How to Get to Lauterbrunnen Switzerland (Swiss Travel Pass)
EST. READING TIME: 8 MIN
While the mountainous wonderland of Lauterbrunnen is a top Switzerland travel destination for many, this waterfall-laden valley is no walk in the park to reach. When it comes to traveling to Lauterbrunnen, a plane ride followed by three hours on a train are the bare transit requirements you’ll encounter, with a potential bus ride and cable car ascent shortly to follow.
But don’t let these Lauterbrunnen directions scare you away, as this extended commute occurs through the charming Swiss countryside, making this region the definition of: it’s about the journey, not the destination.
In this comprehensive Lauterbrunnen transportation guide, find all the information you need to unpack the complexities of travel in Switzerland and learn how to get to Lauterbrunnen Switzerland.
Save money and the hassle of repeatedly purchasing tickets with the Swiss Travel Pass, no matter how long you’re visiting the country for. Learn the nuances of the various public transportation options servicing Lauterbrunnen, while keeping an eye out for dead zones that could leave you stranded without proper preparation!
Assuming Lauterbrunnen won’t be your only Swiss stop, learn the most efficient ways to visit can’t-miss destinations around the valley including highflying Interlaken, lush Mürren, quaint Gimmelwald, and bustling Zürich—since the international airport in the capital is likely where your journey will begin.
By the end of this article, you’ll be an expert in all things logistics when it comes to Lauterbrunnen travel—so what are you waiting for? Dive into the detailed Lauterbrunnen directions you need to know before you go below!
How to Get to Lauterbrunnen Switzerland?
Before focusing on the specifics of Lauterbrunnen stations, it’s important to ensure you’re properly equipped to travel around Switzerland as a whole.
Specific mode of public transit aside, SBB is Switzerland’s universal transportation app and will be your personal tour guide helping you to navigate the country. Customize timetables with your preferred departure and return times to surface suggested routes between locations, with one click to easily purchase tickets electronically! Get pertinent updates about your ride when on the move — all within a convenient mobile app.
Depending on the amount of time you plan to spend in Switzerland along with the number of destinations you’ll hit, the Swiss Travel Pass could be a major cost saver. Plus, you don’t have to worry about the headache of buying tickets every single time you’re on the go. This pass includes unlimited train, bus and boat travel along with free admission to 500+ museums and up to a 50% discount on popular mountain excursions.
Which Swiss Travel Pass is Right For You?
The Swiss Travel Pass is offered in two variations: the Swiss Travel Pass and Swiss Travel Pass Flex. The cheaper Swiss Travel Pass remains active through consecutive days of travel while the more expensive Swiss Travel Pass Flex is valid on freely selectable days within the month.
Purchase your Swiss Travel Pass following these steps to reap the biggest cost savings:
Determine your trip itinerary in advance to understand which pass option will be the most cost-effective for you. As a general rule of thumb, if you’re in Switzerland for less than two weeks, the Swiss Travel Pass will likely suffice.
Consider yourself lucky if you’re under 25—you get 30% off your pass purchase!
Purchase the pass duration which aligns with the number of days you’ll spend in Switzerland: 3, 4, 6, 8, or 15 day tickets are offered across both pass types.
As the number of days included in the pass increases, the cost per day decreases. This diminishing per day expense means it’s worth doing some quick math to deduce your cheapest option. For example, it’s cheaper to buy an 8-day pass for a weeklong trip, instead of buying one 3-day pass and one 4-day pass.
Finally, opt for a first or second class ticket. In my experience, there was hardly any difference between the first and second class cars, so I’d recommend going with the cheaper, second class pass. If you’re traveling during peak season and anticipate hordes of other tourists, however, the first class pass may be worthwhile.
Already planning a trip to Lauterbrunnen? Check out my ultimate 2-day Lauterbrunnen travel guide detailing everything you need to know when visiting Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.
Is Travel to Lauterbrunnen Free with the Swiss Travel Pass?
Yes, transportation from any airport in Switzerland to Lauterbrunnen Valley will be completely included in the Swiss Travel Pass. In general, most international travel to Switzerland begins at Zürich Airport, which means travel to Lauterbrunnen from Zürich with the Swiss Travel Pass is also free—in the sense that it’s completely covered once you’ve purchased the pass.
