Travel to/from Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland and Munich

You didn't tell us your method of travel. It makes a difference when we advise you.

We stayed at the Hotel Staubbach in Lauterbrunnen and loved it. There's a waterfall right accross the street and the scenery is stunning. The hotel is small and creaky and wonderful. I was ill the full day we were there and was perfectly happy spending the day knocking around the hotel becuase it was so lovely and the views were so amazing.

http://www.staubbach.ch/en/index.htm

I would recommend the Valley Hostel in Lauterbrunnen if you want to cut down on cost. The 2nd and 3rd floor have the view of the Eiger, Monch and the Jungfrau.

It is very clean and has a kitchen.

We stayed there 6 nights and really liked it.

Within in walking distance of the train station.

http://www.valleyhostel.ch/pages/en/home.php?lang=EN

There are trains leaving Zurich HB to Lauterbrunnen at various times. It is approximately 2-1/2 hrs train trip with 2 changes.

You change trains in either Bern or Luzern AND Interlaken Ost to Lauterburnnen.

We took the one changing in Bern.

Swiss Train Timetable:

http://www.sbb.ch/en/index.htm

I too suggest the Valley hostel in Lauterbrunnen. You can go to Trummelbach Falls, there is lot of different hikes to do , you can go to the Jungfrau, the Schilthorn, there is many possibilities in the Berner Oberland.

"Between Lauterbrunnen ... and Munich"--one-way from Lauterbrunnen to Munich or a Munich-Lauterbrunnen-Munich round-trip?

If going by train, you have two options. Both involve Zurich-to-Munich travel, assuming one-way from Lauterbrunnen to Munich. Both routes also depart from Interlaken. (The Berner-Oberland, or BOB, train connects between Interlaken and Lauterbrunnen.)

One route goes via Bern and around the south side of Lake Thun. This may involve a transfer at Bern or Olten for the train to Zurich. (No need to go to Basel.) There will be a transfer in Zurich for Munich.

The other route is via Lucerne (Luzern) where you transfer trains to Zurich and, again, transfer trains to Munich. This route begins at the Interlaken East station (where the BOB terminates) and takes you around the south side of Lake Brienz to Meiringen and on to Lucerne. For my money, this latter route is the more scenic of the two. It goes through the mountains south of Lucerne and along very beautiful lakes. It is also the shorter-distance route between Interlaken and Zurich.

For car travel, highways parallel the train routes. For round-trip, take one route one way and the other route on return. You'll see very different scenery.

As for what to do around Lauterbrunnen: Keep in mind that Lauterbrunnen sits in a valley between walls 2,000-feet high. To really see the mountain scenery above Lauterbrunnen, you need to get out of the valley. One possibility would be to take the cable car out of Lauterbrunnen up to Grutschalp on the west/northwest side of the valley (opposite side from the Jungfrau). From there, hike the Mountain View Trail. The views of the Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger are spectacular from that trail. There are countless other possibilities, including the falls others mentioned. Your choice depends on your interests, abilities, and the time you have. Do enjoy! I've been in numerous places around the world, and this is one of the most beautiful

Thanks to everyone who responded. Your thoughts and advice were all very helpful. I will be traveling by rail in late May/early June with my 15-year-old daughter. I have been to Switzerland before, but never hiking in the Berner Oberland. I have heard that the trails might be a bit wet when we are there. Perhaps it is not a good time to go and we should adjust our plans.. We are still flexible with regard to our itinerary and plan to hit Berlin, Prague and Munich on this trip. In addition, we will be flying in and out of Frankfurt. If any of you helpful and happy travelers has anything else to offer, I would be very grateful. Thanks again, CHS (Craig)