Lauterbrunnen & Mürren : Our Experience in Switzerland’s Most Famous Mountain Destination

With a significant part of its territory located in the heart of the Alps, Switzerland’s main appeal undoubtedly lies in its magnificent mountains. However, for people without mountaineering experience, it is not always easy to fully appreciate their grandeur.

One increasingly popular way to get a glimpse of Switzerland’s majestic mountain scenery is by visiting the Lauterbrunnen Valley. There is no denying this valley has charm.

It’s for that exact reason that a few years ago, my family and I took Huong there to give her a first taste of Switzerland.

Our excursion centered around Lauterbrunnen and the lesser-known village of Mürren. We took this trip in winter, but the tips we share here are valid year-round.

Lauterbrunnen: The Valley of Waterfalls

Lauterbrunnen can be translated as ‘many fountains’. True to its name, the valley is home to more than 72 waterfalls, with a few of them having gained worldwide recognition.

This village and the surrounding landscape also encompass everything you may imagine when picturing Switzerland:

• Small mountain farms are scattered around the valley.
• The place is surrounded by stunning cliffs with in the background some of the highest peaks in Switzerland.
• Traditional Swiss chalet houses make up most of the village architecture.

Lauterbrunnen Village

Your trip to the Lauterbrunnen Valley will likely begin in Lauterbrunnen village itself.

The place is home to just over 2,000 residents who are increasingly struggling to accommodate the growing influx of tourists. You should view it more as a starting point for the other highlights mentioned in this article, rather than a destination in itself.

I don’t mean to downplay the beauty of this spot: the combination of Swiss chalets nestled amongst the stunning surrounding landscape has a lot of charm.

However, if you spend a day in this area, you’ll likely spend more time exploring the natural splendor of the valley rather than the village itself, which as explained is fairly small.

Staubbach Falls

Staubbach falls is one of Switzerland’s most iconic and photographed waterfalls. The waterfall drops an incredible 297 meters (974 feet) from a hanging valley that ends in an overhanging cliff.

Goethe itself was inspired by its magnificent to write his famous poem “Gesang der Geister über den Wassern“.

On the practical side, the Staubbach Falls is very easy to locate and reach. There is absolutely no chance that you will miss it. You can visit it (and should visit) by walking. Depending on your itinerary it will take you between 15 minutes and 30 minutes to reach the best viewings points.

The recommended period to visit is from May to June when the snowmelt from the summits provides the greatest flow for the waterfall.

The Staubbach Gallery a specific path built into the rock behind it and a great viewpoint, is also only open from May to October. The waterfall is illuminated by night during the picking season.

Trümmelbach Falls

Trümmelbach Falls are series of are a series of ten glacier-fed waterfalls, You may see them often on postcards but they are equally or even more impressive.

They are in fact Europe’s largest subterranean waterfalls and the only ones that are easily accessible to the public.

They are fed by the meltwater from the glaciers of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau and carry a jaw-dropping 20,000 liters of water per second that directly falls down into the mountain.

You can reach them from Lauterbrunnen by walking. It’s an easy and pleasant hike of about 3.5km (2.2 miles) which takes a bit less than an hour one-way.

To reach the site you’ll have to go through a tunnel lift and pay an entrance fee (Adults CHF 14).

Note that the Trümmelbach Glacier Waterfalls are open from 9 am to 5 pm daily from the beginning of April to the beginning of November and from 8:30 am to 6 pm in July and August.

With our visit having taken place during winter, we unfortunately did not have the chance to see them.

Hiking

As you know, the landscape and nature are the main appeal of this valley. For me and many others, the perfect way to appreciate it is to simply go hiking.

The two waterfalls mentioned previously are not the only points of interest that you can reach by walking from Lauterbrunnen.

Plenty of  other trails start right from the center of the village.

All of them are well-maintained, with clear signage. Just be aware – the climbs can quickly become steep on some paths if you lack good physical fitness.

The big bonus is that you can very quickly leave behind the overwhelming crowds that fill the valley during high season.

If you do not know where to start, the Lauterbrunnen Panoramaweg is a 3.1km loop that will feature several great panoramic points. With “only” 129 meters of elevation, its difficulty is considered moderate/easy and it can theoretically be done all year round.

This is only one option. You’ll find plenty of other suggestions on the AllTrails application.

Base Jumping

If we strongly encourage you to go hiking, we won’t do the same for this activity. You should just know that Lauterbrunnen is one of Switzerland’s most famous spots for base jumping. The destination has become so popular that unfortunately over 60 people have perished practicing it on this site.

A monument commemorating these extreme sports fallen heroes was even inaugurated in 2021.

Mürren: A Car-Free Alpine Escape

As mentioned in the introduction, the second part of our two-day journey took us to Mürren. This cute car-free village is located over the cliffs at an altitude of 1,638 meters.

Reaching Mürren from Lauterbrunnen

You can easily reach Mürren by first taking a cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp. There you’ll find a small train that’ll bring you to Mürren. This journey itself will already be a great experience.

Panoramic views on three legendary Swiss summits

You were already able to distinguish them from the valley, but it’s from Mürren that you’ll be able to truly admire the full magnificence of the Eiger (3,967m), Mönch (4,107m), and Jungfrau (4,158m).

These 3 summits are not only natural marvels, they are also places where some of the most famous chapters in Alpinism history unfolded.

This is particularly true for the North Face of the Eiger, which was only conquered for the first time in 1938 after several tragic attempts. While looking at it you’ll understand the difficulty of the endeavor.

Schilthorn Summit

If you need an even higher point of view, we’ve got you covered. Take the cable cars (two of them to be exact) to reach the Schilthorn Summit (2,970m).

