One Day in Lauterbrunnen: Mini Itinerary for a Quick Trip [2025]
Nestled within one of the most spectacular valleys of the Bernese Alps, Lauterbrunnen is a must-see destination on any trip to Switzerland. The towering rock faces that surround the town of Lauterbrunnen hug the valley, making visitors feel like they have entered a hidden oasis.
Far from the hustle and bustle of city life, Lauterbrunnen is everything you’d hope a Swiss village would be. Rustic chalets line the streets, the smell of traditional Swiss food fills the air, and the impressive Staubbach Falls stands tall above it all.
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But that’s not the only eye-catching waterfall you’ll see. Far from it, in fact! The name Lauterbrunnen translates to “many fountains” and once you get there, you’ll see why.
Throughout the valley, 72 waterfalls make their way down from nearly 1,000 foot cliffs, and the snow-covered mountains of the Bernese Alps tower even higher than that.
Lauterbrunnen is truly a place that you’d think could only ever exist on a postcard. With so much beauty to take in, it can be hard to decide what to do first. Luckily, I’m here to help you decide how to spend a day in Lauterbrunnen.
What to Know Before Visiting Lauterbrunnen
The village is small.
One thing that caught me by surprise is just how small Lauterbrunnen is. With most of the pictures online focused on its famous falls, you don’t get a good feel for the village itself.
So let me be the first to tell you that it’s smaller than you think it is. You can easily explore the ins and outs of Lauterbrunnen in a day!
It’s a great hub location.
Even though there isn’t a whole lot to fuel a long trip in Lauterbrunnen, it is an incredible hub location.
With so many nearby towns and villages (ex: Mürren, Wengen, Gimmelwald, Grindelwald) accessible by cable car and train, you can spend at least a week exploring the region, using Lauterbrunnen as a hub.
Plus, you get to see the epic Staubbach Falls every day!
It’s expensive.
This is true for all of Switzerland but it was still a bit of a shock when I first got there. Prepare to spend a lot of money on food, drinks, and activities (and I mean a lot).
The average cost of a “cheap” meal is 20 CHF (if you’re lucky) — that’s about $25 USD. If you’re on a tight budget, put the dreams of buying an extravagant souvenir to bed before you even get there!
Where to Stay in Lauterbrunnen
With a village as small as Lauterbrunnen, there aren’t many options when it comes to lodging. But what Lauterbrunnen lacks in abundance, it makes up for in variety.
So regardless of whether your idea of vacation revolves around luxury or you’re really just looking for a place to rest your head, there’s an option that’s perfect for you.
Hotel Steinbock: Mid-Range to Budget-Friendly
This is where I stayed during my visit and it was more than comfortable. In fact, it was probably the comfiest bed I slept on during my month-long trip in Europe and I had stayed at some pretty nice hotels, so that’s a major win.
Aside from that, you can save even more money by opting for the room with a communal bathroom. Don’t worry, I never saw anyone on my trips to the bathroom.
Last, but certainly not least, their free breakfast is incredible. Just be sure to get there when it first starts for the fresh, warm bread!
LUXURY: Hotel Silberhorn
The stunning Hotel Silberhorn is a great option if you don’t mind spending an extra few bucks for an epic view. The rooms here aren’t cheap, with an average cost of about $500 a night, but the views from your window will have you wondering if you even need to leave the hotel to experience Lauterbrunnen.
Plus, all of the food here is made to order including breakfast. Unlike other hotels that offer continental breakfast (bread, meats, cheeses), Hotel Silberhorn will serve you up a hot breakfast on command.
Your One Day in Lauterbrunnen Itinerary
Enjoy breakfast at Flavours Cafe
This post assumes that you arrive in Lauterbrunnen in the morning, so you don’t have access to your hotel’s free breakfast. If you checked in yesterday, though, and have breakfast already taken care of, you can skip this section and move onto the next part.
Although there isn’t a large variety of breakfast options in Lauterbrunnen, the few choices that you do have are top notch.
Take Flavours, for example. This awesome cafe has everything from a classic sit down breakfast to a grab-and-go pastry selection.
Don’t even get me started on the coffee! I can’t tell you how many cappuccinos I’ve had here (sometimes more than once in the same day) and I can assure you that I will be back for more.
Toss everything you think you know about cappuccinos out the window because the Swiss version is about to put the rest to shame!
