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Thinking of Switzerland for this year’s summer holiday, initial thoughts are a week in Lenzerheide followed by a week in the Lauterbrunnen valley area.
Lenzerheide - Previous threads and YT provide plenty of riding information but would be interested in people’s feedback on walking options (wife doesn’t ride) and where to base yourself.
Lauterbrunnen – Currently looking at Grindlewald and Wengen as places to stay but would appreciate any feedback on location options, must do’s/don’t’s etc. and any other nearby locations for riding & walking etc.
Lauterbrunnen – Currently looking at Grindlewald and Wengen as places to stay but would appreciate any feedback on location options, must do’s/don’t’s etc. and any other nearby locations for riding & walking etc.
Consider staying at the foot of the valleys and lower down in Interlaken. The transport system, trains, trams, funiculars is absolutely superb. If you stay in Interlaken you'll have very easy and quick access towards Lauterbrunnen/Muren or round the corner all the way up to Grindelwald.
Both lakes are also beautiful and the boat trips, walking, waterfalls etc are worth exploring.
If you do your research and pre-book the right tickets its also good value for money - do not (like the American tourists we spoke to) turn up and just pay for each trip as you get on, you will be paying literal multiples of what the various passes etc cost.
We had our best ever family holiday in Interlaken and spent 10 days exploring all overthe area went up many, many peaks, rode on many mountain trains, paddle steamers, trams, cable cars etc. Interlaken is obviously quite touristy but hey, we were tourists - it was perfect. Good food, and I never thought it was overly expensive - just good quality, not cheap rubbish.
We've stayed in Lauterbrunnen once 30 years ago and then Meringen a number of times - still covered on the Berner Oberland pass for all the buses / trains / boats etc but much more a small working town than the total tourist overload of Grindelwald. As above staying deep in the Lauterbrunnen valley can be a bit grey and sunless depending on time of year and weather. Also consider Brienz if looking for somewhere slightly out of the hotspots but still in easy reach.
If the weather is good then consider doing the Schilthorn for hot chocolate in the revolving restaurant and amazing views - accessing from Lauterbrunnen to Murren doing the funicular - valley top train - cable car up the mtn. Cheaper, better views on the way up and less busy than Jungfraujoch.
MTB is a bit limited as the area is really geared up for making money from mainstream tourists. The signposted stuff is mostly steep gravel road. There are "Swiss Singletrail" maps that are quite useful but they do sometimes disagree with the local tourist maps, leading to the occasional "discussion" about being there on an MTB....
Just to correct myself - it is now a cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp (was funicular on our first few visits up to 2010). But on a quiet sunny morning I always love the little train trundling Grutschalp to Murren 🙂
We did a few days as a couple in Grindlewald and 8 nights camping in Lauterbrunnen as a family.
It’s all opinions but i thought Interlarken felt out of the action. The campsite in Lauterunnen is mega scenic. Huge water fall towering above you and people base jumping all round you. Wengen would be an amazing base. Expensive i assume? But probably worth it
It was a few years back but we bought 2 adult travel passes. A huge expense but the kids bought Swiss travel cards which were cheap and got them on all the same transport. All sorted at the campsite reception. We also paid the extra to do the Jungfrauch which i thought was a top day out. The walking was fab and so easy to customise for the kids energy levels. One of our best holidays. Oh and the Trumelbach falls were great too
No biking for us sorry. But we did see 2 downhill bikes on the cable car to Muren. They weren’t coming back down on a gravel path. I think the mag did an article on a ride in the area
Lauterbrunnen is one of those places that is absolutely as amazing as the photos suggest. We camped near the head of the valley, nice site with a couple of bars within walking distance. No riding, just tourist gawping - the cave with the waterfall system near it a few kms down the valley was astounding. Worth getting the cable car to get a closer view of the Eiger nordwand from the Alpine meadows above Grindlewald.
As above, I was on a strict 'no bikes, this is a family holiday' ban. There was a boke shop in Grindelwald who explained a lot to me, and how it all works - I'd suggest this would be a good plan if you wanted to find proper MTB trails.
However I can confirm its possible to hit a verified 50km/h on a rented 'trottibike' and beat your family down on the cable car 😀
Lauterbrunnen is one of those places that is absolutely as amazing as the photos suggest.
Sure is.
Taken from Mannlichen. Wengen just hidden behind that ridge with the two walkers. Lauterbrunnen right at the bottom of the far valley. Schilthorn up to the right hand side. Grindelwald to the left out of shot. Interlaken behind
Have been to Wengen quite a few times skiing but never in summer. It's a truly stunning area.
MTB - as others have said - is quite limited I think. there are a few events run through there that use a lot of paths that are 'no cycling' normally. The impression I got was that it's definitely not like France or Spain where you're good to ride on most walking paths and theres no ski resort 'bike park' either.
Do check out prices - I'm assuming if you're even considering it you've realised that Switzerland is not a cheap place. A single person is 100CHF + for a trip to 'top of Europe' https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/jungfraujoch-top-of-europe/buy-jungfraujoch-ticket/ (though that's the most expensive thing around there).
The rail travel network all around there is just wonderful though...