Murren Might Be the Most Picturesque Village in Switzerland

Switzerland’s slim Lauterbrunnen Valley is flanked by steep mountains, making it really feel extra like a deep, tree-speckled canyon. Partway up one in all these lofty peaks, above a sheer rock face, lies Mürren, a historic mountain village you may solely attain by prepare or through the world’s steepest gondola.

Vehicles aren’t permitted in Mürren, the place the air is as clear as the environment are breathtaking. “We’re sitting on a gemstone right here,” Constanze Trommer, proprietor of Café Liv, the city’s morning hub, ​​tells Journey + Leisure. “Nature-wise, you have got every part you want. You might have mountains, you have got forests, you have got water throughout.” On the latter, Trommer is referring to the valley’s many lakes and waterfalls, together with Switzerland‘s highest, the 1,370-foot-tall Mürrenbach Falls.

Throughout the slender valley from Mürren, the enduring mountain trio of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau stand watch over the city. Though Mürren hosted the primary FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, the worldwide occasion outgrew the small village, so snowboarding right here right this moment stays much less crowded than at many alpine resorts. The car-free lanes additionally imply you may slide or snowshoe proper as much as your lodge. “You possibly can ski-in, ski-out in all of Mürren as a result of we’ve snow-covered streets till the top of February,” says Samuel Bichsel, basic supervisor of the Resort Mürren Palace.

In summer time, mountain climbing paths traverse flower-bedecked meadows and wend via quiet forests of fir and spruce. All yr, gondolas whisk you as much as the Schilthorn station, which is topped by a revolving restaurant the place you may have breakfast within the sky, surrounded by 200 mountain peaks.

Greatest Resorts & Resorts

Resort Eiger Mürren

Resort Eiger Mürren is operated by the identical household who constructed it in 1892, a yr after the railway opened to supply an alternative choice to arriving on foot. The service stays as heat and pleasant as ever, whereas the timber-rich decor and pictures of previous Mürren evoke a contemporary ski lodge. Ebook a mountain-facing room for an unforgettable view.

Mürren Palace

When it first opened in 1874, countrymen referred to as this grand lodge “Switzerland’s first palace.” Reopened in December 2024 after an extended closure, Mürren Palace remembers these days once more. The onetime ballroom is now a breakfast corridor with belle époque vibes, and the refurbished visitor rooms function parquet flooring, colourful furnishings, and delightful views.

Resort Edelweiss Mürren

Resort Edelweiss Mürren is a traditional Swiss lodge: impeccably clear, with a wholesome breakfast buffet, and dominated by white and wooden. The white partitions and comfy bedding are accented by knotty-pine ceilings and mattress frames. Because the Edelweiss rests simply above the Mürren cliff, you’ll awaken to the Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau triumvirate, delighting you even earlier than you have got that tasty breakfast.

Resort Alpenruh

Situated by the gondola that whisks guests up the mountain, Resort Alpenruh is the final word ski-friendly lodge. That mentioned, the property’s expansive terrace has sweeping vistas and is right for lunch on a summer time day. Inside, welcoming visitor rooms include a petite balcony or rustic cowhide rugs.

Greatest Issues to Do

Take a look at the world’s longest downhill ski race.

Go to in January for the Inferno, “the longest downhill race on the planet.” British skier Sir Arnold Lunn based the Kandahar Ski Membership in Mürren and oversaw the primary FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. “However since Mürren was too small [for future world cup races], Lunn determined to advertise the Inferno as a race for amateurs,” explains journey author Adam Ruck. Snow allowing, the Inferno runs for 9.25 miles; if you wish to enroll, the 1,850 spots refill by September.

Stroll the Flower Path.

Stroll the well-tended Flower Path, reached through the Allmendhubel funicular. “All of the flowers are rising in June, July, and August. The altitude makes it final,” says Trommer. “You might have many flowers, like edelweiss, johanniskraut (a.okay.a. St. John’s wort), and blue gentian.”

Discover journey on a through ferrata.

Courageous the Mürren-Gimmelwald through ferrata, open from mid-June to October. “It’s particular as a result of it’s the one through ferrata that goes downward, not up … There’s additionally an enormous suspension bridge,” says Bichsel. The dizzying, 1.4-mile descent on ladders, a cliff-hugging platform, and a wiggly bridge takes about three hours. If you happen to e book a information, you may add a zipper line to your downhill journey.

