Bernese Oberland

4 Sleeping
Hotel Staubbach HOTEL $$
(%033 855 54 54; www.staubbach.com; s Sfr130-
150, d Sfr150-170, tr Sfr210-240, s/d without bathroom
Sfr100/120; iW) The bright rooms with
downy duvets are immaculately kept at this
grand old hotel; the best have balconies with
Staubbach Falls views. There’s a sociable
vibe in the lounge with free coff ee and a
kids’ play area.
Valley Hostel HOSTEL $
(%033 855 20 08; www.valleyhostel.ch; dm/s/
tw/d/tr/q Sfr28/43/66/76/99/120; pW) This
relaxed, family-run hostel has an open-plan
kitchen, a garden with tremendous views of
the Staubbach Falls, a laundry, free wi-fi and
a cat, Tiggy. Most of the spacious, pine-clad
dorms have balconies. The friendly team can
help organise activities from paragliding to
canyoning.
Camping Jungfrau CAMPGROUND $
(%033 856 20 10; www.camping-jungfrau.ch; sites
per adult/tent/car Sfr9.80/11/3.50, dm Sfr29-32;
iW) This Rolls Royce of a campsite also
off ers cosy dorms and huts for those craving
more comfort. The top-notch facilities include
a kitchen, kiosk, bike rental and wi-fi .
There’s even a dog shower for messy pups!
Gästehaus im Rohr GUESTHOUSE $
(%033 855 21 82; www.chaletimrohr.ch; r per
person Sfr28; W) Ablaze with scarlet geraniums
in summer, this 400-year-old chalet
is a bargain. Creaky fl oorboards and small
windows add to its cosy, old-world charm.
The ’70s-style rooms are humble but spotless,
and there’s a huge communal balcony
overlooking the falls.
5 Eating & Drinking
oAirtime CAFE $
(www.airtime.ch; snacks & light meals Sfr6-15;
h9am-7pm; W) Inspired by their travels in
New Zealand, Daniela and Beni have set
up this funky cafe, book exchange, laundry
and extreme sports agency. Munch wraps,
sandwiches and homemade cakes (try the
chocolate-nut special) as you use the free
wi-fi to check your email. You can book
adrenalin-fuelled pursuits like ice climbing,
canyoning and bungee jumping here.
Flavours CAFE $
(www.fl avours.ch; snacks & light meals Sfr6-14;
h7.30am-6.30pm) Whether you fancy a slapup
egg-and-bacon breakfast, homemade
cakes with locally roasted coff ee or a
smoothie, Flavours is the go-to place. Housed
in the former bakery, it’s a grocery store
on one side and a sleek cafe on the other.
Warm up over hearty soups and savoury
quiches. Choc-Rock truffl es make a sweet
gift.
Hotel Oberland SWISS $$
(%033 855 12 41; mains Sfr18-36; h11am-9pm)
The street-facing terrace at this traditional
haunt is always humming. On the menu
are Swiss and international favour ites from
fondue to pizza, vegetable curry and hybrid
dishes like Indian-style rösti.
Hotel Horner BAR
(%033 855 16 73; h9.30am-2.30am; W) BASE
jumpers tell hair-raising parachute tales at
this buzzy pub, as they come back down to
earth over a pint or four. The vibe gets clubbier
as the night wears on. Internet access or
wi-fi is free when you buy a drink.
8 Information
The tourist offi ce (%033 856 85 68; www.my
lauterbrunnen.com; h8.30am-noon & 1.30-
6pm Jun-Sep, 9am-noon & 1.30-5pm Mon-Fri
rest of year) is opposite the train station.
If you’re travelling to the car-free resorts of
Wengen and Mürren, there’s a multistorey car
park (%033 828 71 11; www.jungfraubahn.ch;
per day/week Sfr13.50/82) by the station, but
it’s advisable to book ahead. There is also an
open-air car park by the Stechelberg cable-car
station, charging Sfr5 for a day.
Wengen
POP 1300 / ELEV 1274M
Photogenically poised on a mountain
ledge, Wengen’s ‘celestial views’ have lured
Brits here since Edwardian times. The fact
you can only reach this chocolate-box village
by train gives it romantic appeal. From
the bench in front of the church at dusk,
the vista takes on watercolour dreaminess,
peering over to the misty Staubbach
Falls, down to the Lauterbrunnen Valley
and up to glacier-capped giants of the
Jungfrau massif. In winter, Wengen
morphs into a ski resort with a low-key,
family-friendly feel.
The highlight in Wengen’s calendar is
the world-famous Lauberhorn downhill
ski race in mid-January, where pros reach
speeds of up to 160km/h. Mere mortals can
pound powder by taking the cable car to
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JUNGFRAU BERNESE OBERLAND REGION SLEEPING
WENGEN