Above Lauterbrunnen: Mürren, Wengen, the Schilthorn and Paragliding

The Lauterbrunnen valley is spectacular from the bottom, but most of its magic is up above. On the terraces on either side sit two car-free villages, Mürren and Wengen, with views straight across to the great peaks of the Bernese Oberland. Above Mürren, a chain of cableways climbs to the Schilthorn and its revolving summit restaurant. And from the meadows above the cliffs, paragliders launch out over the valley.

This guide explains how to get up from the valley floor, what each place offers, what the Schilthorn costs, how paragliding works, and how to choose between them — with sample days for each side of the valley.

Getting to the valley first

Everything in this guide starts in Lauterbrunnen or Stechelberg, so getting to the valley is the first step.

By train: from Interlaken Ost, platform 2A, the Berner Oberland-Bahn reaches Lauterbrunnen in 24 minutes.
By car: 20 to 30 minutes from Interlaken, depending on the season. Leave the car in the 974-space garage at Lauterbrunnen station (CHF 18 for 8 hours) or at the park-and-ride sites at Matten and Wilderswil.
On a day tour from Zurich or Lucerne, you will see Lauterbrunnen village and the Staubbach falls, but not the terraces.

Our guide to getting to Lauterbrunnen covers every option.

Two sides of the valley

The valley splits the area in two:

The Mürren side, to the west, with the village of Mürren perched on a terrace above the cliffs and the Schilthorn above it.
The Wengen side, to the east, with the village of Wengen on its terrace and the railway continuing towards Kleine Scheidegg and the Jungfrau region.

Both villages are car-free. You reach them by rail or cableway, and that shapes the whole experience: quiet streets, clean air, and views that make the journey up worthwhile.

Getting up to Mürren

There are two ways up to Mürren, one from Lauterbrunnen and one from the head of the valley at Stechelberg.

From Lauterbrunnen via Grütschalp

The Lauterbrunnen–Mürren line runs a cableway from Lauterbrunnen up to Grütschalp and a railway on to Mürren. The cableway leaves from close to Lauterbrunnen station, climbs the cliff to the terrace at Grütschalp, and the little train runs along the terrace to Mürren, with views across the valley to the peaks on the other side.

This is the natural route if you arrive in Lauterbrunnen by train or leave your car in the station garage.

From Stechelberg: the steepest cableway in the world

At the head of the valley, Stechelberg is the base of the cableway to Mürren and the Schilthorn. With a gradient of 159.4%, the new cableway between Stechelberg and Mürren is, in its operator’s words, the steepest cable car in the world. It climbs the cliff almost vertically, and the ride is an experience in itself.

This is the route to take if you are heading for the Schilthorn, since the same line continues up the mountain.

Mürren

Mürren is a car-free village on the edge of a cliff, high above the valley floor. From its streets, the view across the valley takes in the famous peaks of the region. It is quiet, especially in the evening when the day visitors have gone, and it is the base for two of the area’s great experiences: the Schilthorn above and paragliding over the valley below.

The Schilthorn

The summit

Above Mürren, the cableway continues to the Schilthorn, whose summit is Piz Gloria at 2,970 m. At the top you will find the Skyline View platform and the 360-degree Restaurant Piz Gloria, which turns slowly so that the panorama passes by your table.

The fares

The Schilthorn is one of the more expensive excursions in the region, so it is worth knowing the numbers. On fares valid until 12.12.2026, a return from Stechelberg to the Schilthorn costs CHF 115 for an adult, and from Mürren CHF 91.40.

If you are already staying in Mürren, the fare from there is lower. If you are coming from the valley, the full journey from Stechelberg covers the steepest cableway and all the stages to the summit.

Is it worth it?

On a clear day, yes. The Schilthorn’s appeal is the panorama from the summit, and like every high viewpoint in the Alps, it depends on the weather. Check the forecast and the view before you buy, and go on the clearest day you have.

Wengen

On the other side of the valley, Wengen is car-free: from Lauterbrunnen it can be reached only by public transport, on foot or by bike. By public transport, Wengen is 37 minutes from Interlaken Ost, changing at Lauterbrunnen for the train up the mountainside.