But regardless of what you’re craving, you’re guaranteed a fresh meal… even if you decide that you simply must have ice cream for breakfast. (Don’t worry. I get it.)
To make things even better, you won’t pay an arm and leg for it! At least not by Switzerland’s standards. It can be a bit shock trying to adjust to the extremely high prices, so you can rest easy knowing that Flavours won’t break the bank.
P.S. The breakfast burger is incredible, so don’t even think twice about it — get it!
Get a close-up view of Staubbach Falls.
One of the first things you’ll spot when you visit Lauterbrunnen—because it’s truly impossible to miss—is Staubbach Falls. Stunning views of Staubbach Falls will follow you everywhere you go, and I can honestly say that these falls simply don’t have a single bad angle.
You’ll probably stand there in awe before even leaving the train platform! In fact, if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably spend a solid five minutes staring in amazement before you even leave the train platform.
Staubbach Falls is one of the largest free falling waterfalls in Europe and if you couldn’t tell already, it’s the most iconic waterfall in all of Lauterbrunnen Valley… which is saying something because there are more than 70 other waterfalls in the area!
In most other places you have to put in an effort to see the waterfall, but in Lauterbrunnen, that’s very much not the case.
However, there’s one angle in particular that I think is the coolest, and that’s the one from behind the falls!
Want the best view? Hike the short 30-minute trail up behind the falls. It’s about 380 feet of elevation gain and includes a tunnel that opens to a dramatic vista over the valley. Pro tip: Bring a raincoat. You will get wet. And look for the little tourist info hut nearby if you need help finding the trail!
Just don’t forget your raincoat because it’s practically guaranteed that you’ll get wet! And look for the little tourist info hut nearby if you need help finding the trail!
Explore the interior of a mountain — yes, really!
Okay, so, I stumbled upon Trümmelbach Falls by accident but it immediately became my favorite thing to do in Lauterbrunnen.
I was a bit hesitant at first since I was nearing the end of my trip and feeling a bit stingy (Switzerland prices sting, what can I say?), but I can assure you that it is worth the money (16 CHF per person, about $20 USD) to be exact. But in exchange, you get a one-of-a-kind experience — I can’t think of anywhere else quite like this anywhere in the world.
You know how I was saying that Lauterbrunnen is home to more than 70 waterfalls? Well, Trümmelbach Falls is home to no fewer than 10 of them!
As if the sheer quantity wasn’t enough to convince you, I’d be letting you down if I didn’t mention the fact that they are glacial waterfalls that are literally carved inside of a mountain (the only one of its kind in Europe).
The power of the water and the way it’s carved out the rock over time is absolutely unreal. No photo can do it justice—you really have to see it for yourself. The good news is that viewing the falls is very easy in terms of effort required — and a lot of fun!
Take the funicular (built in 1913!) up to the 7th waterfall and then wind your way down through tunnels and galleries. It’s like exploring a secret cave full of roaring falls — it’s unforgettable.
This helps to minimize the amount of walking you need to do uphill (just a bit, to see the 3 upper falls) and then you take a leisurely stroll back down through the mountain to see the rest!
I can’t emphasize enough how awesome this experience is! You feel like you are in a cave as you walk through tunnels and into open galleries to admire the many falls. It’s truly a one of a kind experience!
You can learn more about it here, but there’s no need (or way) to book tickets online — you can just book tickets at the ticket counter.
Take a hike (or catch the cable-car and train) to Mürren
If you’re up for a long day of hiking, the Lauterbrunnen Valley will not disappoint. I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend the day outside when you have nonstop views of the Swiss Alps?
But remember that if you plan to hike to Mürren — you’ll encounter a whopping 2,800 feet of elevation gain in about four miles! I can practically see you cringing at the thought of all that climbing, but just hear me out! This trail is amazing.
Is it torture gaining that much elevation that quickly? Absolutely. But the views rising out of the valley are unmatched and you can stop as many times as like on the way up. There’s no such thing as a bad place to stop, catch your breath, and take in the views, so plan some extra time and you’ll make it to the top!
Not sold on it? You can opt to take the cable car-train duo for a quicker, more relaxing journey to Mürren. It’s included on the Swiss Travel Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass, and you can skip the hike entirely and just enjoy the views and vibes of the town.
You can also choose to take the cable car-train duo up to Mürren and then hike down after lunch to get the best of both worlds, with a lot less cardio needed.
