Lauterbrunnen

Visited: Dec 9, 2023

Lauterbrunnen was a place that had only existed in our dreams—a picturesque village we’d seen in a social media post a few years ago and had joked about visiting. But now that we were here, standing amidst the snow-covered streets, it was more beautiful than we could have ever imagined. The snowy landscape looked like something straight out of a fairy tale, and we had to keep pinching ourselves to believe it was real. But with such beauty came a harsh reality—everything was incredibly expensive! We checked a nearby restaurant menu and saw a shocking price...£25 for a cheeseburger—no chips, no salad, just the burger.

Before we left the train, we’d spoken to a friendly lady who checked our tickets and informed us that the same ticket granted us entry to the cable car. Both of us are terrified of heights, but knowing this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, we decided we couldn’t pass it up. First, though, we took some time to explore the streets of Lauterbrunnen, wrapped in a blanket of snow that made the village even more magical.

The only downside was that we weren’t dressed for the occasion. Our shoes, meant for city walks, were no match for the icy paths, and our feet soon started to freeze. We sought refuge in a cozy little café, where we met a lovely Swiss gentleman, the first Swiss person we’d really spoken to! He spoke English, French, Italian, and German—a reminder of how linguistically diverse and well-educated the locals are, given Switzerland’s location in the heart of Europe.

We ordered tea, which turned out to be quite affordable at just £4 each—an absolute steal in Switzerland, considering how high the cost of living is here. After warming up, we ventured out again to grab some lunch, but dining at the restaurants was out of the question. The prices were just too high for our budget, so we made a quick stop at the local Co-op instead. For around £25, we got a sandwich, some crisps, water, and a bar of Swiss chocolate. It wasn’t the fanciest meal, but it certainly felt like the more sensible option over an overpriced cheeseburger!

With our bellies full and feet slightly warmer, it was time for the main event—the cable car. Despite our fear of heights, we couldn’t pass up the chance to ascend to the mountain village of Mürren, perched 5,000 feet above the valley.

You can read more about that trip here.