Fodor's Travel Talk Forums

Fodor's Travel Talk Forums (https://www.fodors.com/community/)
-   Europe (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/)
-   -   Wengen or Murren or Both (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/wengen-or-murren-or-both-969028/)

AlwaysOnTheRoad Mar 3rd, 2013 02:02 PM

Wengen or Murren or Both
 
I am planning 5-6 days of hiking in the Murren-Wengen area. Any advice whether to stay in Wengen or Murren or split my time between the two villages? i want to do some hikes that start-pass through both villages.

treplow Mar 3rd, 2013 02:44 PM

I probably would stay in Wengen (or Lauterbrunnen)because it offers access to a greater variety of terrain and also does not exclude Muerren. From Wengen, you can travel to the top pf the Maennlichen, then walk to the Kleine Scheidegg, take the train to the Jungfraujoch, and return to Wengen. Or from the Maennlichen, you can walk to Grindelwald and cover some of the region there and return by train to W ngen (via Lauterbrunnen). Wengen - Lauterbrunnen - Muerren and the Silverhorn are also a possibility.

PalenQ Mar 3rd, 2013 02:53 PM

Murren is a bit more remote from what many would consider the best, for the novice traveler in the area, hiking - IMO in an around the Grindelwald amphitheatre/Wengen area.

xyz99 Mar 3rd, 2013 02:57 PM

We stayed 6 nights in Wengen a few years ago, and loved it. We visited Murren, but I thought Wengen was better situated and connected. My vote goes for Wengen.

jdc26 Mar 3rd, 2013 03:44 PM

I'll fourth what treplow, PalenQ and xyx99 said.

Love Switzerland and the BO area.

Happy Travels!

jdc

msteacher Mar 3rd, 2013 03:53 PM

Another vote for Wengen. Have fun!

AlwaysOnTheRoad Mar 3rd, 2013 04:53 PM

I am sold on Wengen. Would six nights be too many? I am an enthusiastic hiker. My interest is good hiking but not extremely long or hard. Would Wengen still be a good choice?

scatcat Mar 3rd, 2013 04:57 PM

Wengen of course! Murren is great to visit for a few minutes. I have stayed in Wengen 4 times and hope to stay there many more.

swandav2000 Mar 3rd, 2013 09:21 PM

Hi Always,

No, you won't run out of things to do in six nights. When you get tired of hiking, just head down to Interlaken and hop on a ferry to spend the day in Thun or in Spiez. Walk around the lake, see the castles in Thun and in Spiez. There are lots of things to do in the neighborhood to keep you busy.

Have fun!

s

AlwaysOnTheRoad Mar 4th, 2013 01:42 AM

One more question. I will be there in the third week of June. Is snow on the trails likely to be a problem?

PalenQ Mar 4th, 2013 09:31 AM

not at anything IME but really high altitudes you will presumably not be doings - that is called Alpinism!

June is the perfect time IME for this area - not yet summer crowds and flowers are all out making you lapse into a chorus of Edelweiss, Edelweiss...

Murrenlover Mar 4th, 2013 11:15 AM

I prefer Mürren than Wengen or Grindelwald as it offers the most charm,better views,the Schilthorn,better restaurants and some superb hikes. It is also easily accessilble to visit the other villages (45mins to Wengen) by the superb transport network....it just isnt an issue

Are you in a rush or are you on holiday ??

Murrenlover Mar 4th, 2013 11:18 AM

I will be there in the third week of June. Is snow on the trails likely to be a problem?................no

Make the most of your time and book a tadem paragliding flight of the Schilthorn or lower -
http://airtime-paragliding.ch/

follow me on Twitter for the most upto date info on the resort: @murrenlover

Murrenlover Mar 4th, 2013 11:27 AM

webcams of Mürren village
http://hoteledelweiss.roundshot.ch/

Webcam from Männlichen (above Wengen)
http://panocam.skiline.cc/maennlichen

AlwaysOnTheRoad Mar 5th, 2013 09:36 AM

Murrenlover,

No rush - holiday - in fact, that is what I do 10 months of the year.

This is what I have so far for a mostly hiking oriented visit to Switzerland.

19 Jun - Wengen
20 Jun - Wengen
21 Jun - Wengen
22 Jun - Wengen
23 Jun - Wengen
24 Jun - Wengen
25 Jun - Kandersteg
26 Jun - Kandersteg
27 Jun - Kandersteg
28 Jun - Zermatt
29 Jun - Zermatt
30 Jun - Zermatt
01 Jul - Fiesch
02 Jul - Fiesch
03 Jul - Fiesch
04 Jul - Lugano
05 Jul - Lugano
06 Jul - Pontresina
07 Jul - Pontresina
08 Jul - Pontresina
09 Jul - Pontresina

Still considering a few other stops.

PalenQ Mar 5th, 2013 11:41 AM

Always - with that itinerary some kind of Swiss Pass is a no-brainer to me - covers 100% of travel to Wengen (and Murren) and all over the Berner Oberland and to Kandersteg in full and Zermat infull - you are traveling so much it is really a no-brainer.

If you are the type to go to a base like Wengen and stay put then look at a Flexipass where you still get 50% off on gondolas, etc and anything else on days between your first and last unlimited travel day - if moving in and out of base like I do to see other parts of the area then a consecutive-day pass, much cheaper per unlimited travel day, may be your ticket to ride.

AlwaysOnTheRoad Mar 5th, 2013 12:46 PM

PalenQ - Just what I was trying to decide - Swiss Pass vice Flexi-Pass. I will certainly use transport from Wengen to Murren and other surrounding areas. How much out of base travel will in part depend on the weather.

enzian Mar 5th, 2013 01:28 PM

You have chosen most of our favorite hiking destinations! I will not weigh in on Wengen vs. very nice hikes from Mürren, a bit more strenuous than the Wengen hikes though.

Be sure to hike to Fründenhütte above Oeschinensee at Kandersteg---spectacular!!!

http://www.sac-altels.ch/huetten/fruendenhuette.php

But why stay in Fiesch? Why not up at Bettmeralp, where you can start hiking right out your door? From the top of the ridge behind Bettmeralp, you can ssee all the way to the Matterhorn on a clear day.

As for singing "Edelweiss", my experience that time of you is you are more likely to see my favorite, the Schnee-Enzian.

http://flora.nhm-wien.ac.at/Seiten-A...na-nivalis.htm

AlwaysOnTheRoad Mar 5th, 2013 02:50 PM

Enzian - Actually not staying at Fliesch - Eggishorn. Is that also a good choice? I see Bettmeralp is not far. Eggishorn seemed like a good place for starting a hike to Aletsch Glacier.

Swiss Pass vs FlexiPass. For traveling between Wengen and Murren - for example, is this another instance of where I could use a Swiss Pass?

PalenQ Mar 5th, 2013 05:02 PM

For traveling between Wengen and Murren - for example, is this another instance of where I could use a Swiss Pass?>

100% covered - even on the aerial cable way to Grutschalp and mountain railway Grutschalp to Murren and also on the cable way Murren to Gimmelwald and then the thrilling - stomach churning aerial gondola that plunges to the Lauterbrunnen Valley floor from Gimmelwald and postal bus back to Lauterbrunnel from the Stechelberg cable station and of course the train back up to Wengen. Be sure to use one of your 100% covered days if not having a consecutive-day pass on this journey and do the whole loop via Gimmelwald - a very unique and weird kind of farming hamlet in a simply stunning setting - do not miss stopping off there for at least a quick look.

Ah this area has so so much to offer - I am drooling just thinking about it all!


All times are GMT -8. The time now is 08:31 PM.