One thousand-foot waterfalls. Snow-capped Alps. Cows grazing in flower-covered meadows. Lauterbrunnen is what you think of when you think of Switzerland, that is to say, the hills are very much alive with the sound of music! Here waterfalls pour from dramatic cliffsides, while the Alps surround you on every side. The air is clean, the town is Medieval, and you really get a sense of village Swiss life that is very much in tune with nature. And with so many things to do in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland it’s impossible to leave without wanting to see more!
I recently went to Switzerland on a whirlwind tour, where I visited Zurich, Lucerne, Lauterbrunnen, and Zermatt to create the perfect 5-day Switzerland Itinerary. And while I loved every moment of visiting this clean, stunningly gorgeous country, there was one place I visited that left the biggest impression – Lauterbrunnen.
Lauterbrunnen is like stepping back in time. Everything feels fresh, simple, and the stunning beauty of nature takes center stage. Here, you can travel up the side of mountains by cable car to stay in the world’s most beautiful hostel in the Alps, where flowers bloom all summer and the sound of cowbells fill the air. There are even some surprises that are just waiting to be explored (like glacial waterfalls in a mountain!?).
So let’s dive in and see all things to do in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland!
Psst: Planning a visit to Europe or the Switzerland area? Check out some of our other posts to help you plan your trip!
Things to Know about Visiting Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
I had a ton of questions before heading to Switzerland. Like, how do I navigate the train system? (Easily, luckily!) How much German do I need to know? (Not a ton lot it turns out.) Can I survive on cheese and chocolate alone? (Apparently yes, though my body did start to crave a vegetable now and again.)
How long should I stay in Lauterbrunnen?
Since a thousand years is not a viable option, I’d say spending 5 days in Lauterbrunnen would be an excellent way to see the area while taking it nice and slow. Keep in mind Lauterbrunnen isn’t just a town – the Lauterbrunnen Valley area has plenty of small mountain villages to explore and excursions to do, so you can stay busy!
How do I get to Lauterbrunnen?
Your best bet will be to fly into Zurich Airport, then take a train about 2.5 hours from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen. You can always search the train schedule on google maps, and the trains are prompt and efficient. The trains are also very clean and super relaxing; you will literally be sitting and oohing and ahhing over the landscapes as you travel to your next destination!
I also highly recommend getting a 6-day 2nd class Swiss Travel Pass, which not only covers trains and cable cars but most of the excursion transportation for the different things to do in Lauterbrunnen. This pass pays for itself and takes the guesswork out of buying each ticket and excursion tickets. It’s really a lifesaver and a deal!
What’s the best time of the year to visit Lauterbrunnen?
Since these things to do in Lauterbrunnen are for warm-weather activities, the best time to visit Switzerland is July-October.
I visited at the end of September and the weather was nearly perfect – days in the mid-70s while some nights in the alps got into the 40s. That being said, you will be taking an excursion to the highest train station in Europe so you’ll want a winter jacket and boots for the snow! September is also a great time if you want to see the parade of cows in Lauterbrunnen (the best kind of parade, trust me!).
Since it is so temperate during this time, you can expect to see lots of beautiful wildflowers and gardens, especially up in the Alps, where it’s like perpetual spring. As a person who loves flowers, I was blown away by the serene beauty of the environment. It really doesn’t get more picturesque or pristine than Lauterbrunnen.
Do I need to learn German?
Lia swore I didn’t need any German… but I think a little German goes a long way!
As a person who loves learning languages, I would have studied German on Duolingo if I didn’t spend two weeks frantically planning my 5-day Switzerland Itinerary. While nothing bad happened by not knowing any German besides greetings, I did have some lost-in-translation moments that would have been helpful with a tiny bit of conversational ability.
And though I keep saying “German”, be aware that German is only one of FOUR national languages of Switzerland. That’s right – Four. The official languages are German, Italian, French, and Romansh. How about that?
While Lauterbrunnen is located in the German-speaking part of Switzerland, expect to hear all these languages and more! Basically learn greetings in all these languages if possible – it’s like every person you talk to will greet you differently.
The most fun (and common) way to say goodbye is “Tschüss“(chuus), so at least learn that!
What apps should I download for Switzerland?
I discovered that since Switzerland is such a small country with only 8.5 million residents, they actually have their own apps which makes planning and navigating the country easier!
Here are the Swiss apps I used and a few others that will help with general traveling:
- MeteoSwiss: This Switzerland-specific weather app is far more useful than the normal weather app on your phone. You can search weather by area, and it will give information as to when precipitation is expected. I know that sounds like every other weather app but trust me, it’s more accurate and very useful!
