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Waking up in Lauterbrunnen is like waking up in a storybook town. You can hear the water rushing from the 72 waterfalls. You can hear the cowbells echoing in the valley as the cows graze their morning breakfast. You can see the half-timbered houses adorned with colorful panels and the seasonal flowers. Every detail here is pure magic. If you’re planning a trip you should plan for at least three full days, but a 4 day Lauterbrunnen itinerary is perfect.
Truth be told, I feel that years could be spent in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and it wouldn’t be long enough. However, I have spent the majority of my career traveling without letting time or money stop me. We could only allocate so much time on our visit here and although it was only a few days, it was worth it.
I researched for nearly a full year on our trip to the Jungfrau region. I looked up a ton of places on where to stay in the Jungfrau region before choosing our stay in Lauterbrunnen. I probably rewrote our itinerary over 20 times before feeling really good about our plans. After going on our trip, I’m confident we had the very best plans while here. If you’re planning to spend 4 days in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, this itinerary is for you.
Where to stay
If you’re visiting Lauterbrunnen in the warmer months, Camp Jungfrau is my absolute top recommendation on where to stay. If you plan on staying longer or staying in other parts, I’ve done research on other Jungfrau locations and you can ready about it on my where to stay in the Jungfrau region post.
At Camping Jungfrau, my husband and I stayed in the Mobile Home Jungfrau and it was perfect. The Jungfrau region can be a bit expensive, so we liked that we had a personal kitchen in our cabin to cook meals. We also had a private shower in the cabin, which isn’t the case for all stay options in the campground.
Other Lauterbrunnen accommodations I recommend:
- Budget: Hotel Hornerpub – Not only is this budget friendly but the hotel’s restaurant is highly rated
- Hostel: Valley Hostel – I love saving money with a hostel and Lauterbrunnen is no exception.
- Splurge: Lauterbrunnen Central – Staying in an apartment in a typical Swiss Chalet building is epic. Splurging on a stay with a kitchen may also save you money as well.
- Ski season stay: Hotel Steinbock – we passed this hotel on one of our walks and it feels a little out of the way in the fall, but would be the PERFECT stay in winter.
- Camping: Camping Jungfrau – We stayed in a cabin here and it not only was so comfortable, but we saved money on accommodation AND food with having a kitchen.
Day One: Murren, Gimmelwald, and optional paragliding
Breakfast & headed to Murren
This is going to be a full first day, but a fun one. We had breakfast in our cabin. The food in Switzerland can be really expensive, but if you’re looking for breakfast in Lauterbrunnen, check out X
In Lauterbrunnen, there’s a grocery store called “Coop” near the train station where you can stock up on groceries for your stay. They also have easy meals you can grab for dinner. My best advice if you’re traveling from Zurich or another city by train or traveling by car, purchase your groceries before you get to the valley. Valley prices are expensive due to supply and demand.
After breakfast, head to the iconic Lauterbrunnen viewpoint spot. Here you can see the church and Staubbach waterfall as your backdrop. It’s a beautiful photo to have, and better to take it first thing in the morning. By the afternoon, Lauterbrunnen is filled with day trippers and there will be a long line to snap this photo.
Near the viewpoint is an ATM (Euronet) – if you haven’t taken cash out, now would be a good time to do so and the exchange rates here weren’t horrible. You’ll need cash for this day if you’d like photos from your paragliding experience.
Now it’s time to head to Murren. Murren is carless village known for the panoramic views, and is a winter sports hub. It’s also perched on the cliff and tricky to get to but if you follow the steps below, you’ll get there with ease.
From Lauterbrunnen, there’s a bus that can take you from Murren to Stechelberg Schilthornbahn. Here you’ll change to take the Stechelberg Gondola up. If you don’t have one of the regional passes (we didn’t), you can buy your tickets at the ticket stand.
I recommend going to the ticket stand in the station because the ticket agent was very helpful. With my husband paragliding back down and I wasn’t, we needed different tickets.
If you plan to go paragliding from Murren, the tickets you need are:
- One way to Murren (about 11.80 CHF)
- When you join your paragliding instructor, he may have you purchase another ticket (more on this in a few paragraphs)
If you plan to hike from Murren down to Gimmelwald, the tickets you need are:
- One way to Murren (about 11.80 CHF)
- One way from Gimmelwald back fown to Stechelberg (about 8.40 CHF)
Murren Excursions
As I shared earlier, Murren is perched on a cliff. Murren is accessible by one the of the world’s steepest cogwheel cable cars. It was the birthplace of downhill and slalom racing – but as we visited in the fall without all the snow, it was a great place for us to watch the paragliders and begin our own adventures.
