Lauterbrunnen

With as many as 72 waterfalls, Lauterbrunnen does complete justice to its name which roughly translates into ‘several fountains’. This trough valley is an Alpine gem and is a sublime destination with its quintessential picture-postcard peaks and vibrant meadows. Lauterbrunnen, one of the largest nature conservation regions in Switzerland, is the most popular base for a plethora of excursions in and around the Jungfrau region. At 795 m, this hamlet is home to a number of UNESCO World Heritage trails and the Staubbach Falls, which is the highest waterfalls in Europe, along with the intimidating Trümmelbach Falls. It therefore comes as no surprise that the cosy chalets of this miniature village play host to several thousand visitors every year, especially those who come during the winters to grab hold of some memorable skiing opportunities.
Lauterbrunnen is a 25 min train ride away from the Interlaken Ost Station and tickets should come for around 15 CHF for a round trip if you do not have a Swiss Pass. All fans of J. R. R. Tolkien would be delighted to learn that the author once embarked on a long hike from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen and several parts of his fictitious Middle Earth have been designed keeping this beautiful Alpine landscape in mind. The valley has also inspired several works of the celebrated German writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.