The Ultimate Swiss Adventure guide Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken and Grindelwald
- Greer Ransom
- Oct 15
- 9 min read
Updated: Oct 17
This area of Switzerland is truly amazing! The reason I have put these towns together is because they are all with in a 30 min train ride of each other and have access to all of must do's, life changing experiences while in Switzerland. This is the area people go to if they want to experience beauty, adventure, adrenaline, and to hike arguably the most beautiful parts of the world. You can choose to spend 3 nights in each town or staying in one town and take day trips. This allows you the opportunity to see everything the Swiss Laps has to offer with the least amount of moving and lugging bags around. Day trips and access to the best excursions in Switzerland are possible from each town. So, I will go through each town and whats unique when visiting each and the main excursions that can be accessed from all of the towns easily. I hope you enjoy!
🗓️ Best Itineraries
Here is a list of my top itineraries. These itineraries have be carefully curated to bring the most amazing ways to discover the Swiss Alps. From adrenaline junkies and adventure seekers, to foodies and families, I have created the perfect itinerary for any type of traveler!
🪂 Top Experiences
Here are the absolute must dos when visiting this part of Switzerland. These are accessible from any other the three cities above and no mater how you decide to structure your trip, should be part of your experience.
🏞️Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
An absolute must do adventure. A train-ride up to one of Switzerland’s iconic high point viewing the Aletsch Glacier. Here you can walk through the mountains and glaciers, ride down the snow your style, enjoy an nice warm drink, go through the ice museum and marvel at the beauty of the ice tundra. As for booking you can book a tour but its cheaper just to make your way to Jungfraujoch and just buy entry tickets. The booking link gives you all the options for booking tickets and trains to get there.
Route: Easiest access is from Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald
Lauterbrunnen → Wengenalpbahn to Wengen → Kleine Scheidegg → Jungfrau Railway →Jungfraujoch
OR Lauterbrunnen → Zweilütschinen → Grindelwald Terminal → Eiger Express → Jungfraujoch
There is a window scenic stop at Eigerwand Station you can look out during a 5 min stop
Please note if you stop at Eismeer Station to view the glaciers you will have to buy a ticket and they are first come fist serve so you might be waiting for a while to in line to get on a train as the fill up very quickly.
❄️ Grindelwald First
An adventure in the mountains, above the Lauterbrunnen / Bernese Alps area. Up here there are many adventures you can choose from. There are several ways to book
Route: Easiest access is from Grindelwald by cable care ride to the top
🌉 First Cliff Walk by Tissot: A metal walkway clinging to the cliffs with incredible views over the valley. Free and unmissable!
💦 Hike to Bachalpsee Lake: (~1 hour each way) — an easy, scenic trail leading to one of Switzerland’s most photographed alpine lakes. Reflections of snow-capped peaks on clear days are magical.
🪂 First Flyer & Glider: Zipline-style rides soaring over alpine pastures.
🚴 Mountain Cart or Trottibike Ride: Fun way to descend back down part of the mountain.
🏞️ Mountain Restaurant First: Great for lunch or a coffee with panoramic views.
❄️ Skiing, snowboarding, and sledding runs like the Eiger Run (from Alpiglen to Grindelwald), Night sledding and winter hiking trails are also available
🏞️ Titlis Cliff Walk (Engelberg)
🌺 Murren Flower Trail
This trail is considered one of the more beautiful trails especially in the spring when all of the wild flowers are blooming. Beginning in Murren this trail spans 5.1km at an altitude of 1932m. This is a great trail for families becasue it provides a play area for kids and is not too challenging.
🧗 Via ferrata
If you are a thrill seeker this is the trail for you. It is 5.2 km and has three sections classified type B, B and C. Hiking poles and a harness are recommended as you will be strapped onto a life line cable while scaling the side of the mountain. This is truly humbling and I reccommend it for people who like to push their mental and physical limits.
🧊 Schilthorn Piz Gloria Walk- James Bond connection:
Starts at Mürren and reaches the top of the Schilthorn peak (2955m). Here hikers can enjoy the breathtaking view of the Spilbodenalp, Bryndli and the Grauseeli lake (2513m). You can also enjoy the Piz Gloria revolving restaurant on the Schilthorn which was featured in the 1969 James Bond film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service". Easiest to acess from Lauterbrunnen.