However, the pass is only valid for the bottom half of the Schilthornbahn cable car which services the valley. If you plan to ascend beyond Mürren to Birg or Schilthorn, your Swiss Travel Pass will only grant you a 50% discount on the remaining mountain lift fare. This results in an additional 42.8 CHF expense, or ~$50. More details on this gondola system and the subsequent stops along the route can be found below.
How to Reach Lauterbrunnen from Zürich?
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FROM: Zürich Airport (ZRH) (8302 Kloten, Switzerland)
TO: Lauterbrunnen (3822 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland)
TRANSPORTATION: Zürich Flughafen → Bern Hbf via IC train 8 towards Brig → Interlaken Ost via IC train 61 towards Lauterbrunnen → Lauterbrunnen via R train 62 with Trainline tickets (2 hr 50 min, 2 transfers, free w/ Swiss Travel Pass or 61 CHF)
Make your initial acquaintance with the country’s impeccable infrastructure during a Lauterbrunnen-bound train ride. It couldn’t get any simpler than that, since the Lauterbrunnen train station name is just Lauterbrunnen!
Assuming you’re traveling from another country to Switzerland by air, you’re bested suited to fly into Zürich, as this is the nearest airport to Lauterbrunnen. The Bern Airport is technically closer but has limited international arrivals, so this may not even be a possible airport for you to fly into. Geneva Airport is another international option, but it takes longer to reach Lauterbrunnen from this arrival point. As you may have already deduced at this point, there is no Lauterbrunnen airport and thus no direct Lauterbrunnen flights.
After you land in the Zürich airport, a cheerful three hour ride through rolling green hillsides will bring you to the Lauterbrunnen train station.
Depart from Zürich Flughafen station, which is conveniently located inside the airport, riding for 1 hour and 13 minutes to Bern Hbf. Hop off your first train with 6 minutes to transfer, boarding the next train heading towards Interlaken Ost and ride for another 54 minutes. You have to travel through Interlaken one way or another to reach Lauterbrunnen, so you might as well make a pit stop and spend a few days there too!
At the Interlaken Ost station, you’ll have another 6 minutes to transfer before climbing aboard your final train towards Lauterbrunnen for the remaining 22 minute jaunt. The commute back from Lauterbrunnen to Zürich by train follows this same route in reverse.
If at this point you’re wondering, do I really need to ride three different trains? The answer is yes, but in exchange for this extended commute you’ll be graced with breathtaking, panoramic alpine views on each leg of the journey—especially during your last train ride into the lush valley.
You only need to purchase Swiss Federal Railways train tickets for this commute if you opted not to purchase the Swiss Travel Pass.
How to Get from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen?
FROM: Interlaken (3800 Interlaken, Switzerland)
TO: Lauterbrunnen (3822 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland)
TRANSPORTATION: Interlaken Ost via R train 62 towards Lauterbrunnen → Lauterbrunnen with Trainline tickets (22 min, direct, free w/ Swiss Travel Pass or 7.80 CHF)
If you’d like to take a Lauterbrunnen day trip from Interlaken, this can be easily accomplished thanks to Switzerland’s efficient transport system! Simply travel from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen station in an incredibly 22 minute quick commute.
The speedy service between these Swiss towns with trains consistently running throughout the day means you could even take a half day trip to Lauterbrunnen if you’re strapped for time.
Seeking inspiration about what to do in Lauterbrunnen Valley? Discover the best places to visit in Lauterbrunnen during summer to ensure you see the top sites during your alpine adventure!
How to Reach the Lauterbrunnen Cable Car?
To reach the cable car system which services the Schilthorn mountain towering over Lauterbrunnen Valley, first ride the yellow 141 bus towards the Stechelberg, Schilthornbahn stop.
This bus can be easily boarded from Lauterbrunnen station.
Simply cross the train tracks and walk a few hundred feet to your right, where you will find the Lauterbrunnen, Bahnhof stop.
The bus ride from this stop lasts 12 minutes, and you’ll disembark right next to the cable car station.
If you didn’t purchase a Swiss Travel Pass, secure your bus ticket in the SBB app, from a ticketing machine, from the Lauterbrunnen ticket office, or directly from the bus driver.
