Lauterbrunnen (Switzerland) is one of those places that are often depicted on tourist postcards and magnets. This is a fabulously beautiful valley located in the famous Swiss Alps.
General information
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland is a small village surrounded by high cliffs, mountain lakes and picturesque meadows. It is located near Interlaken, the tourist capital of the Bernese Highlands region. Of course, the main attraction of the Lauterbrunnen Valley is not at all architectural structures or museums – you should go here to enjoy the beauty of Swiss nature.
Lauterbrunnen is home to just under 3,000 people – a village by our standards. Most of the houses are located in the valley, but you can also meet mountain dwellers. Due to the fact that one of the highest waterfalls in Switzerland (Staubbach) is located near the village, there are always a lot of tourists here, and the whole world knows the photo of Swiss Lauterbrunnen. In total, there are 72 waterfalls in the valley.
In addition to Lauterbrunnen, the so-called Lauterbrunnen Valley also includes the villages of Wengen, Himmelwald, Stechelberg, Murren and Isenflu. It is so idyllically beautiful that J. R. R. Tolkien without further ado took Lauterbrunnen as the model of the Elben settlement of Bruchtal.
Skiing, hiking, rock climbing, cycling — the list of sports activities that can be done in Lauterbrunnen is great. To the displeasure of officials, it is supplemented by extreme sports such as base jumping.
Numerous skydivers dive from sheer cliffs in wingsuits, glide through breathtaking landscapes with their parachutes deployed at the last moment, and land between cows and sheep in the green pastures of the valley. Several dozen jumpers have already crashed in such daring jumps. Yes, this is one of the reasons why the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland has somehow become famous.
However, most tourists come to Lauterbrunnen to relax and engage in other, much safer sports. The numerous ski areas in the Jungfrau ski region and the scenic hiking trails invite you to enjoy exciting descents and relaxing hikes.
Staubbach Waterfall
Staubbach is the hallmark of the Swiss Lauterbrunnen Valley. Its height is 297 meters, and until 2006 it was considered the highest waterfall in Switzerland. However, after repeated measurements, it turned out that the Sirenbach waterfall is slightly higher, and now Staubbach takes an honorable second place.
An interesting fact is that the waterfall became famous thanks to the legendary German writer Goethe-in 1779, he visited this place, and, inspired by the beauty of Switzerland, wrote the poem “Song of spirits over the waters”. 40 years later, another famous English poet Byron wrote about the waterfall, calling it the tail of a huge water horse.
Today, Staubbach is the most popular tourist attraction in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. This place is especially beautiful during the rain – powerful streams of water hit the ground, which leads guests of Switzerland to delight. Also, an observation deck was built specifically for tourists – a special tunnel was made in the rock, from which you can see the village and the entire valley.
Trummelbach Waterfall
The Trummelbach Waterfall (or, as it is often called, the “rumbling drums”) is located 6 km from Staubach. This place, like many others in Switzerland, is famous for its beauty: not all the waterfall can be seen walking along the valley, because several cascades are hidden in the Black Monk cave. Any tourist can get here. During the tour, guests will be guided through a long tunnel, as well as shown different parts of the waterfall up close. Rumble and lots of splashes-that’s what awaits tourists in the cave. Entrance is paid.
An interesting fact is that the amount of Trummelbach water varies greatly depending on the season: from December to March, it is, in fact, only a small stream in the mountains. But from July to September, the waterfall can be seen in all its glory.
Trummelbach is similar in color, oddly enough, to milk: this is due to the fact that water erodes a large number of stones and sand.
How to get there: you need to go from the village of Lauterbrunnen to a small rise, where the tunnel begins. A checkpoint follows, followed by a cave.
- Admission fee: 11 francs for adults, 4 francs for children.
- Visit time: July and August – from 8.30 to 18.00, all other months – from 9.00 to 17.00
Things to do in winter
Near the Lauterbrunnen Valley, there are many famous Swiss resorts that are definitely worth visiting.
The most famous is the Murren – Schilthorn resort, located at an altitude of 1,650 meters above sea level. The base of the resort is the village of Murren, which is located in the valley. From here you can enjoy stunning views of the three mountain peaks: Eiger, Monk and Jungfrau. Only 450 people live in this place, but tourists come here several times more. The total length of the resort’s trails is 50 km.
Another interesting place in Switzerland is the village of Wengen in the Bernese Alps, located northeast of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. This is a classic Alpine village with wooden chalets and various gazebos scattered all over the slope. You should come here at least to enjoy the view from the surrounding mountains. And fans of extreme sports should visit the resort in January – it is in this month that the annual Lauberhorn races are held, consisting of men’s downhill and slalom.
Things to do in the summer
In the summer, tourists should also go to Wengen, Switzerland – where the annual Mendelssohn Music Festival opens in August. And in September, the Jungfrau mountain marathon takes place here, which annually attracts thousands of spectators and more than 3,500 participants. It can be said that Wengen is the most famous and active city in the municipality of Lauterbrunnen.
Another pride of Lauterbrunnen is the Jungfraubahn, a railway that runs through a mountain tunnel. Next stop – ” Top of Europe “(3000 meters above sea level). This station is the highest railway station not only in Switzerland, but also in Europe. From here, you should go to the observation deck to look at the Aletsch-Alpine glacier.
How to get to Lauterbrunnen
The Lauterbrunnen Valley is located in the middle of the mountains, so you will not be able to get to this place without a direct connection.
From Bern
You can reach the Lauterbrunnen Valley by train (Switzerland has a well-developed railway system) or by car.
Train: Take the 3-hour train line 61 at Bern Station and reach Interlaken stop. Then take the 145-Y train and get off at Lauterbrunnen station.
Travel time is 1 hour and 40 minutes. The ticket price is 27-45 francs, depending on the class of car. You can find out the exact schedule, route and purchase a travel document on the carrier’s website — www.sbb.ch.
You can also get to Lauterbrunnen by car: the distance between the cities is 70 km.
From Geneva
By train: At Geneva station, take the line 1 train (running every 2 hours) to Bern Station. Then take the line 61 train to Interlaken stop. Then take the 145-Y train and get off at Lauterbrunnen station.
The journey time is 3 hours and 50 minutes. The price may vary depending on the class and route – 65-125 francs.
Switzerland has a well-developed railway connection, so you can get to the necessary village from any other point in the country comfortably and quickly. You can create a route and choose the best option for you on the railway’s website — www.sbb.ch.
Parking lots in Lauterbrunnen
The parking lot near Lauterbrunnen station is the largest. Here you can park your car and go on a trip through the mountains.
- Rental price: 14 francs (for one day), 270 francs (for 30 days).
- Parking hours: around the clock.
Yandex. Checkout opening hours:
- April-June – 8.00-17.00
- July-September – 8.00-19.00
- October-March – 8.00-19.00
Booking: reserve parking in Switzerland online (https://www.jungfrau.ch/shop/en/parkticket) can only be used for a period of 5 days or more in winter and 3 days or more in summer.
The only possible way to avoid paying is to book a room in one of the hotels with private parking. Some of them are:
- Valley Hostel
- Hotel «Staubbach»
- Camping Jungfrau — Holiday Park Guest House
- Silberhorn Hotel
Unfortunately, there is no place in the valley where you can park your car for free. Despite this, the settlement in the Lauterbrunnen valley (Switzerland) is popular among travelers.
See also: Engelberg is a world-famous Swiss winter resort with ice rinks and ski jumps.
