How to Get to Lauterbrunnen: Train, Car, Parking and the Car-Free Villages

Lauterbrunnen lies on the floor of one of the most dramatic valleys in the Alps: a deep glacial trough with sheer rock walls on both sides and waterfalls pouring over the edge. It is the gateway to the car-free villages of Wengen and Mürren and to the lifts that climb towards the Schilthorn and the Jungfrau region. Getting there is easy; knowing what to do once you arrive — and where the cars have to stop — is what this guide is for.

We cover the train from Interlaken, driving and parking, journeys from Switzerland’s airports, the car-free villages above the valley, where to stay, and the day tours from Zurich and Lucerne — everything you need to get into the valley and up out of it again.

What you are arriving in

It is worth knowing what makes the valley special before you plan around it.

Lauterbrunnen sits on the flat floor of a deep glacial valley whose rock walls rise almost vertically on both sides. Over the edges of those walls pour the waterfalls that give the valley its fame: the Trümmelbach falls are part of the valley’s 72 waterfalls, which also include the Staubbach falls. The Staubbach drops about 297 metres — the local tourist board calls it the highest free-falling waterfall in Switzerland — and you can see it from the village itself. The Trümmelbach falls are different again: ten waterfalls inside the mountain, reached by a tunnel lift, and the only glacier waterfalls in Europe inside a mountain that are accessible.

High above the valley floor, on sunny terraces, sit the car-free villages of Wengen and Mürren, with the peaks of the Jungfrau region beyond. The valley is where you arrive; the terraces and the peaks are where most visitors are heading next.

The short version

By train: from Interlaken Ost, the Berner Oberland-Bahn reaches Lauterbrunnen in 24 minutes.
By car: 20 to 30 minutes from Interlaken, depending on the season, with a 974-space garage at Lauterbrunnen station.
From the airports: about 3 hours from Zurich or Basel, about 4 hours from Geneva.
Beyond Lauterbrunnen: Wengen and Mürren are car-free; you continue by train or cableway.

By train from Interlaken

Interlaken Ost is the hub for the whole Jungfrau region, and it is where most visitors change for Lauterbrunnen.

From Interlaken Ost station, the blue-and-yellow Berner Oberland-Bahn leaves from platform 2A and reaches Lauterbrunnen in 24 minutes. The line follows the Lütschine river up into the mountains, and the valley walls close in as you approach Lauterbrunnen.

At Lauterbrunnen station you can change for Wengen, or walk across to the cableway for Mürren.

From Switzerland’s airports

Lauterbrunnen is a straightforward train journey from the main airports, with a change at Interlaken Ost.

From Zurich Airport: direct trains run every two hours to Interlaken Ost, with other connections changing in Bern. Journey time about 3 hours.
From Basel: bus 11 takes you from the airport to Basel station in about 15 minutes; from there, five direct trains a day run to Interlaken Ost, with more connections changing in Bern or Spiez. Journey time about 3 hours.
From Geneva Airport: many connections with a change in Bern. Journey time about 4 hours.

From Interlaken Ost, add the 24-minute ride to Lauterbrunnen.

By car

The drive from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen takes 20 to 30 minutes, depending on the season. It follows the same valley as the railway, and in winter you should allow for conditions on the mountain road.

Parking at Lauterbrunnen

The parking garage at Lauterbrunnen station is the main place to leave a car:

974 spaces.
Open 24 hours, all year.
10 charging points for electric cars.
CHF 18 for 8 hours.
Payment by cash, card and several mobile options.

Because it sits at the station, the garage is also where you leave the car to continue to Wengen or Mürren.

Park and ride

There are also park-and-ride sites at Matten and Wilderswil, closer to Interlaken, which let you leave the car and take the train up the valley — relaxed and without searching for a space.

The car-free villages above the valley

This is the most important thing to understand about the Lauterbrunnen valley: the road ends in the valley. The two villages on the terraces above it are reached only by rail and cableway.

Wengen

Wengen is car-free. From Lauterbrunnen it can be reached only by public transport, on foot or by bike. By public transport, Wengen is 37 minutes from Interlaken Ost, changing at Lauterbrunnen for the train up the mountainside.