Wengen sits on a sunny terrace with views up and down the valley, across to the cliffs of the Mürren side and up to the high peaks. It is a quieter base than the valley floor, and the railway continues from there higher into the Jungfrau region, making it a good starting point for longer excursions.

Paragliding over the valley

For many visitors, the highlight of the Lauterbrunnen area is flying over it. The tandem paragliding flight from Mürren starts high above the cliffs:

You meet your pilot in Mürren and walk to the take-off field.
You take off in front of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
You fly for up to 20 minutes over the Lauterbrunnen valley, its cliffs and waterfalls.
The whole experience takes about 1 hour.

No experience is needed: the pilot does the flying, and you can choose between a gentle flight and something more exciting. Flights depend on the weather, so check the operator’s terms for cancellation and rebooking, especially if you are on a tight schedule.

Choosing between them

For the classic car-free village with a cliff-top view: Mürren.
For a quieter base with the railway into the Jungfrau region: Wengen.
For the highest panorama: the Schilthorn, on a clear day.
For adrenaline and a view like no other: paragliding from Mürren.
For the most spectacular lift ride: the cableway from Stechelberg, the steepest in the world according to its operator.

A day on the Mürren side

Morning: the cableway from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and the train to Mürren. Walk through the village and take in the view.
Late morning: if the sky is clear, continue up to the Schilthorn for the Skyline View platform and lunch at the 360-degree restaurant.
Afternoon: come back down to Mürren, and — if you have booked one — take a tandem paragliding flight over the valley.
Evening: descend via the Stechelberg cableway for the steepest ride of the day, and walk or ride back along the valley to Lauterbrunnen.

A day on the Wengen side

Morning: the train from Lauterbrunnen up to Wengen.
Late morning: explore the car-free village and its views across the valley.
Afternoon: continue on the railway higher into the Jungfrau region, or walk the paths around Wengen.
Evening: return to Lauterbrunnen by train.

A two-day plan for both sides

Day one: the Mürren side. Take the cableway from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and the train to Mürren. On a clear day, continue to the Schilthorn for the Skyline View platform and lunch in the revolving restaurant at Piz Gloria. Back in Mürren, take a paragliding flight if you have booked one, and descend by the Stechelberg cableway at the end of the day.

Day two: the Wengen side. Take the train up to Wengen, explore the car-free village, and continue on the railway higher into the Jungfrau region if you have time. Come back down to Lauterbrunnen for a last walk to the Staubbach falls.

Two days give you both terraces without rushing, and a spare chance for the Schilthorn if the first day is cloudy.

Photographs from the terraces

From Mürren, the view across the valley to the peaks is one of the great panoramas of the Alps.
From the train between Grütschalp and Mürren, the peaks appear across the valley as the train runs along the terrace.
From the Schilthorn, the Skyline View platform gives a wide panorama over the surrounding summits.
From Wengen, look up and down the valley and across to the cliffs of the Mürren side.
On a paragliding flight, the valley, the cliffs and the waterfalls spread out beneath you.

Staying on the terraces

Spending a night in Mürren or Wengen changes the experience of the valley. After the day visitors leave, the car-free villages are quiet; in the evening, the light on the peaks across the valley is at its most beautiful; and in the morning you are already high up, ready for the Schilthorn or the railway before the crowds arrive.

The trade-off is luggage: you will carry your bags on trains and cableways. Travel light if you plan to stay on the terraces.

Weather and the view

Everything above the valley floor depends on visibility. A few simple rules:

Go up when the sky is clear. The view is the point, and cloud can hide everything.
Check before you buy. Especially for the Schilthorn, look at the conditions at the top before paying for the full return.
Keep a flexible day. If the first day is cloudy, spend it on the valley floor — the Trümmelbach falls inside the mountain are ideal — and go up on the next clear day.
Paragliding needs the right conditions. Wind and cloud affect both the view and whether flights can take off.

