Nestled in a steep-sided valley of the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen is a picturesque village just south of Interlaken. It’s been nicknamed the “Valley of 72 Waterfalls” due to its gushing cascades and spectacular mountain views, making it a popular hub for hiking and mountain biking during the summer months.
Things to do in Lauterbrunnen
Soak up the charm of Lauterbrunnen as you stroll through its picture-perfect streets, with the village’s chalet-style houses surrounded by emerald green fields giving it a quintessential alpine feel. There are plenty of cafes and bars where you can watch the world go by, as well as a mini-golf course, a swimming pool and tennis courts. An architectural highlight of the village is the Lauterbrunnen Church, which features a typically-alpine bell tower and beautiful stained glass windows.
Just south of Lauterbrunnen is the Trummelbach Falls, a series of 10 glacier-fed waterfalls that comprise Europe’s largest subterranean cascade. They carry up to 20,000 litres of water every second from the Jungfrau into the valley below, with a tunnel-funicular built in 1913 making them accessible to visitors. Follow the network of walking trails and tunnels to experience the roar of this awe-inspiring natural wonder.
Closer to Lauterbrunnen is Staubbach Falls, which plunges 297 metres from an overhanging cliff above the Lütschine River. This iconic cascade once featured on the Swiss 3-centime postage stamp and is said to have inspired Goethe’s 1779 poem “Song of the Spirits over the Waters”.
Getting around Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is just 20 minutes’ drive from Interlaken and is connected to the Interlaken Ost railway station by a narrow-gauge train. From Interlaken, it’s around 45 minutes’ drive to Bern Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe. Lauterbrunnen is easy to explore on foot.