This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Lauterbrunnen.
Lauterbrunnen is a quaint, adorable Swiss town! It is in the mountains, so be prepared for cold weather (even in July)! Switzerland is an expensive country, so be prepared for sticker-price shock (unless you're from an equally expensive country like Norway). The town has a huge base-jumping population and offers other extreme sports such as water rafting and paragliding. The town is gorgeous; walking and around the town and mountains is surreal.
There are a handful of camping sites (with cabins and bring your own tent or RV) and hostels in Lauterbrunnen within fifteen minutes' walk from the train station. The town is small, but some of the camping sites are away from the small center (but fifteen minutes at most from the train station). One of the camping sites is frequented by BusAbout and Contiki, so there is always a young population around.
Some hostels in Lauterbrunnen try to charge for everything -- using the kitchen and Wi-Fi (which is usually free in hostels). To get around this, go to the Horner Pub (a bar where many of the base-jumpers congregate) near the train station. They have free Wi-Fi and serve good bar food and drinks, including Swiss hot chocolate. There is a small grocery store in the town, which may be cheaper than the camping site grocery stores. Transportation can be very expensive to get up the mountain, so try a hike if you're on a budget.
This is a town not to be missed if you want to be inspired by beauty and/or try some extreme sports or hiking. Just be prepared for cold weather (and possibly a cabin with no heat), no matter the season.
Written by local enthusiast for Lauterbrunnen hostels
Kari