- SBB Mobile: This is the app for the train and bus service in Switzerland, and will have timetables and platform numbers. This is a good app to have on your phone, though I pretty much just used Google Maps the entire time and it gave me the same, accurate information.
- Google Maps: Definitely download this if you don’t have it. It is super helpful for finding places (obviously) and gives great walking directions. It’s also good to have if you need to type in “food” at any point. Walking all day makes you hungry!
- Google Translate: Unless you speak German, you will want to have this downloaded to translate words you don’t know. Though a lot of signage and menus are in English, that’s not always the case, and you can even use the camera function to translate in real-time.
Things to Do in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
Ahhh, the hills are truly alive with the sound of music in the Swiss Alps. Lauterbrunnen Valley has it all – meadows of wildflowers, snow-capped Alps, cows will bells on… You can wander in this pastoral paradise forever and never get over the majesty of its beauty. Below are the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen!
Walk around Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is the main village that sits in Lauterbrunnen Valley, where 72 waterfalls flow from the thousand-foot cliffs on either side of the valley (including Trümmelbach Falls). The name “Lauterbrunnen” means “many springs”, which is no surprise as you stroll around the valley listening to the sound of rushing water all around you.
The village was first mentioned in writing in 1304, and its medieval charm is still prevalent today, with its chalet-style buildings with window boxes over-following with colorful flowers and the tall church spire in the middle of town.
Something you’ll notice about being in a valley surrounded by cliffs is how dramatically the light changes from one hour to another – the entire town can be covered in shade by mid-afternoon as the sun passes by the cliff walls. Life here is dictated by nature and less by human force, and there is a “village time” aspect to it. That being said, the town of Lauterbrunnen itself is a bit “touristy”, so expect to see plenty of souvenir shops, and of course, tourists.
Some of the things to check out in the town of Lauterbrunnen, in order from the train station into town are:
- Coop Supermarkt Lauterbrunnen – Okay, it may seem a bit silly to include a supermarket as a place to stop, but this Swiss chain is the place to stock up on Swiss chocolate to take home as a souvenir (or eat in your hostel), and beer (to also drink in your hostel). You’ll basically be getting Swiss chocolate prices without paying for “tourist” Swiss chocolate. Coop (pronounced “co-op”) has lots of great Swiss snacks as well, not to mention cheese!
- Boutique Im Bade – Besides bringing home chocolate, you may want to bring home some other souvenirs. A popular thing to get are wooden, painted Swiss cows, which are actually made in Switzerland and have little bells around their necks like real Swiss cows! Besides that, there are the classic Swiss army knives and the woman who owns the store is super sweet and helpful (she helped me find the nearest “Apotheke” or pharmacy to get ibuprofen).
- Horner Pub – Lauterbrunnen is so quaint (how quaint is it!) that they only have one bar in the entire town. That’s right, Horner Pub is the only late-night place to get a drink in all of Lauterbrunnen, open until 12:30am on “busy weekdays” and 2:30am on Friday and Saturday. After a day of exploring you know you can always kick back and have a beer and listen to the sound of the iconic Staubbach Falls rushing from the above cliff face.
- Talmuseum – The Talmuseum, “Valley Museum” in English, is the place to learn all about life in Lauterbrunnen, especially since it hasn’t changed that much since medieval times! Located in a former mill of the 16th century, you can learn about what living and working would have been like hundreds of years ago, bobbin lace, alpine cuisine, woodworking, tourism, and a ski collection. They have changing exhibits so you’ll always learn something interesting in this living time capsule!
- Kirche Lauterbrunnen – The Lauterbrunnen Church is the iconic center of town, with its tall spire reaching far above the tops of the other buildings. The people of Lauterbrunnen dedicated this small Gothic church to St. Andrew in 1488, and it’s a great place to wander around, listening to the sound of the church bells. You can explore the nearby graveyard as well, where the graves are decked with flowers and are in neat little rows, adding to the quaintness.
- Staubbach Falls – Staubbach Falls cannot be missed, like literally, it’s a huge waterfall cascading from the cliffs 1000′ above down into the valley below. It’s also the largest free-falling waterfall in Europe! In the fall (September onward) the waterfall is at its fullest from glacial runoff – it’s majestic, surreal, and totally worth getting a closer look at. Hike towards the falls and you’ll find a stairway up to a platform where you can take a closer look, and feel the mist (or “dust” which “Staub” means) on your face and body. Consider this your baptism into Switzerland!
