2 Itineraries for an Incredible 3 Days in Lauterbrunnen

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Lauterbrunnen seems like a dream, with incredible landscapes and unforgettable experiences. That’s why spending at least three days here makes sense—there’s so much to take in.

You’ve got Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, and Männlichen, plus peaceful hikes in Tanzbödeli, paragliding with amazing views, adrenaline-pumping Via Ferrata climbs, and the spectacular underground Trümmelbach Falls. And of course, the villages of Mürren, Wengen, Gimmelwald, and Lauterbrunnen seem like they belong in a fantasy movie, making it impossible not to snap photos at every turn.

If you’re planning a three-day trip, you’ve made the right choice. That’s enough time to visit the top three highlights of the valley and leave feeling like you’ve truly experienced this part of Switzerland. And in my opinion, there are two great ways to make your trip unforgettable: visit all three highlights or see two of them and add a hike in Tanzbödeli. We’ll go over those options after a few reminders and tips.

Plan #1: See Three Lauterbrunnen Highlights

For an unforgettable three-day stay in Lauterbrunnen, our first plan is to visit the top destinations in the valley.

• First is Männlichen, where you’ll get the best panoramic views of the Jungfrau Region, including an overlook of Lauterbrunnen Valley.
• Next is Schilthorn, home to a mountaintop revolving restaurant that offers a one-of-a-kind experience, along with nearby adventures.
• Lastly, there’s Jungfraujoch, known for its scenic train ride—an impressive engineering feat—and the chance to see the largest glacier in the Alps, explore an ice cave inside it, and more.

The goal is to visit one of these places each day. While Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn are pricey, I can assure you they’re absolutely worth it for the experiences they offer. Get ready for breathtaking views, unforgettable moments, and adventures you won’t find anywhere else! Now, let’s get into the details.

Day 1

Hour (Estimate)	Destination	Notes / Things to do
6:30 am	Lauterbrunnen	Get to Birg from Lauterbrunnen as early as possible. Take the bus 141 to Stechelberg (7:35 am), and hop on the cableway (7:55 am) to Brig. Have your breakfast!
8:30 am	Birg	If your accommodation does not have a complimentary breakfast, have it in the stylish restaurant in Birg. Sightseeing after and doing the mini-adventures, Thrill Walk, and Skyline Walk.
10:30 am	Schilthorn	Enjoy higher views of Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau. Visit the Bond World Museum and Cinema. Try the Walk of Fame and see the view lounges. Have lunch!
3:00 pm	Grauseewli	Hike to Grauseewli from Schilthorn (2:00 pm to 3:00pm – 1-hour hike). Take Photos of inverted peaks of Jungfrau massif. Then, continue hiking to Birg (30 minutes).
3:45 pm	Birg	Go down to Murren.
4:00 pm	Murren	Go to Murren’s viewpoint and continue the hike to Gimmelwald (1-hour trek)
5:45 pm	Gimmelwald	Stroll and visit the traditional houses and very idyllic Gimmelwald. Dinner time!
7:30 pm	Lauterbrunnen	Back to Hotel. Sleep early to catch the sunrise in Wengen.

Day 2

Hour (Estimate)	Destination	Notes / Things to do
6:00 am	Wengen (Wengwald)	Get up early to catch the sunrise in Moenchblick in Wengen. From Lauterbrunnen, get the train to Wengen and alight at Wengwald.
7:00 am	Wengen	Explore Wengen (See Evangelical Church for beautiful views) and eat breakfast. Buy trail food.
9:00 am	Männlichen	Start hiking to the summit through Royal Walk. Enjoy the scenery – do not rush. Spot animals like marmots and cows grazing in the meadows. Sometimes there are alpine horn performances you can watch.
10:30 am	Panorama Trail	Start hiking to Kleine Scheidegg from Mannlichen (Approximately 1 to 2 hours). Enjoy the view of Eiger’s north face and alpine meadows.
12:00 pm	Kleine Scheidegg	Lunchtime!
1:00 pm	Fallbodensee	Start hiking to Fallbodensee from Kleine Scheidegg and return. (1 hour total with picture taking on the lake)
2:00 pm	Kleine Scheidegg Train Station	Head back to Lauterbrunnen by train. Then, ride the bus 141 to Trummelbach falls.
3:30 pm	Trummelbach falls	See the underground waterfall. Check all 10 levels. Don’t miss the stunning view of Lauterbrunnen valley from one of the vantage points in Trummelbach falls.
5:00 pm	Hike to Stechelberg	Optional. See more idyllic Swiss countryside.