What Are the Lauterbrunnen Cable Car Prices?
If you purchased a Swiss Travel Pass, you can simply scan your pass when entering the cable car station queue—meaning you don’t have to worry about Lauterbrunnen cable car prices, at least for the first two gondola stops.
Otherwise, purchase Lauterbrunnen gondola tickets in-person at kiosks around the Schilthornbahn stations. In this case, plan your trips up and down the mountain to avoid spending excessive amounts on sporadic cable car rides.
Even if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, the cable car journey is only free up to Mürren, with a 50% discount on the rest of the journey to the Schilthorn. Buy a reduced roundtrip ticket for 42.8 CHF in the SBB app or at the cable car station in Mürren if you plan to ascend further up the mountain.
What is the Lauterbrunnen Cable Car Timetable?
There are a few caveats to note when riding the Lauterbrunnen gondola, particularly when it comes to the cable car timetables and the size of the cars in question:
Uphill journeys from the base valley station of Stechelberg run at 25 and 55 minutes past the hour, beginning at 7:55 AM.
The last downhill journey from Mürren runs at 11:45 PM on weekdays and 12:45 AM during the weekend. Downhill journeys from the Schilthorn peak run at 3 and 33 minutes past the hour, with the last downhill journey leaving at 4:55 PM.
The cable cars fit roughly 30 people—plus some children and luggage—so if you’re visiting during peak season you may need to wait for a few cars to cycle through before it’s your turn to ride.
The Schilthornbahn cable car runs year round with the exception of a few weeks of maintenance during the off-season. This typically occurs in May and November.
All of this to say, you can meticulously plan your arrival and departure times to coincide with the cable car timetable, or you can relax and enjoy the alpine views while waiting for the next car when it’s convenient for you.
How to Get From Lauterbrunnen to Gimmelwald?
FROM: Lauterbrunnen (3822 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland)
TO: Gimmelwald (3826 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland)
TRANSPORTATION: Lauterbrunnen, Ey → Stechelberg, Schilthornbahn via bus 141 towards Stechelberg, Hotel → Gimmelwald via Schilthornbahn (22 min, 5 stops then nonstop, free w/ Swiss Travel Pass or 10.20 CHF)
Once you’ve ridden bus 141 to the Stechelberg, Schilthornbahn stop, it’s a quick 4 minute journey to reach to the first cable car stop: Gimmelwald. Gimmelwald is a quaint car-free village where you can stroll amongst the sheep farms, charming cottages, and family-run B&Bs dotting this wholesome haven.
Uphill and downhill gondola journeys from Gimmelwald run at every 0 and 30 minutes past the hour, with the total ride to the Schilthorn peak from the base of the valley lasting 32 minutes.
How to Get from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren?
FROM: Lauterbrunnen (3822 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland)
TO: Mürren (3825 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland)
TRANSPORTATION: Lauterbrunnen, Ey → Stechelberg, Schilthornbahn via bus 141 towards Stechelberg, Hotel → Mürren via Schilthornbahn (28 min, 5 stops then 1 stop, free w/ Swiss Travel Pass or 15.60 CHF)
After riding bus 141 to the Stechelberg, Schilthornbahn stop, it’s a quick 4 minute journey to the first cable car stop of Gimmelwald. Transfer to the next car heading up the mountain and after 5 minutes you will have reached Mürren. Mürren is a traditional Walser mountain village in the Bernese Highlands you’re slowly ascending.
This efficient journey means the route from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren takes less than half an hour! Uphill gondola journeys from Mürren run at every 10 and 40 minutes past the hour, with the total ride to the Schilthorn peak from Mürren lasting 22 minutes. Downhill journeys run at every 25 and 55 minutes past the hour.
If you plan to ascend any further up the mountain, your Swiss Travel Pass can only be used to cover half the fare. There’s really no getting around this, since the Mürren gondola station has a separate ticketing system which only accepts special uphill tickets when switching to the next ascending car.
With all of this Lauterbrunnen logistical information under your belt, you’re now ready to navigate Swiss public transit like an expert!
Revel in your extended commute through the countryside and tackle the complexities of travel in Switzerland with the SBB mobile app and your Swiss Travel Pass in hand to make getting around a breeze!
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