Hike Up to Sprutz Waterfall
Hiking is one of the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen, and this hike blends stunning views with a fabulous destination. Hiking up to Sprutz waterfall, is well, a hike, we’re talking about 700′ up and a mile to reach it. And though that may sound like a lot – it’s worth the effort – you will get the most breathtaking views of the alps I had on my entire trip on the way up and back. It should only take about 40 minutes up (so they say), but plan closer to an hour (about two for the total trip) since it seems everyone in Switzerland is a faster hiker than I am (I literally watched 60-year-old Swiss women practically run by me). Bring lots of water and start early!
To get there, you will follow the sign to Mürren outside Mountain Hostel (which is right by the cable car station if you don’t end up staying there) which will take you up a path past meadows and up the hill overlooking Gimmewald. Along the way, you’ll go through various gates to keep those pesky cows from trying to escape. Once at the top of the hill, you’ll reach a forest of pine trees and a sign for “Sprutz Waterfall” which you will follow up!
Once you’ve climbed deep into the forest, you’ll see another sign for “Sprutz” pointing left, and will follow the sound of water as you hike down to a glorious waterfall that spills over a cliff edge creating a cascade – that you can actually walk behind!
On a sunny day, the mist from the gushing water is refreshing, and from the waterfall you can look beyond the pines, admiring the snow-covered alps while paragliders gently float by in the distance. A lot of people actually come to this area to paraglide, and you totally can take a tandem paragliding ride… But not me!
Once you get your fill of the stunning waterfall scenery, head back in the same direction you came, taking big deep breaths of the towering pine trees. Just don’t be tempted to continue forward on the path under the waterfall or else you’ll do a large loop, which will take you back on the main path ultimately but will add quite a bit of time to your journey.
As you leave the forest, you’ll be treated to the most stunning view of Gimmelwald below and the alps looming like titans in the distance. Take a seat at the first bench you find and enjoy the views and have a snack. You earned it!
Explore Trümmelbach Falls
As I’ve mentioned, Lauterbrunnen is home to plenty of waterfalls. You can hear water rushing in the distance from pretty much wherever you are. But what about waterfalls… inside a cliff face?
Located just a quick bus ride away from town, Trümmelbach Falls are subterranean glacial waterfalls, where over 5000 gallons of cold glacial runoff per second surges down through the boulders to pools below. The effect is chilling, misty, and magical – you can feel the raw force of nature just feet from your fingertips.
It takes at least 30 minutes to explore the falls, from taking the lift up inside the mountain (an adventure in itself) to winding your way back down through tunnels, paths, and platforms taking in the rushing water, but you could easily spend much longer here. With each set of stairs you climb and tunnel you pass through, you’ll find a new stream of relentless, stunningly turquoise glacial water gushing downwards. It’s as pure and clean as water can get.
The experience is thunderingly loud, since you are literally in caves where water is plummeting down, and the ground is pretty wet, so wear good shoes and a warm jacket. There is also a small fee to get in, but totally worth it for the unique and fantastical experience.
After your glorious, life-changing hike through a watery mountain, stop in Restaurant Trümmelbach, which is the building right next to the road. This little self-serve cafe has your basics – delicious little sandwiches, fries, and fresh meringue. I got a cucumber and cheese sandwich, a delectable raspberry meringue, and a cup of espresso and sat outside, enjoying the ever-regal presence of the Alps. This is how you live your life to the fullest!
Eat atRestaurant Weidstübli
When you get hungry after hiking or wandering through subterranean waterfalls (which you will!), it’s time to head to Restaurant Weidstübli, a traditional Swiss restaurant that is a part of the hostel Camping Jungfrau, located at the foot of the famous 1000′ tall Staubbach Waterfall. How’s that for ambiance?
On a beautiful day, there is plenty of outdoor seating beneath the white and red striped awnings, with red geraniums blooming all around you. It’s like being in a Swiss movie, or just like, in Switzerland, which you actually will be if you eat here!
Order their leaf/vegetable salad that comes with carrots, sprouts, red cabbage, and plenty of vegetables to offset all the cheese and chocolate you will consume. For your main course, you have to try the “Äpler” Macaroni, which is a take on the classic Swiss Käsespätzle.
Basically, this dish is Rigatoni noodles in a creamy cheese sauce with cubes of potatoes and crispy fried onions on top. It also comes with a side of apple sauce, which as weird as it sounds, is the perfect sweet foil to this savory, decadent dish. Also if this sounds weird to you, you have also not met my husband, who loves eating apple sauce despite not being a child. To each his own, I guess!
It may not be the most traditional version of Käsespätzle I have ever eaten, but it was certainly my favorite. Plus this is the perfect place to sit and enjoy the Alps, and maybe if you’re lucky, meet some friendly English-speaking tourists, like the couple from Texas I met who love Lauterbrunnen and spend weeks here every year. That’s the way to do it!
