch: Lauterbrunnen car park
• www.lauterbrunnen.swiss: Lauterbrunnen Guest Card

Itineraries including Lauterbrunnen 

Our blog posts about Lauterbrunnen 

About the Jungfrau Region