Lauterbrunnen in 3D: The Valley of Seventy-Two Waterfalls

A glacial valley in the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen is walled by cliffs over which 72 waterfalls tumble — the setting said to have inspired Tolkien's Rivendell. Here's how to explore every corner of Lauterbrunnen in 3D with live Street View — right from your iPhone.

A glacial valley in the Swiss Alps, Lauterbrunnen is walled by cliffs over which 72 waterfalls tumble — the setting said to have inspired Tolkien's Rivendell.

But here's the catch: most people will never stand here in person. The flights, the crowds, the sheer distance — Lauterbrunnen stays firmly on the someday list. The good news is that you no longer have to wait for someday. You can explore Lauterbrunnen today, in full 3D with live Street View, right from your phone.

The valley's name means 'many fountains' — a nod to the 72 waterfalls that ring its glacier-cut walls. That history is exactly what makes it worth seeing up close — and worth scouting properly before you go.

What makes Lauterbrunnen special

A few sights define Lauterbrunnen, and you'll want to find each of them when you explore in 3D:

• Staubbach Falls — A 300-metre free-falling waterfall that drifts on the wind above the village.

• Trümmelbach Falls — A thundering series of glacier falls carved inside the mountain itself, reached by tunnel lift.

• Valley View — The valley floor, where meadows, chalets and cliff-top falls line up beneath the peaks.

• The wider setting — half the magic of Lauterbrunnen is the landscape around it, which reads best from above in a 3D view.

Together, these sights give Lauterbrunnen its unmistakable character. Exploring in 3D lets you move between all of them in seconds — comparing the angles, judging the distances, and deciding which ones deserve the most of your time when you finally visit in person.

How to explore Lauterbrunnen in 3D with MAPAS

You don't need a plane ticket to walk these streets. Here's the fastest way to experience Lauterbrunnen from your sofa:

1. Open MAPAS and search for Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland — the map drops you straight into the region.

1. Switch to 3D view and tilt the map so the terrain, buildings and landscape rise into relief around you.

1. Drop into Live Street View near Staubbach Falls, the view most visitors travel here for, and look around in every direction.

1. Fly across to Valley View to see it from an angle few travellers ever reach on foot.

1. Turn on GPS navigation to trace the real walking route between the sights — so the day you arrive, you already know it by heart.

The best viewpoints to look for

When you're exploring in 3D, aim for these spots — they're the exact angles photographers wait all morning for:

• Staubbach Falls — 46.5936° N, 7.9089° E

• Trümmelbach Falls — 46.5817° N, 7.9086° E

• Valley View — 46.5936° N, 7.9086° E

Line any of them up in 3D first, and you'll know precisely where to stand — and which hour of the day gives you the light — long before you travel.

Why see it in 3D before you go

Scouting a destination virtually isn't just fun — it saves real time and money. You'll spot which viewpoints are worth the climb, how the sights connect, and where the crowds gather, so your actual visit is spent seeing rather than searching. You arrive already oriented, instead of burning your first morning getting lost.

And if a trip to Lauterbrunnen isn't on the calendar yet, the 3D tour stands on its own — a genuine way to experience one of the world's most remarkable places from wherever you are.

Good to know

A few essentials before you dive in:

• Cost — MAPAS is free to download on the App Store, with no sign-up required to start exploring.
• Best for — trip planning, virtual travel, and scouting photo spots like Staubbach Falls before you commit to a route.
• Works on — iPhone and iPad, so you can plan on the couch and navigate on the road.
• Part of — our "Hidden Places You Must See" series, a growing collection of the world's most surreal destinations in 3D.

Plan the real trip (when you're ready)

Lauterbrunnen is a scenic train ride from Interlaken. Use it as a base for Mürren and the Jungfrau region; late spring sends the falls into full flow.

Whenever you do go, a little virtual scouting means you'll spend your time on the ground soaking it in rather than working out where to point the camera. Until then, the 3D version is open 24/7 — no crowds, no flights, no queue for the viewpoint.