Walk around Quaint Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald is a little village near the town of Lauterbrunnen. Whereas Lauterbrunnen rests in the valley, Gimmelwald is located about 800 feet up – yes, it’s located up on the cliffs that surround the valley! But never fear, getting there is easy, you just take the bus from Lauterbrunnen to the Stechelberg Cable Car station. The first stop is Gimmelwald!
Once you arrive in the pure air of the alps in the town of Gimmewald, you’ll only hear the sound of falling water, birds chirping, and the bells ringing around the neck of cows grazing in the pastures. There are no cars in Gimmewald and no new buildings – only the sounds of nature and wildflowers everywhere which seem to be in perpetual bloom. Even Rick Steves loves visiting Gimmelwald, saying, “If Heaven isn’t what it’s cracked up to be, send me back to Gimmelwald.”
As you wander around Gimmelwald, make sure to pop into the Honesty Shop, located next to Mountain Hostel (which should absolutely be your home base for exploring Lauterbrunnen!). Inside, they have snacks, souvenirs, and you guessed it, no one working there! No cameras, no supervision of any kind, just good old-fashioned honesty. If you decide to buy something, there is a box to deposit your money in. What a beautiful concept!
In all honesty, there isn’t much to do in Gimmelwald, but rather just be. Walk around, look at the old houses in this little town which was built in 1346, enjoy the wildflowers and beautifully maintained gardens, and stare into the Alps looking like Titans in the distance.
Explore Mürren & Take a Cheese Tour
Located another 1000 feet up is Mürren, which is the second stop on the cable car! All you’ll do is hop on the cable car by Mountain Hostel in Gimmelwald and you will be in Mürren in minutes.
Mürren, like Gimmelwald, has no cars and is your idyllic alpine village, but with more stores, restaurants and visitors than the tiny Gimmelwald. You’ll see plenty of tourists hiking through the village, and drinking from wooden water fountains where you can fill up your water from the runoff of glaciers. The water is potable, in fact, all of Switzerland’s water is drinkable unless otherwise noted. Some pure, glacial refreshment!
While Mürren is a popular ski destination in the wintertime, in the summer and fall hikers come through to visit the local shops and enjoy the slower pace of life. Mürren isn’t so much about “doing”, but “experiencing”, being in the moment, and taking in the pure atmosphere of the Alps. Unless you want to do the via Ferrata, which takes doing to whole new heights!
Stop in the local shops and find something you can only get in the Alps – I picked up a “bloom tea” made with meadow wildflowers to take home to a friend as a gift. Also talk to the local cows (they won’t judge), their bells ringing across the fields, and stop to look at the dahlias and edelweiss growing in the local gardens. It’s like time simply doesn’t exist here.
During the summer between mid-July to early September, you can take an Alpine Cheese Tour in Mürren, where you can see how cheese is made while on a guided tour with locals. The tours begin at 7:45am at the Mürren cable car station, and you must make reservations there up until the evening before the tour (you can by email too on the website).
The tour includes an hour hike of about 2.3 miles from Mürren to the Schiltalp Restaurant where the cheese is made and includes breakfast, and of course, plenty of cheese tasting! It’s a great way to see how all those cows contribute to the Swiss’s livelihood, plus you get a beautiful morning hike and get to pick a local’s brain.
It’s about a 45-minute hike down to the village after and you will have experienced a stunning hike to start your day. That’s the Swiss life!
Hike the Flower Trail
For another activity in Mürren, head toward the Allmendhubel-Bahn, the funicular on the side of the mountain in the middle of town. After a brief 4-minute ride up, you’ll find yourself with an even higher overlook of the Alps, which we can all appreciate.
While there is a restaurant and a big playground for the kids here, the main draw is the Flower Trail, which isa downhill hike back to the town of Mürren (you’re welcome). It’s about 1.3 miles, and should only take about an hour, but you will get to see all kinds of wildflowers growing on the hills (up to 150 varieties), and the trail even weaves through the forest a bit for the full German experience.
You’ll see flowers in yellows and blues and pinks, and of course, the stunning, white Edelweiss if it is still in season. Fields of flowers surround you, with the bright blue sky and mountains in the distance. This is your cue to sing!
For more specific info on the Flower Trail, the Swiss Family Fun’s guide will tell you everything you need to know.
Once you reach Mürren, you may be hungry, so pop into one of the local cafes like the ultra-cozy Café LIV. Here you can grab some coffee, a sandwich, and maybe a piece of cake before heading back to Mountain Hostel (or wherever you’re staying) or our next point of interest!