Once you arrive to Murren, it’s the perfect time to walk down the way and grab coffee from Insport Cafe. I found Insport Cafe on social media a few months before our trip, and knew I had to stop in. Their Australian-Swiss inspired menu was incredible, and we took our time enjoying coffees and a snack before walking the town.
Option 1: Paragliding
If I could describe my husband in one word, I believe he’s the true definition of adventurous. He tried new food, new experiences, and leads his life with minimal fear. Paragliding was the number one activity he wanted to try while in Switzerland, so after researching several options we decided on paragliding with Paolo!
We booked the 11:00 am slot which would I recommend because most of the morning clouds will be gone and you’ll be able to take off relatively on time. The guide, Paolo, is so knowledgeable and fun that if I ever came back to Lauterbrunnen, I may just have to paraglide but only if it’s with Paolo.
If you want footage and photos of your experience, let Paolo or your guide know ahead of time. It’s an extra cost in cash of around 40 CHF ($50 USD), but worth it.
Now if you’re more like me, who people think is adventurous but is actually fairly cautious, then paragliding may not be what you want to do. While the others in your group paraglide, you can take a very easy hike (more like a stroll) down to another carless town, Gimmelwald.
Option 2: Hiking from Murren to Gimmelwald
This is considered a hike, but really it’s a decline trail. It’s a very straight forward walk to the neighboring town of Gimmelwald! The walk/hike takes approximately 30 minutes without breaks.
Gimmelwald is another traffic-free village in this itinerary, where there are more cows than people. With a population of around 100 people, this town felt extremely safe. As someone who likes to solo travel, it was nice having solo time in a beautiful place like this to hike.
As you approach Gimmelwald, you’ll find honesty shops: shops without workers that trust you’ll leave cash in exchange for the items you decide to buy.
You’ll have about an hour here before you need to catch the gondola lift from Gimmelwald to Stechelberg. You should already have your ticket and will be in no rush! I was hoping to find a bakery in this town but with it being a population of 100 people, I had no luck but there are few restaurants I recommend packing snacks in your bag in case you get hungry.
Back to Lauterbrunnen
Once you take the gondola down to Stechelberg, you’ll exit the station from the front and turn right. You’ll walk through the parking lot and you’ll see an open field – this is where many of the paragliders will land, including Paolo’s group! My husband had texted me the color of his parachute so I was able to spot him up in the sky and record him in the air and landing.
The bus that you took from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg can also take you back to Lauterbrunnen. If you have the energy, I strongly recommend making the walk back instead. The walk is a couple miles and one of the prettiest views of the trip. We passed hundreds of cows along the valley, and you have the option to make a pitstop at Trummelbach falls too.
If you decide you want to take the bus, you can get off at Trummelbach falls!
At this point, it’s been quite the day already, and you take the remaining few hours to enjoy Lauterbrunnen. I recommend grabbing a coffee from the coffee cart called Cycling Bean and freshly made donuts from the food truck nearby.
If you’re visiting in the summer or early fall with plenty of daylight left, consider a sunset hike at Augsmatterhorn. It’s approximately four miles round trip and the views will be worth every step of the way up!
For dinner, cook at your place or grab a burger from Smash Huus food truck. Although it’s good, remember the food in Switzerland is expensive. A food truck does not mean cheaper. We shopped at Coop and made a chicken curry dish at the campground.
Day Two: Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg
Breakfast & train to Wengen
After a well deserved night’s rest, it’s time for another adventurous day. You will need your fuel today! In your hiking bag, pack granola bars, bananas, sandwiches, and whatever else you’d like for today’s adventures.
At the Lauterbrunnen station, you can take a train to the small town of Wengen. The train comes every 30 minute and takes about 26 minutes from departure. Our ticket in the morning was about 7.20 CHF per person. I recommend sitting on the right side of the train to see the iconic view of the church and waterfall as you depart Lauterbrunnen.
Once you’re in Wengen, grab coffee from To Go KafeeHaus and walk around the town. If you didn’t have any snacks for your hike, there’s a Coop grocery store and another grocery store called Dorflade where local farmers sell their cheese – so so good!
Once you’ve explored Wengen, head to the gondola station in the center of town and take the Gondola to Männlichen. The Gondola departs every 20-30 minutes, costs around 14.50 CHF. When taking the Gondola in the morning, the early morning clouds are still present and as you take the gondola to Männlichen, you are traveling through the clouds and you will be above the clouds once you arrive. The view above the clouds is a great way to kick off this hike.
Hiking to Kleine Scheidegg
Now, it’s time to hike. There are few different hikes you can take from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. If you take the Romantic Trail hike, there are wild blueberries along the path and you can see the town of Grindelwald from above.
