Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
- Jun 8
- 4 min read
Arrival
The drive from Troyes to Lauterbrunnen was almost six hours (just over 300 miles), but the scenery was beautiful and, with a couple of stops to stretch our legs, the journey flew by. We always take a quiz book on long drives to pass the time. We've never managed a full house yet, but we keep trying!
We spent four nights camping in Lauterbrunnen, surrounded by towering mountains and waterfalls. It was one of the absolute highlights of our European road trip, with breathtaking views and plenty of wow moments.
The Campsite
Camping Jungfrau was the only campsite we had pre-booked during our two-week trip. As first-time campers in Europe, we weren't quite ready to leave everything to chance, especially in a small country as popular as Switzerland.
The site welcomes tents, backpackers, campervans and motorhomes of every size - we even watched a double-decker bus with sleeping pods leave one morning! The reception staff were incredibly friendly and helpful, spoke excellent English and even checked live mountain webcams to help visitors plan their day.
Our pitch was spacious and overlooked the spectacular Staubbach Falls. In early June there were still pitches available, allowing us to add an extra night, but weekends were fully booked, so I'd definitely recommend reserving in advance.
All campers receive a discount card for local attractions, which saved us a little money during our stay.
The facilities were some of the best we've experienced in years of camping. The shower blocks were warm, spacious and spotless, with excellent family rooms. Backpackers have access to a fully equipped kitchen, while campers benefit from plenty of washing-up areas, laundry facilities and a 24-hour drying room. The on-site restaurant served cheese fondue, which was delicious.
What We Did
My favourite day for epic scenery during our stay, was our ascent 2,970 meters up to the summit of Schilthorn - Piz Gloria, famous for the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service. The views were absolutely breathtaking.
The usual cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren was closed for maintenance, so we had a 12 minute bus journey on the 141 to Stechelberg. If you're feeling energetic, you could walk the scenic Wasserweg 5 mile trail from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg.
After buying our discounted tickets using the campsite card, we took three cable cars to the summit of Schilthorn. The views were incredible, stretching as far as Mont Blanc, with information boards identifying the surrounding peaks.
We enjoyed the James Bond exhibition, wandered through the remaining snow and spotted several alpine choughs. We'd packed hats and gloves expecting freezing temperatures, but the sunshine meant we quickly changed into shorts instead!
On the way down we exited the cable car at Birg to tackle the Thrill Walk, a 200-metre cliff-side walkway with spectacular views. If heights aren't your thing, there's an easier route alongside.
Finally, back in Mürren we walked the alpine trail back to Lauterbrunnen, passing beautiful wooden chalets and colourful wildflowers. With no cars, the village felt wonderfully peaceful - although I imagine it's much busier during peak season.
One final thing we loved about Switzerland was the drinking water. We never bought bottled water once. As long as you carry a refillable bottle, you'll find fountains and taps almost everywhere, all supplying deliciously cold, fresh mountain water.
Our next couple of days were pretty overcast with the odd rain shower — which is fairly typical in the valleys and mountains of the Swiss Alps. We took the chance to check out a couple of indoor attractions, including Trümmelbach Falls (the largest underground waterfalls in Europe), which was only a 1.5-mile walk from the campsite, and, a bit further afield, the St. Beatus Caves — one of the largest stalactite cave systems in Switzerland — right on Lake Thun. Both were well worth it, with spectacular waterfalls to enjoy while we dodged the showers outside.
Top Tips
Visit during the shoulder seasons if you can. We stayed from 7th-11th June and found it busy but still enjoyable. Do bear in mind that some hiking trails and mountain railways may not yet be open this early in the season.
Don't waste money buying bottled water. Take a refillable bottle and use the many public fountains and taps throughout the area.
If you're driving and plan to use Swiss motorways, you'll need to buy an E-vignette before travelling.
Have a mixture of indoor and outdoor activities planned. Mountain weather can change quickly, so it's useful to have a rainy-day backup.
Cost Breakdown (4 Nights in Lauterbrunnen)
Item | Cost |
Fuel whilst driving in Switzerland | £22.22 |
Accommodation | £184.40 |
Food | £135.17 |
Excursions | £235.27 |
Total | £577.06 |
Lauterbrunnen was undoubtedly one of the highlights of our European road trip. The scenery was every bit as spectacular as we'd hoped, the campsite was excellent, and we left wishing we'd booked even longer. If you're planning a Swiss road trip, I'd highly recommend adding Lauterbrunnen to your itinerary—you won't be disappointed.
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