A visit to the Lauterbrunnen Valley is not complete without a stop at the one of a kind Trummelbach Falls. Now, Trummelbach isn’t your normal waterfall. The falls are actually inside the mountainside, where you can witness the extremely powerful rapids coming down from all different angles.
There are 10 waterfall viewing platforms altogether, which you can visit by walking up/down the staircase or by using the tunnel lift. This guide will go over all you need to know for a visit to Trummelbach Falls and what to expect along the way.
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1) Where is Trummelbach Falls
Trummelbach Falls is located within the actual mountainside walls of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. It is not located directly within the town of Lauterbrunnen though. It is located just between Lauterbrunnen and the town of Stechelberg.
When searching on Google Maps you will want to search for “Trummelbachefalle”. Below is a map that shows exactly where the falls are located.
In the next section I go into more detail about the different options to reach the waterfall from several towns around the area.
2) How to Reach Trummelbach
Before making it to Trummelbach, you first will want to make your way to the town of Lauterbrunnen. This is one of the main hubs of the Jungfrau Region and has plenty of transportation options that make their way through town.
- From Interlaken: trains leave directly from Interlaken Ost station and reach Lauterbrunnen in 20 minutes.
- From Wengen: a simple train ride from Wengen will get you right down to Lauterbrunnen station in 17 minutes.
- From Grindelwald: you will first need to take a train to Zweilutschinen and from there, switch on over to another train to Lauterbrunnen. The whole journey should take 37 minutes.
- From Murren: if coming from Murren you actually have a couple different options here and you don’t necessarily need to go through Lauterbrunnen. You can either:
- 1) Take the mountain train to Grutschalp and then the cable car down to Lauterbrunnen (22 minutes) OR
- 2) Take 2 cable cars down to Stechelberg and take the 141 bus directly to Trummelbach. The entire journey to Trummelbach will take just 21 minutes if you opt for this route.
Once you reach Lauterbrunnen, you can hop on the #141 bus that makes its way down the valley to Stechelberg. Along the way, the bus makes several stops, one of which is Trummelbach Falls. The bus ride takes just 7 minutes altogether.
- You also have the chance to take part of the Lauterbrunnen hiking trail through the valley. This is a great way to enjoy the natural beauty of the area as you slowly walk towards Trummelbach. The hike from Lauterbrunnen to Trummelbach will take you about 35 minutes.
- If you have your own car in Switzerland, it is also possible to drive directly to the parking lot of Trummelbach Falls
- Learn more about the transportation options in the Train Travel in Switzerland Guide
Swiss Travel Pass: Are you planning on traveling frequently throughout Switzerland during your trip? Consider purchasing a Swiss Travel Pass to save some money!
3) Trummelbach Falls Hours and Cost
Below are the latest hours and cost for Trummelbach Falls:
Trummelbach Falls Hours
The falls are not open year-round due to the fact that in the winter time there isn’t much water at all flowing down. It is accessible though from the beginning of April until November.
Trummelbach open at 9:00AM and close at 5:00PM, however during the months of July & August, it opens at 8:30AM and closes at 6:00PM.
Also, if weather conditions are poor (i.e. heavy rainfall) the falls may be closed as well. Be sure to check ahead of time if the weather does seem to be an issue.
Trummelbach Falls Cost
While many natural attractions are free in the area, Trummelbach is not one of them. It costs 14 CHF for adults and 6 CHF for children. The entrance fees are not covered by the Swiss Travel Pass.
4) The Tunnel Lift
Once you reach the ticket booth and walk the short path towards the mountainside, you can decide if you want to take the tunnel lift that brings you higher up along the waterfall. You have two main options here:
» Your first option is to walk up the flight of stairs that makes its way past the 10 glacial waterfalls. Once you reach the top, you can decide to either walk back down or take the tunnel lift that sits between the 6th and 7th waterfall.
» Your second option is to take the tunnel lift up and then walk down the rest of the way. From the top of the tunnel lift you can decide to walk up to 7,8,9,10 or just walk down and see 6 of the waterfalls.
Below is an illustration that better shows where the tunnel lift takes you. The elevation difference from the bottom to the top falls is 140 meters and the lift takes you up 105 of those meters.
The lift can hold about 40 people and takes just 60 seconds to make its way up/down the waterfall, however do expect a wait during peak times.
5) A Visit to Trummelbach Falls
Trummelbach Falls is made up of 10 glacial waterfalls within the mountainside.
