Your ultimate Mürren Switzerland travel guide (and tips): how to get to Mürren, the best hotels, the best restaurants in Murren, visiting Schilthorn, and more!
Hey there my Switzerland travel enthusiasts!
Great to have you over on another exciting post about this wonderful country.
Having spent a full week in Switzerland this summer, hiking and simply staring in awe at the majestic Swiss Alps, I’ve decided to create this mini travel guide for one of the most spectacular villages you absolutely need to visit when in Switzerland: MÜRREN.
In fact, the entire Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland deserves a few days of your holiday, that is, if you’re into fairytale-like kind of views. 😉
Even the great J.R.R Tolkien has apparently been mesmerized by the beauty of the region which is said to have been the inspiration for the famous Rivendell of The Lord of the Rings. How’s that for a fun fact for my fellow LOR fans?! Once you’re there, you really do see the resemblance.
But back to Mürren, and why you absolutely need to add it to your European travel bucket list.
MÜRREN – QUICK FACTS
Mürren is a car-free mountain resort, situated on top of the Lauterbrunnen Valley, at 1.638m (5.374ft) above sea level.
The moment you step out of the train station you will feel like you can touch the peaks of the Alps surrounding it: Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
Mürren is also the way to reach Schilthorn peak and its famous Piz Gloria revolving restaurant. You definitely don’t want to miss this experience. Check out the post for all the great adventures that await you there.
HOW TO GET TO MÜRREN
The best way to get to Mürren is to fly to Zürich and then hop on the train, all the way to Lauterbrunnen. From here, you will take the cable car to Gimmelwald and then you will reach the beautiful village. This will take approximately 3 hours. From Geneva (which is another flight option), the journey will be 1 hour longer.
The first thing you should know is that Mürren is a car-free village, so it cannot be reached by road. If you are planning on renting a car, you can park it at Lauterbrunnen station. You will then hop on the cable car and afterward take the train shuttle. It’s one of the most spectacular train rides you will ever see!
(This is what we’ve done and worked out great. We ended up paying 30 CHF for 2 days of parking)
WHERE TO STAY – BEST HOTELS
There is a variety of beautiful hotels and chalets, most of them facing the mountain peaks so the views are guaranteed. This is one of the reasons we actually decided to stay in Mürren during this part of our trip, the views are outstanding!
You should definitely consider booking several months in advance, as Mürren is a popular tourist destination, especially in summer and winter.
Here are some great hotel options:
Eiger Guesthouse (mid-range)
This is where we stayed and definitely recommend it, whether you are traveling as a couple or a bigger family. It’s a cute and cozy chalet, right across the street from the Mürren train station, so the location is perfect. It has a great restaurant (definitely try the raclette), a bar, and a game room. The hosts are extremely friendly and always happy to tell you all about the village and all the great things you can do here. We’ve particularly LOVED the view from our room on the top floor. To me, the Eiger Guesthouse has one of the best views in Mürren.
Hotel Edelweiss (mid-range)
Another great option is this 1927 hotel, built on the edge of the Mürrenfluh rock face. It will delight you with panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains as well as the Lauterbrunnen valley. Also worth checking out their incredible terrace – you won’t be able to take your eyes off that view! We loved to cozy up on the couch, enjoying some wine and admiring the paragliders in the distance.
Hotel Eiger (luxury):
If you’re looking for a luxury stay and a bit of pampering, then definitely try Hotel Eiger. This 4 stars hotel is located right next to the Eiger Guesthouse and offers incredible views of the mountains. You’ll also be able to enjoy an amazing spa with an indoor pool (which is perfect as you cannot really count on the weather up in the mountains). The perfect stay for a relaxing and pampered trip in the Swiss Alps.
2 DAYS ITINERARY – WHAT TO DO
Here is how to make the most of your time in this wonderful region of Switzerland.
Of course, I can only speak from experience, so I’m going to share with you exactly what we’ve done during our stay.
