The Ultimate Guide to Mürren, Switzerland
When most people plan a trip to the Jungfrau Region, they usually focus on Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen or Wengen.
Mürren often ends up as a quick stop on the way to Schilthorn.
I think that’s a mistake.
After visiting Mürren twice—including spending a night at the beautiful Mürren Palace Hotel during our Bernese Oberland Traverse—it has become one of my favourite places in Switzerland.
There’s something different about Mürren.
It’s quieter than many of the region’s more famous destinations, completely car-free, surrounded by incredible mountain scenery and perfectly positioned for some of the best hiking in the Bernese Oberland.
If I were planning another trip to Switzerland tomorrow, I’d happily stay here again.
Mürren at a Glance
Location: Bernese Oberland, Switzerland
Access: Train and cable car from Lauterbrunnen
Cars: Not permitted
Elevation: 1,638 m
Recommended Stay: 1–3 nights
Best For: Hiking, mountain views, relaxing, photography
Family Friendly:** Yes
My Rating: ★★★★★
Where is Mürren?
Perched on a sunny terrace high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Mürren is one of Switzerland’s famous car-free mountain villages.
Instead of roads filled with traffic, you’ll find narrow walking paths, flower boxes overflowing from balconies and uninterrupted views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
Although it’s only a short journey from Lauterbrunnen, it feels like stepping into a completely different world.
How to Get to Mürren
One of the things I love about Switzerland is how easy it is to travel without a car.
To reach Mürren from Lauterbrunnen you have two options.
Option 1 (What We Did)
We hiked from Lauterbrunnen through Gimmelwald, climbing nearly 800 metres before arriving in Mürren just before lunch.
It was a beautiful hike through forests and alpine meadows and gave us a real appreciation for how dramatically the village sits above the valley.
Option 2
Take the cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp, followed by the train to Mürren.
This is the fastest option and ideal if you’re carrying luggage.
Why Mürren Became My Favourite Village in the Jungfrau Region
I visited Mürren expecting another beautiful Swiss mountain village.
I left wondering why more people don’t stay here.
While places like Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald attract most first-time visitors, Mürren feels noticeably quieter and more relaxed. Being completely car-free changes the atmosphere in a way that’s hard to describe until you experience it. Instead of traffic, you hear cowbells, hikers passing through town and the occasional train or gondola arriving at the station.
It’s also perfectly positioned for hiking. Whether you’re heading to Gimmelwald, Birg, Schilthorn or continuing on the Bernese Oberland Traverse like we did, everything feels close.
For me, Mürren struck the perfect balance. It had enough restaurants, hotels and things to do that we never felt limited, but it still retained the quiet alpine charm I was hoping to find in Switzerland.
How Long Should You Stay?
If you’re simply passing through on your way to Schilthorn, you can see the village in a couple of hours.
That said, I think you’d be missing what makes Mürren special.
I’d recommend spending at least one night, and ideally two or three if your itinerary allows.
That gives you enough time to:
Wander the village after the crowds leave.
Relax at your hotel instead of rushing to the next train.
Ride to Birg or Schilthorn.
Hike to Gimmelwald or along the Northface Trail.
Enjoy dinner with a view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
It’s one of those places that’s best experienced slowly.
Where We Stayed
Mürren Palace
This was one of my favourite hotels of our entire Switzerland trip.
After several days of hiking the Bernese Oberland Traverse, arriving here felt like a reward.
Our room overlooked the mountains, the spa facilities were fantastic, and I especially loved the infrared relaxation chairs—something I haven’t really seen at home in Canada.
Dinner was another highlight.
The fondue was incredible, and they also served some of the best non-alcoholic sparkling rosé I had anywhere in Switzerland.
I’d absolutely stay here again.
Best Things to Do in Mürren
Wander the Village
One of the best parts of Mürren is simply slowing down.
Walk the quiet streets, admire the traditional Swiss chalets and take in the mountain views around every corner.
Ride to Birg
I loved visiting Birg.
The Birg Thrill Walk was much more enjoyable than I expected and gives you incredible views over the surrounding mountains.
Rebecca chose to stay behind and enjoy the hotel spa while I explored, which worked out perfectly for both of us.
Schilthorn
Even if you don’t continue all the way to the summit, Mürren makes the perfect base for visiting Schilthorn.
Hike to Gimmelwald
Although tiny, Gimmelwald is incredibly charming.
We only passed through while hiking up from Lauterbrunnen, but it’s well worth taking your time if you’re walking between the two villages.
Northface Trail
If you’re a hiker, don’t miss it.
This became one of my favourite hiking days of the entire Bernese Oberland Traverse.
Where to Eat
Mürren Palace Hotel
One of our favourite meals of the trip.
The cheese fondue was excellent, the service was fantastic and I loved that they had several non-alcoholic sparkling wines on the menu—something we didn’t come across very often elsewhere in Switzerland.
If you’re staying here, I’d absolutely recommend having dinner at least one night.
