Lauterbrunnen Switzerland, Bern, Switzerland9/10 GOLDEN PASS TRAIN
Montreux to Interlaken (changed trains at Zweisermmen)
(TIP: get the front panoramic seats--83, 85, 87)
More beautiful Swiss scenery of vineyard terraces, forested countryside, ski towns, lots of cows some with such huge bells around their necks, big lumber mill but no evidence on hillsides of cut trees. Still pretty cloudy with the sun coming out now and then.
Montreux to Interlaken (changed trains at Zweisermmen)
(TIP: get the front panoramic seats--83, 85, 87)
More beautiful Swiss scenery of vineyard terraces, forested countryside, ski towns, lots of cows some with such huge bells around their necks, big lumber mill but no evidence on hillsides of cut trees. Still pretty cloudy with the sun coming out now and then.
Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen
(TIP: Get off at the Interlaken OST station; change train to Lauterbrunnen)
(TIP: Get off at the Interlaken OST station; change train to Lauterbrunnen)
LAUTERBRUNNEN
Information Center is at the Train Station.
Views in this town were remarkable. It sits between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks in one of the most impressive trough valleys in the Alps.
Information Center is at the Train Station.
Views in this town were remarkable. It sits between gigantic rock faces and mountain peaks in one of the most impressive trough valleys in the Alps.
HOTEL SILBERHORN - 4 nights
Very short walk up the hill from the train station.
Room: We were in the Chalet across the street from the main hotel.
It was on the top floor--a suite with a balcony; did we luck out!!
Awesome views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Staubbach Falls!
During our 4-night stay here, the weather didn't cooperate much--low clouds, rain--only about a day and a half of sunshine. Lois developed a cold so didn't get to do many of the walks. Good excuse to come here again.
Very short walk up the hill from the train station.
Room: We were in the Chalet across the street from the main hotel.
It was on the top floor--a suite with a balcony; did we luck out!!
Awesome views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the Staubbach Falls!
During our 4-night stay here, the weather didn't cooperate much--low clouds, rain--only about a day and a half of sunshine. Lois developed a cold so didn't get to do many of the walks. Good excuse to come here again.
STAUBBACH FALLS: Magnificent views from our room. The water plunges almost 1,000 feet from an overhanging cliff face. One advantage of having rain was the falls were fantastic. What a surprise to see them lit at night--GORGEOUS!!
9/11 Schilthorn is our destination today since it's a beautiful morning and the web-cam showed good views. Two cable cars and a train to get here from Lauterbrunnen:
--First, the Cable Car (right next to the hotel; use the Swiss Pass) from Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp. Great views of Lauterbrunnen.
--Second: train to MURREN
Have to walk through the town in order to get the cable car to the Schilthorn. This wonderful alpine village of 400 people is soooo beautiful with its views of the famous mountain peaks. Would stay here if we ever come to this area again.
--Second: train to MURREN
Have to walk through the town in order to get the cable car to the Schilthorn. This wonderful alpine village of 400 people is soooo beautiful with its views of the famous mountain peaks. Would stay here if we ever come to this area again.
NOTE: Many people walk from here downhill to Gimmelwald--about 25-min; then on down to the valley floor to Stechelberg, where you can get a bus or continue walking to Lauterbrunnen. Definitely would be a nice walk==Next time.
--Third and last part of getting to Schilthorn:
30-minute aerail cableway car ride up 10,000 feet.
30-minute aerail cableway car ride up 10,000 feet.
SCHILTHORN: with views of the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau--if the weather cooperates. Should have taken pictures outside right away but we were hungry.
--Piz Gloria, the revolving restaurant, for lunch. Hungarian soup (more like chili) & pork baquette (not that great hardly any meat), cokes, apple strudel with vanilla sauce (yum). Enjoyed the changing views, which were good at the beginning; total clouds when we left at 2:30; light flurries and very cold!
--Bond World was certainly fun. The interactive exhibition whisks you away to the world of "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" experiencing scenes from the movie and imagining you are Bond.
GIMMELWALD: On way back down, stopped in this charming little village with the historic houses and wonderful views of the valley and sounds of the waterfalls.
Loved the saying on the water trough, "a drink for humans or horses."
Bought Schiltalpkase 2012 alpine cheese from one of the houses.
Pension Gimmelwald Biergarten (next to Honesty Shop) for their apple strudel--it lived up to its reputation.
Such a "real, nontouristy" place with a lady tending the garden and a young man doing barn work.
9/12 LAUTERBRUNNEN
Waited all morning for it to stop raining. Good thing we have a covered balcony. When it turned to just a drizzle after lunch, we walked down through town.
Such a beautiful town--Staubbach Falls, the Weisse Lütschine River, church, and views of the mountains surrounding the valley.
Caught the bus that runs down the valley to go to Trummelback Falls.
Waited all morning for it to stop raining. Good thing we have a covered balcony. When it turned to just a drizzle after lunch, we walked down through town.
Such a beautiful town--Staubbach Falls, the Weisse Lütschine River, church, and views of the mountains surrounding the valley.
Caught the bus that runs down the valley to go to Trummelback Falls.
TRUMMELBACK FALLS
In a wild glacier ravine, the falls are an awe-inspiring spectacle of nature with 10 glacier waterfalls inside the mountain. A lift takes you to lit tunnels with lots of steps to see different views of the canyons with water rushing through. Walked back down and took the bus back to Lauterbrunnen since the rain started up again.
(TIP: Avoid going here when there are tour busses; too many people.)
In a wild glacier ravine, the falls are an awe-inspiring spectacle of nature with 10 glacier waterfalls inside the mountain. A lift takes you to lit tunnels with lots of steps to see different views of the canyons with water rushing through. Walked back down and took the bus back to Lauterbrunnen since the rain started up again.
(TIP: Avoid going here when there are tour busses; too many people.)
9-13 SIGHTSEEING OTHER SIDE OF THE VALLEY
Perfect sunny day; can see all the mountaintops. Wouldn't you know Lois' cold has drained her energy; no long walks today.
Train from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen
Train from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen
WENGEN: very touristy
GRINDELWALD: much more touristy. Very disappointed; two big cranes in front of mountain views didn't help.
Trains back to Lauderbrunnen.
Walked to Hotel Oberland to have dinner, but we had no reservations and they were full.
Trains back to Lauderbrunnen.
Walked to Hotel Oberland to have dinner, but we had no reservations and they were full.
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PLACES WE ATE:
(TIP: make reservations for dinner)
PLACES WE ATE:
(TIP: make reservations for dinner)
Hotel Silberhorn several times.
Lunch--pork sausage with onion gravy; great french fries.
Dinner twice: Schnitzel with fries & Rosti with pears, tomatoes, raclette cheese, which was too rich; could only eat half.
Spagetti bolognese (just ok)
Lunch--pork sausage with onion gravy; great french fries.
Dinner twice: Schnitzel with fries & Rosti with pears, tomatoes, raclette cheese, which was too rich; could only eat half.
Spagetti bolognese (just ok)
Backerei Cafe von Allmen: Delicious desserts (kombrout, black forest cake, hollander torte) and breads.
Lunch twice--sandwiches and flammkuchen (not as good as the one in Zermatt)
Coop grocery store is near the train station where we got snacks and lunch items to take while sightseeing.
Lunch twice--sandwiches and flammkuchen (not as good as the one in Zermatt)
Coop grocery store is near the train station where we got snacks and lunch items to take while sightseeing.
2025-05-22