Visit Mürren
Allmendhubel
a car free alpine village accessible by funicular through Mürren. With restaurants, grassy knolls and a playground for children, this is a great afternoon with the kids. It also has a beautiful flower trail you can easily walk with a pram.
Mürrenbach Falls hike- 6.2km
One of the highest waterfalls in Switzerland; falls in multiple stages into the valley. There are several ways to get there; Ride up to Mürren from Lauterbrunnen via a mix of cable car and train. 141 train 2460 cable car. At the top is a car free village
or see many waterfalls and glaciers ending at the top of Europe with this 10 hour excursion
Paragliding and Sky Diving
If this is your thing you absolutely have to experience the trill of floating through the mountains. There are so many different places to go from.
Helicopter Tours
This is hands down the most unique way to discover the majestic Swiss alps for your self. Here are some of the best tours that cover the most spectacular parts of the Swiss Alps
🧾 Travel Passes and Bundles
Magic Pass: Provides unlimited access to nearly 100 ski resorts, including many open in the summer.
AlpsPass: A pass that grants access to 4 main ski regions and includes discounts on summer passes in participating resorts.
Swiss Travel Pass: This pass allows you to get a discount of transportation throughout your visit to Switzerland with a few extra entries to museums and other things. I HIGHLY recommend getting the pass because transportation is expensive and fines for no tickets are double.
Jungfrau Travel Pass (or the Berner Oberland Pass) it covers most local lifts, buses, and trains.
Mountain Pass: Passes and tickets for mountain adventures. Click here to find any cable car or adventure passes you want added to your trip.
📸 What to do in the Cities
🏙️ Lauterbrunnen “Valley of 72 waterfalls”
This town is at the bottom of the valley and is used as a very central location to exploring this part of the country. Full of hotels and restaurants geared towards travelers it is a great base for exploring some of the Swiss Alps finest attractions. Not only that, but its reputation for the most amazing waterfalls does not disappoint.
Best of the Town
The Best photo/view point of the mountains: Location
Visit the famous Staubbach Falls (huge free-fall waterfall just above the village) and stroll behind/near the falls. This stroll includes narrow stairs and wet rocks so make sure you have the proper shoes and have the ability to hike up through wet rocks.
The Valley of 72 waterfalls hike is a gentle valley walk (8.3Km) highlighting the fally and all of the beautiful waterfalls emerging from the cliff.
Explore the Trümmelbach Falls — glacier-fed waterfalls inside a mountain. It is a series of 10 waterfalls where you see inside and out side of a cave. The hike from the town is about 30 mins and is a part of the valley of 72 waterfalls, which is lovely along the river through farms where you can see cows and goats. The best part is some of these farms have vending machines where you can sample their cheese meat and jams. You can also take Bus #141 (direction: Stechelberg, Hotel) leaves from Lauterbrunnen train station,
You can also enjoy the beautiful scenery with E-Bike Tours: Book Here
Paragliding is another absolutely amazing adventure you should try. You will start off off the Lauterbrunnen ridge and experience the valley from a most unique vantage point as your glide through the valley: Book Here
Best Hiking: from here you have an easy train ride to Kleine Scheidegg which is where you will find the most amazing hikes in the area
Kleine Scheidegg → Wengen: ~6.5 km (4 miles) 1.5–2 hours
Difficulty: Easy/Downhill
Kleine Scheidegg → Männlichen: ~5.4 km (3.4 miles)Time: 1.5–2 hours (mostly flat)
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
One of the most popular trails in the Jungfrau region, sweeping views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks.
Kleine Scheidegg → Grindelwald: 10 km (6.2 miles)Time: 2.5–3 hours (downhill)
Difficulty: Moderate
Great views of the Eiger north face (“Eiger Nordwand”). Walk through forest
Kleine Scheidegg → Eigergletscher → Eiger Trail → Alpiglen: ~6 km (3.7 miles)Time: 2–2.5 hoursDifficulty: ModerateHighlights:
Start at Kleine Scheidegg, go slightly uphill to Eigergletscher station, then follow the Eiger Trail beneath the legendary Eiger North Face.