Visit Birg & Schilthorn
You never want to miss an opportunity to get high in the Alps, high in elevation, that is! Schithorn is one of the tallest mountains in the region at 2,970 meters ( or 9,744 feet). Besides getting stunning views of the surrounding Alps, Piz Gloria (the summit building) on Schithorn is known for being featured in the 1969 movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, so you can be sure there is plenty of Bond ephemera to explore!
Up top at Piz Gloria, you can do such Bond-related activities like dine in the 360°-Restaurant, check out Spy World (an interactive Bond exhibit), and the outdoor “walk of fame” which traces the Bond filming location. Besides the somewhat hokey Bond experiences, the best thing that awaits you are the views – the Piz Gloria Viewing platform gives you 360-degree views of the Alps with views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks. The air doesn’t get any cleaner here, and you definitely feel like you’re standing on top of the world.
Once you’re done with Piz Gloria, take the cable car down to the next stop of Birg (though you can also do this experience first, if you like!). Birg sits at 2677 meters (or 8783 ft) and the main activity here is the Thrill Walk, which as it sounds, is a thrilling way to see more of the stunning Alps, wildflowers, and rolling green hills. This 650ft path winds down along the vertical walls of the craggy mountainside, where you’ll gaze down through the metal grate path, cross mesh bridges, and even pass over sections of glass! Not great for those scared of heights, but great for views!
There are a few other activities at the Birg stop, like a restaurant, a viewing platform, and a 2-mile out-and-back hike to Grauseeli to see an excellent example of a glimmering Swiss lake for those perfect photo opportunities.
To get to Schilthorn and Birg, you’ll take the same cable car line that connects the Lauterbrunnen Valley (Stechelberg), Gimmelwald, and Mürren – the next two highest stops are Birg and Schilthorn. The cable cars run every half hour and it’s just a matter of taking the next cable car up at each station, making it hard to get lost! The cost to get to Schilthorn from Mürren is about $46 with a Swiss Travel Pass (50% off the full price), but that includes the stop at Birg and all the activities (sans food).
See the Cow Parade
“Did you hear? There’s a cow parade!” “Are you going to the cow parade?” The town was buzzing and one phrase was uttered by every mouth – cow parade. What was this cow parade? Why was this cow parade? Could this cow parade be as adorable as I had hoped? Yes, yes it was.
The cow parade happens in Lauterbrunnen from September through early October, the exact dates changing slightly each year. But if you are in the area you will know. People will be lining the streets of Lauterbrunnen and waiting for one of the most unique things to do in Lauterbrunnen!
The cow parade is quite an easy concept – the farmers move their cows down to the valley for the fall because the mountains are about to get real chilly. But the Swiss love their cows, so they send them down in style.
Adorned with flower crowns, and enormous ringing bells, the cows moo their way through town in a jaunty fashion, with tourists (like myself) oohing and ahhing over these precious mountain dwellers in their finery.
I was lucky enough to just happen to be there while it was happening, so I was able to see this as I took myself and my luggage down to the train station. For more information about the parades and to check the dates, keep the eye on the Newly Swissed Blog.
Take a Day Trip to the Top of Europe: Jungfraujoch
Since you’re traveling in the alps region you may want to go all the way. All the way… up!
Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe is the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 meters above sea level (or 11,332 feet) and sits on the saddle of two 4000+ meter mountains of the Bernese Alps: the Jungfrau and the Mönch. Getting up this high affords you stunning views of the Alps on a clear day and views of the Aletsch Glacier, which is the longest glacier in Europe and a World Natural Heritage Site.
The name itself is a bit of a misnomer, in that if you visit Zermatt you can go to Mountain Glacier Paradise by cable car which is at 3883 meters (12,739.5 feet) which is higher up (check out my 5-Day Switzerland Itinerary on how to do this!). Something else to know about Jungfraujoch is that it is expensive, about $200 (about $150 with the recommended Swiss Travel Pass’s 25% discount) per person but it’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. And if you’re in Switzerland, do it!
It takes about an hour and 45 minutes to get to Jungfraujoch from Lauterbrunnen, and you will have to start at Lauterbrunnen railway station and take the train to Kleine Scheidegg (sit on the right side for the best views of the Alps, though a lot of the ride is through a tunnel). Your Swiss Travel Pass covers your fare to Wengen (the stop before Kleine Scheidegg), but past that you will get a 25% discount on the rest of the journey including to Jungfraujoch. Once at Kleine Scheidegg, you’ll hop on the Jungfraujoch train that is going to take you to the top!
