Top 9 Things To Do in Mürren, Switzerland
Updated: Aug 14, 2023
Switzerland was not originally on the top of our travel list with how expensive it can be. Luckily, that changed once we got invited to my cousin's wedding in Gimmelwald, Switzerland. We turned that into an opportunity to head back to Europe for the first time post-COVID, where we planned a sixteen-day trip to Croatia, Greece, and finally to Switzerland for the wedding.
We started our vacation exploring Croatia and Greece, where we then took a flight from Athens to Zurich, Switzerland. Once we arrived in Zurich, we hopped on a train and traveled four hours south to the Bernese Oberland region in the Swiss Alps, where the wedding was. It was a long journey that ended with a gondola and train ride up to Mürren, but well worth it! We checked into our Airbnb and then grabbed dinner with the family that had already arrived in town. We were fortunate to get great weather during our time there to do plenty of activities, enjoy the excellent views of the mountains, and attend a stunning outdoor wedding. Mürren has to be the most picturesque village in the Swiss Alps and one of the most gorgeous places we've ever had the chance to experience! Here are our top 9 things to do in Mürren, Switzerland.
The clouds can come in quickly in Mürren, but when it's clear outside, taking a gondola ride up to 9,744 ft. atop the Schiltorn is a must-do. Although the gondola was expensive (you can get a 50% discount with a Swiss Travel Pass), we thought the trip was worth it. The Shilthorn is famous for featuring in the 1969 James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service," where it has a 360-degree revolving restaurant Piz Gloria, a James Bond 007 Spy World cinema museum, and impressive 360-degree views of the Bernese Alps. We spent about an hour or so here, including stopping at the small cafe to get a coffee and a bite to eat, seeing everything outside, and taking a quick tour through the museum. It was nice going early in the morning because it felt like we had the whole place to ourselves before it started getting busy with the mid-day crowds. Remember to bring layers as it gets colder at the higher altitude.
#2 Paragliding
For those up for a little more adventure, paragliding in the mountains of Switzerland is breathtaking! Although I have already been skydiving, paragliding was a whole lot easier. It's simply gliding down a mountain and floating into the valley. A large group from our family went, which was one of everyone's favorite experiences from the trip! We did our paragliding tour with Airtime Paragliding, and our guides were outstanding. We hiked up a mountain and got strapped into the gear (don't worry, you're in tandem with your instructor guide). You walk down, let the wind catch beneath the parachute, and lift your legs. Then you'll glide in the air for about 30-45 minutes. The views are incredible over the towns and the valley, passing waterfalls along the way.
Trümmelbach Falls is a short trip from Murren. It takes a half-hour by gondola and bus to get to the entrance. There is an entry fee, but hiking up into the waterfall is worth it. Come prepared with sturdy shoes and a rain jacket. The falls get wet and cold inside the caves, making this an excellent rainy-day activity. You'll begin by going up an elevator that brings you halfway up the falls, but there are more steps if you want to trek to the top. Along the way, there are lookouts to see the caves' falls, which flow approximately 20,000 liters of water per second! We spent about an hour visiting the falls and grabbed a bite to eat after at a nearby cafe.
#4 Explore Lauterbrunnen Valley
Another short trip from Mürren is the village of Lauterbrunnen. It is an accessible 40-minute train and gondola ride. You will find a few shops to rent regular or electric bikes throughout the town. We opted for electric bicycles and headed toward the town of Stechelberg. On the bike path, you will see incredible views of waterfalls and farms through the valley floor. You will also pass by Trümmelbach Falls, so you can rent bike locks and visit the falls in the valley. The ride to the Stechelberg gondola and back to the village of Lauterbrunnen took about 45 minutes roundtrip. You can also take stops along the way to get a closer look at some waterfalls and even take a short hike up closer to a few. Alternatively, it's easy to walk the whole path as well.
#5 Take a hike
We highly suggest taking a hike while visiting Mürren. We decided to do a strenuous hike to Tanzbodeli. An almost 3,000 ft. elevation gain was undoubtedly challenging for avid hikers but worth the incredible views. We stopped at Hotel Obersteinberg for outstanding food and a nice rest on the way back down. If you're not up for a challenging hike, there are plenty of other options and accessible routes, like the hike from Mürren to Gimmelwald, about 30 minutes downhill.
#6 Visit Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald is a charming little village next to Mürren that is not accessible by car. You can either get there by gondola or by walking. There are a few restaurants there, and the views are amazing. I suggest just walking around and taking it all in.
From Mürren, you can take a gondola up to Birg and do the Thrill Walk, an observation deck constructed on the side of the mountain. On this walk, you can cross obstacles like ropes, a glass floor, and a chain tunnel. If you are nervous about obstacles, there's also a route to avoid them. It was well worth the detour, in our opinion!
#8 Stargazing
With minimal light pollution, Mürren is perfect for stargazing. With the town on the side of a mountain, there are plenty of viewpoints to relax, look up and take in the night sky. On a clear night, you'll see several constellations and even the milky way galaxy!
If paragliding wasn't enough adventure, you could partake in the Via Ferrata from Mürren to Gimmelwald. It is a climbing route that you can traverse along the cliffside. They have guided tours, or you can rent the gear locally if you're experienced and courageous enough to go on your own. We couldn't fit this into our trip schedule but will do it next time!
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