Lucerne to Interlaken-Ost the most scenic way is to take the Brunig Pass rail route up and over the Brunig Pass - the Golden Pass scenic train also plies this route but so do local trains every hour or so - gorgeous - much more scenic than the Bern-Thun mainline route that really is not much if any faster. Change at Interlaken-Ost for trains to Wengen, via Lauterbrunnen.

If it is a beautiful clear day, there is nothing so enchanting as viewing the spire of the church of Lungern with an azure sky in the background.

PS

It is not easy getting in and out of Murren.


Thin

I have to agree with Pepper. The church at Lungern looks like a fairy tale castle.

Hi again,


The SBB has same-day Fast Baggage service you can use -- check your big bag by 09.00, and you can pick it up again after 18.00. Check to make sure your arrival station will be open after 18.00, or you'll have to pick it up the next day.

You can find it at the sbb site under services at the station (I'm travelling right now and am using a tablet --)

s

at about $15 per bag it is fairly expensive to do so though - I would not worry about traveling with a bag like that - connections are seemless - at Interlaken-Ost you move to a train on an adjoining platform usually and ditto in Lauterbrunnen for the tiny Wengen train. And make sure Wengen, not an SBB or Swiss federal railways station has a baggage office open like swandav says after 6 pm or even any at all.

Wengen, of course, has a baggage office.

I thought you were staying in Murren, not Wengen? If so, I would think you would want to send your luggage -- if you choose to take advantage of this service -- to Lauterbrunnen.

can't SBB send bags to Murren same as Wengen?

Sorry -- I guess so. When you search for the station in sbb, the umlaut is critical!

I don't know the answer about sending bags to Murren but there is NO train service between Lauterbrunnen and Grutscalp, only the gondola.

Just don't stay in Gimmelwald.

The train from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen has nothing to do with Murren so I don't know why it was mentioned.


Thin, always sleeps in Wengen

Just to clarify: at the moment I have booked a hotel in MURREN (booking.com, it can still be cancelled).

PEPPER - According to what I could make out from TRs and internet, Wengen and Murren are near each other, both seem to be beautiful, Murren seems the smaller - that is the only reason why I thought Murren would be better. Perhaps I need to reconsider (and do it fast). You say <<it is not easy to get into Murren>>. Is Wengen better? Why does Thin always sleep in Wengen?

Let me state my needs: I will be travelling on my own, I will have luggage (not much but still ...), I will have relatively little time. I dearly want to see the BO, but I do not have to see 'the most spectacular' ... 'almost as nice' will also do. I will find out about sending my bag onward and retrieve it at the end of the day. As I feel now, I will pay $15 just not to have to drag it behind me while looking for the fairy-tale church - or spend time to find out where to stow it at the station.

Melissa: I have read your TR with great interest, and your description of the wild flowers had me so jealous. However, in early April the temps will be between -3 and 5C, there will be some snow.

The long term weather forecast does not look very good (I know it is mostly a guessing game, but they forcast snow and cloudy weather for early April). I am wondering if I should not just stay in Luzern for my precious 5 days!!

kja - I do not even know how to type an umlaut :-) is there hope for me?

Thin, always sleeps in Wengen>

with all the partying going on swandav talks about how can one sleep?

the question about sending baggage to Murren whas because kovsie as she/he explains above is torn between the two - and the gondolas to Grutschalp has a large place for bags being sent by someone somewhere - did you not notice the special baggage area?

Murren is muchmore isolated than Wengen if doing day trips around.

Dear OP,

When you disembark from the Interlaken Ost train at Lauterbrunnen you must venture under the road (via tunnel) to access the Grutscalp gondola.

This gondola will take you from Laterbrunnen high up to Grutscalp.

At Grutscalp you transfer to the small cog train to Winteregg and Murren.

If you stay in Wengen, there is no gondola involved. You would just walk across the platform at Lauterbrunnen to transfer to the tiny cog train to Wengen.

The best hotel for a spectacular view of the Lauterbrunnen Valley from Wengen is the Minotel Bellevue run by Judi and Andi Engi.

The view is what I would call Life Changing.

Nothing wrong with Murren. Lovely town.


Thin

Wait a minute.

I don't think the Bellevue in Wengen is open in April.

Thin

Thanks for the explanation Thin. Based on this I think Murren makes sense if you enjoy hiking through spring flowers, but perhaps Wengen is better if I plan to do a few day trips from there - it will still be quite cold for hiking.

But what about the partying Pal and Swandav? As you probably have gathered by now I am not the partying kind.

I am sorry that the Hotel Bellevue in Wengen is closed for April and May. Any other recommendations for a nice place with <a life-changing view> - without parties?

IMO -- based on limited experience -- both Murren and Wengen are lovely and both are very quiet, but I did have a preference for the views from Wengen. And yes, Wengen is easier to reach and so if time is critical, it is well worth considering.

But what about the partying Pal and Swandav? As you probably have gathered by now I am not the partying kind.>

then you will be very happyin quiet Wengen - a few discrete bars for those who like a quiet drink - the opposite of Grindelwald where there are IME pubs with live music, etc.

Most folks here just love Wengen so I think for you it will be great - and a nice location if doing the Jungfraujoch train or the famous Ridge Walk from The Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg - a flat few mile stroll that gives you superb views down into each of the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys - take the gondola up there from Wengen.

but even in Grindelwald the livelier pub scene does not upset the tranquility of where most hotels are located - don't get me wrong Grindelwald is not like spring break - just for the 20s types there are many more there and they seem to like to go out at night. But like all of Switzerland it is very quiet for the most part.

Kovsie we stayed at the Alpenrose in Wengen and had a fabulous view from our south facing room . We were there for four nights and would highly recommend the hotel . The dinner in their dinning room is also 'not to be missed' .

http://www.alpenrose.ch/en

No matter where you stay, which town you stay in, what hotel you stay in (the Swiss wrote the book on hospitality) you will be happy with it - never had a bad exoerience in a proper Swiss hotel.