You’ve probably heard of the magical Lauterbrunnen Valley before. You know, the one with 72 waterfalls? The place that inspired Goethe and Tolkien? Well, now you can explore it for yourself with these 16 things to do in Lauterbrunnen!
Want to Watch instead of Read?
1 | Rent ebikes from Imboden Bike in Lauterbrunnen
The very first thing you’ll want to do in Lauterbrunnen is explore the valley of course! But while you could walk the 3 miles from one end to the other, we think it’s more fun to rent a bike for the day!
Imboden Bike is the best place to rent bikes in Lauterbrunnen, and they also happen to be a great deal — including free helmets! And you get a 5% discount with the Lauterbrunnen Guest Card if you’re staying overnight in Lauterbrunnen.
We love walking and hiking in Switzerland. But since we still have 15 things to show you in Lauterbrunnen Valley, these bad boys will just help us explore a bit faster.
These activities aren’t listed in any particular order, but check out our free custom map so you can find each of these spots with ease!
Speaking of ease, I appreciate how easy it is to sightsee with bikes. But if you need some fuel before you start your day in Lauterbrunnen…
2 | Enjoy a Bratwurst from Metzgerei Fuchs
…Grab a bratwurst from Metzgerei Fuchs!
They’re right next to Imboden Bike in the middle of the Lauterbrunnen village, and it’ll be hard to miss ‘em because they often grill brats outside during lunch and dinner time. So if you’re wanting to try some local meat from the Jungfrau Region, this is the place to go.
And if you’re a vegetarian, don’t worry, we have other foodie spots on this list that you’ll enjoy!
In fact, if you have limited mobility or are traveling with kids, or want to visit in the Winter or whatever it is, there’s something on this list for every traveler because we believe everyone should experience the magical Lauterbrunnen Valley.
But if I’m honest, biking with a bratwurst in my tummy doesn’t sound like fun. So if museums are more your thing…
3 | Visit the Tal Museum
…Then spend some time at the Tal Museum!
In reality, we aren’t usually museum people. But we know that a lot of our followers enjoy learning about the local history. And since we just moved to Switzerland in May, Lauterbrunnen is practically our backyard and we’ve been curious to learn more about the history of tourism in this region.
The Tal Museum depicts Lauterbrunnen from the 16th-century Reformation to the introduction of tourism in the 1800s, and there’s even an exhibit dedicated to mountaineering.
As a bonus, you can enjoy free admission to the museum with a local guest card if you’re staying overnight in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen. Just keep in mind that the Tal Museum is only open June to September with limited hours — so be sure to check their website before you visit.
And if museums aren’t your thing…
4 | Taste a Staubbach Bier
…Then enjoy a Lauterbrunnen brew instead!
Because it’s hard to imagine craft beer more local than Staubbach Bier. It’s owned by a super friendly local guy who makes this beer as a hobby.
You can buy Staubbach Bier from 3 different places in Lauterbrunnen: Airtime Cafe and Bakery, Hotel Restaurant Silberhorn, and Camping Breithorn. And trust me, it won’t disappoint.
And after you enjoy your Staubbach Bier…
5 | Stop at Airtime Cafe Bakery
…have a tasty treat from Airtime Cafe Bakery!
We’ve sat outside here on the patio many times just watching the tourists go by while we sip on a good coffee or enjoy hot tea or munch on a snack. There are smoothies and breakfast foods for the morning, sandwiches and veggie pies for a meal, and fresh juices, vegan snacks, and brownies for any hour of the day.
Don’t forget you can find Staubbach Bier here too!
They’re kinda known for their brownies, and there are a few different varieties, so definitely try one!!
But we’ve delayed long enough, and you’re probably wondering, “When are they gonna mention…”
6 | See Staubbach Waterfall
… the famous Staubbach waterfall!”
You can’t miss it because it plummets 300 meters down a vertical rock face. You can technically see it all year long, but of course, it’s flowing the best in Spring or early Summer.
Also, you’ll notice this steep path that you can hike to walk up behind the waterfall. It’s only open from May to October, but we don’t actually think it’s worth the climb. In our opinion, you get the best view of the falls from right here.
And here’s a bonus tip: if you want a picture-frame-worthy photo of Lauterbrunnen Valley, then head up to Wengen or Männlichen.
