Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is an idyllic hideaway from which you can explore the magnificence of the Swiss Alps. Nestled in a valley, it's populated by quaint chalet-style houses and surrounded by green fields and snow-capped mountains. Take a cable car up to the higher ground and admire the views or discover one of the 72 waterfalls – the soothing sounds will be the first thing you hear each morning. A prime spot for winter skiing, you can find adventure all year round with its hiking trails, climbs and BASE jumping opportunities. 

At a Lauterbrunnen hostel with a terrace and barbecue, you can make the most of the alpine scenery. Stay somewhere that books tours to make your adventures easier to plan, or snap the perfect picture at an authentic alpine lodge. You can cook dinner yourself at a place with a kitchen and stay within budget, or get well fed at a hostel with a restaurant. Most Lauterbrunnen hostels now offer free Wi-Fi, so you're never offline for long. 

Lauterbrunnen is a tiny village with one main street that's lined with restaurants, cafés and shops. Nearby, you'll find a swimming pool, some tennis courts and a mini-golf course. A hiking path will take you from the end of the village's main street to the underbelly of the Stabbauch Falls, which is one of the country's highest waterfalls. The picture-postcard village of Wengen is 400 metres above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and with blue, red and black runs it's the place to go for skiing. 

Within Lauterbrunnen, the Talmuseum is worth a visit to discover the history of the valley. Refuel with a beer at one of the cafés on the main street that overlook the mountains. A little outside of Lauterbrunnen is Trummelbach Falls, which consists of ten glacier waterfalls inside a mountain that you can reach via a tunnel-funicular. For some amazing photo opportunities, head to the viewing platform in Birg, giving you a panorama of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains.

Bern Airport is the nearest flight hub to Lauterbrunnen, and it takes about 50 minutes to get to the village by taxi. Alternatively, you can take the bus, which will have you at your destination in 3 hours, or you can arrive by train in 2.5 hours. The village is best seen on foot (it's small enough too) or you can hire a car to get between villages, hop on a train or take a cable car.