The Staubbach Falls are the first thing you see arriving in Lauterbrunnen, and they make an immediate impression: 297 metres of free-falling water that breaks into spray before it reaches the valley floor. The name means "dust stream," which describes it precisely — in high water conditions, the whole mass of water transforms into a swaying cloud of mist that drifts with the breeze. This is Switzerland's highest free-falling waterfall.
A path leads up through the cliff to a cave behind the falls, accessible from the village on foot in about 20 minutes. The views back across the valley from the cave are worth the climb. The falls are most dramatic in spring and early summer when snowmelt is feeding them; by late summer they reduce considerably. Access is free at all times.