Mountain Lodging: The Dreamiest Lauterbrunnen Youth Hostel

Nov 20

EST. READING TIME: 5 MIN

When traveling to the majestic mountainous region of Lauterbrunnen Valley, deciding where to stay can have a profound impact on your Switzerland experience. Will you lodge directly in town and join the throngs of tourists crowding the streets? Are you traveling on a budget or looking for the companionship of fellow adventurers and considering accommodations in a Lauterbrunnen youth hostel instead?

Fortunately for you, I have already discovered—and personally resided in—the most magical place to stay in all of Lauterbrunnen. This serene dwelling was so enticing I planned my entire Lauterbrunnen trip around the need to bunk in this alpine paradise. Without further ado, say goodbye to the long list of identically boring Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland hotels and take the cable car to your incomparable Gimmelwald abode.

A visitor enjoying a swing at the Mountain Hostel with the scenic Lauterbrunnen cliffs in the background, illustrating the charm of Swiss countryside youth hostels.

Already planning a trip to Lauterbrunnen? Check out my comprehensive 2-day Lauterbrunnen travel guide detailing everything you need to know when visiting Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.

Which is the Best Lauterbrunnen Youth Hostel?

I’ll admit it, this title isn’t entirely truthful. I don’t recommend sleeping in one of the many Lauterbrunnen Valley hotels shilled on Booking.com. Instead, elevate your experience and stay above the valley in the charming village of Gimmelwald, specifically in the Mountain Hostel. From personal experience, I guarantee this is the best way to immerse yourself in the pristine natural beauty found all around.

Picture this: Each morning you’ll open the wooden shutters from within a cozy cabin to a view so spectacular it will take your breath away—your brain may not even be able to process that what you’re looking at is real life! Staggeringly enormous snow-capped peaks in every direction will fill your field of vision, and in the evenings you’ll be lulled to sleep by the sound of roaring waterfalls cascading down the steep rock. The hum of this tranquil tune consistently echoes throughout the valley, giving new meaning to ‘The Hills Are Alive!’

This Lauterbrunnen youth hostel is only accessible via the Schilthornbahn gondola, meaning you won’t find a single car in the entire village. Can you remember the last time—if ever—you stayed in a quiet oasis without the perpetual rumble of cars and buses polluting the airwaves?

If that hasn’t convinced you, I cannot emphasize enough how quaint the Mountain Hostel is. Across the property you’ll find an abundance of swinging wicker chairs and hammocks to recline on. As the cool evening air rolls in, migrate to the cozy outdoor lounge space filled with large couches warmed by a fire pit. There’s truly no better way to take in the natural scenery, and you’re likely to meet some friendly faces around this common area for an added bit of camaraderie.

Plus there’s live music and DJ sets, easy access to hiking trails, close proximity to skiing and snowboarding in Mürren during wintertime, and a host of other adventure activities available at your doorstep.

The cozy Mountain Hostel in Lauterbrunnen with its rustic charm against a backdrop of the Swiss Alps and cascading waterfalls, captured on a cloudy day.

Why Stay in Gimmelwald?

Truth be told, the town of Lauterbrunnen is quite small, housing a population of only 2,000 residents. As such, you can easily explore the area in a single day—or even a half day for that matter—with the real beauty of visiting Lauterbrunnen lying in the alpine areas scattered around the valley.

Admiring the majestic waterfalls crashing down throughout this stunning landscape and exploring each stop along the cable car route represent the top things to do in Lauterbrunnen during summer—and there’s no need to stay in a Lauterbrunnen Valley hostel to hit these highlights! In fact, you’ll be significantly closer to the vast majority of the region’s best sites by staying in Gimmelwald, with Staubbach Falls and Lauterbrunnen itself being the two outliers you can easily explore during a quick trip into town.

Around this particular Lauterbrunnen hostel, you’ll be able to explore wholesome features such as the Honesty Shop. As the name implies, no employees work inside this store, instead their profits depend entirely upon your integrity. Be a good samaritan and be sure to leave correct payment in exchange for anything you take!

If you wander into the attached accommodation Hotel Pension for a cold pint, you may even find a rowdy, piano-led sing-along to classics like “Sweet Caroline” underway!

With the added benefits of proximity to top attractions and the novelty of staying in a car-free village pulled straight out of a fairytale, there’s no better base to explore the Lauterbrunnen Valley from than Gimmelwald.

