Relaxed half-day
Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → walk in the valley → return
Best for
Limited time, families, calm travellers
Interlaken · Lauterbrunnen & Mürren
Lauterbrunnen & Mürren from Interlaken: Is the Day Trip Worth It?
Discover the Lauterbrunnen Valley with waterfalls, alpine villages and views of the Jungfrau Region. Learn who this day trip is best for, how to get there from Interlaken and which alternatives may fit better.
Du wirst bei Tourlinks zu Viator weitergeleitet. Dort siehst du aktuelle Preise, Verfügbarkeit und Stornierungsbedingungen.
Short answer
Is Lauterbrunnen worth it from Interlaken?
Yes — Lauterbrunnen is very much worth it from Interlaken, especially if you are looking for classic Swiss landscapes, waterfalls, alpine villages and a day route that is easy to plan. It is simpler to organise than many high-altitude trips and works well even without a car.
The day becomes especially strong when you combine Lauterbrunnen with Mürren, Wengen or Schilthorn. It is less ideal if you only have very little time or try to fit too many places into one day.
Quick overview
Starting point
Interlaken Ost
Destination
Lauterbrunnen & Mürren
Duration
Half to full day
Without a car
Very doable
Best for
First-time visitors, couples, families
Weather
Works in mixed conditions
Combine with
Wengen, Mürren, Schilthorn
Difficulty
Easy to moderate
Local hosts perspective
Our take as local hosts
Lauterbrunnen is one of the trips we recommend most often to our guests. The reason is simple: it offers a lot of landscape, works well without a car and is less weather-critical than expensive panorama-only trips.
If you are visiting the region for the first time, Lauterbrunnen is almost always a good choice. The day becomes especially nice when you take your time and resist the urge to squeeze Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, Wengen, Schilthorn and Grindelwald into a single day.
Our tip: choose a clear route with 2–3 stops instead of trying to see everything.
— Ronny & Mariana, hosts of AlpineLake Apartments in the Bernese Oberland
Why Lauterbrunnen is so special
Lauterbrunnen is one of the most striking valleys in Switzerland. Steep cliffs, waterfalls, green meadows and traditional mountain villages make it one of the classic highlights of the Bernese Oberland.
Compared to expensive mountain railway trips, Lauterbrunnen is often more flexible to plan. You can visit the valley at your own pace, continue to Mürren or Wengen, or combine the day with Schilthorn.
- Waterfalls and valley views
- Easy to reach from Interlaken
- Ideal without a car
- Combinable with Mürren and Wengen
- Less extreme than Jungfraujoch
- Great for photos and a calm day
Getting from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen
The main starting point is Interlaken Ost. From there, regular trains run to Lauterbrunnen. The route is easy to plan and is one of the simpler day trips from Interlaken.
To continue to Mürren, you travel via Lauterbrunnen and onward via Grütschalp or Stechelberg. For Wengen, you take the cogwheel train uphill from Lauterbrunnen.
Route 1
Valley classic
Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen
Route 2
Mürren
Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Grütschalp → Mürren
Route 3
Wengen
Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Wengen
Route 4
Schilthorn
Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Stechelberg → Schilthorn
Local tip
If you are travelling without a car, Lauterbrunnen is one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from Interlaken.
How to plan your Lauterbrunnen day
Classic day trip
Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Mürren → walk / viewpoint → return
Best for
First-time visitors, couples, no-car travellers
Panorama route
Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Mürren → Schilthorn or viewpoint → return
Best for
Good weather, panoramas, more time
Who is Lauterbrunnen best for?
First-time visitors
If you want to experience classic Swiss landscapes, Lauterbrunnen is a very strong choice.
Families
The trip is easy to plan and less extreme than many high-altitude tours.
Travellers without a car
Lauterbrunnen is very easy to reach by train from Interlaken.
Couples
The valley, Mürren and the viewpoints are perfect for a calm and beautiful day trip.
Photographers
Waterfalls, valley views and alpine villages offer many strong subjects.
Moderate budgets
Lauterbrunnen can be planned more flexibly and often more affordably than premium panorama trips.
Not ideal if …
Lauterbrunnen is highly recommended, but not every plan works well.
