How to Plan an Epic Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Itinerary
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Lauterbrunnen is in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland, with other notable towns including Interlaken, Wengen, Murren, and Grindelwald. For this Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Itinerary, I am going to cover Lauterbrunnen AND other places you can visit in the Jungfrau Region that will take your breath away.
If you're interested in a full guide to Switzerland, check out my One Week Switzerland Itinerary!
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What you need to know about Lauterbrunnen
General:
Lauterbrunnen is a tiny town in the Lauterbrunnen valley. Its fairytale-like vibes make for the perfect weekend trip from any part of Switzerland. If you want to go anywhere else in the Jungfrau Region (upwards from Lauterbrunnen Valley), you'll have to leave your car here.
Money stuff:
The currency in Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). We had no problem paying by card anywhere we went, so make sure you have a credit card with no international transaction fees!
Safety:
The whole Jungfrau region felt very safe to me. I kept my phone in my back pocket with no issues while we were there. As always, be mindful of your surroundings and use common sense!
Language:
This is the only place we had trouble with someone not speaking English. I had a hard time communicating that I am gluten-free, so I eventually had to pull up a translation online to get something I could actually eat. It was only at the one restaurant (which I can't remember the name of now, sorry!), but you should be fine otherwise.
How to get from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen
I highly recommend taking the train from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen. The trip is about 2.5-3 hours, and the ride is SO scenic. Taking some time to slow down and enjoy the views from the train is the perfect start to a Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Itinerary. Book your tickets online here.
You can also drive, however, if you plan on going to Wengen or Murren from Lauterbrunnen, you will have to leave your car there. The train system in Switzerland is very efficient and accessible, so as long and you don't make our mistake and sit in the wrong class, you will be just fine :)
Staubbach Falls in Laterbrunnen flows heavily from high above, down the rocky cliff face, and into the valley. A must see on a one week switzerland itinerary
Staubbach Falls in Lauterbrunnen
How long to spend in Lauterbrunnen?
If you love to hike, I would say stay 3-4 full days. There are so many gorgeous hikes in Lauterbrunnen, Mannlichen, and Kleine Scheidegg that you could easily spend your whole time hiking!
We spent about 2.5 days exploring the region, and it was perfect. We stayed 2 nights in Wengen, which was a great base to explore higher up in Mannlichen or in the Lauterbrunnen valley.
Where to Stay in Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen has a few hotels, but when you search you are likely to see many hotels in Wengen or Murren too. They are all so close together, you can easily get around between the cities. I recommend booking at least two nights on your Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Itinerary to make the most of this beautiful region.
We stayed in Wengen at Maya Caprice Boutique Hotel and Spa. At this health and wellness-focused hotel, you can relax with the sauna, hot tub, or massage after a long day of hiking. Maya Caprice also features an on-site restaurant (with gluten-free options!), panoramic terrace, lounge/bar, and gym.
It also had AMAZING views of Jungfrau and Eiger, and I could have stayed on our balcony all day just gazing at the mountains and the valley below.
To find my full review of the hotel, check out my Switzerland Travel Guide! And if you’re in need of a packing list, I’ve got you — Summer in Switzerland Packing Guide.
A green and yellow train in the distance chugs uphill towards Wengen from Lauterbrunnen. The bright green pasture grass and lush green trees cover the landscape while brown wooden sided houses dot the valley In Switzerland
Train to Wengen from Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Itinerary
Now onto the good stuff: your Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Itinerary! Lauterbrunnen is known for its beautiful valley with a giant waterfall just steps outside the town, epic views of some of Europe's tallest mountains, and of course, the cutest cows.
Explore the Lauterbrunnen Valley
The tiny town of Lauterbrunnen is definitely worth taking a stroll through! The wooden mountain homes are so picturesque and there are plenty of shops to pop in while you stroll down the main street. Head towards Staubbach Falls and take the hike up behind it for some amazing views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. On the opposite side of town, there is a bridge with another great view of the whole town. We didn't make it over there (I was too hungry), but it is definitely one of the most Instagrammable spots in Lauterbrunnen! Keep going towards Trummelbach Falls, where glacier water melts and turns into 10 stunning underground waterfalls.