Give yourself at least 4 hours to explore Jungfraujoch once you arrive, as there is plenty to do at the top from movies to kitschy displays to an ice palace to hiking the majestic Alps! There are plenty of restaurants and shops as well, so you won’t go hungry and you can easily spend more money. Take the elevator up to the main viewing platform, called the Sphinx Terrance, for exceptional views of the Alps and the Aletsch Glacier.
The most beautiful thing you can do up top is to hike to Mönchsjochhütte, a little hut located 2.4km (about 1.5 miles) from the main building. This gives you the most stunning views of the glacier and makes you feel towering over the world as you take in the Alps all around you. Be aware it is a slight hike up, and at this altitude, a short distance can feel much longer. It is a snow-covered trail, so wear a good jacket, shoes, and sunglasses for the bright snow. Once you reach the hut, you can warm up inside and even eat a meal if you’re hungry. Give yourself at least 2 hours to do this hike round trip, and be prepared to spend about 4 hours total here with the hike!
Where to Stay in Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is an amazing place to stay for two days, two weeks, or two months! Of all the places I visited in Switzerland it was the place I wish I would have stayed in longer. It feels rural, pristine, and the epitome of natural beauty.
Mountain Hostel Gimmelwald is where I stayed during my time in Lauterbrunnen, and it has the most stunning views right outside your window. It’s located in the little village of Gimmelwald, one cable car ride up from Lauterbrunnen, and it gives you a higher vantage point viewing the mountains.
This hostel was originally a farmhouse built in 1563 and they serve beer and pizza from the hostel bar, and also a complimentary breakfast, which is typical of Switzerland – cheese, meat, milk, fruit, cereal, coffee, and more spread out on the bar. They have dorm rooms and also private rooms if that’s your jam!
What to Pack for Switzerland
Here’s the best clothing to pack for your trip (for men and women, and everyone in between)! While most of your adventures will be warm (during the daytime it is around 70 degrees), at night and during any mountain excursions you will want warmer clothing (especially since there is snow on the mountains). Here are some recommendations:
- Quick Drying Shorts (His & Hers): We’re obsessed with the Zion line from prAna, which is what our favorite hiking pants are made from. These shorts are made from the same stretchy, high-tech, quick-drying fabric! Jeremy’s shorts double as both the shorts he wears every day and a swimsuit. They’re a 2-for-1 (which means less space in your carry-on) and they look great, too! They dry quickly, making them perfect for hopping in and out of waterfalls, rivers, and the ocean and then resuming your normal travel activities.
- Hiking & Adventure Travel Pants (His & Hers): You’re going to need a pair of pants that serve multiple purposes and are up for adventure anywhere: beach, jungle, river, mountains, and city. Luckily, these awesome prAna hiking pants were designed with travel and hiking in mind and were up to every challenge we threw at them. They’re also quick-dry, so I even wore them while white-water rafting and waterfall rappelling in San Gil.
- Travel Jeans: Unlike regular jeans, travel jeans are designed specifically to solve travel-related woes. One of my personal woes is the lack of pockets on women’s jeans. My favorite travel jeans have 6 POCKETS. 6!! And 2 of them are zipped and hidden inside other pockets, for extra pickpocket protection – crucial in any European country. Jeremy and I each have a pair of Aviator USA black jeans. They’re super stretchy and buttery soft, dry quickly in the rain or when wet, and keep our legs warm when it’s cold out. They’re cozy enough to wear on a plane, stretchy enough to accommodate that 5 extra pounds of holiday weight I always seem to bring back home with me, and they’re super cute! We’re both obsessed. You can get a pair of men’s or women’s jeans on the Aviator USA website.
- Wool Clothing: Yes, seriously. Merino wool is a miracle travel fabric. It keeps you cool when it’s hot AND keeps you warm when it’s cold. When it gets wet, you’ll stay comfortable while your clothing dries. It naturally resists the growth of fungus and bacteria, so it never stinks – a must-have for travel! It’s even flame retardant. What more could you ask for? Today’s performance wool isn’t like the itchy wool of the past – it’s thin, stretchy, and super soft to the touch, like cotton. We highly recommend wool clothing for travel. Here’s what we brought: Wool Travel Clothing for Her: T-shirt | Sports Bra | Travel Bra | Half Zip Womans | Underwear
- Wool Travel Clothing for Him: Crew-neck shirt | V-neck Shirt | Underwear | Socks
- Hemp Clothing: Much like merino wool, hemp is a fantastic travel textile. It’s also temperature regulating, meaning it’s cool to the touch and keeps you cool when it’s hot (but also insulates you when it’s cold out). It’s also naturally anti-bacterial, so you won’t get that stinky “I’ve been sweating in this for a week straight” smell. And as a huge bonus, hemp is more sustainable than most other textiles, requiring little water and almost no pesticides to thrive and grow. Hemp is even able to clean up polluted soil, making it a tool for actually fighting against climate change. Hell yeah! Because it’s not a super popular textile (yet), it’s a little hard to find. One of our favorite eco-friendly clothing brands, prAna, makes a fantastic hemp line – browse women’s and men’s. (Lia loves this comfy t-shirt!)
