Where To Stay?
In this fairy tale region of Switzerland there are a few options in which to stay. One really can’t go wrong with booking a room in Wengen, Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. Each are within walking distance to a train station. Locations that are a little harder to get to would be Murren and Gimmelwald. All that said, we chose to book a budget friendly hotel room in Wengen. We picked Wengen due to its close proximity to a train station, food options and access to trails and activities.
We stayed at the Alpine Hotel in Wengen and could not have been happier with our stay. In Switzerland, it is pretty standard for a room to have two twin beds instead of the traditional king- or queen-sized bed. We ended up just pushing ours together and we were very comfortable. The balcony had incredible views of the alps. We spent the mornings out there with coffee enjoying the crisp morning air and listening to the church bells near our hotel. Our hotel had a restaurant and bar, and although we didn’t eat at the restaurant, we did enjoy the bar a couple of nights and the live music offered. There are more expensive and luxurious places to stay in the Jungfrau region, but we were happy with our choice since we weren’t in the room much anyway.
If you choose to rent an Airbnb in this region, there are quite a few options, but the majority are renting a room or portion of someone’s home. I was not super comfortable with that, so I opted for a traditional hotel room. Other places in this region to stay would be Hotel Staubbach. I stayed here in 2021, and it was also a very comfortable room with a free breakfast.
When To Go?
In my opinion, the best time to visit this region is in late fall. I have been twice, and both times were in late fall. Most recently, the end of September to early October 2023. In 2021, I visited in Mid-October. One extremely important thing to note, is that during late October and November this region literally closes down and most of the business owners go on holiday for about 6 weeks. If you are going for the hikes, late spring, summer and early fall are the best times to visit.
The Jungfrau Travel Pass dates are usually between Mid-April to late October. You will definitely encounter more tourists from May through August as this is summer break and their warmer months. We found the weather to be very comfortable in September and October. Winter is abrupt towards the end of October starting Switzerland’s skiing season which lasts until March to April. We want to visit in winter and see the Swiss Alps covered in snow, but don’t expect to do much hiking.
What To Eat?
Anything with Raclette cheese is AWESOME! We had so many good meals here. There was a little bakery near our hotel in Wengen that we got pastries and coffee at each morning. The pastries, pies and smoked meats were so delicious. We ate light lunches and/or snacked during the day as we were constantly on the move. Dinner was a different story though. We ate most of our dinners in Lauterbrunnen and there is no shortage of options. Our favorite dish we had was the Lauterbrunnen Rosti. Shredded potatoes, bacon, Raclette cheese, and an over easy egg on top. SOOOO good. We even recreated the dish at home!
The burgers with the Raclette cheese and local beef are incredible. And of course, we had fondue, an absolute must do in Switzerland. There is a little food truck with waffles and fresh fruit topping that was my favorite dessert. There are many bars to go with the restaurants and they are always a good time, and the people are super friendly. The beer selection was surprisingly great, and Evan tried many different kinds. I mainly stuck with my Aperol spritz which is one of my favorite European drinks.
Our favorite restaurants in Lauterbrunnen are: Restaurant Schutzen – burgers, beer, fondue, and rosti! Favours coffee shop, Hotel Oberland restaurant, and restaurant Weidstubli – the walk here is far, but the rosti is delicious. This restaurant is also in a camp ground, but often fills up and a reservation may be required.
What To Wear?
This first part will be short and sweet, if you’re going in the winter, it is going to be COLD. So, have a good heavy coat, heavy pants, insulated boots, thick wool socks, gloves, hot hands, and layer up. If you are going in the summer months you will be fine with some leggings or even shorts and a t-shirt. I would bring a jacket or light coat for the higher altitudes, and the evenings. A hoodie will do the job too. The weather in the summer is mild and sunny and a good comfortable pair of hiking shoes are a must. Don’t skimp! Trying to save money with a cheap brand will end up destroying your feet. Also, break them in before you go. I learned this the hard way.
If you go in the Spring or Fall you are going to want to have warmer clothes on standby. You will get some beautiful days and some cooler days. Layering up will be your friend. If you’re going up to Jungfraujoch or higher altitude hikes you will want warmer clothing even during the summer months. A good backpack is your best friend up there too. It will hold your extra layers of clothing, your water bottle, your camera, and some snacks (because I have been told I can get hangry).
I do use hiking poles and find they make it a little easier on me for the long hikes. Evan does not like using them, so it is totally a personal preference. A good camera is well worth the investment for your trip to Switzerland, you will see things you will want to remember forever. You can spend as much as you want to on these things, and your phone camera can handle a lot of it, but I would seriously consider getting a good camera for this trip.
To conclude the complete Switzerland guide please reference my other Swiss blogs: Lauterbrunnen. Jungfrau pass. Gimmelwald. Aareschlucht Gorge. Jungfraujoch. Northface trail. Grindelwald First. I am biased, but there is a lot of good information in there for your trip to the Jungfrau region. We absolutely love this region of Switzerland it may be our favorite country so far. There is so much to see and do here. Mountains, Rivers, lakes, woods. Great food and great people, beautiful architecture and postcard views pretty much everywhere. The Swiss Alps are good for the soul.
Thanks so much for reading! Until next time, keep adventuring! XO, Joanna
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