Go to Trümmelbach Falls.

In half-hour, the Stechelberg gondola and bus connection take you to this geologic marvel. “It’s actually spectacular as a result of you have got 10 totally different waterfalls that go contained in the mountain,” says Bichsel. With all that water—as much as 5,000 gallons per second—Bichsel says, “It’s fairly loud.” Given the noise stage, kids beneath 4 aren’t allowed.

Journey to Europe’s highest prepare station.

Journey by rail as much as Jungfraujoch, the very best prepare station in Europe, at 11,332 ft above sea stage. “Going by prepare via the precise mountain is kind of spectacular. And whenever you get to the Sphinx Observatory, you may stroll to the Mönchsjochhütte, a mountain cabin,” says Eva Leenders, receptionist on the Resort Alpenruh. Leenders cautions that, with the altitude, the stroll can take over an hour.

Greatest Eating places

Restaurant Stägerstübli

“If you happen to’re searching for a conventional Swiss mountain village place, that might be Restaurant Stägerstübli,” says Leenders. “The chef is excellent in any respect the meat-related dishes, and, after all, additionally they have fondue.” Situated in a 1901 constructing, Stägerstübli additionally serves wonderful rösti, grated hash-brown-style potatoes served with cheese or a fried egg—a hearty method to refuel after a day within the snow.

Resort Eiger Mürren

For a sublime dinner, e book a desk by the window on the restaurant in Resort Eiger Mürren, the place dishes spotlight native components like Vaud province cheese and soup made with Lauterbrunnen Valley pumpkins. The wealthy, meat-forward menu additionally has some lighter choices like vegetarian curry. The Eiger’s Tächi Bar is Mürren’s finest place for an after-dinner digestif.

Resort Regina Mürren

Trommer recommends the eating room at Resort Regina Mürren for its decor, meals, and repair. “It’s a historic constructing,” says Trommer. “They’ve wonderful meals and a very good group. The dinner menu modifications each day, with a vegetarian and meat choice. It’s very recent, very seasonal—that’s their mannequin.”

360° Restaurant Piz Gloria

The Schilthorn gondola whizzes you as much as this revolving restaurant, which served because the villain’s lair within the 1969 James Bond traditional ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.’ “If you want to have a spectacular breakfast, this can be one,” says Leenders. “It takes 45 minutes to show 360 levels. You see the entire mountain vary. On day, you may even see Mont Blanc.” Select from the intensive breakfast or lunch buffet, or order a la carte.

Greatest Après-ski and Après-hike Hangouts

Gondelbar

Gondelbar means gondola bar, and this cozy watering gap simply above the Resort Jungfrau is actually an previous gondola transformed right into a bar. Bichsel recommends warming up together with his favourite post-ski elixir: “I just like the Münzen Zwetschge—mint tea with schnapps.”

Alti Metzg

For a comfortable pre-dinner drink and nibble—what Swiss Germans name an apéro—Trommer recommends Alti Metzg. It’s a connoisseur deli with a comfortable cellar the place you may share a bottle of wine and a plate of regionally sourced bread and charcuterie. “They shut at 7 p.m., so it’s excellent for earlier than dinner,” Trommer provides.

Greatest Time to Go to

The ski season in Mürren begins in December and was nonetheless going sturdy after I visited in April, however you need to arrive by March to make sure ample snow protection. Though many Mürren residents first come for the winter, they fall in love with the summer time. “Winter was my favourite season as a result of I like to ski. Now, I really like the summer time … the combo of seasons is the good factor about it,” says Bichsel.

Between late Might and September, you may go mountain climbing, mountain biking, and even paragliding. You even have extra hours to take a seat outdoors and easily admire the mountain views late into the night. Whereas Mürren has fewer crowds in spring and fall, notice that almost all lodges and eating places shut for a couple of weeks after Easter and once more in October and November.

How you can Get There

Attending to Mürren is a part of the enjoyable. Arrive by prepare into the city of Lauterbrunnen within the valley of the identical title. From there, you may take the Grütschalpbahn gondola and switch to a prepare to Mürren. For extra of a thrill, select choice two: Take a bus from Lauterbrunnen to the Stechelberg gondola, which travels practically straight up for 4 minutes earlier than arriving in Mürren. When you’ve got a automotive, you may park in Lauterbrunnen or Stechelberg.