*****This trail is only open in summer (typically July–October).****
🏙️ Interlaken "The heart of the Swiss Alps"
Nestled between two crystal-clear lakes, Lake Thun (Thunersee) and Lake Brienz (Brienzersee), and framed by towering alpine peaks, Interlaken truly lives up to its name “between lakes.” Interlaken is the more visited of the towns because it has a lot more resorts and nice places to stay. The town is compact, walkable, and filled with charm: a mix of historic hotels, green parks, boutique shops, and cafés with sweeping mountain views. The air feels fresh and crisp, and in every direction you look, you see the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks rising dramatically above the valley.
Wander around town, stroll between the two lakes (Lake Thun & Lake Brienz).
Take funiculars / view points like Harder Kulm for wide views of the lakes and mountains. Harder Klum also has a nice restaurant and village with a ton of fun activities. CLICK HERE to see what Harder Kulm has to offer
Boat cruises on Lake Brienz or Lake Thun (click link below for options), possibly visiting places like Giessbach Falls. (its best to take a taxi) but there are trains that go here.
Adventure sports: canyoning, skydiving, rafting, paragliding around Interlaken region.
🏙️ Grindelwald "the adventure capital"
Explore the Village
Wander along Dorfstrasse, the main street lined with cafés, alpine shops, and bakeries.
Visit the Grindelwald Museum for local history.
Try restaurants such as C und M Café, Barry’s, or Hotel Glacier (for a local dining experience).
Paragliding, Mountain biking and trail running (in summer) Skiing, snowboarding, and sledding in (winter)
Eiger Express & Eigergletscher: Take the Eiger Express cable car (from Grindelwald Terminal) to the Eigergletscher station — one of the most scenic rides in Switzerland (and free with the swiss travel pass)
What to do there:
Walk around the Eiger Glacier area for unreal close-up views.
Hike the Eiger Trail - 6km medium and safe hike. start at Eigergletscher train station and end at Alpiglen restaurant which is a good way to end a big hike.
Pfingstegg & Glacier Gorge
Pfingstegg Cable Car: Small lift that takes you to a family-friendly area with hiking trails, a summer toboggan run, and a fly line (aerial zip ride).
Glacier Gorge (Gletscherschlucht): A narrow gorge carved by the Lütschine River, with tunnels and walkways through turquoise rushing water — easy and family-friendly
💡 Extra Insider Tips
🏔️ Getting Around
You’ll rely on cable cars and mountain trains.
Top tip: Buy a Jungfrau Travel Pass (or the Berner Oberland Pass) — it covers most local lifts, buses, and trains. Transportation is very expensive.
Public transport in Switzerland is synchronized perfectly, so transfers are seamless.
💰Money Exchange
The Swiss Frank is used (converter) but it is better to use a card for payment, always making sure that you choose to pay in Swiss franks when prompted.
🌞 Best Time to Visit
Summer (June–September): Waterfalls at full flow, wildflowers, hiking trails open.
Fall (September–October): Fewer crowds, beautiful autumn colors.
Winter (December–March): Great for skiing in nearby Wengen and Mürren.
Spring (April–May): Peaceful, though some mountain lifts may be closed.
🏡 Accommodation Tips
Book early, especially in summer.
Staying in these towns is the easiest way to gain access to the other towns and is a bit easier to get around.
🍴 Food & Dining
Dining out can be pricey — expect CHF 25–40 for a main course.
Supermarkets (like Coop) are right near the station for groceries and picnic supplies and even filler meals. Its not a god idea to eat out for every mean and These super markets have great ready meal options.
Bring snacks or packed lunches for mountain excursions — alpine cafés can close early.
🧳 Practical Tips
Language: German is official; English is widely understood.
Tipping: Optional — rounding up or 5–10% is appreciated.
Power: Type J plug (230 V).
Safety: Very safe city — still, be mindful of pickpockets in busy tourist spots.
Weather: Always pack a light jacket — weather can change quickly.
🎒 What to Bring
Layers: Weather changes fast — you might have sun, rain, and fog in a single day.
Good walking shoes: Even “easy” walks often have gravel or uneven paths.
Reusable water bottle: Swiss tap water is pure glacier water.
Rain jacket & small umbrella: Waterfalls make misty spray, especially near Trümmelbach Falls.
Greer Ransom | Travel Advisor
Send an Email: info@thegsource-travel.com
Phone/Whatsapp: +1 (706) 248-9565
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