Dreaming of exploring a picturesque Swiss mountain village? Look no further than Lauterbrunnen. An idyllic and incredibly scenic little Swiss abode tucked between spectacular towering cliffs that you need to see for yourself.
Lauterbrunnen may be a tiny village, but it is a bucket-list destination for many people. It’s a classic Swiss town often featured in photographs shared all over the world. You’ve probably seen a picture of it somewhere, and once you do, you’ll need to go there.
To make your visit easy, here is everything you need to know for getting to Lauterbrunnen and spending the perfect day there:
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Where to Stay in Lauterbrunnen
There are a few different options when choosing where to stay while visiting Lauterbrunnen.
If you are interested in a quiet and secluded getaway, you can stay right in Lauterbrunnen itself. Keep in mind though, it is an incredibly small town. This means there are not that many options for hotels – they book up quickly – and there are not many bars or restaurants to choose from.
For those reasons, I would actually recommend staying in Interlaken, just 15 minutes away. Interlaken is a much bigger town with much more going on and many more options for hotels, restaurants, and nightlife. It’s another picturesque Swiss town, but with better cocktails and brunch options 😉
How to get to Lauterbrunnen
If you aren’t already in Switzerland, you should fly into Geneva or Zurich. Bern is technically the closest airport, but I would recommend flying into Geneva or Zurich for better prices and availability.
Once you’re in Switzerland, you can easily drive or take the train to both Lauterbrunnen and Interlaken. Swiss trains are as good as advertised (and yes, they’re always on time).
There’s a train that runs back and forth all day between Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen. It’s 15 minutes from Interlaken so you can easily head here in the morning for a day of adventure in this cute mountain town. I’d recommend grabbing the first one in the morning so that you can have the town all to yourself for a bit!
Gear to Bring
Let’s be real, food and photos are always first on my list of priorities, so make sure to bring a backpack to carry your camera and lunch in the mountains. This Fjallraven backpack is a new favorite of mine that’s a great size for a light daypack. Oh, and it looks awesome in photos.
When it comes to what to wear, it is often chilly in the mountains. So I would suggest long pants like these Free People Jeans, and a long sleeve shirt, or flannel like this super soft one from Rails.
Another key essential is good walking shoes or boots, like these Danner Boots I am obsessed with. Their classic leather style and red laces feel right at home in Switzerland. I wore them everywhere when I was there. Who am I kidding, I still wear them everywhere.
Finally, make sure you bring a reusable water bottle. Swiss mountain towns pride themselves on having the best tasting tap water in the world. So you gotta try it for yourself! Lauterbrunnen is no exception. With plenty of fresh outdoor fountains, it’s always key to have a great water bottle on you. We’re obsessed with these ones from Yeti.
How to spend your day in Lauterbrunnen
Ok, so you’ve made it to town and you’re all ready to explore Lauterbrunnen. Yay!
First things first, grab breakfast and coffee at Airtime Cafe. It’s run by a fun Aussie team, is centrally located, and is filled with funky vintage decor. They have meat and veggie breakfast pies, delicious pastries, and oat milk lattes! Need I say more ?
Once you’ve finished breakfast, the town will likely be starting to liven up. Take a walk along the main street, take in the flowers and unique architecture, and poke around the shops for some Swiss goodies.
After checking out town, take a walk across the river and wander through the beautiful hillside with a great view of the town and waterfall. To get there, on the main road, walk south in the direction of the waterfall. Then follow the main road as it makes a large bend left and eventually crosses the river to the other side of town. We enjoyed poking around the quaint streets, checking out all the cozy chalets and views down the valley.
Head up the rolling hills toward Zwirgi, where you’ll have a great view of the whole valley and the best view of Lauterbrunnen. Up here you’ll also find signs for different walking paths that will take you to other valley viewpoints.
When you find the perfect view, enjoy a picnic taking in the incredible views, and then mosey on back to town.
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Jeffro
Monday 30th of September 2019
Cool town!!