This put up might comprise affiliate hyperlinks. We might obtain a small fee, for gratis to you, in case you make a purchase order. Read Disclosure.
Mürren is a captivating, car-free village clinging to the cliff above the Lauterbrunnen Valley of waterfalls within the Berner Oberland of Switzerland.
A one time farm village first settled within the late middle-ages, it’s now a well-liked vacationer vacation spot, particularly as the bottom for the gorgeous Schilthorn Mountain Cable Way.
Located at 1638 meters above sea stage on the foot of the Schilthorn Mountain, Mürren is the best city of the Jungfrau area of the Swiss Alps. Expect to be amazed by panoramic views of craggy mountain peaks, and loads of alternatives for out of doors adventures.
If you’re planning a visit to Murren however undecided what there may be to see and do, this information is for you.
In this information, we share the highest issues to do in Mürren, Switzerland for all types of vacationers.
Whether you’re searching for the simplicity and pleasure that comes with leaving your automobile behind, desirous to benefit from the relaxed, small village ambiance or get pleasure from thrilling issues to do similar to climbing, exploring the waterfalls, or snowboarding – a go to to the Schilthorn Mountain and Murren won’t disappoint!
How to get to Mürren, Switzerland?
As talked about earlier, Murren is car-free, so getting there presents a little bit of an impediment!
Murren is situated within the Lauterbrunnen Valley within the Bernese Oberland. It’s nestled south of in style ski areas, Interlaken and Grindelwald, on the southwest wall of the valley above the city of Lauterbrunnen.
Getting to Mürren is an expertise in itself, and simply as lovely and adventurous because the vacation spot.
There are two methods to achieve the car-free village of Mürren:
- First approach to Murren: Head to the city of Lauterbrunnen. Ride the Mürrenbahn cable line from the Lauterbrunnen Rail Station, adopted by a narrow-gauge mountain railway, the BLM Grütschalp prepare, to the Murren Village Station.
- Second approach to Murren: Catch the Mürrenbahn cable line from Stechelber, which is about ten minutes from Lauterbrunner by bus or automobile.
The Stechelberg Route is claimed to be extra spectacular as a result of the cableway gives a greater view of the steep rock partitions rising from the valley.
You can park and depart your automobile on the station for 2 days. Before setting off, cease to look at the arrival paragliders who use the grass subject close to the station as a touchdown zone.
I boarded the cable tram to rise previous the valley cliff partitions to Gimmelwald, altering to the cable to Mürren.
I often journey by prepare in Switzerland with a Swiss Travel Pass.
Where to park your automobile
I used to be driving on this journey, so I parked within the Mürrenbahn Parking lot at Stechelberg. Stechelberg gives cheaper parking charges to Lauterbrunnen, and it’s also possible to catch the cable experience from there to Murren.
The parking fee is 11 Swiss Francs for one in a single day, with a reduction fee for a number of days, paid along with your entry ticket at a machine on the cable station.
As this area could be very in style, you could wish to reserve your parking spot upfront!
Things to do in Mürren, Switzerland
1. Explore the 72 Waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen Valley
A spotlight of any go to to this Swiss area is seeing the waterfalls gushing down into the Lauterbrunnen Valley from the vertical cliff faces.
The German phrase Lauterbrunnen interprets to “many fountains,” and on this valley there are at complete of 72 waterfalls with some as excessive as 400 meters flowing yr spherical.
The finest time to see waterfalls of their may is late spring or summer time, when the run off from snow soften makes the waterfalls magnificent and full.
The Lauterbrunnen Valley is claimed to be one of the lovely in Switzerland. It turned a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2001.
Rumor has it that Tolkien acquired the thought for Rivendell throughout a hike from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen.
This is a factor to do in Murren earlier than taking the cable automobile up, however you possibly can at all times experience it again down for a day tour.
2. Hike the Lauterbrunnen Valley Trail to Trümmelbach Falls
For the adventurous, there may be a straightforward 2.2 mile/3.5 km a technique hike from Lauterbrunnen to Trummelbach Falls passing by Staubach Fall.
The path winds by means of the gorgeous pastures of Lauterbrunnen Valley and previous small alps with waterfalls spilling down the sheer cliffs alongside each side of the valley. You can stroll again or experience a bus.
You can proceed the path to Stechelberg (4 mile/6.7km in complete), the place you may get the bus (or hike) again.
You may get the Stechelberg Funicular, which takes you as much as Gimmelwald.
From Gimmelwald, you possibly can take one other funicular to Mürren, which is simply accessible by prepare, climbing, or funicular.
Trümmelbach Falls
The distinctive Trümmelbach Falls are a “must see” pure wonders within the Berner Oberland of Switzerland.
It’s a sequence of ten separate glacial falls contained in the mountain rock that empties the waters of the higher ice of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau,
On scorching summer time days and after heavy thunderstorms, it carries as much as 20,000 liters of water per second by means of the slim gorge.