The summit offers a stunning 360-degree panoramic view which spans from the Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger (previously mentioned) but also over the Bernese Alps, the Jura Mountains, up to the Vosges Mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany.

The place is also home to a rotating restaurant named Piz Gloria which has been used as a filming location for the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” (1969).

Hiking from Mürren

Similarly to what was mentioned for Lauterbrunnen, you’ll have plenty of great hikes that are starting from Mürren.

Some of them will allow you to go back to Lauterbrunnen, some will allow you to go to the nearby village Grindelwald. Also often recommended is the North Face trail (a scenic loop).

We visited the place during winter which logically limited our options but still managed to hike a small section of the Flower Trail, another renowned path that is particularly appreciated in spring when flowers are blooming.

Hikking on the flower trail during winter

Via ferrata Mürren Grindelwald

If hiking is not an experience thrilling enough for you, I have another recommendation for you – the Via Ferrata connecting Mürren to Grindelwald. This path of fixed cables, ladders, and sky bridges passes through cliff edges in a very spectacular way.

You’ll find yourself suspended 400m above the valley floor and will have to cross the highest suspended bridge in Europe.

This adventure is not reserved only for experienced mountaineers. The principle of a Via Ferrata itself is to allow relatively inexperienced climbers and hikers to ascend otherwise difficult routes, thanks to all the equipment installed. However, this does not mean dangers are non-existent – do not adventure yourself on this path without a guide if you do not have solid climbing experience.

Be aware also that this particular Via Ferrata has gained immense popularity recently because of social media (yes, it makes for great TikTok videos!). You may not be alone up there.

Winter Sports – In the Heart of the Jungfrau Ski Region

Mürren is as appealing for tourists during winter as it is during summer. The reason is that the village is part of a massive ski area that covers two valleys, three mountain ranges and features over 211 kilometers of ski slopes.

The plus side of choosing this destination for winter sports is of course the scenic landscape, but be aware of the prices. Locals like me consider that you’ll get a way better value for your money by opting for the French ski resorts nearby.

When to go to the Lauterbrunnen Valley & Mürren

As you may have already guessed, you’ll likely have a great experience year-round here. But what you’re able to see and do does differ by season.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the pros and cons of each:

Winter

Downsides: ❌ Most trails are closed. Trümmelbach Falls inaccessible. Short days for sightseeing.
Upsides: ✅ Postcard snowy scenery. Perfect conditions for skiing and winter sports.

Spring

Downsides: ❌ Still off-season with occasional rainy delays. Heavy waterfall flows.
Upsides: ✅ Emerging wildflowers blanket the valley. Mild for comfortable hiking.

Summer

Downsides: ❌ Busiest and most expensive with packed accommodations and restaurants…
Upsides: ✅ Everything is open to enjoy. Easy high-altitude access. Long sunny days for activities.

Autumn

Downsides: ❌ Shifting weather with unpredictable storms.
Upsides: ✅ Vibrant fall foliage backdrop and less tourists

Getting to Lauterbrunnen

Part of the popularity of Lauterbrunnen is also related to its relatively easy access.

Train to Lauterbrunnen (via Interlaken)

Lauterbrunnen is twelve kilometers from Interlaken Ost (a transportation hub).

The trains from Interlaken train station to Lauterbrunnen take about 30 minutes and run very frequently (every 30 minutes during most of the day).

Reaching Interlaken from other major cities can also be easily done by train since Switzerland has one of the densest and most reliable train networks in the world – do not worry about making use of it.

Airport Near Lauterbrunnen

Interlaken doesn’t have its own airport. The nearest airport is  in Bern.

Alternatively, you can also travel to Zurich Airport and from there, take a train directly to Interlaken. If your trip starts from a different place in Switzerland or even Milan, do not worry – as mentioned, the Swiss public transport system is excellent.

Going by Car to Lauterbrunnen

It will take you about 20 minutes to reach Lauterbrunnen by car from Interlaken. But be aware of the following things if you consider coming by car:

• You will have to buy the “Swiss Vignette” to enter the country if arriving from another European country. It costs CHF 40.
• Parking is expensive. Generally speaking, street parking is also not allowed in Switzerland which means that you’ll be limited to only designated (expensive) space.
• You will be very limited in what you can do in the Lauterbrunnen valley itself. Several places cannot be accessed at all by car (like Mürren).

Given the valley’s main appeal is its natural landscape and plentiful public transportation options (bus, train, cable car), we do not advise favoring cars.

Warning: Should you really go there?

This is a section we rarely add at the end of articles. But we are not a travel agency trying to sell you a product (or a dream).

We did have a great experience during our winter visit a few years ago. We saw other tourists but it remained overall very reasonable.  True is that since then tourism has drastically increased in Lauterbrunnen.

Overtourism

Nowadays if you make the visit during peak season you may see A LOT of people.

The main reason?

Lauterbrunnen has recently gained a lot of visibility on social media (especially Instagram and TikTok).

This has created a massive inflow of tourists unfamiliar with local customs. Residents of Lauterbrunnen increasingly complain about traffic jams and their village progressively feeling like a theme park…

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t go there, but be aware you won’t be alone.

A last word on the topic: Switzerland’s beauty is not limited to Lauterbrunnen. There are other stunning places, which we will cover in the future on this site to provide alternative choices.

Cost

One important last word true for all of Switzerland but even more for a tourist hub like Lauterbrunnen: It’s EXPENSIVE.

Switzerland is in fact far more pricey than surrounding European countries. This applies to practically everything (transport, accommodation, food especially).

If you want to explore the Alps on a limited budget, consider the equally beautiful but more affordable French Alps.