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Located in an idyllic valley surrounded by waterfalls is Lauterbrunnen. In fact, the whole area is a valley with 72 waterfalls. Lauterbrunnen is a great place to take a break and explore the Jungfrau region.
Lauterbrunnen is a little village at the bottom of a U-shaped valley in Switzerland. Many of the residents of this valley come from Lötschental, the adjacent valley in Valais. It was said that a road passed between Eiger and Mönch on the way to Valais. Some say the heights used to be much milder and more fertile.
Taking the train from Lauterbrunnen, you can reach Wengen’s sunny car-free terrace as well as Kleine Scheidegg. You can change trains at Kleine Scheidegg to go to Jungfraujoch.
There’s another beautiful mountain resort called Mürren across the valley from Wengen. It’s easy to get to from Lauterbrunnen. From Mürren, you can also reach Schilthorn (Piz Gloria).
Logistical concerns come up inevitably. Particularly for those who want to travel by rail in Switzerland, there are several specifics concerning train travel. In this article, we will discuss the train journey from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen. How do you get from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen? Can you drive in your car to Lauterbrunnen? Find out more.
How To Get From Zurich to Lauterbrunnen
sbb.ch Website
As a first step, you should know about this website: www.sbb.ch. If you wish to install the app on your phone, they have one as well. Using the website, you can simply type in your arrival and departure destinations. After that, it will guide you to where you need to be and when.
How to Get from Zurich Train Station to Lauterbrunnen
As soon as you reach the Zurich Train Station (Zurich HB), check the big blue display boards in the middle. You can find the train number and platform number on the station signs. Furthermore, the trains will be marked on the front and the sides with which route they are traveling.
In order to get from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen, you’ll have to take the following trains:
- First, take the Intercity train from Zurich to Bern
- In Bern, take the Intercity train to Interlaken Ost
- In Interlaken Ost, take the regional train to Lauterbrunnen
You may also take the direct train from Zurich to Interlaken Ost if it is available.
How to Get from Zurich Airport to Lauterbrunnen
- If you are coming from the Zurich Airport, take one of the next trains to the Zurich main station (Zürich HB). Several trains come every hour and stop in Zurich so just hop on the next train after buying a ticket from the ticketing office or one of the ticket machines.
- Take the Intercity train from Zurich Train Station (Zürich HB) to Bern
- In Bern, take the Intercity train to Interlaken Ost
- In Interlaken Ost, take the regional train to Lauterbrunnen
How To Get From Lauterbrunnen to Zurich
How to Get from Lauterbrunnen to Zurich Train Station
To go from Lauterbrunnen to Zurich Train Station, you will have to take the following trains:
- From Lauterbrunnen, take the regional train to Interlaken Ost
- In Interlaken Ost, take the Intercity train to Bern
- In Bern, take the Intercity train to Zurich
How to Get from Lauterbrunnen to Zurich Airport
To go from Lauterbrunnen to Zurich Airport, you will have to take the following trains:
- From Lauterbrunnen, take the regional train to Interlaken Ost
- In Interlaken Ost, take the Intercity train to Bern
- In Bern, take the Intercity train to Zurich
- In Zurich, take the next train to Zurich Airport (Zurich Flughafen)
How Long Is the Train Ride From Zurich to Lauterbrunnen?
The following table shows the train ride duration from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen (updated December 2022):
| Route | Duration (fastest) |
|---|---|
| Zurich – Lauterbrunnen | 2 hours 23 minutes |
| Zurich Airport – Lauterbrunnen | 2 hours 37 minutes |
Is the Train From Zurich to Lauterbrunnen Scenic?
No, not entirely. The trains from Zurich and Bern are fast, commuter trains that want you to get from one place to another as quickly as possible.
As soon as you reach Lauterbrunnen, most of the trains will be slow, scenic rides, so you can take it all in.
Other Scenic Trains
In case you would like to check out other scenic trains, then there are more scenic trains recommended below. These are the Golden Pass Line, the Glacier Express, and the Bernina Express. Another interesting train is the Historical Train that goes from Davos to Filisur.
Your other options in detail are the following:
- Golden Pass – Golden Pass departs from Lucerne. You would take a train from Zurich to Lucerne, then change to Interlaken. This is sometimes referred to as the east end of this route. The Golden Pass has panorama coaches and is scenic.
- Glacier Express – Glacier Express is a long journey that starts from Zermatt, home of Matterhorn. It then traverses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels before stopping in St. Moritz. Both Zermatt and St. Moritz are beautiful mountain resorts worthy of a longer stay. The Glacier Express passes by several idyllic mountain villages.
- Bernina Express – Bernina Express is another train route that begins in Chur. Chur is the oldest alpine city in Switzerland and definitely worth visiting. This train route spans 196 bridges. It goes through 55 tunnels and passes 20 beautiful villages in Switzerland.
- Historical Train Davos to Filisur – May through October, vintage carriages are pulled by the century-old crocodile locomotive from Davos Platz to Filisur. The train line covers a total length of 4,200 meters through 14 tunnels and 28 bridges. Its scenic highlights include the Wiesen Viaduct and the Zügen Gorge.
How Much Will the Train Ticket From Zurich to Lauterbrunnen Cost?
Below are the published cost of a single journey ticket from Zurich (Airport) to Lauterbrunnen (as of December 2022):
| Route | Full Fare (CHF) | Half Fare (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich Airport – Lauterbrunnen | 81.60 | 40.80 |
| Zurich Train Station – Lauterbrunnen | 77.60 | 38.80 |
Do You Need a Seat Reservation on the Train?
No, there is no need to reserve a spot on the train. But you can always add this option if that is your wish.
Am I allowed to travel from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen?
Yes, there are currently no restrictions for traveling from Zurich to Lauterbrunnen.
Does Lauterbrunnen have a train station?
Yes, there is a train station in Lauterbrunnen. The trains in Lauterbrunnen go to Interlaken Ost, Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg. The office at the train station is open daily from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM. On Sundays, it opens at 8:00 AM.
Nearby is the Lauterbrunnen bus station where buses leave for Stechelberg, Camping Jungfrau, and Isenfluh.
Is Lauterbrunnen car-free?
No, unlike nearby Wengen, Lauterbrunnen is not car-free. In fact, you can park your car at the Lauterbrunnen Valley Terminal. They have a total of 975 parking spaces there.
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On the other hand, the nearby villages of Wengen and Mürren are car-free. As you cannot take your car to these two villages, you will have to park it at the Lauterbrunnen Valley Terminal. From the Lauterbrunnen Valley Terminal, you will have to take public transportation to either Wengen or Mürren (via Grütschalp or via Stechelberg).
How do you get around in Lauterbrunnen?
Lauterbrunnen is a small village and you can easily walk everywhere. However, if you want to travel to different destinations, there are many train and bus connections from the Lauterbrunnen Train and Bus Stations.
TIP: If you are staying for a couple of days in the Jungfrau Region, consider buying an unlimited transportation ticket so you can travel by train, boat, bus, gondola, and gondola on all the valid routes. You can get your ticket from GetYourGuide here – Jungfrau Travel Pass: Unlimited Transportation Ticket. The ticket covers Interlaken Ost, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, Kleine Scheidegg, Grütschalp, Winteregg, and Mürren. Jungfraujoch tickets aren’t included, but you can get them at a special price.