Mürren

Mürren, on the opposite side of the valley, is reached by lifts. The Lauterbrunnen–Mürren line runs a cableway from Lauterbrunnen up to Grütschalp and a railway on to Mürren. From the head of the valley at Stechelberg, a second cableway climbs to Mürren and on towards the Schilthorn — with a gradient of 159.4%, the operator calls it the steepest cableway in the world.

Our guide to Mürren, Wengen and the Schilthorn covers the villages and the lifts in detail.

Day tours from Zurich and Lucerne

If you are based in Zurich or Lucerne and would rather not plan the connections, guided day tours include Lauterbrunnen.

Grindelwald, Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen from Zurich. A guided coach day from Zurich: Interlaken between its two lakes, Grindelwald below the Eiger north face, and a walk in Lauterbrunnen village by the Staubbach falls, in about 12 hours.

Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen from Lucerne. The same three stops — Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen — as a guided coach day from Lucerne, in about 10 hours.

These tours show you the valley and the Staubbach falls, but they do not go up to Wengen or Mürren. If the car-free villages or the Schilthorn are on your list, travel independently or stay in the area.

The tours page lists them with live prices.

From Interlaken on two wheels

For active visitors, the e-bike tour through the valley of 72 waterfalls is a different way to arrive: a guided e-bike ride from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, stopping at the Staubbach falls and the Trümmelbach falls inside the mountain, with a Swiss picnic, in about 6 hours.

Getting around the valley floor

Once you are in Lauterbrunnen, the valley itself is easy to explore.

On foot: a mostly flat walk leads from Lauterbrunnen to the Trümmelbach falls, passing beneath the cliffs and waterfalls. It is an easy, rewarding walk for almost anyone.
By bike: the valley floor is gentle, and the e-bike tour from Interlaken shows how well it suits cycling.
To Stechelberg: at the head of the valley, Stechelberg is the base of the cableway to Mürren and the Schilthorn.

Allow time for stops. With waterfalls on both sides and the cliffs towering above, you will want to pause often.

Arriving in winter

The valley is open all year, and the station garage is open 24 hours every day. In winter, the drive from Interlaken takes longer depending on conditions — the tourist board gives 20 to 30 minutes depending on the season — and the train is the most reliable way in. Some attractions close for the winter: the Trümmelbach falls open only from early April to early November. Check what is open before you plan a winter visit around a particular sight.

With children

The valley is a great place for families: waterfalls you can walk to, lifts that climb cliffs, and car-free villages where children can wander safely.

The train from Interlaken is short — 24 minutes — and easy with children.
The flat valley walk to the Trümmelbach falls suits young legs.
The Trümmelbach falls charge from CHF 8 for children aged 6 to 15; adults from CHF 18.
The car-free villages are relaxed places to stay with children.
The cableways are an adventure in themselves — especially the Stechelberg–Mürren cableway, the steepest in the world according to its operator.

Mistakes to avoid

Driving further than Lauterbrunnen. The road ends in the valley; Wengen and Mürren are car-free.
Missing the station garage. With 974 spaces, it is the practical place to park, and it is right by the trains and the Mürren cableway.
Trying to see everything in a coach-tour stop. The day tours from Zurich and Lucerne show you the village and the Staubbach falls; the terraces and the Schilthorn need more time.
Visiting the Trümmelbach falls out of season. They are open from early April to early November only.
Ignoring the weather. The peaks above the valley are often in cloud; keep your plans flexible and go up on the clearest day.

If the weather is poor

Cloud is common in the mountains, and the Lauterbrunnen valley has good options when the peaks are hidden.

The Trümmelbach falls are inside the mountain, reached by a tunnel lift, so they are one of the best sights in the region in bad weather; the water thunders through the rock whatever the sky is doing.
The valley walk is still enjoyable under low cloud, with the waterfalls pouring out of the mist.
Save the lifts for a clear day. The views from Mürren, Wengen and the Schilthorn depend on visibility.

Which option to choose

You are staying in Interlaken: the train, 24 minutes, from platform 2A at Interlaken Ost.
You are driving: park at the station garage, or use the park-and-ride at Matten or Wilderswil.
You are flying in: Zurich and Basel are about 3 hours away by train, Geneva about 4.
You are in Zurich or Lucerne for a day: a guided coach tour.
You want Wengen, Mürren or the Schilthorn: travel independently and allow a full day or stay the night.

