96 Hours in Wengen

Is Wengen For You?

Wengen is a quiet & scenic mountain-side town located at the top of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

It’s the perfect destination for couples and for families travelling with kids, especially with the car-free nature of Wengen.

So if you are looking for a quiet retreat in the winter or in the summer, then Wengen is a good fit for you.

Is Lauterbrunnen the Same as Wengen?

Don’t be fooled, Lauterbrunnen & Wengen are two different places, so first-timers should be aware when searching for hotels.

Lauterbrunnen is the bottom of the valley, while Wengen is rests above the mountainside (with views of the valley).

For visitors interested in a more touristy vibe with restaurant options & accessible by car, then Lauterbrunnen is for you.

But if you’re looking to a nature escape and enjoy some peace & serenity, with stunning valley views, then continue to Wengen.

How to Get to Wengen?

By train: You will need to take a long-distance train to the Interlaken Ost station. You can buy your tickets via Germany’s Deutsche Bahn or Switzerland’s SBB.

By car: Since Wengen is a car-free mountaintop town, you cannot drive your vehicle (e.g. rental car) up there. You will have to park your vehicle at a garage near the Lauterbrunnen train station, then take the 15-minute train ride on the Wengernalpbahn up to Wengen.

Where to Park Your Car in Lauterbrunnen?

Parkhaus Lauterbrunnen is your best option with 940 parking spaces in a covered multi-storey garage.

We haven’t parked there since we travelled by train in our previous 2 trips, so I can’t speak for the specifics.

But you can contact the Parkhaus Lauterbrunnen at +41 33 828 71 11 if you have any questions, especially EV charging stations availability.

Where Can You Buy Your Train Tickets from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen?

There are self-service kiosks at each train station, even the most random stops along the trail.

But if it’s your first time, we recommend talking to the friendly staff in the visitor’s center so that you buy the correct ticket.

And don’t worry, they can speak excellent English (as well as German & French).

How Much is a One-way Train Ticket between Lauterbrunnen & Wengen?

According to trainline (as of February 2025), each one-way ticket is 7.20 CHF (Swiss Franks).

How Long is the Train Ride from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen?

Swiss train are precise and punctual, so you can trust that direct train ride takes 12 minutes between Lauterbrunnen & Wengen on the yellow & green Wengernalpbahn 🚞.

During busy times, there is a another train that runs between the two towns, but may take 2-3 minutes longer since it has stops upon request.

How Do You Get Around in Wengen (and the Jungfrau Region)

By train: The Jungfrau Travel Pass is your best option for 3 to 8 days of unlimited use of mountain railways, cable cars, trains, and even boats!

If you’re staying in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen, this Jungfrau Travel Pass is valid starting at Interlaken Ost (into the Jungfrau region).

This pass is much cheaper than buying tickets for each one-way trip - and yes, they were frequent visits from ticket controllers on trains.

Tip: To save some money, you can consider buying the Jungfrau Travel Pass for your “full days” in the region. For your first day and/or last day, consider getting a one-way ticket since you won’t need unlimited access on those days anyways.

When Are the Peak Times at Wengen?

In the winter, December & late-February to mid-March is the peak time for snow-seeking visitors & skiers.

In the summer, June to August is the peak time for hiking, but also for international visitors interested to see the sights.

And every weekend showed an increase in train traffic, mostly tourists and weekend road-trippers.

FYI: We learned that winter visitors tend to stay longer (from several days to a couple of weeks) compared to summer visitors (who usually stay for 1-2 nights on average).

Which Hotel Should You Stay At in Wengen?

Hotel Regina in Wengen is our top hotel recommendation, but it might not live up to everyone’s taste.

We stayed at Hotel Regina for the first time during our summer hiking trip in 2022.

The staff were kind and accommodating to us. Plus, the scenic breakfast views from the patio of Hotel Regina is unlike any other.

So in February 2025, we booked our 4-night stay at Hotel Regina again.

This season, the hotel made some noticeable upgrades!

They had a talented Italian pianist playing covers in the hotel lobby, the bar was tendered by a skilled & seasoned Italian bartender, the housekeeping team paid attention to detail (even for the daily cleanings), and the front desk staff were very kind & helpful.

Oh, and now they have a self-care space included a dry sauna, a steam bath, and a massage therapist - which are all perfect after a long day of skiing.

But why did I say that it might not live up to everyone’s taste?

If you’re looking for an upscale hotel with all of these perks, you continue searching - perhaps consider the Beausite Hotel in Wengen.

But if you’re comfortable staying at a historic & vintage hotel with stunning balcony views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, then Hotel Regina is your next stop.

FYI: From the Wengen train station, Hotel Regina is the first hotel that you can walk to, albeit a steep 2-minute incline walk under the “H R” gate.

Tip: Travelling with lots of heavy luggage? Call the front desk of Hotel Regina at +41 33 856 58 58 in advance (ideally before you get on the Wengen train). With enough notice, they can have one of their staff meet you at the train station with his luggage cart.

So, Is 4 Days Enough in Wengen?

For your first time in Wengen, yes - 4 days is enough.

We’ll warn you now that you will want to come back for another 4 days, a week, or even more!

Wengen & the Jungfrau region is a real-world fairy tale in the summer and a wonderland in the winter.

Invest in the Jungfrau Travel Pass to get around stress-free from train to train.

If your budget persists, consider a one-time trip to the Jungfraujoch - the observation deck at the top of Europe.

Hike in the summer. Ski in the winter. Relax all year round.

As always: Travel safe. Have fun. Share your experience with us!