- Day Bag: I carried this cute day bag with me every single day packed with my packable down jacket, an extra pair of gloves, and anything else I needed for the day – a notebook, a water bottle, an endless supply of snacks, whatever. Jeremy carried our camera gear in this bag along with his packable down jacket and scarf.
- Warm Hat: A warm hat is an absolute necessity in the winter. It also doubles as a super cute accessory! You want a hat that will stay on your head even in blustery gusts of wind, so stay away from those wool felt ~travel girl types of hats and stick with reliable beanies. Personally I’m a fan of the ones with poofs on top, like this or this. Jeremy is more of a purist, and likes to wear beanies like this one.
- Scarves: I LOVE a chunky scarf. They’re my favorite accessory! And you will absolutely need a good scarf in Europe. I’m a big fan of scarves that are big enough to double as blankets, like this one or this one.
- Gloves: Don’t go outside in the cold without gloves on! You will regret it. I love these wool gloves that work with touchscreens, because let’s face it, I have a hard enough time using my phone without wearing gloves.
Note: We didn’t list out everything here, so make sure you pack plenty of basics!
Here’s the best clothing to pack for your trip (for men and women, and everyone in between)! While most of your adventures will be warm (during the daytime it is around 70 degrees), at night and during any mountain excursions you will want warmer clothing (especially since there is snow on the mountains). Here are some recommendations:
- Quick Drying Shorts (His & Hers): We’re obsessed with the Zion line from prAna, which is what our favorite hiking pants are made from. These shorts are made from the same stretchy, high-tech, quick-drying fabric! Jeremy’s shorts double as both the shorts he wears every day and a swimsuit. They’re a 2-for-1 (which means less space in your carry-on) and they look great, too! They dry quickly, making them perfect for hopping in and out of waterfalls, rivers, and the ocean and then resuming your normal travel activities.
- Hiking & Adventure Travel Pants (His & Hers): You’re going to need a pair of pants that serve multiple purposes and are up for adventure anywhere: beach, jungle, river, mountains, and city. Luckily, these awesome prAna hiking pants were designed with travel and hiking in mind and were up to every challenge we threw at them. They’re also quick-dry, so I even wore them while white-water rafting and waterfall rappelling in San Gil.
- Travel Jeans: Unlike regular jeans, travel jeans are designed specifically to solve travel-related woes. One of my personal woes is the lack of pockets on women’s jeans. My favorite travel jeans have 6 POCKETS. 6!! And 2 of them are zipped and hidden inside other pockets, for extra pickpocket protection – crucial in any European country. Jeremy and I each have a pair of Aviator USA black jeans. They’re super stretchy and buttery soft, dry quickly in the rain or when wet, and keep our legs warm when it’s cold out. They’re cozy enough to wear on a plane, stretchy enough to accommodate that 5 extra pounds of holiday weight I always seem to bring back home with me, and they’re super cute! We’re both obsessed. You can get a pair of men’s or women’s jeans on the Aviator USA website.
- Wool Clothing: Yes, seriously. Merino wool is a miracle travel fabric. It keeps you cool when it’s hot AND keeps you warm when it’s cold. When it gets wet, you’ll stay comfortable while your clothing dries. It naturally resists the growth of fungus and bacteria, so it never stinks – a must-have for travel! It’s even flame retardant. What more could you ask for? Today’s performance wool isn’t like the itchy wool of the past – it’s thin, stretchy, and super soft to the touch, like cotton. We highly recommend wool clothing for travel. Here’s what we brought: Wool Travel Clothing for Her: T-shirt | Sports Bra | Travel Bra | Half Zip Womans | Underwear
- Wool Travel Clothing for Him: Crew-neck shirt | V-neck Shirt | Underwear | Socks
- Hemp Clothing: Much like merino wool, hemp is a fantastic travel textile. It’s also temperature regulating, meaning it’s cool to the touch and keeps you cool when it’s hot (but also insulates you when it’s cold out). It’s also naturally anti-bacterial, so you won’t get that stinky “I’ve been sweating in this for a week straight” smell. And as a huge bonus, hemp is more sustainable than most other textiles, requiring little water and almost no pesticides to thrive and grow. Hemp is even able to clean up polluted soil, making it a tool for actually fighting against climate change. Hell yeah! Because it’s not a super popular textile (yet), it’s a little hard to find. One of our favorite eco-friendly clothing brands, prAna, makes a fantastic hemp line – browse women’s and men’s. (Lia loves this comfy t-shirt!)