A sample day by train from Interlaken

Morning: the Berner Oberland-Bahn from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen (24 minutes).
Mid-morning: the Staubbach falls, visible from the village, then the mostly flat walk up the valley to the Trümmelbach falls.
Lunch: in Lauterbrunnen, or back towards the station.
Afternoon: the cableway to Grütschalp and the train to Mürren, or the train up to Wengen, for the views from the terraces.
Evening: back down to Lauterbrunnen and the train to Interlaken.

Where to stay: Lauterbrunnen, Wengen or Mürren

Where you sleep shapes your whole visit.

Lauterbrunnen is the practical base. The station, the garage, the Mürren cableway and the valley walks are all on your doorstep, and it is the easiest place to arrive with luggage or a car. The waterfalls are right outside.

Wengen, on the terrace above the valley, is car-free and quiet in the evenings, with views across the valley to the peaks. It is reached by train from Lauterbrunnen — 37 minutes from Interlaken Ost in total — so plan to carry your bags on the train.

Mürren, on the opposite terrace, is also car-free, perched high above the cliffs and reached by the cableway to Grütschalp and the train, or the cableway from Stechelberg. It is the base for the Schilthorn and for paragliding flights over the valley.

If you stay in Lauterbrunnen, the guest card brings small benefits, such as 10% off at the Trümmelbach falls.

Combining the valley with Interlaken and Grindelwald

Lauterbrunnen is one of three classic stops in the Jungfrau region, and it is easy to combine with the other two.

Interlaken, between its two lakes, is the hub, 24 minutes away by train.
Grindelwald, below the Eiger north face, is on the other branch of the Berner Oberland-Bahn from Interlaken.

The guided day tours from Zurich (about 12 hours) and Lucerne (about 10 hours) combine all three, with a walk in Lauterbrunnen village by the Staubbach falls. On your own, the trains make it simple to visit Lauterbrunnen one day and Grindelwald the next from a base in Interlaken.

Practical tips

Buy a regional or national rail pass if you plan several days of trains and lifts; compare the cost against individual tickets.
Travel light to the car-free villages. You will be carrying your luggage on and off trains and cableways.
Check the season. Some attractions, such as the Trümmelbach falls, open only from early April to early November.
Allow time for the weather. Cloud can hide the peaks; a flexible plan lets you go up on the clearest day.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen?

By the Berner Oberland-Bahn from Interlaken Ost, platform 2A: 24 minutes. By car, 20 to 30 minutes depending on the season.

Is there parking in Lauterbrunnen?

Yes. The parking garage at the station has 974 spaces, is open 24 hours all year, has 10 electric-car charging points and charges CHF 18 for 8 hours.

Can I drive to Wengen or Mürren?

No. Both are car-free. Wengen is reached from Lauterbrunnen by train (37 minutes from Interlaken Ost), and Mürren by the cableway to Grütschalp and the train, or by the cableway from Stechelberg.

How long does it take to get to Lauterbrunnen from Zurich Airport?

About 3 hours by train, with direct trains to Interlaken Ost every two hours, then 24 minutes to Lauterbrunnen.

Do day tours from Zurich go up to Mürren or Wengen?

The guided day tours from Zurich and Lucerne visit Lauterbrunnen village and the Staubbach falls, but not the car-free villages above.

How far is it from Lauterbrunnen to the Trümmelbach falls?

A mostly flat walk leads there from Lauterbrunnen along the valley floor. The falls are open daily from early April to early November.

Can I see the Staubbach falls from the village?

Yes. The Staubbach falls, about 297 metres high, drop from the cliffs right beside Lauterbrunnen village.

Where should I stay: Lauterbrunnen, Wengen or Mürren?

Lauterbrunnen is the practical base, with the station, the garage and the valley on the doorstep. Wengen and Mürren are car-free, quieter and higher, with views across the valley — ideal if you do not mind carrying your luggage on the train or cableway.

Is Lauterbrunnen worth visiting on a day trip?

Yes, especially for the valley, the Staubbach falls and the Trümmelbach falls. For the car-free villages, the Schilthorn or a paragliding flight from Mürren, allow a full day or stay a night so you can choose the clearest weather.

Which platform does the Lauterbrunnen train leave from at Interlaken Ost?

Platform 2A. The Berner Oberland-Bahn takes 24 minutes to Lauterbrunnen.