This distinctive attraction includes first going up contained in the mountain in an elevator after which strolling again down, partly inside and out of doors to see the spectacular waterfalls.
3. Check out Staubach Fall
The Staubach Fall, simply on the finish of Lauterbrunnen Village, is the best free-falling water stream in Switzerland. It stands majestic towards the background of slim steep cliffs which appear to vanish into the gap past.
Johann Goethe, the author of Faust, was a vacationer to the valley in 1779 and wrote a poem to the fantastic thing about the Staubach Fall, the “Song of the Spirit of the Waters.”
The poem begins “From heaven it comes, to heaven it rises, and down again to the earth it must,” relating the water to the journey of the human soul.
There is a slight detour path (about 30 minutes) that goes uphill and behind the waterfall and is simply opened throughout the summertime. You’ll additionally get a fantastic view of the valley from right here.
From Lauterbrunnen village, it solely takes about 10 minutes to hike to the foot of Staubbach Falls.
4. Mürrenbach Waterfall
From a top of 417 meters above Mürrenfluh, the water falls in 5 cascades. It can also be one of many tallest falls in Switzerland and is uninterrupted all year long.
You can see glimpses of Murrenbach Falls from sure spots on the outskirts of Lauterbrunnen city, however probably the most direct views of are from the Schilthornbahn cable automobile station.
The open-air lot is straight throughout from the Mürrenbach waterfall the place a tributary runs into the Lütschine River. I didn’t have fairly sufficient time to hike to the waterfall, however it was well worth the stroll to really feel the sprays from up shut.
5. Have lunch at Piz Gloria on the Schilthorn Mountain Summit
One of the most well-liked issues to do in Mürren is to go to Schilthorn Mountain and luxuriate in a James Bond Brunch within the Piz Gloria.
When the cable automobile raise was being in-built 1967 with a plan for the world’s first revolving restaurant, the producers of the James Bond films have been searching for a location for the following movie.
The script known as for a mountaintop lair for the villain, Blofeld, to supply for thrilling mountain sequences.
The cable firm was quick on cash and made a cope with the filmmakers.
The James Bond movie would fund a number of the building value and can be allowed to design the setting to suit their wants. They added a helicopter pad, which nonetheless serves because the statement deck.
The movie, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” was launched in 1968, with George Lazenby as the brand new James Bond, to switch Sean Connery, who had left the sequence. (He would come again later.) The movie co-starred Diana Rigg contemporary off her run as Mrs. Peel on “The Avengers” TV sequence.
The deck of the Schilthorn seems to be out at over 2 hundred mountain peaks, and in clear climate you possibly can see all the way in which to Lake Constance, bordering Switzerland and Germany.
Inside is the principle attraction, the revolving restaurant, Piz Gloria, which takes about 45 minutes for a full 360-degree flip of the platform. You barely discover it shifting, however the vista outdoors is completely different everytime you search for.
The brunch is a buffet, very nicely ready, however not that completely different from a lodge, besides that it’s being served at 10,000 ft.
You can spike your orange juice with some glowing Champagne for a little bit of James Bond sophistication. The design of the brass wall grills and lamps are holdovers from the film set.
And after a flip across the view, a go to downstairs gives a set of Bond theme displays, a movie show for temporary excerpts and a little bit of Schilthorn historical past.
Two displays are fairly enjoyable, a helicopter you possibly can nearly fly on the controls, up the mountain face, and a digital Bob Sled that places you within the motion of one of many signature sequences of the film.
Outdoors, if the climate cooperates, is an added Bond “Walk of Fame” throughout the rocky crag of the mountain summit, with signposts of Bond characters, although any go to to a mountain peak in Switzerland is a little bit of the luck of the draw with climate, and time of yr.
You may get solar, snow, or be caught in a miasma of a drifting cloud.
I used to be fortunate with the solar, till I returned to the Birg Station, midway between the village and mountain summit. It is right here the place an element metal, half glass ground walkway wraps across the rock face mountain for the “Thrill Walk.”
A cloud had enveloped the cliff, so slightly than a thrill stroll in white haze, I’d strive later.
6. Relax and watch the paragliders at Hotel Regina
A approach to go the time stress-free, for which a car-free village is especially suited, I discovered a desk on the deck of the Hotel Regina.
Relaxing with a neighborhood Black Beer, Schwarzen Mönch, brewed in close by Gimmelwald and a vegetarian sandwich.
The paragliders have been unfurling their parachutes on a grassy slope and launching to hovering arcs, first over the village, then winding down into the valley.
I had earlier loved my very own first tandem paragliding journey within the Italian Dolomites with 360 Cortina d’Ampezzo, so I might envision the sense of freedom and thrill of hanging underneath a parachute because the world drops away.