Day 1: Hotel check-in and explore the village
We arrived in Mürren in the afternoon, around 6 pm, and went straight to the hotel to check in. Luckily it was right across the street, which was perfect considering all our luggage.
Then right away we went exploring. The village is pretty small, with lots of nice chalets, restaurants, and hotels along its main road. In just a few minutes walk from the train station, we reached the Schilthorn cable car, where we purchased the tickets for the next day.
Then went along another route on the way back, admiring the beautiful mountain lodges. Unfortunately, the weather was a bit cloudy so we couldn’t see the mountain peaks but that completely changed the next morning!
Day 2: Schilthorn Piz Gloria & Birg Thrill Walk
We woke up to an amazing sunny day and no clouds! All 3 peaks were shining in the morning sun and I couldn’t wait to start exploring. So after a quick breakfast, we got our hiking boots on and were ready for the next adventure!
One of the best things to do in Mürren (and actually a MUST-SEE for any mountain lover) is Schilthorn peak. Breathe in the fresh mountain air at 4.000 m high and enjoy the breathtaking views above the clouds.
It’s also pretty cold up there so make sure to pack warm clothes, even in summer. You’ll need a windproof jacket and fleece underneath in the middle of July. And don’t forget a hat to shield you from the sun and to apply SPF on your face.
At Piz Gloria, you will find the first revolving restaurant in the world. If you’d like to try it, make sure to book a few days in advance, to avoid queuing. We decided to skip it and walk on the mountain top instead.
THE BIRG THRILL WALK
We had an even better spot for lunch – at BIRG. This is the cable car stop on the way to Schithorn, and actually my favorite place out of the two. It’s a little bit warmer and the mountains seem closer here.
Birg also has a small restaurant with a terrace but if you are on a budget, you can just pack your own sandwich and enjoy it on the pink steps, right in front of the mountains.
Next, make sure to go on the BIRG THRILL WALK – this is such an amazing adventure! (not recommended if you are afraid of heights). It’s a suspended metal construction, on the mountain cliff, with several fun elements along the way (glass floor, hanging bridge).
It takes about 15 minutes to complete, depending on how crowded it is. We were lucky not to have too many people around that day.
PRO TIP: make sure to take the early morning cable car, to avoid crowds. Even though there were fewer tourists due to covid, at lunchtime, the cable cars got packed!
This whole adventure took us about half a day, so next, we got back to Mürren and went for tea at Edelweiss terrace before a raclette dinner at Eiger Guesthouse restaurant.
Day 3: train shuttle back to Lauterbrunnen and explore the valley
After another look at those beautiful peaks from our hotel room, we hopped on the train shuttle and headed down to Lauterbrunnen. We had a short walk through the village, admiring the waterfalls, and then drove on for a few more miles in the valley before heading back to Amsterdam.
4 OTHER EXCITING ACTIVITIES
Here are some other great activities to do in Mürren, perfect for couples and families:
- Go on the via Ferrata – plenty of adrenaline-boosting activities in the region. We haven’t done this one (I am not THAT brave), but you can find out everything you need to know HERE.
- Hike down to Gimmelwald – this is an easy and accessible 2km hike, which takes about 30-45 minutes.
- Try paragliding! If this is something you’ve always wanted to try, the Mürren is definitely the perfect place – what can be better than flying around these gorgeous mountains?! Find out more HERE.
- Play tennis at one of the most beautiful tennis courts in the world! Added to my bucket list for the next visit!! 😀
If you’ve enjoyed this guide and are interested in traveling to Switzerland, I’m sure you are also going to love my full series:
- 10 EPIC Things To Do in ZERMATT, Switzerland
- 10+ Best Hikes In Switzerland | Ultimate Hiking Guide For Beginners
- What To Do in ZERMATT in SUMMER: 6 Amazing Activities And Travel Tips
- 21 Unique Places to Visit in Switzerland
- Why You Need to Add Schilthorn to Your Bucket List
- Matterhorn FOCUS Design Hotel Review – The Best View In Zermatt
Pin for later 😉
Leave a Reply