What to bring

Warm layers. The Schilthorn at 2,970 m is far colder than the valley floor.
Sun protection. At altitude, and on snow, the sun is strong.
Good shoes for walking in the villages and on the terraces.
A light bag if you are staying on the terraces.

Costs at a glance

What	Price
Schilthorn return from Stechelberg (adult, valid to 12.12.2026)	CHF 115
Schilthorn return from Mürren (adult)	CHF 91.40
Lauterbrunnen station garage	CHF 18 for 8 hours
Trümmelbach falls (adult / child 6–15)	from CHF 18 / from CHF 8

For the cableway to Grütschalp and the train to Mürren, and the train to Wengen, check current fares with the operator; if you are travelling a lot in the region, compare individual tickets with a rail pass before you buy.

With children

The terraces are a wonderful place for families: car-free villages where children can roam, lifts that feel like rides, and views that impress even teenagers.

The cableways are an adventure. The Stechelberg–Mürren cableway, which its operator calls the steepest in the world, is a highlight.
The train along the terrace from Grütschalp to Mürren is short and scenic.
Car-free streets make Mürren and Wengen relaxed places to explore.
The Schilthorn is cold. Dress children warmly for 2,970 m, even in summer.
Paragliding is an individual decision; check the operator’s rules for younger passengers.

Getting back down

Plan your descent as carefully as your ascent.

From Mürren, choose between the train to Grütschalp and the cableway down to Lauterbrunnen, or the Stechelberg cableway down to the head of the valley.
From Wengen, take the train down to Lauterbrunnen.
Check the last departures before you head off on a walk or up to the Schilthorn, especially outside the peak season.
Coming down via Stechelberg, remember that you are at the head of the valley; the walk back to Lauterbrunnen passes the Trümmelbach falls.

Mistakes to avoid

Going up in thick cloud. The terraces and the Schilthorn are all about the view.
Buying the Schilthorn return without checking the summit conditions. At CHF 115 from Stechelberg, it pays to be sure.
Dressing for the valley. The Schilthorn at 2,970 m is much colder than Lauterbrunnen.
Bringing a car to a car-free village. Leave it in the Lauterbrunnen garage or the park-and-ride.
Carrying heavy luggage on the lifts. If you stay on the terraces, travel light.
Leaving paragliding to the last day. Flights depend on the weather; book early in your stay so you have a back-up day.

In winter

The terraces are year-round destinations. In winter, the villages and the lifts serve skiers as well as sightseers, and the views across the valley to the snow-covered peaks are among the finest in the Alps. The Schilthorn fares quoted here are valid until 12.12.2026; check the operator’s winter fares and timetables for later dates. Dress for serious cold at altitude, and allow for weather affecting the lifts.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren?

By the cableway from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and the train on to Mürren, or by the cableway from Stechelberg at the head of the valley, which its operator calls the steepest cable car in the world (a gradient of 159.4%).

How much does the Schilthorn cost?

On fares valid until 12.12.2026, a return from Stechelberg to the Schilthorn is CHF 115 for an adult, and from Mürren CHF 91.40.

How high is the Schilthorn?

The summit, Piz Gloria, is at 2,970 m, with the Skyline View platform and the 360-degree Restaurant Piz Gloria.

Is Wengen car-free?

Yes. From Lauterbrunnen it can be reached only by public transport, on foot or by bike; by public transport it is 37 minutes from Interlaken Ost.

How long is a paragliding flight over Lauterbrunnen?

Up to 20 minutes in the air, from Mürren, with the whole experience taking about 1 hour.

Mürren or Wengen?

Mürren for the cliff-top village, the Schilthorn and paragliding; Wengen for a quieter base and the railway into the Jungfrau region.

Can I visit the Schilthorn and go paragliding on the same day?

Yes, if the weather cooperates. One plan is the Schilthorn in the morning and a paragliding flight from Mürren in the afternoon. Book the flight early in your stay so you have a spare day if conditions are wrong.

Do the day tours from Zurich go up to Mürren or the Schilthorn?

No. The guided day tours from Zurich and Lucerne include Lauterbrunnen village and the Staubbach falls, but not the terraces or the Schilthorn. For those, travel independently or stay in the area.