InSport Coffee Bar
We stopped here for smoothies and coffee before heading back onto the trail and it was exactly what we needed. It’s a great spot for a lighter breakfast or an afternoon coffee with mountain views.
Mürren vs Lauterbrunnen vs Wengen
Not just Wengen.
Most people are deciding between all three.
A quick comparison like:
Stay in Mürren if…
You want a quieter village.
You love hiking.
You want incredible views from your hotel.
You don’t mind taking a gondola to get there.
Stay in Wengen if…
You want more hotels and restaurants.
You’re relying heavily on trains.
You’re travelling with young kids.
Stay in Lauterbrunnen if…
You’re only staying one night.
You want the easiest transport connections.
You’re using it as a base for day trips.
Personally, I’d choose Mürren every time. It has the atmosphere I imagined before visiting Switzerland—car-free streets, incredible hiking on your doorstep, fewer crowds and spectacular mountain views. It felt like somewhere you actually wanted to spend time, not just pass through on your way somewhere else.
Things I’d Do Again
Looking back, there isn’t much I’d change about our time in Mürren.
If I were planning another trip tomorrow, I’d happily do these things again:
Stay overnight.
Most visitors only spend a few hours in Mürren before continuing to Schilthorn, but staying overnight completely changes the experience. Once the day-trippers leave, the village becomes incredibly peaceful.
Hike up from Lauterbrunnen.
Yes, the climb is steep. But arriving in Mürren on foot after hiking through Gimmelwald made finally reaching the village feel incredibly rewarding.
Spend an afternoon at the Mürren Palace spa.
After several days on the trail, this was exactly what we needed. The outdoor pool, mountain views and infrared relaxation chairs were one of the highlights of our stay.
Ride to Birg.
I almost skipped the Birg Thrill Walk. I’m really glad I didn’t. The views were spectacular, and it ended up being one of my favourite viewpoints in the region.
Finish the day with fondue.
We had one of our favourite meals of the trip at the Mürren Palace Hotel. Between the fondue and their non-alcoholic sparkling rosé, it was the perfect way to end a day in the mountains.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mürren worth staying in?
Absolutely.
Mürren is one of those places that becomes more enjoyable once you stop treating it like a quick sightseeing stop. Many visitors pass through for a few hours on their way to Birg or Schilthorn, but staying overnight gives you time to enjoy the village after the day-trippers leave.
The atmosphere becomes quieter, the trails are easier to access early in the morning, and you can actually slow down instead of constantly checking the next train or gondola time. For us, staying overnight was one of the reasons Mürren stood out so much compared to some of the busier places in the Jungfrau Region.
How many days should you spend in Mürren?
I’d recommend one to three nights.
One night is enough to explore the village, enjoy dinner, and see how peaceful it feels in the evening and early morning.
Two nights gives you time to add Birg or Schilthorn, hike to Gimmelwald, visit the Northface Trail, or spend a slower afternoon at your hotel.
Three nights would be ideal for hikers or anyone who wants to use Mürren as a base without feeling rushed.
Is Mürren better than Wengen?
For me, yes.
I haven’t stayed overnight in Wengen, but we hiked through it and spent time exploring the village. Wengen has excellent train access, more accommodation and more services, which may make it the better choice for some travellers.
Mürren felt quieter, more relaxed and more charming to me. I loved the older alpine character, the car-free streets and the immediate access to hiking. It felt less like a busy resort town and more like somewhere I genuinely wanted to spend time.
Can you drive to Mürren?
No. Mürren is car-free.
You can reach it by public transportation from Lauterbrunnen, either by taking the cable car to Grütschalp and continuing by train, or by travelling through Stechelberg and Gimmelwald by cable car.
You can also hike in, which is what we did. We walked through the Lauterbrunnen Valley and climbed through Gimmelwald before continuing to Mürren.
The lack of private vehicles is a big part of the appeal. The village feels quieter and more relaxed without regular road traffic.
Is Mürren family friendly?
Definitely, although the best experience will depend on the age and ability of your children.
The village itself is easy to explore on foot, and the trains and cable cars make it accessible without long hikes. Families can enjoy the mountain views, short walks, restaurants and trips to Birg or Schilthorn without needing to tackle difficult terrain.
Older children may enjoy the Birg Thrill Walk, while younger children may be happier exploring the village, riding the mountain transportation and spending time at a family-friendly hotel.
For families travelling with strollers or a lot of luggage, I’d pay close attention to the transportation route and hotel location before booking, since Mürren’s paths and elevation can make moving around slightly less convenient than staying in Lauterbrunnen.
Mürren surprised me
Not because I expected it to be disappointing—but because I didn’t expect to enjoy it quite this much.
It’s peaceful without feeling sleepy, scenic without feeling overly touristy, and offers some of the best hiking access anywhere in the Jungfrau Region.
If you’re debating where to base yourself during your Switzerland trip, I genuinely think Mürren deserves serious consideration.
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