3 Ways to Make the Most of Your 2-Day Visit to Lauterbrunnen

WanderInEurope is reader-supported. Affiliate links and ads help us keep creating useful content for you.

Considering all the incredible experiences Lauterbrunnen Valley has to offer, a two-day trip is definitely better than just one. But honestly, even two days aren’t enough if you want to see the main attractions. In my opinion, the top three highlights—Männlichen, Schilthorn, and Jungfraujoch—each deserve a full day to truly enjoy at a relaxed pace.

With that in mind, I wouldn’t recommend multi-day hikes or extreme adventures like paragliding and via ferrata just yet. Instead, focus on two of the three highlights I mentioned. One day should be dedicated to Jungfraujoch, and the other can be spent at either Männlichen or Schilthorn, depending on your preference.

I highly recommend not skipping Jungfraujoch—it’s one of Switzerland’s most unforgettable experiences. Yes, it’s pricey, but the sights and activities make it absolutely worth it. You’ll see the second-largest glacier in the Alps, explore an ice cave inside a glacier, and take a train ride that’s an engineering marvel—and that’s just the start.

So, are you in? Here are three ways you can plan your two-day trip to Lauterbrunnen Valley.

Important

If you’re not familiar with the experiences and destinations in Lauterbrunnen Valley, I highly recommend checking out my quick guide linked below. It’s the same guide I used to create this itinerary and can help you plan your own if you prefer to explore at your own pace.

Guide to 12 Top Sights & Experiences in Lauterbrunnen Valley
Wengen, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Jungfraujoch train,, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Birg Cable car, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Jungfraujoch Railway, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Jungfraujoch, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Lauterbrunne valley, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Mannlichen, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Murren, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Saint Beatus Caves, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Saint Beatus Caves, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Gimmelwald, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Trummelbachfalls, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Schilthorn, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland (2)
Mannlichen Royal Ride, included in this 2-day itinerary for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Blog Design Lower Separator

Where to Stay?

For a two-day trip to Lauterbrunnen Valley, there are two great places to stay while exploring the area. The first option is Lauterbrunnen Village, located on the valley floor, and the second is Wengen, a village perched on a sunny hillside overlooking the valley.

Lauterbrunnen Village is centrally located, making it a better choice if you’re visiting both sides of the valley: one day at Jungfraujoch and the other at Schilthorn, or vice versa. Wengen is a better option if your focus is on Männlichen and Jungfraujoch, as they’re both on the east side of the valley together with Wengen.

You can also stay in Kleine Scheidegg for the night after your first day—there’s an itinerary option for that later.

If you’d like to support WanderInEurope (at no extra cost to you), use these affiliate links below. It’s like a free donation for the itinerary I’ve shared with you. Thank you for your support!

Find Hotels in Lauterbrunnen
Find Hotels in Wengen

Two-Day Plans for Exploring Lauterbrunnen Valley

I highly recommend adding Jungfraujoch to your Lauterbrunnen Valley trip, but that doesn’t mean you have to. If you’re on a budget or just want to relax and enjoy the scenery, you can always save Jungfraujoch for another time. Instead, you can focus on exploring the valley and visit Männlichen, which is free and still offers an unforgettable experience. Let me show you how you can plan your trip, whether or not you include Jungfraujoch.

If you want to take in the breathtaking landscapes of the entire Jungfrau region, not just Lauterbrunnen, Mannlichen and Jungfraujoch make the perfect combination. Mannlichen offers a panoramic 360-degree view of the Jungfrau region, including Lauterbrunnen Valley, while Jungfraujoch lets you experience the surreal, snow-covered world of the highest peak in the Bernese Oberland.

The main thing to know about these two attractions is that they’re on the western side of the valley, and you can visit them one after the other from Männlichen to Jungfraujoch without returning to Wengen (or Lauterbrunnen Valley). You also have the option to stay in Kleine Scheidegg, which is between them and is where the train station to Jungfraujoch is located. With that in mind, there are two ways you can do this.

For your first option, I recommend staying in Wengen as your base for your two-day Lauterbrunnen trip. It’s the closest village to Männlichen and Jungfraujoch, which means you’ll save about an hour of train travel each day between Wengen and Lauterbrunnen.

You can book your roundtrip ticket to Jungfraujoch here. If you have the Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass, you’ll get a discount.