To paraglide from Mürren, the providers can be found with Airtime-Paragliding in Lauterbrunnen. The flight ends on the Stechelberg tram station parking zone.
7. Walk the Skyline and Thrill Walk
The clouds had cleared, and a stroll within the sky beckoned. It’s time for one of the adventurous issues to do in Murren – the Thrill Walk!
You’ll discover it on the half-way cease to the Schilthorn, the Birg Station.
Birg Station options the Skyline Restaurant, which is generally an out of doors terrace with a partial glass deck on the finish; and the Skyline, for mountain views that may be like standing within the clouds.
A stairway down results in the Thrill Walk, a walkway alongside the mountain face, with sections of glass, although they left sufficient steel stroll if strolling on glass is an excessive amount of.
Chain enclosed sections additionally enable a tightrope stroll, and a kid-sized suspended cage tunnel challenges adults to suit. Both experiences are free, included with the cable experience.
The cable to the highest of the Schilthorn from the valley is 108 Swiss Francs by means of 2022. It’s sixty % much less with a Swiss Travel Pass and forty-percent low cost with a Eurail Pass. Children are half-price.
You might wish to think about personal excursions to Schilthorn, which can provide extra comfort and a gaggle low cost fee. Here are three choices
Video: Schilthorn Piz Gloria and Skyline Thrill Walk of Switzerland
See the fantastic thing about this space within the Schilthorn video.
8. Ride the funicular to Allmendhubel
A funicular rises from the Mürren village as much as the flowery glens above on the Allmendhubel mountain, taking you to see lovely views of the Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger.
It’s a brief 4 minute journey, particularly suited to households. The Panorama Restaurant Allmendhubel on the prime of the funicular overlooks a path of flowers in spring and snow trails in winter.
The kids’s Flower Park playground is simply in view of the restaurant so youngsters can discover whereas mother & dad take some refreshing time.
The playground is especially attention-grabbing for the rope slings, secure however impressed by surrounding peaks, and carved wood marmots, the Swiss model of a woodchuck, watching over the underground enjoyable marmot burrows.
The simple 2km Flower Trail leads down by means of fields and forest again to Mürren. Perfect for households you possibly can admire over 150 alpine flowers similar to edelweiss, gentians and alpine roses.
9. Admire views from Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe
The different prime attraction within the Murren area is Jungfraujoch: The Top of Europe. It’s one of the iconic and delightful locations within the Swiss Alps.
Jungfraujoch is a viewing level Bernese Alps and, at an altitude of three,454 m, Europe’s highest prepare station. It lies on the finish of the engineering marvel of a tunnel that cuts by means of the rock of the mountain ridge.
The tunnel main up from the station Eigergletscher is seven kilometers in size and was constructed between 1896 and 1912. Along the tunnel are home windows lower from the rock with views out to the glaciers.
Don’t miss these Jungfraujoch Attractions
- The Sphinx Observatory is without doubt one of the highest observatories on the planet they usually have an open viewing deck. It has panoramic views of Jungfrau and Mönch peaks, Eiger and the Aletsch Glacier.
- The Ice Palace is an ice tunnel underneath the glacier stuffed carved ice sculptures which change from season to season.
- Glacier Plateau is a well-liked picture cease for the views over the Jungfrau and Silberhorn peaks. This viewpoint gives the perfect views of the mountains of Germany and France and on the opposite facet an unobstructed view of the Aletsch Glacier.
- Hikers can be pleased to listen to of the path by means of the glacier to Mönchsjochhütte or Mönchsjoch Hut , a serviced mountain hut. Be cautious climbing on glaciers with out skilled native guides and you should definitely keep on the trail.
There are two methods to get to Jungfraujoch
- Train from Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald Kleine Scheidegg, the place you turn trains for the luxurious Jungfrau Railway.
- The new Eiger Espress tri-cable gondola from Grindelwald to the Eiger Glacier station. From Eiger, there’s a prepare for the final part. This is the quickest approach to get to Jungfraujoch, chopping the journey down by 47 minutes every means. You can get the prepare down through Kleine Scheidegg for a distinct expertise.
Top tip: Be positive to e-book a prepare or gondola ticket upfront, particularly throughout the excessive season. Do that right here.
Tickets are costly, however many will say a go to to Jungfraujoch is value it. The Swiss Pass and Eurail Passes have reductions on Jungfraujoch tickets.
It could also be cheaper to go to with a tour slightly than by yourself, as they will get group reductions. This is an particularly good tip in case you are not staying in Murren or different close by areas and are coming from greater cities.
Here are a number of choices.
10. Eat at Venison on the Drei Berge Hotel (Formerly Hotel Bellevue)
I had my favourite meal in Mürren at Drei Berge Hotel, previously known as the Belleview Hotel. Located a brief stroll from the central road up the hill previous the Allmendhubel Station, this restaurant options an out of doors terrace deck that appears out throughout the village.
