The Trummelbach Falls are impressive. Sure, you have seen waterfalls before. The kind that tumbles down steep hills or over a cliff. But have you seen one that is underground and so powerful it makes you want to hold onto the railing?
The Trummelbach Falls are quite unique, so it is not surprising that they are also a World Heritage site. They are also in fact Europe’s largest underground waterfalls and feature a series of ten waterfalls that are fed directly from the impressive Bernese alps above.
The glacial meltwater from the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau provide a jaw-dropping 20,000 litres (5200 gallons) of water per second to these ear-pounding falls. They certainly won’t disappoint!
It does pay to be prepared before you head out to the falls, so here is all the important information you need.
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Trummelbach Falls Opening Hours
Trümmelbach Falls are usually open in spring, at the beginning of April until November, weather conditions permitting. They open each day at 9 am and close at 5 pm in the shoulder seasons, and from 8.30-18.00 in July and August to accommodate the larger summer crowds.
Trummelbach Falls Prices
The following are the current costs of entering the Trummelbach falls as of late 2022:
- Adults: 14 CHF
- Children: 6 CHF
- Note: There are no discounts for a Swiss travel pass, Half tax or GA pass holders.
- Discounts for groups of 10 or more are available directly with the office
Useful Information
The Trummelbach falls are actually 10 waterfalls at varying heights inside the mountain which can be accessed by a lift or stairs. They are wheelchair accessible, which is great news. The modern tunnel lift takes you to a mid-point in the mountains around waterfall number 7.
The stairs are only moderately steep, but you should be in reasonable shape if you want to see all these glacial waterfalls. The stairs also have handrails which is super handy and help with safety as you can imagine, it gets very wet inside the mountain. If you are traveling with children, keep an eye on them around the falls.
Given how slippery it can get I would recommend you wear shoes with good grip, something like a hiking or outdoor shoe is the best idea. Slippers or sandals are not the best in this situation.
Also, keep in mind you will encounter a lot of spray, so bring a waterproof jacket which you can put on if you find there is too much spray.
Some of the falls at Trummelbach are lit up like this
Where Are The Trummelbach Falls?
Trummemelbach Falls are located on the side of the Lauterbrunnen Valley just up the valley from Lauterbrunnen, before Stechelberg. You can see the exact location of the falls on the map here, or click this link to see it separately on Google Maps.
It is perhaps no surprise that such a series of waterfalls is located in this valley as it is known as the valley of waterfalls and the name Lauterbrunnen actually translates to “many springs”! (Source)
How To Reach Trummelbach Falls?
The Trummelbach Falls are in Lauterbrunnen Valley only 3 km north of Lauterbrunnen and can be reached on foot, bicycle or via local bus.
If you are coming by car, you can park at the entrance to the falls. You can find the car park on Google Maps. It is on the valley floor around 2.5 km from Lauterbrunnen, 19.4km from Grindelwald and 16km from Interlaken directly.
You can also come on public transport via train to Lauterbrunnen and then take Bus 141 to the bus stop Trümmelbachfälle. Use the SBB online trip planner to find the exact time and connections.
How do you go to Trummelbach Falls from Mürren?
Mürren is only around 2km up the Lauterbrunnen valley from the Trummelbach falls. You could take a lovely walk along the valley to reach it, heading downhill, and return by bus. The bus ride is only 3 minutes each way.
Best Time to Visit
Trummelbach Falls can be visited most months of the year except for winter. This is due to ice and snow that can form in the waterfalls.
So, the best time to visit the Trummelbach Falls is in summer when they are at full flow and things are at the driest inside the tunnels. The only challenge with this is that this is peak season. So, I would suggest May or June, or September and October are ideal.
Try to get to the falls early to avoid the crowds and the organized tours which tend to arrive a little later in the morning, but still early enough.
How long does it take to visit the Trummelbach Falls?
Most people spend around 1-2 hours inside the Trümmelbach falls, depending on how much time you spend at each waterfall and how slowly you take the stairs. You can also spend some time at the restaurant’s outdoor seating area and enjoy the sunshine after you exit the complex.
Header image source: clare_and_ben on Flickr)
