Murren may be the most beautiful village in Switzerland

Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland is flanked with steep mountains that make it look like a deep canyon. Partway up one of these lofty peaks, above a sheer rock face, lies Mürren, a historic mountain village you can only reach by train or via the world’s steepest gondola.

Cars aren’t permitted in Mürren, where the air is as clean as the surroundings are breathtaking. “We are sitting on a gemstone here,” Constanze Trommer, owner of Café Liv, the town’s morning hub, ​​tells Travel + Leisure. “You have all the nature you need.” You have mountains and forests. There is water all around. Trommer’s reference to the many lakes and falls in the valley is the last part. Switzerland‘s highest, the 1,370-foot-tall Mürrenbach Falls.

Across the slender valley from Mürren, the iconic mountain trio of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau stand watch over the town. Although Mürren hosted the first FIS Alpine World Ski Championships, the global event outgrew the small village, so skiing here today remains less crowded than at many alpine resorts. Car-free lanes allow you to slide and snowshoe directly up to your accommodation. “You can ski-in, ski-out in all of Mürren because we have snow-covered streets until the end of February,” says Samuel Bichsel, general manager of the Hotel Mürren Palace.

In the summer, trails wind through flower-covered meadows or quiet forests of firs. Gondolas take you to the Schilthorn Station, where you can enjoy a breakfast in the skies, surrounded 200 mountain peaks.

Best Hotels & Resorts

Hotel Eiger Mürren

Hotel Eiger Mürren The same family that built the hotel in 1892 still runs it today, one year after the railway was opened as an alternative to walking. The service remains as warm and friendly as ever, while the timber-rich decor and photographs of old Mürren evoke a modern ski lodge. A mountain-facing view is guaranteed when you book a room.

Mürren Palace

The Swiss called it “Switzerland’s first palace” when the hotel first opened in 1874. After a long period of closure, the hotel reopened in December 2024. Mürren Palace It brings back memories. The onetime ballroom is now a breakfast hall with belle époque vibes, and the refurbished guest rooms feature parquet floors, colorful furnishings, and beautiful views.

Hotel Edelweiss Mürren

Hotel Edelweiss Mürren This is a classic Swiss Hotel: immaculately clean, with an excellent breakfast buffet and dominating white and wood. White walls and soft bedding are accented with knotty pine ceilings and beds frames. Since the Edelweiss rests just above the Mürren cliff, you’ll awaken to the Eiger-Mönch-Jungfrau triumvirate, delighting you even before you have that tasty breakfast.

Hotel Alpenruh

Located near the gondola which whisks visitors to the top of the mountain. Hotel Alpenruh The ultimate ski-friendly resort. The expansive terrace offers sweeping views and is perfect for a lunch in the summer. In the guest rooms, you’ll find a rustic cowhide rug or a tiny balcony.

What to do?

The world’s longest downhill skiing race is here!

Visit in January to enjoy the Inferno“The longest downhill in the world.” British skier Sir Arnold Lunn founded the Kandahar Ski Club in Mürren and oversaw the first FIS Alpine World Ski Championships. “But since Mürren was too small [for future world cup races]Adam Ruck, a travel writer, says that Lunn promoted the Inferno race as one for amateurs. The Inferno is 9.25 miles long, but only if there’s snow.

Take the Flower Trail.

The Flower Trail is a well-maintained trail that can be reached by the Allmendhubel Funicular. All the flowers bloom in July and August. Trommer says that the altitude is what makes it last. You have a lot of flowers like edelweiss and johanniskraut, also known as blue gentian. “You have many flowers, like edelweiss, johanniskraut (also known as St. John’s Wort) and blue gentian.”

Enjoy a thrilling adventure by using a via ferrrata.

Brave the Mürren-Gimmelwald via ferrata, open from mid-June to October. “It’s special because it’s the only via ferrata that goes downward, not up … There’s also a huge suspension bridge,” says Bichsel. The 1.4-mile dizzying descent, which includes ladders, a platform that hugs the cliff, and a wiggly suspension bridge, takes three hours. If you book a guideYou can add a Zip Line to your downhill experience.

