Lauterbrunnen is one of those places you have to visit at least once in your life. You can call it a mountain paradise, as it is located in the heart of the popular Swiss Alps. Its unique natural and architectural beauty will leave you speechless from the first moment. So, if you are looking for must-visit places in Switzerland, Lauterbrunnen should be at the top of your list ! As it is one of the most photogenic places, grab your camera and take amazing pictures. In this article, you will find everything your need to know about Lauterbrunnen and what are the best photo spots.
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Things to know before visiting Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is one of the most dreamy and popular places to visit in the Swiss Alps. It is located near Interlaken in the middle of a valley. There are 72 waterfalls, a few cafés and restaurants, some hotels and hostels. So, although it is just a small village, it offers most facilities. When you first get to Lauterbrunnen, you feel like you are stepping out of a fairytale. Everything looks so peaceful and charming there, especially with the wooden cabins and the colorful flowers !
But, if you want to enjoy Lauterbrunnen to the fullest, you should stay at least one night. However, you should be aware of the high prices. It is almost impossible to find an affordable accommodation even in low season. This is why we highly recommend staying in a hostel instead of a hotel if you are on a budget. Lauterbrunnen is the perfect place to connect with nature and enjoy the magnificent mountain views ! There are also many day trips you can take either to other villages in Swiss Alps or even to the Swiss Riviera.
Another thing to keep in mind is that Switzerland is not part of Europe. So, you won’t be able to use your mobile data (or free roaming between European countries) or if you do, it will cost you a fortune. For this reason, even if you are from a European country, you should get a sim card to have data available for use at an affordable price. We strongly recommend purchasing a global digital eSIM card which is easy to use and will save you a lot of money.
How to get to Lauterbrunnen ?
Although Lauterbrunnen is located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, its access is quite easy. There are many options for accessing and traveling from one place to another in the Swiss Alps. More specifically, you can access Lauterbrunnen directly by car, train or bus. Both options are convenient and you’ll be amazed by the views along the way !
1-Access to Lauterbrunnen by car
Road trip through the Swiss Alps is one of the most common ways to see all the unique Swiss villages in the area. If you come from a nearby country and go to Lauterbrunnen with your own car, you can simply follow the GPS directions and you will find it easily. If you are visiting Switzerland and traveling by public transport, you must first rent a car to take this epic road trip to the Swiss Alps ! To be honest, renting a car in Switzerland is quite expensive, but it’s really worth it. Our road trip through the Swiss Alps was one of the dreamiest road trips we’ve ever taken. So once you get your rental car, you can access Lauterbrunnen from any of the main Swiss cities (Interlaken, Zurich, Bern, Geneva or Lucerne).
- Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen : 16 minutes (12,5 kilometers)
- Zurich to Lauterbrunnen : 2 hours (129 kilometers)
- Bern to Lauterbrunnen : 58 minutes (66 kilometers)
- Geneva to Lauterbrunnen : 2h42 minutes (225 kilometers)
- Lucerne to Lauterbrunnen : 1h18 minutes (78,5 kilometers)
2-Access to Lauterbrunnen by train or bus
Buses and trains run regularly to connect the main cities of Switzerland with Lauterbrunnen. It is just as easy to go from one village in the Swiss Alps to another. Grindelwald is one of the top villages of the Bernese Alps and many people combine their trip to Lauterbrunnen with it ! So, if you plan to move around Switzerland and visit a lot of places, you should buy the Swiss Travel Pass. With this pass, you will have unlimited rides on trains, buses and boats. However, if you only plan to visit Lauterbrunnen and a few other nearby places like Interlaken, Grindelwald or Iseltwald and don’t want to pay for the previous unlimited pass, you can easily buy a single ticket.
Since Switwerland is one of the most expensive countries, plan ahead which places to visit and buy your tickets accordingly ! We highly recommend that you book your tickets online to ensure that everything runs smoothly without delays. When traveling to places like Lauterbrunnen or the Swiss Alps in general, you should make the most of your time !
The best time to visit Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen can be visited all year. For us, the best time to visit Lauterbrunnen is early summer (late May – June) or July. At this time, the weather is perfect, everything is green and there are colorful flowers everywhere. The same goes for August. But, the problem is Lauterbrunnen is a touristy place, so it will be packed during the peak summer season ! However, if you love winter landscapes and sports, you can visit in the winter. Obviously you will get a completely different picture of this dreamy valley. You will also have the option of visiting during the shoulder season (fall or spring). It’s a great option to avoid the crowds and get beautiful mountain views, but don’t expect hot sunny weather. It can be cold and moody.
Best photo spots in Lauterbrunnen
1-The most Instagrammable view in Lauterbrunnen (Chalet Pironnet)
This photo spot is one of the most Instagrammable places in Switzerland, and for good reason. That’s why we have been looking forward to visiting this village for years. It is very easy to find, just type in Google maps “Chalet Pironnet” and you will find yourself in front of it with this wonderful view. But, why is this viewpoint so famous ? The answer is easy. It offers one of the best views of Lauterbrunnen ! From this point, you can admire the breathtaking spray of Staubbach Falls (on the right) and the iconic Kirche Church (on the left). The whole village creates the perfect mountain landscape ! If you visit in summer, you will also enjoy amazing greenery.
Useful tip : As it is the most famous place in Lauterbrunnen, try to visit it as early as possible, especially in the peak season. Depending on your color preferences, you can visit either at sunrise for the pastel colors or after sunrise-early morning for soft light. We visited around 8am in July and there were already few people already.
2-One of the country’s most iconic streets (Lauterbrunnen Center)
The next amazing location is the center of the village. It is its main road that also leads to the previous spot, Chalet Pironnet. This street of Lauterbrunnen is considered one of the most beautiful streets in the world. Log cabins, cross-timbers on their facades, stunning views and colorful spots everywhere make this street so special and unique. If you want to take beautiful empty photos of this epic street, get there as early as possible. Otherwise, it will be crowded with hundred of tourists and vehicles. Note that the morning light will make it look even more magical !
3-The field below the Staubbach Falls
By following the other road to the Staubbach Falls, you will find youself in the quietest part of Lauterbrunnen, which is close to the mountains ! When you are in the field below the Falls, you will have a magical view of the Swiss Alps. For us, it is one of the best locations offering close-up views of the moutains. Do not miss it, especilly if you are a landscape lover. You can visit it after the previous spot that will be overcrowded during the day.
4-Kirche Lauterbrunnen (Church)
Besides the Staubbach Falls, Kirche church is the other most photographed and visited spot in the village. Its authentic architecture and location make it a very charming place to visit. You can capture it in different ways. We strongly advise you to walk around and find the angle that suits you best. For us, it is the most magical part of the whole village. It is the only place that offers a close view of the church and the waterfalls.
5-The road in front of Staubbach Falls
One of the best features of the Swiss Alps is their adorable and original architecture. Wooden cabins decorated with colorful flowers make Lauterbrunnen seem like a place straight out of a fairytale. If you are traveling with your love, we can’t recommend it enough to take romantic photos together in front of these little houses with the Alps as a backdrop ! We found the most charming little corner, just down the road in front of Staubbach Falls.
Final Thoughts
Every little alley, view or house looks so magical and photogenic in Lauterbrunnen. It is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit not only in Switzerland, but also in Europe. So, if you only have time for one place in the Swiss Alps, take the opportunity and visit this village. However, don’t forget to add one of the most beautiful Swiss lakes called “Lake Blausee” to your list. You will be delighted by its turquoise color.
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