I (Jana) am a lifelong learner so I enjoy reading the info panels…
7 | Visit the Cycling Coffee Shop
…And I (Brett) prefer to skip those info panels and grab a cappuccino to go from the Cycling Coffee Shop instead.
If you’re new around here, I’m on a mission to find the best cafes so you (and I) don’t have to endure mediocre coffee while we travel. And you can get a solid cappuccino here, especially considering its super touristy location. And if you prefer almond milk or oat milk, they have those available too.
But once you’ve had your little caffeine boost…
8 | Snap an Iconic Photo of Lauterbrunnen Valley
…It’s time for a photoshoot!
Not really, but this epic photo spot is pretty spectacular so you won’t wanna miss it.
Don’t forget that you can find this exact photo spot and everywhere else we mention in this blog on our free map of Lauterbrunnen.
And if you already know you wanna visit this stunning glacial valley, then check out our 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region which features an entire afternoon in Lauterbrunnen!
Now make sure you’ve snapped all of your purty pictures here first before you go and stuff your face with…
9 | Betty’s Corn Dogs
…A corn dog from Betty’s Corn Dogs!
I can’t even remember the last time I had a corn dog, but man, this just hits the spot. No really, it’s even better than those frozen corn dogs my mom used to buy!
For real, if eating a corn dog is NOT what you expected to see on our list of things to do in Lauterbrunnen, then be sure to keep reading cause…we didn’t expect it either! But that’s one of the coolest things about travel — finding unexpected gems like yummy corn dogs in the middle of a tourist town.
But for something that’s not quite as surprising…
10 | Watch Paragliders land
…You can watch paragliders land in Lauterbrunnen Valley!
The Jungfrau Region is practically the capital of adventure sports like paragliding. Airtime Paragliding offers 20-minute tandem rides from Mürren to Stechelberg. So if you hang out near the Schilthorn Cable Car station, you can watch them trickle down from the sky.
And before you even ask: no, we haven’t been paragliding yet, but yes, we want to and yes, we’re planning to go soon!
But if you’d rather keep your feet on the ground…
11 | Visit the Lauterbrunnen Valley Farm Fridges
…then visit some of Lauterbrunnen Valley’s self-service farm fridges.
There’s a pedestrian path that runs past Staubbach Waterfall beside the river, and that’s where you’ll find a few of these. They sell things like Swiss cheese and sausage of course. But also eggs, yogurt, butter, and sirop.
The concept is pretty simple: the farmers are out working and can’t run a farm shop, so they set up these farm fridges based on the honors system. Simply grab the item you want and leave your money in the box. Or in this case, it’s an actual vending machine!
And the perfect spot to enjoy your farm fresh food is…
12 | Lauterbrunnen Picnic Spot
…at this picnic spot with killer views!
Pick a table or a bench and enjoy your little picnic. You might even get to see some cows or paragliders land from here too.
But we’re not down with farm food yet. Wash your picnic down with…
13 | Milk from a Vending Machine
…fresh milk from a vending machine!
This concept is similar to the farm fridges, except it’s literally filled with milk straight-from-the-cow!
Just pop in a few coins and fill up a cup or bottle with the milk. But we have 2 quick warnings. First, be aware that we think this milk is unpasteurized. We personally haven’t had any issues but you should be cautious if you have a sensitive stomach. And second, this stuff is so out-of-this-world good that you’ll never want to buy milk from the grocery store again!
Just a reminder that you can find this milk vending machine and all of these spots on our free map.
Well, we actually can’t put the next spot on our map because…
14 | Play Eye Spy the Swiss Flag
…it’s more of a game.
We like to play Eye Spy the Swiss Flag. It’s soaring way up high in a small cave among the cliffs. We won’t give away where it is, but we’ll give you two hints. One, you can see it from the village. And two, it’s on the Wengen side of the valley.
You can also play Eye Spy a Waterfall because Lauterbrunnen is also known as the Valley of 72 Waterfalls.
However…
15 | Visit Trümmelbach Falls
…you won’t be able to see Trümmelbach Falls because it’s inside of the mountain!
And actually, it’s 10 different glacial waterfalls that drain 20,000 liters of water per second from the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
This is probably one of the most popular things to do in Lauterbrunnen and is perfect for a rainy or cloudy day since it’s literally inside of the mountain. You ride a lift through a tunnel to reach the falls and then get to explore the path on your own. And while it’s not much, you get a 1 CHF discount if you’re an overnight guest in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen!