DAY 1

Hour
(Approximate)		Destinations on Day 1Notes / Things to do
9:00 amWengenHave breakfast and buy other necessities. Then, go to Wengen Evangelical Church for a beautiful view of Lauterbrunnen Valley.
11:00 amBerghaus MännlichenEnjoy your lunch in Berghaus, or just have a picnic outside.
12:00 pmRoyal Walk
Mannlichen		Start hiking to the summit of Mannlichen. Hike slowly and enjoy the views! Spot alpine animals or watch kids play in the playground.
1:30 pmPanorama TrailStart hiking from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. Hike slowly. Enjoy the view of Eiger’s north face and the surrounding alpine meadows. (1 hour to 2 hours)
3:00 pmKleine ScheideggRest and eat snacks. Hike to Fallbodensee (45 mins to 1 hour back and forth + picture taking)
4:30 pmTrain StationTrain ride to Wengen (20 minutes). The last trip to Wengen is 5:00 pm.
5:00 pmWengen
(Outskirts)		Explore Wengen village and visit Moenchblick on the western outskirts of Wengen for fantastic sunset views of Lauterbrunnen Valley. Have dinner and rest in the hotel.
DAY 1 of 2-day Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: Wengen – Mannlichen – Kleine Scheidegg – Lauterbrunnen – Jungfraujoch

DAY 2

Hour
(Approximate)		Destinations on Day 2Notes / Things to do
8:00 amWengen
rail station		Have breakfast and get the first train ride to Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch. Come to Wengen Terminal before 8:00 am.
10:00 amJungfraujochHave lunch in Jungfraujoch’s restaurants and bars, then explore Sphinx Observatory (the sight of Aletsch Glacier), Ice Palace, Jungfrau panorama, Monchsjochhutte, etc.
2:30 pmJungfraujoch top stationRide the train back to Wengen and pick up the luggage. Head down to Lauterbrunnen.
5:00 pmLauterbrunnenExplore the village and visit Staubbach falls. Take photo souvenirs and selfies!
DAY 2 of 2-day Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: Wengen – Mannlichen – Kleine Scheidegg – Lauterbrunnen – Jungfraujoch

For this option of your two-day Lauterbrunnen trip, the goal is to reach Jungfraujoch early to beat the crowds and enjoy the experience more. To make that happen, you’ll need to stay overnight in Kleine Scheidegg, the valley station of the Jungfrau Railway.

You can book your roundtrip ticket to Jungfraujoch here, and if you have the Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass, you can get a discount.

DAY 1

Hour
(Approximate)		DestinationNotes / Things to do
8:00 amLauterbrunnenExplore the village, eat breakfast, buy necessities, see Staubbach falls, get to the village viewpoint, and take photographs.
10:15 amMannlichen
Royal Walk		Start hiking to the summit of Mannlichen by the time you arrive at the cable car top station. Don’t rush! Enjoy the pleasant view of the alpine meadows and the breathtaking views of the entire Jungfrau region.
12:00 pmBerghaus MännlichenEat lunch inside the Berghaus or have a picnic outside
1:30 pmPanorama TrailStart hiking from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. Hike slowly. Enjoy the view of Eiger’s north face and the surrounding alpine meadows. (1 hour to 2 hours)
3:00 pmKleine ScheideggRest and eat snacks. Visit Fallbodensee if you like (1-hour estimate)
4:00 pmLauberhornVisit Lauberhorn from Kleine Scheidegg to watch the sunset. (30-minute hike one way up)
7:00 pmLodge or Hotel in Kleine ScheideggEat dinner, drink beers, rest, and sleep for another adventure tomorrow.
DAY 1 of 2-day Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: Lauterbrunnen – Mannlichen – Kleine Scheidegg (overnight) – Jungfraujoch – Trummelbach (optional)

DAY 2

Hour
(Approximate)		DestinationNotes / Things to do
7:00 amLodge or Hotel in Kleine ScheideggEat breakfast and prepare for the day.
8:30 amKleine Scheidegg
Jungfrau rail station		Catch the first trip to Jungfraujoch. Enjoy the scenery! The first train departure is minutes before 9:00 am.
10:00 amJungfraujochHave lunch in Jungfraujoch’s restaurants and bars, then explore Sphinx Observatory (the sight of Aletsch Glacier), Ice Palace, Jungfrau panorama, Monchsjochhutte, etc.
2:30 pmJungfraujoch top stationGet the train ride to Lauterbrunnen and take the bus to Trummelbach falls.
4:30 pmTrummebach fallsSee 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.
DAY 2 of 2-day Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: Lauterbrunnen – Mannlichen – Kleine Scheidegg (overnight) – Jungfraujoch – Trummelbach (optional)

Your accommodation and luggage might be an issue with this itinerary since your hotel won’t be in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen but in Kleine Scheidegg (Day 1 Night). Carrying all your stuff while hiking and sightseeing would be a hassle, but booking another hotel in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen just for luggage storage isn’t practical either.