Water sprays off the rocky cliff face to the right and to the left you can see Lauterbrunnen valley's lush green pastures, evergreen trees, and tiny wooden houses dotting the landscape
View from behind Staubbach Falls
Wander through Wengen
Flowers sit just off a wooden railing overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley. In the distance, a snow capped mountain surrounded by clouds and lush green trees surround the area
Restaurant Caprice View
Wengen is actually a car-free village (there are a few delivery trucks though). The only way to get there is by train from Lauterbrunnen. While there isn't so much to do here, it makes a great base for exploring the rest of the region. There are several good restaurants with amazing views, and I highly recommend making a reservation at Restuarant Caprice! I had the most amazing gluten-free chocolate lava cake for dessert there.
A chocolate lava cake dusted with powdered sugar in a ramekin surrounded by fresh strawberries, vanilla ice cream, and mangoes on a dessert plate
Gluten Free Chocolate Lava Cake
Take the Cable Car to Mannlichen
Brown and white cows graze in lush green pastures in the Swiss Alps. In the background, the snow capped peaks of Jungfrau loom in the distance.
Swiss Cows
If you stay at Maya Caprice Boutique Hotel & Spa, you will get a discount coupon for the cable cars in the region. The cable car from Wengen to Mannlichen is a short (but steep!) ride, and you will get some awesome views if you are brave enough to glace down.
There are herds of cows in Mannlichen during the summer. They wander freely, so be careful of cow patties! They are so sweet and friendly, and if you approach carefully you might even pet one. There is only one restaurant up here, so be sure to pack snacks for your hike!
Eiger and Jungfrau's snow capped mountain peaks stand out against the sunny bright sky. The smaller peak in Mannlichen is green and stands out in the foreground. Mannlichen is a must visit on a one week Switzerland Itinerary
Eiger and Jungfrau from Mannlichen viewpoint
From the left of the cable car station, hike up to the highest viewpoint in Mannlichen. It is a gravel/dirt path, so wear sturdy shoes and tread carefully. I consider myself to be in good shape, and I was really breathing hard along the hike. It is steep and the air is thinner up there, so if you are sensitive to changes like that, just be mindful of how you are feeling and bring extra water and snacks!
You can also hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. It is a 3-mile hike (so 6 miles round trip) and one of the most popular hikes in the Jungfrau region! If you don't want to do the full loop, you can take a train back down to Wengen.
Have a Photoshoot with an Epic Backdrop in Wengen
If you walk through the town and hang a left at the end of the main road, you will find some amazing views of the Swiss Alps outside a church! We did a photoshoot here, and it is definitely the most instagrammable spot in Wengen!
Lacey and Andrew stand by metal railing overlooking Wengen with Jungfrau looming in the distance with its snow capped white peaks
Most Instagrammable spot in Wengen
Things I wish we did
Switzerland was a last-minute trip for us, and if I had more time to plan (and buy tickets), I totally would have done a Jungfraujoch/Top of Europe tour! Unfortunately, by the time we got there and realized how cool it was, they were sold out (and we definitely didn't have the clothes for it!). I recommend booking these tickets well in advance of your trip.
There is a lot of great hiking around Lauterbrunnen too. If you love to hike, you will find many awesome ones around the Jungfrau region! We only did one hike per location, so my recommendation is to pick the ones you think you will like the most and plan for one per day while you're there.
Final Thoughts on Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland Weekend Itinerary
I would love to go back and add to my Lauterbrunnen Switzerland itinerary! With so many epic landscapes, scenic hikes, and rushing waterfalls to see, you could easily spend a week there. Check out my full Switzerland Itinerary to discover more of what Switzerland has to offer.