Eat lunch in Mürren
You made it to Mürren! Now it’s time to celebrate with lunch. This car-free mountain village is as picturesque as it gets, so the wealth of incredible dining options is just icing on the cake.
You can’t go wrong with any of the restaurants here but my personal favorite is Stägerstübli.
Stägerstübli is located smack-dab in the middle of Murren’s main street so you can do a bit of window shopping before (and after) lunch, and everything about it screams traditional Swiss experience. What’s not to love?
Even better, the Swiss couple who runs the place grew up here! It doesn’t get more authentic than that!
As an added bonus, when the weather is nice you can sit out on the patio and admire the view of mountains in every direction!But wherever you sit, make sure you try the Rosti!
It is one of my favorite dishes in Switzerland and Stägerstübli is one of my favorite places to have it (after much rosti sampling along the way — a hard life, I know!).
Channel your inner adrenaline junkie
If you’ve spent the day gazing at paragliders soaring above the valley, why not join them? No experience necessary—just sit back with a tandem pilot and enjoy the ride. It costs 180 CHF for the standard flight or 250 CHF for a longer one. Either way, this is a bucket-list experience you’ll never forget. Not into heights? Head back to Lauterbrunnen and rent a bike to explore the valley at your own pace.
When you are out and about admiring the beauty of the mountains that surround you, you will likely notice something above you: paragliders! So why not join them?
Flying high above the falls will certainly add some dimension to the millionth photo you’ve taken of the mountains. So instead of just staring in amazement, wondering what the views are like from up there, go ahead and join them!
Book in advance with Airtime Paragliding (you can book with free cancellation here) in Lauterbrunnen and take off right from Mürren.
No experience is needed! Your adventure will be with a tandem pilot so you can just sit back and relax while they do all of the leg work. Prices start at $240 USD for a flight lasting about 20 minutes, so it’s not cheap (as nothing in Switzerland really is), but it’s worth it for a bucket list experience you’ll be talking about for years to come.
Not an adrenaline junkie? Head back to Lauterbrunnen where you can rent bikes from Imboden Bike Rental and spend the afternoon cycling through the valley at your own pace.
As of May 2025, here are the prices for bike rentals.City E-Bikes and E-Bike Hardtails (ages 16+ only) cost 35 CHF for 2 hours, 50 CHF for 4 hours, and 65 CHF for a full day. Just want to bike in the afternoon for a short time? A special rate for evening rentals after 4 PM is available for 20 CHF for an hour.
A standard mountain bike (no electric assistance) runs 25 CHF for 2 hours, 35 CHF for 4 hours, and 45 CHF for the day, or 15 CHF for an hour after 4 PM.
For kids under 13 or those using trailers, rentals start at 15 CHF for 2 hours, 20 CHF for 4 hours, and 30 CHF per day.
Wander around Lauterbrunnen village.
As mentioned, the village of Lauterbrunnen is pocket-sized small, but endlessly charming and definitely worthy of a stroll.
You’ll find just enough shops to keep you busy for an hour or two—think chocolate, outdoor gear, and, for some reason, plenty of cuckoo clocks.
My best tip? Don’t miss the donut truck toward the end of the main road — you’ll be hit with a smell of donut-y delicious goodness so you can’t really miss it.
Keep walking towards the pastures for a peek at a farm-fresh vending machine, which is filled with local produce.
And definitely visit Kirche Lauterbrunnen, the village church with one of the best views of Staubbach Falls!
Have dinner in Lauterbrunnen’s only pub.
End your day at Horner Pub, Lauterbrunnen’s one and only pub—and honestly, a great one at that. While part of me is making this suggestion because it really is the only pub in Lauterbrunnen, the other part of me is recommending it because it’s actually awesome.
Horner Pub is open every day of the year, and best of all, they stay serving food until midnight (an unusual find in often-sleepy Swiss towns).
If it’s still light out, you can sit out on the terrace to enjoy a view of Staubbach Falls as you sip a beer and pig out on Älplermagronen (mac & cheese with applesauce). Alternately, hang by the bar to make some new friends — the nachos are also top nach (pun fully intended).
Nicole is a freelance travel writer who loves traveling and hiking in America’s National Parks, particularly in Utah, Wyoming, and California. Her favorite place is just about anywhere where snow-peaked mountains can be seen in the distance.
