The Lauterbrunnen Valley is a U-shaped glacial trough with a flat valley floor; vertical rock faces several hundred metres high bound the valley on both sides. Glaciers shaped the landscape over thousands of years. The municipality of Lauterbrunnen encompasses the Lauterbrunnen Valley at the foot of the Bernese Alps; the Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau and other high peaks tower above the valley.
Waterfalls, Village and Literature
In the valley of 72 waterfalls, the Staubbach Falls are Lauterbrunnen’s landmark. They plunge around 300 metres over a vertical rock face. A path leads from the foot of the falls up to the Staubbach Gallery. On a walk through the village, you can take in the famous church and the waterfall. The Staubbach Falls inspired Johann Wolfgang von Goethe to write his work “Song of the Spirits over the Waters”.
Trails and Nature in the Upper Valley
For winter days, a walk around the village, a stroll along the Weisse Lütschine and a hike through the valley of 72 waterfalls are three different options. Six well-signposted UNESCO themed trails in the upper Lauterbrunnen Valley provide information about flora and fauna, waterfalls, Alpine farming, mountain hotels, places of power, history and legends. The Hinteres Lauterbrunnental nature reserve is open to the public and offers excursions with rangers about the valley’s flora, fauna and history. The signposted themed trails and excursions with rangers thus offer two distinct ways to explore nature and history.
Rail Connections and Winter Ideas
From Lauterbrunnen, Wengen is accessible by train and GrĂĽtschalp by cable car, providing access to two large ski areas in the Jungfrau Region. The Bernese Oberland Railway connects Lauterbrunnen with Interlaken. Lauterbrunnen is also the starting point for the Wengernalp Railway towards Kleine Scheidegg. For winter planning, you can choose between rail connections and walks in the village, along the Weisse LĂĽtschine or through the valley of 72 waterfalls, each with a different focus.
The modernised Lauterbrunnen–Grütschalp cable car resumed service on 11 July 2026 at 6:06 am. This made the continuous mountain railway journey from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren possible again on the Lauterbrunnen–Mürren railway. Check the current timetable before planning a specific mountain railway trip.
Cycling and Lace Craftsmanship
On the GrĂĽtsch Trail, you can consider the distance and ride time side by side: it is around three kilometres long, descends around 600 metres in elevation and takes about ten to twenty minutes to ride. A simple bike transport service from Lauterbrunnen to GrĂĽtschalp is available for the trail.
Every Friday afternoon, you can watch lacemakers making fine lace at the Klöppelstube. They work with silk, linen or cotton. The art of lace-making has been a tradition in the Lauterbrunnen Valley for more than 500 years. If you would like to include craftsmanship in your trip alongside nature and rail connections, the demonstration is a specific cultural activity.
Choosing a Hotel and Planning Your Stay
If you are looking for a hotel in Lauterbrunnen, you can use the focus of your trip to help you decide: the village and Staubbach Falls, nature and ranger excursions, winter walks or rail connections. This keeps the local experiences at the heart of your plans, without requiring you to turn every activity into a fixed itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Stechelberg, Interlaken, Hofstetten bei Brienz, Axalp, Wengen, Saxeten, Iseltwald, Grindelwald.
Back to the main travel overview: Interlaken.
