Best Things to Do in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland with Kids

Lauterbrunnen is known as the “Valley of 72 Waterfalls,” and it truly lives up to its name. This stunning valley looks like it was plucked straight from a storybook, with waterfalls cascading down every cliff face. While it’s known for being the starting point for Switzerland’s iconic mountain summits and challenging alpine hikes, there are plenty of easy, kid-friendly adventures to enjoy too. Lauterbrunnen is a must-do for any trip to Switzerland. Whether you’re traveling with toddlers or older kids, this guide covers the best things to do in Lauterbrunnen with kids for a fun and memorable family trip.

Alpine Playgrounds

The alpine playgrounds in Switzerland are next level and a must when visiting Lauterbrunnen with kids. That’s because these playgrounds have really fun themes and unique play structures that I haven’t seen in playgrounds in the US. Best of all, the playgrounds all have amazing views and cafeterias with patios. No sitting on a boring park bench waiting for your kid to finish playing! While kids have the time of their lives on the mini ziplines and creative slides, parents can enjoy a snack and a drink with beautiful mountain views. I wish all playground days could be like this at home. These playgrounds were a huge hit with our kiddo, and earned us some good on-the-go naps. The best part is, many of these playgrounds are near stunning scenic hikes. So after our kiddo finished playing, we got to enjoy a nice hike while he napped.

Lauterbrunnen Valley Floor Walk

The Lauterbrunnen Valley Floor walk stretches from the main town of Lauterbrunnen all the way across the valley. This flat, paved walk is the best way to appreciate the curtain of waterfalls around the valley. The path is wide and flat so it’s perfect for toddlers to run around. And it is bordered by family farms so you’ll even see some cows as you walk. It also makes for a great bike path. If your kids are a little older, you can rent bikes in the main town to ride along the path.

Falbodensee Hike

The Fallbodensee lake hike was a highlight of our trip. It is a man-made lake, but it is perfectly situated atop a hill to reflect the neighboring peaks in its pool. Our toddler loved the jacuzzi footbath next to the lake. They have benches in that jacuzzi footbath where you can wade in and soak your tired feet after the hike up. Best of all, a train line passes right in front for easy entertainment for our toddler. The hike up to this lake is a bit steep, but totally worth it.

Trummelbach Falls

If you have ever wanted to go behind the scenes of a waterfall, then Trummelbach Falls is your opportunity to do just that. This powerfall waterfall rushes down the inside of a mountain, with walkways and caves connecting the different viewing platforms. The platforms can get a little slippery, so smaller kids may need to be carried. But seeing the rushing waterfall barreling down the cave and feeling the spray of the water is a lot of fun for little ones.

Ride Every Mode of Transportation

Lauterbrunnen is the transportation hub of the valley. Every form of mountain lift and transport ascends from the valley floor. If your kiddo loves vehicles, then just riding the different modes of transportation in the valley can be an activity in itself! The Swiss Travel Pass covers some of these transports in the lower part of the valley, but you will have to pay a supplement for the ones at higher elevations.

Visit a Local Farm

The mountain villages above Lauterbrunnen are home to charming, family-run farms that make fresh local cheese and other dairy treats. Exploring the car-free villages of Wengen and Mürren is a fun way for kids to spot grazing cows, hear the sound of cowbells, and pick up some local goodies from farm stands along the way. Amazingly, some farm stands operate by the honor system!

Where to Stay in Lauterbrunnen with Kids

We loved our stay at the Chalet Bargfee “A”. It was fun to stay in a historic chalet, but with updated modern amenities. The other recommended options also have that chalet vibe. The two recommended hotels are some of the oldest in the town.

• Chalet Bargfee “A”
• Chalet Bergliebe
• Hotel Silberhorn
• Hotel Staubbach

Kid-Related Essentials to Pack

We used these essentials daily during our trip to Switzerland (see the complete packing list here). They definitely helped make traveling with a kid smoother and easier.

• Hiking Carrier: If you’re planning to do any hiking or walking in the old towns in Switzerland, skip the stroller. Even the easiest trails aren’t really stroller-friendly, and cobblestone streets in historic areas make for a rough, bumpy ride. Plus, if you’re traveling by train, juggling a stroller along with luggage during train transfers can be a real hassle. A full on hiking carrier would probably be more comfortable for kids, but it’s bulky to travel with. Since we weren’t tackling any long or strenuous hikes, we absolutely loved using our hip seat carrier with straps. It’s a convertible style that allows you to wear your child in the front or back. And the built-in seat made it comfortable enough for our kiddo to nap while we were on the move.
• Water Bottles: In Switzerland, tap water is safe to drink by law and held to extremely high standards. Packing a water bottle can help you save quite a bit, especially since water isn’t typically served for free at restaurants like it often is in the U.S. If you’re not ordering other beverages, some restaurants may even charge you for water. Having your own water bottle with you is an easy way to stay hydrated and cut down on extra costs while dining out or exploring. Even the water from the local fountains is safe to drink, so you can fill up as you go!

• Snacks: Snacks are our go-to strategy for keeping our kiddo happy and occupied, whether we’re on a long train or plane ride, out on a hike, or trying to get out the door on time (which happened a lot during our trip to Switzerland). While discovering new snacks at local supermarkets is always part of the fun, we also make sure to pack some tried-and-true favorites from home, just in case.
• Portable Sound Machine: We traveled to Switzerland in the summer during a heat wave, and many old town hotels don’t have air conditioning. To stay cool, we had to keep the windows open, which meant dealing with street noise at bedtime. Since our kid is used to sleeping with a sound machine at home, bringing a portable one was a game-changer. It helped block out the ambient noise and made it much easier for him to fall, and stay, asleep in an unfamiliar setting.
• Rain jacket: Weather in the Swiss Alps can change quickly. One day might be sunny, while the next brings rain, or you could encounter different conditions at various elevations. We were grateful that we decided to bring light rain jackets even though we were traveling in the summer because we definitely experienced some downpours. Our rain jackets were easy to roll up and stash in our backpack. And they saved us from getting unexpectedly soaked while out exploring.

Plan your whole family vacation to Switzerland by following our complete toddler-friendly Switzerland itinerary!