Visit Trümmelbach Falls.

This geological wonder is accessible in just 30 minutes via the Stechelberg gondola. Bichsel: “It really is impressive, because there are 10 different waterfalls inside the mountain.” With all that water—up to 5,000 gallons per second—Bichsel says, “It’s quite loud.” Children under the age of four are not allowed due to the level of noise.

Visit Europe’s highest railway station.

Train travel up to JungfraujochThe highest station in Europe is located at 11,332 feet. “Training through the actual mountain was quite impressive. And when you get to the Sphinx Observatory, you can walk to the Mönchsjochhütte, a mountain cabin,” says Eva Leenders, receptionist at the Hotel Alpenruh. Leenders warns, however, that due to the high altitude of the area, it can take an hour or more to walk.

Best Restaurants

Restaurant Stägerstübli

“If you want to find a traditional Swiss mountain town, then this is the place for you.” Restaurant Stägerstübli,” says Leenders. The chef does a great job with all meat-related dishes. Of course, there is fondue too. Located in a 1901 building, Stägerstübli also serves excellent rösti, grated hash-brown-style potatoes served with cheese or a fried egg—a hearty way to refuel after a day in the snow.

Hotel Eiger Mürren

If you want to enjoy an elegant dinner at the restaurant, reserve a window table. restaurant in Hotel Eiger MürrenThe dishes feature local ingredients such as cheese from Vaud and pumpkin soup made in Lauterbrunnen valley. A vegetarian curry is available on the menu. The Eiger’s Tächi Bar is Mürren’s best place for an after-dinner digestif.

Hotel Regina Mürren

Trommer is a recommended product. dining room at Hotel Regina Mürren for its decor, food, and service. Trommer: “It’s a historically significant building. They have excellent food, and a great team. The daily dinner menu includes a vegetarian or meat option. It’s very fresh, very seasonal—that’s their model.”

360° Restaurant Piz Gloria

Schilthorn Gondola takes you to this revolving restaurantThe ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’ James Bond film from 1969 featured the villain’s hideout. Leenders: “If your goal is to have an amazing breakfast, you’ll love this one.” It takes 45 minutes to rotate 360 degrees. You can see the entire mountain range. You can see Mont Blanc on a clear day. You can choose from the breakfast and lunch buffets or order à la carte.

Best Après-ski and Après-hike Hangouts

Gondelbar

Gondelbar is a gondola-shaped bar located just above Hotel Jungfrau. It’s actually an old gondola that has been converted into a cozy drinking spot. Bichsel recommends warming up with his favorite post-ski elixir: “I like the Münzen Zwetschge—mint tea with schnapps.”

Alti Metzg

For a cozy pre-dinner drink and nibble—what Swiss Germans call an apéro—Trommer recommends Alti Metzg. It’s a gourmet delicatessen with a cozy basement where you can share wine and local bread and charcuterie. Trommer continues, “They close by 7 p.m. so it’s ideal for before dinner.”

The Best Time to Visit

You can also find out more about the following: ski season in Mürren starts in December and was still going strong when I visited in April, but you should arrive by March to ensure adequate snow coverage. Although many Mürren residents first come for the winter, they fall in love with the summer. The winter used to be my favourite season, because I enjoy skiing. Now, I love the summer … the mix of seasons is the coolest thing about it,” says Bichsel.

From late May to September, you can hike, mountain bike, or even paraglide. You can also enjoy the views of the mountains until late at night. While Mürren has fewer crowds in spring and fall, note that most hotels and restaurants close for a few weeks after Easter and again in October and November.

How to get there

Getting to Mürren is part of the fun. Trains will take you to Lauterbrunnen, in the valley with the same name. From there, you can take the Grütschalpbahn gondola and transfer to a train to Mürren. For more of a thrill, choose option two: Take a bus from Lauterbrunnen to the Stechelberg gondola, which travels nearly straight up for four minutes before arriving in Mürren. Parking is available in Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg if you own a vehicle.