We were the only ones on this hike – it felt like we were the only people in Switzerland for a couple hours. As you explore this area, you’ll know this experience is nearly impossible with the being a popular travel destination that can be pretty crowded.
As you approach Kleine Scheidegg, the Kleine Scheidegg railway station comes into view. I know we’re in the middle of Switzerland, but the view here reminds me of a wild west station in a way. There’s not too much going on here – and I mean that in the best way because the views are all you need.
If you’re hungrier for more than your hiking snacks, grab an outside table at Eigernordwand Restaurant. The views cannot be beat here (and it’s a plus that they sell aperol spritz.) The railway station has snacks, coffee, and free restrooms!
Back to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen
There are a few different ways you can get back to Wengen from Kleine Scheidegg:
- Train Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen (around $30 USD per person)
- Hike Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen via Eiger Ultra Trail (4.4 miles)
We opted to save money, so we hiked the Eiger Ultra Trail back to Wengen. This hikes about 1.5 hours and is mostly downhill.
From Wengen, we took the train down to Lauterbrunnen, This time, you want to sit on the left side to see the picturesque view entering Laterbrunnen.
Day Three: Grindelwald & Jungfraujoch
This is an exciting day ahead, but it’s truthufully the more touristy day. If you had to skip any days from this itinerary, it would be this one. However, if you’re following this itinerary, this is a beautifully packed day that opens your eyes to other areas of the region. Let’s begin!
Introducing Grindelwald
The train ride to Grindelwald is exactly what Switzerland seems to do best: dramatic scenery without any effort on your part. The landscape slowly opened up from narrow cliffs and waterfalls to sweeping, bright green hills dotted with chalets.
Grindelwald is a town that felt much more like a high-alpine basecamp – busy, energetic, buzzing with hikers and skiers even in summer. There’s a lot to see in Grindelwald, but today it’s time to head to the “Top of Europe”
Heading to the Top of Europe
Getting to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe, is an adventure in itself. Gondolas, trains, tunnels through mountains – all slowly pulling you higher until the world outside the window becomes pure glacier and sky. By the time you reach the top, the air was thinner, colder, and crisp enough to wake up even the sleepiest traveler. Don’t forget to pack layers and dress warm!
At Jungfraujoch, you can take in the sites, wander through an Ice Palace. – yes, a hallway carved from glacier ice! Even in Autumn, the ice at the top of the mountain is incredible.
Afternoon in Grindelwald
As you ride back down into Grindelwald, the town will welcomes you with green fields, busy cafes, and the cozy mountain-town energy. Take the time to walk through the town before taking the train back to Lauterbrunnen.
Day Four: Oeschinensee Hike
Truthfully, the Oeschinensee Hike deserves its own blog post, and it has one – you can read more about our experience here. The Oeschinensee Lake is not part of the Jungfrau Region, but it’s in the larger area called Bernese Oberland and fairly easy to get to from the town of Kandersteg.
Traveling to Kandersteg
If you’re traveling by train, you can get to Kandersteg by taking the train from Lauterbrunnen into Interlaken. From Interlaken, there are few different paths you can take that will require you to changes trains. The total travel time is around 1.5 hours!
If you’re traveling by car, the drive is about one hour from Lauterbrunnen. Instead of parking at the gondola lift station that fills up fast, I recommend parking at the train station. It’s a short walk from the train station to the gondola lift station, and costs only 5CHF to park there.
It may seem strange to buy tickets for the gondola especially since they’re so expensive, but I promise you want the tickets.
Hiking Oeschinensee
This is the the most fulfilling and breathtaking hike I’ve ever been on. I live in Colorado and normally the longest hike I’ll go on is three miles. This trail is much longer than three miles and I never once complained or felt like I couldn’t continue.
Each step of the trail brought more and more beauty and I can’t believe.
A night in Interlaken
After you hike Oeschinensee, it will be your last night in the Jungfrau Region. If you are driving, I would recommend packing all your items in your car. This way you can save 30 minutes of drive time and stay in Interlaken your last night.
We stayed in the Historic Hotel Steinbock – it’s located in the oldest part of Interlaken and is walking distance to the best Italian restaurant we’ve had that’s not in Italy. It’s called Luna Piccante and you don’t necessarily need a reservation, but we made one to be safe.
Final Thoughts
Switzerland is full of magic, diverse landscapes, friendly people, and truly beauty all around. I find myself so busy looking to where next that I don’t always return to places I love. With Switzerland, it appears I’m already planning my next visit with this beautiful place. I hope that this itinerary can inspire your very own journey.
