After we left the US and were en route to India, we learned that Manohar’s sister’s family would be traveling vice versa, from India to the US. How much fun would it be to meet in the middle? Wanting to show them a special place, we proposed meeting in Switzerland’s Lauterbrunnen Valley. A magical place that never fails to impress — as it turns out, even in early May when the bulk of our stay was overshadowed by bouts of poor weather and poor health.
We met in Zurich, rented a van, and set out on a 9-day tour that included Salzburg and Vienna, Austria, Neuschwanstein Castle near Füssen, Germany, and for the grand finale, the Lauterbrunnen Valley upon our return to Zurich.
Of the 21 countries we have visited, Switzerland’s Lauterbrunnen Valley remains one of our favorite destinations and it is the place we are asked about the most. We are far from experts — we’ve only been to Lauterbrunnen Valley twice — in 2015 and now again in 2022. But, by sharing some of our photographs and most frequently asked questions, I hope to sway you into adding Lauterbrunnen Valley to your bucket list.
Lauterbrunnen FAQs:
Q: How do I get there?
A: Both Zurich and Geneva have international airports. The drive time from either airport is the same, about 2.5 hours (depending on the time of day). Optionally, while the train from the Zurich airport will closely match the drive time, between 2.5-3 hours, the train from the Geneva airport will likely be from 3.5 to 4 hours long. We flew into Zurich both times because they had better flight connections. We also rented a car both times because Lauterbrunnen happened to be one of many stops. If Lauterbrunnen Valley is your only destination, it is entirely possible to rely on trains to/from the airport — and you have the option of adding Interlaken too!
If you’ll be relying heavily on trains, learn more about the option of a Swiss Travel Pass here.
Other travel passes to consider:
Q: Would it be better if I rented a car?
A: You do not need a car. In fact, some villages, such as Wengen and Murren, do not allow cars. During both trips, we parked our car at the Lauterbrunnen train station for our entire stay. We relied on trains, cable cars, gondolas — and our feet — for all of our explorations.
Q: How far ahead should I book the trip?
A: When we visited in 2015, I started making bookings nine months ahead. For a reasonable rate, I was able to book a “family room” in a Lauterbrunnen hotel that included a full kitchen. Conversely, our recent trip in May was planned relatively late, only six weeks ahead. We could not find vacancies in Lauterbrunnen to suit our needs so we wound up in a condominium via Airbnb in nearby Wengen. Fortunately, we were a large group so we were able to spread the higher cost.
Q: How many days should I spend there?
A: We recommend spending a minimum of three full days in the area. If you love nature, hiking, and trail running like we do, 5-6 days would not be too long.
Q: What time of year should I go?
A: We have visited Lauterbrunnen in August and May. August was brilliant in every way. The weather was sunny, clear and temperate. The villages were teeming with tourists — but not too many; we never felt cramped. Also, there were several options in villages for food and shopping. A charming bonus, some villagers even had their own homemade cheese and/or baked goods on offer in small honor-system cabinets on their property.
By contrast, early May was a ghost town with only a sprinkling of shops and restaurants open for business — and only in the larger towns. More importantly, not all cable cars are in operation until late May. The weather was cold, gray, and wet since much of the time we were engulfed in the clouds. Unfortunately, this also made it senseless to visit any mountaintops by train, gondola, or otherwise since there was no chance of a view. Nevertheless, the views we were afforded were breathtaking.
Q: Is Switzerland expensive?
A: Switzerland consistently ranks as one of the most expensive countries in which to live and it can be expensive for travelers too — especially when it comes to outings. This includes: taxis, trains, restaurant meals, mountain gondolas and railways. However, you can mitigate high prices if you plan accordingly.
Start by comparing the various travel passes found under FAQ #1. Another way to cut costs is to consider sleeping at a campsite or hostel. Also, if you book a room, look for those with a kitchen (or shared kitchen) so you can prepare your own meals. Lastly, two tricks we’ve learned concerning buying food — 1) research the local grocery stores and register online or in person for their valued shopper program to qualify for instant in-store coupons, and 2) download the global app: Too Good To Go to find excellent food at drastically reduced prices.
Q: What activities are there?
A: Main activities in the summer include sightseeing and hiking. You will also find mountain biking, paragliding, and rock climbing. Sightseeing can include riding a train to Jungfraujoch or a train and/or cable car to Schilthorn. Pack a picnic lunch and hit the hiking trails around places like: Murren, Wengen, Gimmelwald, Grindewald, Kleine Scheidegg, and Trummelbach Falls.
Q: Do the local people speak English?
A: German language prevails in Lauterbrunnen; however, many people also speak English.
Q: What are the food options?
A: Swiss food includes lots of cheeses, potatoes, and sausages. Fondue is probably the most well-known dish. Another dish, raclette, is melted cheese served with boiled potatoes, pickles, and cured meat. Be sure to try rösti, a crispy potato pancake!
Never fear, if your palette craves some variation, we also found a smattering of Italian, Indian, Chinese, and Thai restaurants.
Other resources:
There’s no need to reinvent the wheel! Renowned travel expert, Rick Steves, offers time-tested advice on the region via his Lauterbrunnen Valley Travel Guide and YouTube video, below:
(C) Rick Steves 2021
Feel free to ask any questions in our Comments section below. Auf Wiedersehen!
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