They had a particular provide on for a venison dish of wildhirsch (wild deer) freshly hunted by the lodge proprietor, Othmar Suter.
I’ll admit to being a fan of jäger stubli (hunter delicacies) frequent in Germany and the Alps, extra traditional in Autumn.
It was a well-known dish, Venison filet in wild mushroom sauce with butter spätzle, purple cabbage with chestnuts and caramelized pear.
Even after some attempting another eating places of a number of Gault Millau factors and Michelin stars, this dish was probably the most pleasant.
11. Eat Spare Ribs at The Alpenrue, Wengen
Spare Ribs isn’t a dish usually related to Switzerland, however I used to be additionally capable of pattern a neighborhood model on the Alpenrue Hotel Restaurant, which is legendary for its ribs served with a decidedly massive portion of French fries.
The Alpenrue is a captivating lodge in-built 1881, making it the oldest lodge within the car-free close by village of Wengen. To get there, you possibly can catch a prepare or cable automobile and hike.
It was from right here that I took certainly one of my favourite photographs of the Eiger at fiery daybreak.
12. Walk the Ferrata Mürren through the Nepal Bridge
A well-liked and thrilling expertise in Murren is strolling (or ought to I say climbing) the Via Ferrata to Grimmelwald. This path additionally requires crossing a slim, metal suspension bridge much like what you’d discover crossing ravines in Nepal.
The Nepal Footbridge sits in the course of the two.2km hike from Murren to Gimmelwald, which is an expertise in itself.
In case you didn’t know, a ferrata is a kind of hike that’s in style within the alps, and is characterised by mounted steel cables, rungs, and ladders connected the the cliff edge, the place brace folks can ascend and descend steep mountain sides while connected through a security rope.
You start the journey by clinging to the facet of the cliff and shimmying your means down ladders, earlier than reaching the suspension bridge.
Nestled 600 meters above the Lauterbrunnen Valley ground, the Nepal Bridge isn’t for the faint hearted.
This Via Ferrata is exclusive in that it’s downwards all the way in which to Grimmelwald. Be positive to e-book onto a tour so you may get security gear similar to helmet, climbing harness, and a educated information to point out you the way it’s achieved.
Bring your nerves of metal for this one!
Where to remain in Mürren: Hotel Blumental
I used to be staying this time on the Hotel Blumental, which takes its identify from the flowery Alpine meadow above the village.
The cozy chalet model lodge was quiet and nearly vacant because it was early within the season. There are solely about 450 everlasting residents in Mürren, however 2,000 lodge beds, which fill within the excessive seasons of summer time and winter.
After settling in my room, which seemed out throughout a tin roof to the village, I opened the windowed door to the balcony for a contemporary Alpine breeze, and a thunderous roar started.
With the briefest warning of a thunderclap, the skies opened and a storm of hail the dimensions of marbles invaded the peace.
The ice stones beat upon the tin, and the rain washed in gulleys down the highway from the inexperienced slopes above. The storm was temporary, however I loved it in consolation from a balcony chair, simply shielded from the torrent.
I used to be happy the following morning to see that the little umbrella had saved the flower field blooms. I’m now positive a standard customized of mountain life.
If you’re searching for different lodging in Murren, you should utilize the map beneath to check accommodations and short-term rental choices.
Best Time To Visit Murren
The finest time to go to Murren is in the summertime season when the alpine meadows are in bloom and the paths are dry sufficient for climbing.
The surroundings in summer time (June to October) is breathtaking, and you’ve got much less likelihood of rain in mid-summer (July and August) although it doesn’t matter what time of yr you go to, you need to be ready for interchangeable climate.
I had skilled the ever changeable Alps climate as quickly as I arrived in Murren.
The day I arrived, the cable experience was sunny, with just a few clouds, and I used to be capable of take a stroll by means of the village for some photos without having for a jacket.
It’s solely about ten minutes from one finish to the opposite, and a few youngsters have been enjoying on a big oversize backyard chess board on the street.
Then I seen a neighborhood gentleman on the usually Swiss wood balcony of a store, putting small gossamer umbrellas within the flower packing containers, which festoon the village with the colours of summer time.
I solely realized later that he was extra accustomed to the native climate forecast than I.
Within minutes the clouds had turned gray, and I nearly made it again to my lodge earlier than the Heavens opened and a hail storm took maintain. It lasted for about 10 minutes, however it was mighty.
Murren additionally has a ski resort, which generally runs from December to March, and it’s a well-liked space for snowboarding.
However, due to the unpredictable climate, I’d say summer time is a greater time to go as ski passes are costly for a day, and if the climate does flip unhealthy, no less than you don’t really feel such as you miss out if you need to duck indoors and wait it out.
More Travel Guides For The Alps
Pin To Save It On Pinterest