- Day Bag: I carried this cute day bag with me every single day packed with my packable down jacket, an extra pair of gloves, and anything else I needed for the day – a notebook, a water bottle, an endless supply of snacks, whatever. Jeremy carried our camera gear in this bag along with his packable down jacket and scarf.
- Warm Hat: A warm hat is an absolute necessity in the winter. It also doubles as a super cute accessory! You want a hat that will stay on your head even in blustery gusts of wind, so stay away from those wool felt ~travel girl types of hats and stick with reliable beanies. Personally I’m a fan of the ones with poofs on top, like this or this. Jeremy is more of a purist, and likes to wear beanies like this one.
- Scarves: I LOVE a chunky scarf. They’re my favorite accessory! And you will absolutely need a good scarf in Europe. I’m a big fan of scarves that are big enough to double as blankets, like this one or this one.
- Gloves: Don’t go outside in the cold without gloves on! You will regret it. I love these wool gloves that work with touchscreens, because let’s face it, I have a hard enough time using my phone without wearing gloves.
Note: We didn’t list out everything here, so make sure you pack plenty of basics!
About the Author: Richie Goff is a Louisville, Kentucky native with a great love of the outdoors. When he is not growing flowers for fun, he is the Editor-in-Chief of Practical Wanderlust and Let’s Go Louisville. He has been a friend of Lia’s since high school, and they have taken plenty of their own disaster-prone adventures together!
Are you packing your bags and singing “The Sound of Music” at the top of your lungs yet? Which of these things to do in Lauterbrunnen are you excited to do first? Drop your comments and questions about visiting Switzerland in the comments below!
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Our Top Travel Tips & Resources
- Booking Flights: To score flight deals, search on Google Flights or Kayak. Money-saving tips: fly mid-week or on the weekend; fly carry-on only on a budget airline; and take red-eyes or early morning flights.
- Accommodations: We usually stay in budget-friendly vacation rentals, boutique hotels or private rooms in hostels. We use Booking.com to book hotels (we love their flexible cancellation policy) and Hostelworld to book hostels (low deposit, easy change/cancellation, and excellent reviews). For vacation rentals, we prefer to book using VRBO because they’ve got lower fees and better support than Airbnb, and we’re not fans of Airbnb’s unethical track record. You can also book vacation rentals on Expedia and Hotels.com. We also use TrustedHousesitters as both hosts (for our home and our fur-child) and travelers!
- Travel Insurance: We always, always, ALWAYS buy travel insurance for international trips, and we STRONGLY suggest it – visit our Travel Insurance Guide to find out why. We recommend either World Nomads or SafetyWing for international travel insurance. SafetyWing is one of the few policies that covers Covid-19, and they have excellent monthly policies that are perfect for Digital Nomads and long term travelers!
- Travel Credit Card: We book all of our trips on our favorite travel credit card. Not only do we earn cash back that we can spend on more travel, but the card offers fantastic travel perks like travel insurance, trip delay and cancellation coverage, lost baggage reimbursement, and rental car coverage, which helps protect us on our travels. Learn more here.
- Vaccines & Meds: We use the travel guides on the CDC website to research recommended medications and vaccines for international trips. We always recommend getting every vaccine recommended by the CDC! You can get them at your primary care doctor’s office or a walk-in pharmacy.
- Tours: We love booking guided tours, especially food tours and walking tours, to get a local’s perspective and a history lesson while sight-seeing! We book our tours using Viator and GetYourGuide.
- Transportation: We use Rome2Rio to figure out how to get from place to place, and book local transportation online using Bookaway wherever we can. When we book a rental car, we use DiscoverCars to compare rental companies and find the best deal.
- Luggage Storage: Whenever we’re checking out early or taking advantage of a long layover, we use LuggageHero to safely store our luggage while we’re running around. Use the code PRACTICALW for 2 hours of free luggage storage on us.
- VPN Service: A VPN keeps your digital information (like website login details, bank info, etc) safe, even when you’re connected to an unsecured network while traveling. Plus, it lets you use Netflix & other streaming sites abroad! We use NordVPN. Use the code WANDERLUSTPROMO when you sign up!
- What to Pack: Here are the travel essentials that we bring on every trip. We also have packing lists for hot weather, cold weather, and many more. Take a look at all of our packing guides!