Going straight to Kleine Scheidegg to drop off your bags before heading to Männlichen would be inefficient and out of the way. Instead, I recommend leaving your luggage at Interlaken Ost for 7 CHF per day or using a private luggage storage service nearby. Lauterbrunnen train station does have lockers, but they are limited in number and small in size.

Just pack what you need for the two-day trip, and you can pick up the rest of your belongings afterward.

To me, Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch are the best experiences in Lauterbrunnen Valley, and for good reason. Schilthorn offers a revolving restaurant on a mountaintop, along with mini adventures at Birg. Jungfraujoch is a must for the reasons I mentioned at the start of this article.

If you’re planning to visit these places, the itinerary below will be your guide. Ideally, your hotel should be in Lauterbrunnen Valley since it’s centrally located between Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch. The goal of this two-day itinerary is to get you to both spots early in the morning to avoid the crowds.

Here’s the itinerary breakdown:

DAY 1

HourDestinationNotes / Things to do
6:30 amLauterbrunnenBreakfast at the hotel. Proceed to Birg from Lauterbrunnen. Take the bus 141 to Stechelberg (7:35 am), and hop on the cableway (7:55 am) to Brig.
8:30 amBirgEnjoy the view and the adventures in Skyline Walk and Thrill Walk. Buy snack meals in Bistro Birg if you feel hungry.
10:30 amSchilthornLunchtime in Schilthorn. Explore the area, go to the view lounges, walk to the Walk of Fame, visit the Bond World and Bond Cinema, and enjoy the views of Monch Eiger and Jungfrau.
2:00 pmMurrenHave a pleasant stroll in Murren. There are traditional chalets to see, and alpine meadows with spectacular mountain views will awe-inspire you. Don’t miss the viewpoint! Proceed to Flower Trail and to Allmendhubel.
5:00 pmGimmelwaldSee the most idyllic village in Lauterbrunnen, then eat dinner!
DAY 1 of 2-day Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch

DAY 2

HourDestinationNotes / Things to do
6:00 amWengen or WengwaldProceed to Moenchblick (alight at Wengwald) or Wengen Evangelical Church to witness the spectacular sunrise over Lauterbrunnen Valley. Have breakfast in Wengen.
8:00 amWengen train stationCatch the first train going to Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch (8:12 am).
10:00 amJungfraujochHave lunch in Jungfraujoch’s restaurants and bars, then explore Sphinx Observatory (the sight of Aletsch Glacier), Ice Palace, Jungfrau panorama, Monchsjochhutte, etc.
3:00 pmJungfraujoch top stationHop on the train back to Lauterbrunnen
5:00 pmLauterbrunnenStroll in the village, take pictures with Staubbach falls in the backdrop, and visit Staubbach falls. Dinner time.
DAY 2of 2-day Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch

You can book your roundtrip tickets for Jungfraujoch here and for the Schilthorn and Piz Gloria cable car here. Discounts are available if you have the Jungfrau Travel Pass or Swiss Travel Pass.

Check this link for the transport timetable for Schilthorn (official website)

The third way to spend two days in Lauterbrunnen is by visiting Männlichen and the valley center. This is the most budget-friendly and (good to know) the weather-proof itinerary I can recommend. You’ll save money by skipping the expensive Jungfraujoch train ride and lunch at Schilthorn while also staying flexible with weather-dependent activities like Männlichen since you won’t need fixed reservations.

In essence, this itinerary includes Lauterbrunnen Valley, Trümmelbach Falls, Männlichen, and Interlaken.

If the weather is good on your first day, start with Männlichen and explore the rest of the valley the next day. If the weather isn’t great, do the opposite.

