Lauterbrunnen and Zermatt itinerary

Update:
Having spent the morning doing more research, we are leaning towards making Lauterbrunnen our base and doing day trips to surrounding areas including Zermatt. This would give us the advantage of planning travel to Zermatt based upon good weather. Our itinerary would allow four full days in Lauterbrunnen. Does this sound resonable?

I suggest you look at the time estimates using http://www.rome2rio.com, Zermatt is rather far from Lauterbrunnen.

On a clear day you could ride the Jungfraujoch train through the Eiger to the Top of Europe.
http://www.rome2rio.com/s/Lauterbrunnen/Jungfraujoch-Top-of-Europe

Enjoy the trip!

Since you are planning a train trip and not comparing other transport, I'd go ahead to use the Swiss www.sbb.ch or the DB train schedule site for confirmed schedules on your travel dates. These put most Lauterbrunnen-Zermatt connections at 2h 40m one way, perhaps planning on shorter connection times than what Rome2Rio estimated (3h 4m).

You have 6 days which is a good amount of time to choose 2 locations as base. Zermatt has never been on my favorite list since my first (and only) visit. However, traveling that far from Lauterbrunnen is a waste of your precious vacation time. Stay in Zermatt to see Zermatt. Stay in Lauterbrunnen to see it and all of the surrounding alpine villages as well as easy trips down to lakes Thun and Brienz.

I suggest Lauterbrunnen, but cannot recommend Zermatt (it is so touristy - unless you are planning to mountain climb, I would skip it). Have you thought about spending some time on Lake Geneva? Possibly tour Chateau de Chillion, stay in Vevey? It would put you closer to the airport in Geneva. Also, along the route, you can stop in some of the towns and explore (such as the castle in Spiez).

And do stop at Gruyere to see the little castle and sample the cheese. I've always wanted to do this, but have never managed to get to it even though I've been to Switzerland more times than I can count.

Thank you all for your comments. We've done more research and have listened to posted comments. We have booked our stay in Murren for 5 nights. I would be very interested in hearing from those that have been, what the "not to be missed" day trips from this location are. We are an active family of three with a 12year old daughter that enjoys hiking and seeing the stunning sights of Switzerland. Thank you in advance for any of your suggestions.

I'm lucky enough to visit Murren every June for the last several years (and again in a few weeks). We almost always stay with Denise at the Chalet Fontana, and she is a wealth of information and community connections. Walking out of your hotel front door in Murren is an adventure for senses. Stunning scenery all around, clean mountain air, no cars (except for tractors and luggage buggies) - it's a home away from home. We've recently discovered the via Ferrata in Murren. It's safe, but not for the faint of heart. The Schilthorn bahn can easily whisk you from Murren to Birg (the new skywalk just installed) and on up to the Schilthorn and revolving 007 restaurant. Gimmelwald is a wonderful little hike down from Murren, Gimmelwald is also the terminus of the via Ferrata. Schilthornbahn gondola goes all the down from Murren to Gimmelwald to the valley floor. Either catch the Post Bus or walk to Trummelbach Falls, there's a wonderful little snack shop just at the bus stop to Trummelbach. Stop and sample some wonderful confections and make use of the public restrooms in the back. After Trummelbach continue walking (or catch the Post Bus) on to Lauterbrunnen...stunning walks along the base of the enormous granite walls of the valley. Walk towards Staubach Falls and on the way stop at the local dairy's who have the sign hanging out front for AlpCase (cheese) and dried meats.

The Jungfrau is a day trip down from Murren across the valley floor up the other side through Wengen. The Jungfrau is expensive, but you'll get a nice discount with your Swiss Pass and your 11 year old of course travels free with you in Switzerland EVERYWHERE with the Free Swiss Family Card.

20 minutes from Lauterbrunnen on the little train you can get to Interlaken where you can catch a boat on Lake Brienz and go to Brienz and see the wood carvers, Geissbach Falls and the oldest funicular in Switzerland. Just a little farther from Interlaken is Thun with it's medieval city center, wooden bridge across the river (like Lucerne) and the fairy tale castle sitting high on the hill in the town center.

Be sure to visit the Stager Stubli in Murren for some wonderful Swiss food and also Tham's for marvelous asian food.

It's a wonderful place!

Rick's Switzerland book has one of his very best chapters about this area (well, except for the over-focus on Gimmelwald; it's fine for a half day, but not earthshaking). You'll get lots of ideas from that, as well as Tim's wonderful post.

In addition to what Tim mentioned, the Allmendhubel (in the center of Mürren) is great. It doesn't get you nearly as high as the Schilthornbahn, but it's quicker and much cheaper, so it's a great thing to do with more limited time (like on arrival or departure day) or with iffy weather (you aren't out a lot of money if you get clouds). You can also walk around once you're at the top (lovely views), and there's a restaurant. You can also hike one way up or down from Mürren if you're up for that.

Let me defend Zermatt here a little. Yes, the valley is touristy (but the towns of the Lauterbrunnen Valley aren't? Please....). I've hiked and skied all over the Alps, and nowhere is the scenery as stunning as on the slopes above Zermatt. In the valley, your views of the high peaks are somewhat shielded by the lower slopes, but once you make it above the Alpine level, there's no view like it in Europe. Even from this high altitude, the summits of the Penine Alps absolutely soar above you.

Is this the same Zermatt that parades the goats out every day through town for the tourists to ooh and aah?? and High end luxury shopping up and down the main drag?? Yep, that's the one. And you think "Lauterbrunnen" is like that? That would be incorrect. Just because a village/town attracts tourists doesn't make it touristy. Zermatt - now there's a town with tourists that has actually turned itself into a touristy place.

What draws me to the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the alpine villages on both sides is not only the stunning beauty but also the hard-working locals who actually live here and farm and harvest. I've not seen that in Zermatt...too many parade goats in the way, I guess.

I was in Zermatt and Murren last fall. I went to Zermatt because I really wanted to see the Matterhorn. The weather was not the greatest, but I did see the Matterhorn, although I did not get to see any of the mountains Tom talks about. So that may color my view. I mostly enjoyed Zermatt although it is super-touristy (it seemed to be nothing but hotels and condos and very expensive stores). However, I was ready to leave after two nights. I stayed four nights in Murren and desperately wished I could have stayed longer.

Thank you everyone for your comments and advice, just returned from a great trip to Italy and Switzerland. We spent five nights and Murren and had a wonderful time. Must say it was the perfect decision and one we would recommend to others. The hiking in and around Murren was stunning, the Via Ferrata is not to be missed, the waterfalls in Lauterbrunen picturesque. We spent a very nice day trip to the Ballengrad open air museum and thoroughly enjoyed the trip including the ferry ride on lake Brienze. The Chalet Hotel Alpenruh was wonderful and we recommend it.

Thanks again

We went to Zermatt on the day we were traveling from Zurich to Geneva. It was a long day but so worth it. Yeah, Zermatt is a cheesy tourist town but I was a tourist, so I enjoyed it. We took the Gornergrat train up to the Matterhorn. It was a beautiful day, we had lunch at the top and came back down and got on our train on to Geneva. I missed the goat parade, I might have enjoyed that. Zermatt was worth every cheesy moment. So if you want to see it, make it work. You don't want to regret something you missed.

Jenny

If Zermatt is cheesy, I'm sure it's good Swiss cheese ;). One of our favorite days was our trip to Zermatt & the Mighty Matterhorn! Can't wait for the day we can go back to Switzerland!