Overview
Lauterbrunnen Valley is a glacial U-shaped valley flanked by vertical cliffs, from which 72 waterfalls plunge. The most famous, Staubbach Falls (297m), is visible right from the village entrance, its spray scattered by the wind like water falling from the heavens. J.R.R. Tolkien reportedly drew inspiration here for Rivendell in The Lord of the Rings. Cable cars ascend to clifftop villages like Mürren and Wengen for even grander views. Free to visit. About 20 minutes by train from Interlaken Ost.
Opening Hours
Open 24 hours (cable cars and trains run on their own schedules).
Travel Tips
Staubbach Falls is free to see, and a short trail leads behind the waterfall to a cave. Take the cable car to Mürren for the charm of a car-free Alpine village.
Hotels near Lauterbrunnen Valley
Hotels and guesthouses in Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken
Other attractions in Interlaken
Jungfraujoch
Europe's highest railway station at 3,454m, with sweeping views of the Aletsch Glacier and Alpine snowfields.
Lake Thun
A quintessentially Swiss scene of emerald water framed by Alpine peaks.
Harder Kulm Viewpoint
Interlaken's 'rooftop' — a viewpoint overlooking the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks and both lakes.
Lake Brienz
An Alpine lake renowned for its striking turquoise water, with the Giessbach Falls and Brienz village nearby.
Schynige Platte
A mountain viewpoint with an Alpine wildflower garden and panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
Trümmelbach Falls
Hidden glacial waterfalls inside a mountain — meltwater from the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau crashes down ten tiers.
Grindelwald First
An Alpine viewpoint featuring the 'First Cliff Walk' over a precipice, facing the Eiger North Face.