Lauterbrunnen Valley - 2-Day Itinerary
Grüezi! If you’re planning a trip to Switzerland, no itinerary is complete without a few days in the mountains. One region we keep coming back to—again and again—for its jaw-dropping views, peaceful mornings, and unforgettable hikes is the Lauterbrunnen Valley. While Lauterbrunnen often features in every “must-see” list for Switzerland (and for good reason!), my favorite spots are actually the quieter, car-free villages perched above the valley floor. Here's a 2-day itinerary with some of my favorite things to do in this stunning corner of the Alps.
Where to stay?
Lauterbrunnen Valley is located in the Jungfrau region within the Bernese Oberland. As I mentioned in my Grindelwald itinerary, although Interlaken is a convenient, central base, I recommend actually staying within the region itself to truly enjoy all that car-free mountain towns have to offer! The cities in that I recommend are Wengen, and Murren. For this itinerary, I will give you a few hotels in either location and depending on your home base, you can flip the itinerary off of it!
Recommended Hotels in Wengen
Hotel Alpenrose We stayed here with my parents and it was perfect because we were a group of 5 plus a dog. We were able to stay in one of their apartments and my parents were in the main hotel!
Maya Caprice I have dreamed of staying in this hotel but they sadly do not allow dogs! So it will have to be a time when we don’t have Mac!
Recommended Hotels in Murren
Hotel Edelweiss Superior Hotel Edelweiss Superior is the perfect spot for your mountain adventure and the view out your window is directly facing Eiger Mountain! We loved staying here.
Drei Berge I cannot wait for the opportunity to stay at Drei Berge! It is currently under construction but plans to reopen in October 2025!
Getting Around
The Swiss transportation system is incredible. After living here for a year and a half, I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen a train run late.
If you are planning on exploring multiple regions in Switzerland, I highly recommend getting the Swiss Travel Pass. With this you get unlimited travel by train, bus and boat as well as free admission to more than 500 museums and discounts on mountain excursions. The SBB Mobile app is your best friend for planning routes and connections. If you get the Swiss Travel Pass, you can link your travel pass into the app for easy booking!
I do not recommend driving to this area as you will not need or use a car! Wengen and Murren are both car-free mountain villages.
2 Day Itinerary for Lauterbrunnen Valley
To note: I made this itinerary if you are staying in Wengen but you can stay in Murren and just flip the days. I did add 2 evening options for both cities!
Day 1: Arrive and Explore Lauterbrunnen Valley
Morning: Welcome to Lauterbrunnen Valley! Most travelers arrive via train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen and from there you will take the train up to Wengen. Make sure to get a window seat because the views along the route are jaw-dropping! You will arrive right in the center of the village. Check into your hotel and drop your bags.
Afternoon: Depending on how active you feel, you can either take the train back down to Lauterbrunnen or take the more scenic hike into the valley. This is all downhill so it is not too strenuous. It is about a 2.5km hike and will take you around 1.5 hours. https://www.alltrails.com/trail/switzerland/bern/wengen-to-lauterbrunnen Once you arrive, grab a light lunch at Airtime Cafe Bakery for a quick bite to eat and once finished, head to the Trümmelbach Falls. http://truemmelbachfaelle.ch/ This was the one thing my mom was hell-bent to see in the region and it did not disappoint. This powerful waterfall is tucked inside the mountain and is fed from glacial run off. Trust me, the roar and sheer force of the water will take your breath away! To get here, you can take a 40 minute walk from Lauterbrunnen or the 141 bus.
Evening (if staying in Wengen): Return to Wengen and head to Restaurant Bären. This restaurant focuses on local, seasonal and fresh food. It is a great place to try the regional dishes and they have an excellent wine list!
Evening (if staying in Murren): After making your way back to Murren, enjoy dinner on the terrace at Restaurant Edelweiss Murren and see the sunset wash over the Eiger Mountain, creating the perfect end to your day!
Day 2: Alpine Hikes and Jaw-Dropping Views
Morning: Fuel up with breakfast at your hotel because it is time to get active and go for a gorgeous hike! I recommend getting up early, to beat most of the crowds and in the summer, the sun is very warm!! From Wengen, take the train down to Lauterbrunnen and then hop on the cable car up to Grütschalp and connect via train to Murren.
This sounds like a lot but there are many signs and you cannot mess it up! I recommend booking these tickets in advance to make your trek much easier.
For your morning hike, I recommend the Murren Flower Trail. We had this peaceful route basically to ourselves and the pictures do not do it justice! The trail does have a steep incline and if you would prefer to just do the downhill parts, you can take the funicular up to Allmendhubel instead! https://www.alltrails.com/trail/switzerland/bern/murrener-blumenweg
Afternoon: Partway through your hike, you will eventually come across the Allmendhubel Alpen Playground and the Restaurant Allmendhubel. Grab lunch here with a backdrop that cannot be beat (if you take the funicular instead of the hike, it takes you right here!)
After finishing this hike, you can walk through Murren and on to the next village, Gimmelwald. This hike is very gentle – mom approved! She did this 6 months after a knee replacement (she is a rockstar!!). From Gimmelwald, you can take the cable car down and then bus 141 back into Lauterbrunnen before heading back up to Wengen! This transport will take around an hour.
Evening in Wengen: After making your way back to Wengen, have a relaxing night with pizza and beer at Maya Caprice. You can sit on their gorgeous patio that overlooks the valley and take in the views. If you are lucky, they may have live music in the bar!
Evening in Murren: Once back to Murren, head to Hotel Regina for a coursed meal in the historic Hotel Regina. They serve meat from Mürren, fresh trout from Rubigen, and all herbs, vegetables, and salads come straight from their garden. After, head to their terrace for an after dinner drink and occasionally live music!
A few tips and tricks:
The weather in the Jungfrau region can change in an instant, so be sure to pack a lightweight, waterproof rain jacket — something easily packable and reliable. Also having layers that you can shed if you get warm! For day trips, I recommend a light but supportive backpack; I use the Rab Protium 20L backpack and it’s been perfect for alpine adventures.
As you’ve probably gathered, hiking is a big part of the experience here. I’ve worn the Danner Mountain 600 hiking boots on countless weekend trips and can’t recommend them enough — durable, comfortable, and trail-ready.
Whenever possible, book your tickets in advance — It saves time and guarantees your spot.
Not all restaurants take reservations, but if one does, grab it early. Places fill up quickly, and unless you’re okay with dining late, it’s best to plan ahead.
And lastly — skip the bottled water! Swiss tap water is some of the cleanest in the world and completely safe to drink. You'll find public fountains along hiking trails and in villages where you can refill your bottle, unless marked otherwise.