- you want to combine too many places in one day
- you only have 1–2 hours available
- you want a strict plan with no transfers
- you expect big panoramas in poor weather
- you want to see Mürren, Wengen, Schilthorn and Grindelwald all on the same day
Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald?
Both are worth visiting, but they have different strengths. Lauterbrunnen is better for waterfalls, valley views, Mürren and classic landscapes. Grindelwald is better for First, Eiger views, Bachalpsee and more active mountain experiences.
Lauterbrunnen
Valley & villages
- • Waterfalls
- • Valley and cliffs
- • Mürren / Wengen
- • Calmer and classically scenic
- • Great without a car
Grindelwald
Active & Eiger views
- • First Cliff Walk
- • Bachalpsee
- • Eiger views
- • More activities
- • Strongest in good weather
Our recommendation
Choose Lauterbrunnen for classic landscapes and alpine villages. Choose Grindelwald for activity and First experiences.
Guided tour or self-organised?
Lauterbrunnen is easy to organise yourself from Interlaken, especially if you only want to see the valley or Mürren. A guided tour can make sense if you prefer less planning, want to combine several places, or appreciate local commentary.
Self-organised
- • More flexible
- • Often cheaper
- • Easy by public transport
- • You plan route and timing yourself
Guided tour
- • Less planning effort
- • Clear structure
- • Good for first-time visitors
- • Often more expensive
- • Less flexible
Good to know before you go
Start early if you combine several places
Don't plan too many stops
Check weather and visibility
Bring comfortable shoes
Allow enough time for transfers
Don't underestimate Mürren and Wengen
Add a buffer if you include Schilthorn
Suitable tours
If Lauterbrunnen is not the perfect fit for your trip — or if you want to combine more highlights — these tours can work well.
Jungfraujoch Day Trip from Interlaken
Classic high-alpine experience on clear days.
View JungfraujochSchilthorn / Piz Gloria
Combinable with Lauterbrunnen and Mürren.
View SchilthornParagliding over Interlaken
Tandem flight with views of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
View ParaglidingGrindelwald First & Bachalpsee
First Cliff Walk, Eiger views and hiking.
View Grindelwald FirstE-Bike Tour around Interlaken
Lakes, ruins and viewpoints around Interlaken.
View E-Bike TourIseltwald & Lake Brienz E-Bike
A calm tour around Lake Brienz.
View Lake BrienzFrequently asked questions about Lauterbrunnen from Interlaken
How long does the trip take?
Half to full day depending on the route. The valley alone takes 3–5 hours; with Mürren or Schilthorn plan a full day.
Is Lauterbrunnen easy to reach without a car?
Yes. Trains run regularly from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen, with good connections to Mürren, Wengen and Stechelberg.
Can you do Lauterbrunnen and Mürren in one day?
Yes — it's one of the most popular routes. Allow enough time for the walk, the cable car and the views.
Wengen or Mürren — which to choose?
Mürren is car-free, higher and offers stronger panoramas towards Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. Wengen is classically alpine and great for calm walks.
Is Lauterbrunnen worth it in the rain?
The valley itself works in mixed weather. High-altitude trips like Schilthorn only make sense with clear visibility.
What's better — Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald?
Lauterbrunnen for waterfalls, valley and villages. Grindelwald for Eiger views, First and more active experiences.
Can you combine Lauterbrunnen with Schilthorn?
Yes — via Stechelberg you take the Schilthorn cable car up. Plan a full day and check the weather.
Is a guided tour worth it?
If you have little planning time or want to combine several places, yes. Self-organising is cheaper and more flexible.
Is Lauterbrunnen family-friendly?
Very. Short walks, cable cars and easy strolls make it a good fit for families.
What shoes do I need?
Comfortable closed shoes are enough for the valley and villages. Sturdier shoes for hikes above Mürren.
Explore further
This page contains affiliate links to Viator. If you book, we may receive a commission. There is no additional cost to you.
Du wirst bei Tourlinks zu Viator weitergeleitet. Dort siehst du aktuelle Preise, Verfügbarkeit und Stornierungsbedingungen.
Du wirst bei Tourlinks zu Viator weitergeleitet. Dort siehst du aktuelle Preise, Verfügbarkeit und Stornierungsbedingungen.
View TourIf the button doesn’t work: open the Viator link directly