Starting in April (when the falls open), the snow from the wintertime begins to melt and soon after the glaciers begin to melt as well, resulting in over 20,000 liters of water a second rushing down through the waterfall.
This water is actually sourced from the three famous mountains that hover above the Lauterbrunnen landscape – the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau. So, as you can imagine, that’s a lot of water making its way down Trummelbach.
Depending on your tunnel lift choice, you will either be starting at the bottom or in between falls 6 and 7.
No matter which you choose, you are sure to enjoy a whole bunch of roaring rapids and incredible natural beauty along the way.
My recommendation for the everyday visitor would be to take the lift up, walk up the stairs to falls 7-10 and then walk all the way back down to the bottom visiting falls 1-6 along the way.
The whole experience should take around 1-1.5 hours but it also depends how fast you walk & if there is a wait for the lift.
The entirety of the way is a concrete path made up of both flat sections as well as plenty of stairs. There will be several spots where you can enjoy the views of the waterfall with some larger viewing platforms along the way too.
A few things to note for your visit:
» As you make your way around, it can be a bit dark in some spots and it can also get quite wet as well. So, please just watch your step as you are making your way through the area.
» If you are not comfortable with stairs, then this attraction will not be for you. I would then recommend just walking from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg as you get to enjoy a relatively flat path with several waterfalls making their way off the side of the valley walls.
» Be sure to bring comfortable shoes, as well as clothing that you don’t mind getting wet. Bringing along a rain jacket could be a good move here.
» At some point too, you will be welcomed to some stunning viewpoints of the Lauterbrunnen Valley as you can see all the way to the village and the famous Staubbach Falls out in the distance.
Once you are all finished up all the waterfall, it is time to continue on with your time in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Check out the next section for some helpful recommendations for what else is out there.
6) Other Lauterbrunnen Activities
While Trummelbach Falls is a perfect add on to your trip to the region, there are plenty more activities to take part of around the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
Feel free to take a look at the Lauterbrunnen Valley Guide up on the site that gives a better wholistic overview of the area in general. Some of my favorite nearby activities include:
Schilthorn
The Schilthorn mountain can be reached from the town of Murren by cable car. Up top, you will be welcomed to some of the best views in all of the Jungfrau region.
Not only can you enjoy the views, but you also can eat at the rotating restaurant, check out Bond World, and take part of the Thrill Walk, located in Birg (one cable car stop below the summit).
» The Schilthorn Switzerland Guide up on the site has all the info you need
Murren to Gimmelwald Hiking Trail
One of the easiest and most rewarding walks nearby is the trail that heads from Murren to Gimmelwald along a paved pathway overlooking the valley down below.
It is really a trail for anyone to take part of and I am sure you will enjoy the views that come along with it.
» The Murren to Gimmelwald Hiking Trail Guide goes into more detail on how to take part
Murren to Gimmelwald Via Ferrata
If you are looking for an adrenaline option, look no further than the Murren to Gimmelwald Via Ferrata route. Instead of taking that easy option just mentioned, you can take a climbing route along the valley walls.
Essentially, you will need to rent equipment from town and use a harness and carabiners to hook into a fixed line route that makes its way above the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
» Read more in the Murren to Gimmelwald Via Ferrata Guide up on the site
Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Panorama Trail
One of my favorite hikes in Switzerland is the one that makes its way from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. Along the way you will get to enjoy some beautiful views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains right out in front of you.
To reach Mannlichen, all you need to do is head to Wengen, where you can catch a quick cable car up.
» Take a look at the Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Trail Guide for more
7) Where to Stay in the Jungfrau Region
Although many people visit the Lauterbrunnen Valley, that doesn’t mean they actually stay in the town of Lauterbrunnen itself. There are several towns to choose from including Murren, Wengen, Grindelwald, and Interlaken.
I put together a Murren, Wengen, Grindewald Guide that goes into more detail on how to choose the town best for you. Below are some recommendations for each town:
- Lauterbrunnen: Hotel Staubbach | Hotel Steinbock
- Murren: Hotel Edelweiss Superior | Hotel Alpenruh
- Wengen: Hotel Edelweiss | Hotel Baeren
- Grindelwald: Hotel Lauberhorn | Hotel Belvedere
- Interlaken: Hotel Bellevue | Hotel Roessli
I hope this guide has given you a better understanding on how to go about a visit to Trummelbach Falls. If you do have any additional questions or comments, feel free to add them in below.
Also be sure to check out the Switzerland itineraries and guides up on the site like this 10 Day Switzerland Itinerary.
Have fun out there and safe travels!