Day 3

Hour (Estimate)	Destination	Notes / Things to do
7:00 am	Lauterbrunnen Train Station	Eat breakfast and catch the first train departure (8:00 am) to Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch.
10:00 am	Jungfraujoch	Have lunch in Jungfraujoch’s restaurants and bars, then explore Sphinx Observatory (the sight of Aletsch Glacier), Ice Palace, Jungfrau panorama, Monchsjochhutte, etc.
2:30 pm	Jungfraujoch top station	Ride the train back to Wengen and pick up the luggage. Head down to Lauterbrunnen.
5:00 pm	Lauterbrunnen	Explore the village and visit Staubbach falls. Take photo souvenirs and selfies!

You can book your roundtrip ticket for Jungfraujoch here and the Schilthorn and Piz Gloria cable car roundtrip ticket here. If you have a Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll get a discount on both.

Plan #2: Unforgettable Hike + Two Highlights

Hiking is one of the best ways to boost your mood, especially when you’re surrounded by epic views, peaceful forests, and beautiful waterfalls. It’s refreshing and gives you plenty of time to reflect and recharge. Lauterbrunnen has everything you could want for a perfect hike, so if you have extra time, definitely go for it. I love it, and if you do too, hiking in Lauterbrunnen is a must.

There are several trails in the valley, but if there’s one you shouldn’t miss, it’s Tanzbödeli at the far end of the valley. From the top, you’ll get a unique view of Lauterbrunnen Valley, where you can clearly see its trough shape along with the villages below and above it.

The trail is 14 kilometers (8.8 miles) long, so expect about six hours of trekking without stops. But if you take breaks for snacks, rest, and photos, the hike can easily take a full day—around eight to nine hours in total. You can learn more about Tanzbödeli here.

For our second plan, the first and third days of this three-day Lauterbrunnen itinerary remain the same as in the first plan. The only difference is on the second day, when you’ll visit Tanzbödeli instead of Männlichen.

Day 2

Hour	Destination	Notes / Things to do
5:00 am	Gimmelwald	Eat a heavy breakfast, prepare for a day of hiking and watch the sunrise in Gimmelwald.
7:00 am	Trailhead of Tanzbodeli hike in Gimmelwald	If you’re coming from Lauterbrunnen, the first departure of bus 141 going to Stechelberg is 6:35 am. From Stechelberg, hop on the cable car to Gimmelwald next.
11:00 am	Hotel Obersteinberg	Hotel Obersteinberg is a rustic 19th-century hotel where you can have refreshments after hiking for half day. You’ll see the most beautiful scenery before reaching Hotel Obersteinberg.
3:00 pm	Berggasthaus Trachsellauenen	Stopover. Rest and buy meals and drinks.
5:00 pm	Stechelberg	Hiking done! Hop on bus 141 to go back to Lauterbrunnen. Have dinner after and rest for another day of adventure tomorrow.

In the previous itinerary, you would return to your hotel in Lauterbrunnen Village each night. But for this version, I recommend spending the night in Gimmelwald after your first day at Schilthorn. This is optional, but if you love watching sunrises in a peaceful mountain setting, it’s definitely worth considering.

Change of Plans?

If you think three days in Lauterbrunnen is more than enough, good news! WanderInEurope can also help you plan a one-day or two-day visit to the valley. Of course, one or two days won’t be enough to see everything, but a shorter trip makes sense if you’re also visiting other places in Switzerland with a similar experience, like Zermatt and the rest of the Jungfrau Region.