Striking early morning cool-toned photo of a vast alpine landscape taken from within a room in the Gimmelwald, Switzerland youth-focused Mountain Hostel.

Aren't Hostels for Budget Travelers?

If the word hostel is throwing you for a loop, let me be clear—I’m by no means a hostel person. On this blog, you’ll typically find me recommending 5-star accommodations from stays in Sicily to Paris. That being said, if I went out of my way to stay in a Lauterbrunnen youth hostel, you know it’s going to be good.

While I only had to pay 45 CHF per night to stay in a shared female-only dorm, the unsung secret of hostels is that they typically offer private accommodations as well, granting you the same privacy as a hotel room. In the case of Mountain Hostel, double rooms for pairs traveling together still exude a cozy log cabin aesthetic without the added hassle of sharing a room with strangers.

However, it’s important to remember this is a hostel, so you won’t be getting the typical hotel amenities. Towels can be rented for 2 CHF, but be sure to bring your own toiletries, including toothpaste and shower supplies.

Since Switzerland is notoriously one of the most expensive European countries to visit, it may even be prudent to cut down on costs by staying in Lauterbrunnen hostels. Then, you can splurge on true luxury accommodations during your other stops around the country in more developed areas like Interlaken and Zürich.

Lush green landscape with traditional Swiss chalets in Lauterbrunnen Valley, Switzerland, under dramatic clouds with mountain backdrop.

Save money when exploring this alpine oasis. Discover the ins and outs of commuting by train, bus, and gondola in this comprehensive Lauterbrunnen Swiss Travel Pass transit guide.

How to Get from Lauterbrunnen to Gimmelwald?

Even though it’s not the most convenient form of transportation, Gimmelwald—and the Mountain Hostel by proxy— is truly only accessible by cable car. This added friction to your travel commute is coincidentally the same factor which allows the unparalleled natural beauty of this alpine refuge to remain so pristine. So even though it’s a bit of a hassle, I promise it’s worth it. It’s about the journey, not just the destination—right?

If you purchased a Swiss Travel Pass, your cable car fare is already accounted for so there’s no need to purchase an additional ticket to reach Gimmewald! If you’re traveling without the pass, I recommend prudently planning your trips up and down the gondola in advance to avoid unintentionally racking up a hefty cable car bill.

Prior to reaching the Schilthornbahn, board the yellow 141 bus in town and remain seated until the Stechelberg, Schilthornbahn stop appears. The ride lasts around 10 minutes and you’ll disembark next to the cable car station. From there, the first stop up the gondola route after a quick 4 minute ascent is Gimmelwald.

To arrive at Mountain Hostel, walk up the dirt path straight out from the cable car station and you’ll soon reach this Lauterbrunnen Valley youth hostel, which conveniently has a large identifiable sign out front.

Snow-capped Alpine peaks towering over a lush meadow with wildflowers and a small building with a blue roof in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland.

What Food is Available at Mountain Hostel?

A daily breakfast buffet is included in the price of your nightly rate, which will require you to wake up between 7:30 and 10:00 AM to catch this free brunch. The earlier you go, the wider spread of food options you’ll have available to choose from. Otherwise, there’s a smattering of bed & breakfast options housed in the storybook cottages scattered throughout Gimmelwald.

If you discover a friendly cat attempting to snag a piece of your toast, I’m unfortunately here to inform you that you’re not Snow White summoning a feral feline. This is Shadow, the sweet hostel cat who regularly roams the premises and is well aware of how to secure scraps during breakfast.

The in-house restaurant menu includes a reasonable lineup of Swiss specialties like raclettes, Gimmelwaldner smoked sausage, and cheese fondue. The real highlight here, however, is the endless supply of choose-your-own-topping pizza baked to perfection in a wood-fired oven.

Want to dine off the property? Discover the best restaurants with a view in Lauterbrunnen Valley!

Rustic Retreat Amongst the Lauterbrunnen Alps (Copy)

Nestled in Nature: Lauterbrunnen's Mountain Village (Copy)

Alpine Serenity in Lauterbrunnen Valley (Copy)

Snow-Capped Mountains in Lauterbrunnen (Copy)

I could rave on and on about the Mountain Hostel forever — it’s one of my favorite places I’ve ever stayed and I would absolutely come back in a heartbeat. Since I can no longer relive the joy of laying my eyes upon this unfathomable landscape for the first time, do me a favor and experience this beauty for yourself. You won’t regret it!

Stay AT Mountain Hostel!

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