DAY 1

Hour
(Approximate)		DestinationNotes / Things to do
8:00 amHotelBreakfast at the hotel in Lauterbrunnen.
9:00 amTrummelbach fallsSee 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.
12:00 pmLauterbrunnenLunchtime! Have a stroll in the village, photograph the traditional houses with Staubbach falls on the backdrop, and visit Staubbach falls.
2:00 pmInterlaken
(Saint Beatus Caves)		Visit a legendary cave with spectacular rock formations. It has a museum and a restaurant with views of Lake Thun.
Interlaken (Funky Chocolate club)Alternative to Saint Beatus Caves. Create and eat your own Swiss chocolates!
6:00 pmWengenGo to Wengen Evangelical Church to witness the sunset over Lauterbrunnen valley (if the weather is clear). Disregard this activity during bad weather.
DAY 1 of 2-day Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: Valley Center + Mannlichen

DAY 2

Hour
(Approximate)		DestinationNotes / Things to do
6:00 amWengen (Wengwald)From Lauterbrunnen, get a train to Wengen. Alight in Wengwald to easily reach Moenchblick to catch the BEST sunrise view of Lauterbrunnen valley. Come earlier if the sunrise is before 6 am. Breakfast in Wengen.
8:00 amMannlichen Cable Car station in WengenCatch the first cable car trip to Mannlichen
8:15 amMannlichen Royal WalkHike to the summit of Mannlichen o Royal Walk. Enjoy the trek and the scenery around, don’t rush. Take pictures and feel nature.
10:00 amPanorama TrailStart hiking to Kleine Scheidegg from Mannlichen (Approximately 1 hour to 2 hours). Encounter cows with ringing cowbells. Enjoy the views, meadows, view of Eiger’s north face, and more. Take pictures.
12:00 pmKleine ScheideggEat lunch while enjoying the views of Eiger’s north face.
1:30 pmFallbodensee or
Lauberhorn		Hike to Fallbodensee or Lauberhorn from Kleine Scheidegg.
4:30 pmKleine Scheidegg Train StationDon’t miss the last trip to Lauterbrunnen (5:14 pm)
5:30 pmLauterbrunnenRevisit the village if the weather is sunny this time.
DAY 2 of 2-day Lauterbrunnen Itinerary: Valley Center + Mannlichen
Blog Design Lower Separator

Change of Plans?

The ideal length of your stay in Lauterbrunnen depends on several factors, like the time of your visit, your overall trip length, budget, and whether you’re visiting similar destinations in Switzerland. If you’re also exploring places like Zermatt, Kandersteg, or other parts of the Jungfrau region, you might want to shorten your time in Lauterbrunnen to experience more of the Swiss Alps.

Discover 4 Ways to Enjoy Lauterbrunnen in Just One Day

On the other hand, if you’re planning a two-week or longer trip, spending three days in Lauterbrunnen gives you the chance to fully take in the beauty of the valley. Let me show you how to enjoy Lauterbrunnen, whether you have a short or extended stay.

Discover the Best Ways to Explore Lauterbrunnen Valley in Three Days
Blog Design Save to Pinterest
3 Ways to Make the Most of Your 2-Day Visit to Lauterbrunnen, Pinterest Pin
3 Ways to Make the Most of Your 2-Day Visit to Lauterbrunnen, Pinterest Pin
3 Ways to Make the Most of Your 2-Day Visit to Lauterbrunnen, Pinterest Pin
3 Ways to Make the Most of Your 2-Day Visit to Lauterbrunnen, Pinterest Pin
3 Ways to Make the Most of Your 2-Day Visit to Lauterbrunnen, Pinterest Pin
3 Ways to Make the Most of Your 2-Day Visit to Lauterbrunnen, Pinterest Pin
3 Ways to Make the Most of Your 2-Day Visit to Lauterbrunnen, Pinterest Pin

Pin this to save it for later or bookmark it to read anytime.

Blog Design Curly Divider

Go Beyond Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen Valley is an incredible destination in Switzerland, but it’s not the only one. Just outside the valley, near Interlaken in the Jungfrau Region, there are plenty of other amazing places to explore—and they’re easy to reach from Lauterbrunnen! Don’t miss Zermatt, where you can see the iconic Matterhorn, or Kandersteg, home to the breathtaking Oeschinensee.

Beautiful Destinations around Interlaken
Explore Zermatt and Matterhorn
Discover Kandersteg and Oeschinensee

Make your trip even more fun and hassle-free.

Plan Your Trip Now

WanderInEurope partners with trusted companies to make your trip unforgettable.

Support WanderInEurope by using my recommended services above. The links are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission when you make a purchase—at no extra cost to you. It’s like giving a free donation to help WanderInEurope keep creating helpful travel guides. Thanks for your support!