Trümmelbach Falls is open from the beginning of April to the beginning of November depending on the weather. But unfortunately, children under 4 and dogs are not allowed to enter for safety reasons.
Once you’ve visited Trümmelbach and explored every aspect of this glacial valley…
16 | Explore Mürren and Gimmelwald
…see what’s at the top of those cliffs by visiting Mürren and Gimmelwald!
This Guide shows you everything you need to know about enjoying a perfect day in what’s probably our favorite corner of the entire Jungfrau Region. So watch that next and we’ll see you in Switzerland!
Hi Jana & Brett. Thanks for an amazing information about Switzerland. We are a family of 3 planning visiting Grindelwald area in mid June 2024. Unfortunately, despite your advice, we will stay just 2 full days and nights Or main goal is First Cliff and Lauterbrunnen. Do you recommend one night in Grindelwald and the other in Lauterbrunnen or both nights in Grindelwald. We are able to wake up early (Alps deserve it) and walk a lot. Thanks again. Jose and Annette
Hi Jose and Annette! We’re sorry you won’t have more time in the region, but we’d definitely recommend just staying in one location for those two nights. It takes just 40 minutes to get between Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, so it’s very easy to see both from one home base. Hope this helps!!
Where can I find the map?
Hi Ami! You can sign up to receive it for free using the email form below number one on this list. Enjoy!
We are here in Lauterbrunnen right now and are so thankful for all the advice we have learned from you to prepare for our trip! Everything seems so familiar already so we can relax and use your itineraries! Its breathtakingly beautiful, we can see why you moved here (we are also from TN!) Thank you so much!
Hi Marcie! Thanks so much for the encouraging message (and for the greetings from a fellow Tennessean!)
We’re thrilled that our guides and other content are allowing you to relax and enjoy your time in Switzerland — that’s exactly why we do what we do.
Have a great trip!!
Hi Jana & Brett, thanks so much for the highly useful information! I’ve watched some of your videos while planning our trip and it made me second-guess the amount of days I saved for the valley!
Currently it’s 3 nights Lucerne and 3 nights the valley. Would you suggest to cut it down to 2 nights Lucerne and 4 nights valley just because there’s much more to do? I was thinking about Lucerne as a base to explore Stoos, Rigi and Pilatus. But from watching your content it seems like the valley has so much more. Trip is end of May.
What would you recommend?
Hi Lan! It’s true, there’s a ton to do in the Jungfrau Region. But what you’re planning near Lucerne is great too! You could maybe shift to 2 nights in Lucerne because you’ll still have a lot of flexibility. If you really want to, you can leave very late in the day from Lucerne, allowing you to fit in one more of those mountain excursions (and maybe decide whether to go to the Jungfrau Region early in the day or stay in Lucerne for longer based on the weather in both places!)
Hi Jana & Brett, we’re currently in Lauterbrunnen right now.
So happy found your writing!
And thank you for your willingness to send us the map.
You’re welcome! We hope you’re enjoying yourselves!!
Jana & Brett- thank you SO much for all your videos and resources! You really are the best experts on the area and we’ve told so many people about y’all!! We are headed there in a few days (YAY!) and thanks to watching all your videos, our daughter (this is her senior trip!) is super excited about having a picnic with cows We’ll be in Wengen, do you have a suggestion on where she can achieve her dream?
Hi Lauren! We hope you all have an amazing trip celebrating your daughter!
There are tons of places to see the cows. Right now there are a whole lot in Wilderswil and Lauterbrunnen, for example, but they should be heading up into the mountains soon as well. Places like Gimmelwald and Männlichen are always a good bet!
Hi Jana and Brett!
Heading to Switzerland July 8. Will be in Jungfrau region July 10-13. Is there a special license required to rent e-bikes? I thought I read that a class M (motorcycle) is required but does that apply at Imboden?
Thank you
Kristen (also from TN)
Hi Kristen, so sorry for the late reply! We’ve never had to have a special license — were you able to rent without any trouble?
Hope you had a great trip!!
Hello. Is it possible to ride E-bikes to Trummelbach Falls?
Hi Susan! Yes, you can bike or walk to the entrance of Trümmelbach Falls. Have fun!