Towering mountains, alpine meadows, soaring cable cars, historic cogwheel trains, scenic walking trails, quaint villages and hamlets…this is the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland.
The Bernese Oberland is one of Switzerland’s most popular destinations for tourists. The massive mountains of Mönch, Eiger, and Jungfrau dominate the landscape. Charming villages like Mürren and Gimmelwald cling to the cliffs, overlooking the beautiful Lauterbrunnen Valley. Cable cars whisk visitors up to the tallest mountain peaks and hiking trails connect small towns and provide amazing alpine views.
For many visitors, the Bernese Oberland is the highlight of a trip to Switzerland, and we are no different. It blew away all of our expectations, and let me tell you, our expectations were very high.
We spent six magical days exploring the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland. This area is so quintessentially Swiss, an alpine wonderland with Swiss chalets, alpine meadows, cable cars, mountain villages, and rustic farms.
This is one of the most beautiful places in Europe and I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.
What is the Bernese Oberland?
The Bernese Oberland, also called the Bernese Highlands, is a region in central Switzerland. It’s part of the canton of Bern and it encompasses a portion of the Swiss Alps, including the Jungfrau massif, Lauterbrunnen Valley, Interlaken, Lake Brienz and Lake Thun, and extends west to Adelboden and Gstaad.
The Jungfrau region is a smaller portion of the Bernese Oberland. This region includes the Jungfrau massif, the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Schilthorn, Mürren, Gimmelwald, Grindelwald, and Interlaken. The Jungfrau region is the touristy heart of the Bernese Oberland and it is where you will find everything on this list.
So, in no particular order, here are the best things to do in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland.
Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
1. Harder Kulm
Interlaken is the gateway city into the heart of the Bernese Oberland. To get to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, Grindelwald, and the other small towns in the Jungfrau region, you will first pass through Interlaken.
Harder Kulm is a mountain that looms over Interlaken. From the top of Harder Kulm, you get an amazing view of the Bernese Alps, so this is a great way to start your tour of the Bernese Oberland.
A 10-minute ride on a funicular zips you up to the top of Harder Kulm for a stunning view of the Swiss Alps. Stretched out in front of you are the mountains Mönch, Eiger and Jungfrau as well as views over Lake Brienz and Lake Thun.
From here, you can simply enjoy the view from the lofty viewing platform, or you can dine at the restaurant or take your pick from hiking trails that start here.
Harder Kulm | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
Harder Kulm viewing platform | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
Harder Kulm Funicular: The funicular station (also called the Harder railway station) is a short walk from the Interlaken Ost train station. Trains leave every 30 minutes with hours of operation roughly from 9 am to 9 pm (mid-April through late November). Click here for updated hours and pricing information.
2. Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is a small town that is nestled in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. This is one of the most famous and the most picturesque towns in the Jungfrau region. Rustic houses, Swiss chalets, hotels, and restaurants all tumble together, while Staubbach Falls cascades down the sheer cliff next to the town.
Lauterbrunnen | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
Most likely, you will pass through Lauterbrunnen while traveling to Mürren, Jungfraujoch, or Schilthorn, and it is worth it to take a little extra time to stroll through town and enjoy the views.
Lauterbrunnen is also a good place to base yourself, since this is a transportation hub in the Jungfrau region.
3. Mürren
Mürren is a small town that is perched on a cliff, overlooking the Lauterbrunnen Valley. From town, you have panoramic views of Mönch, Eiger, and Jungfrau, the mountains that dominate the Bernese Alps. From Mürren, you get one of the best views of this mountain range.
Drone photo of Mürren.
In town, there are lots of great restaurants and hotels to choose from, as well as hiking trails, cable cars, and a funicular that connects you to other notable places in the Bernese Oberland.
On a visit to the Jungfrau region, I recommend spending at least several hours in Mürren. Have lunch or dinner at a restaurant that has an outdoor terrace with views of the Alps, go shopping, and explore the town. From Mürren, you can continue up to Schilthorn, ride the Allmendhubel Funicular, walk to Gimmelwald or Grutschalp, or dangle over the Lauterbrunnen Valley on the Mürren via ferrata.
Mürren also makes a wonderful place to stay in the Bernese Oberland. This is where we stayed and we highly recommend it. From our room at the Alpenblick Hotel, we had a spectacular view of the Swiss Alps, and it was a wonderful way to start and end our days here.
4. Mürren Via Ferrata
Does the idea of dangling 2000 feet above the Lauterbrunnen Valley floor interest you? How about walking across a tightrope, with nothing below you except a rushing river? Or how about walking across a wobbly, narrow, suspension bridge? If you said yes to all of these questions, then put the Mürren via ferrata on your list of things to do in the Jungfrau region.
The Mürren via ferrata is a 2.2 km journey, part via ferrata and part hiking trail. You’ll cling to a cliff, climb down steep ladders, walk on a tightrope and a suspension bridge, and (with a guide) zip line across a ravine.
View from the via ferrata | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
You start in Mürren and end in Gimmelwald. This takes about 3 hours of your time and can be done with or without a guide.
5. Ride the Allmendhubel Funicular
The Allmendhubel funicular starts in Mürren and ascends 500 meters up to a picturesque hamlet above Mürren. Once in Allmendhubel, you have gorgeous views over Mürren and the Swiss Alps.
There is a restaurant here as well as a playground for kids, so this makes a great spot to visit if you are traveling as a family.
Ride the funicular round trip, or, if you want to be more active, you can take your pick from several walking trails. You can walk directly back down to Mürren or walk a portion of the Northface trail to get back into town.
About the Allmendhubel Funicular: The funicular runs from 9 am to 5 pm, departing every 15 minutes. Click here for ticket prices and the timetable (the Allmendhubel funicular does not run year round; it periodically closes for maintenance work).
6. Walk the Northface Trail
This trail has a little bit of everything…spectacular mountain views, small hamlets and chalets tucked away amidst the mountains, farms, flower-filled alpine meadows, and pastures filled with cows and their musical bells.
Northface Trail | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
If you are looking for a walk to do with kids, this is a great one to consider. The views change frequently and with a chance to get up close with cows and goats, this trail is good at keeping kids entertained.
The Northface Trail is an easy walking trail that is done as a loop from Mürren. Along the way, you are treated to stunning views of Mönch, Eiger, and Jungfrau as well as views over Mürren and the Lauterbrunnen Valley. You also have the option to add on Sprutz waterfall.
The Northface trail is 7.4 km long and it takes about two and a half hours to hike the entire loop.
7. Schilthorn and Piz Gloria
Schilthorn is one of the highest peaks in the Jungfrau region and it is one of the best places to go for panoramic views of the Swiss Alps.
From Mürren, a thrilling cable car ride transports you to the top to Schilthorn. Enjoy 360° views from the mountaintop. The view from here is phenomenal and we thought that this view is better than the view you get at Jungfraujoch.
View from Schilthorn | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
Piz Gloria | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
One of the best things to do while on Schilthorn is to dine at Piz Gloria, the revolving restaurant. We had brunch and it was one of our favorite meals while in Switzerland. The food is good and the view is even better. This costs CHF 35 for adults and CHF 20 for kids 6 to 15 years of age.
In 1969, Schilthorn was featured in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. While you are here, visit Bond World, tour the James Bond exhibits, and dine in the same restaurant featured in the movie (Piz Gloria). And make sure you visit the restrooms…I don’t want to spoil the surprise, but these are the most memorable toilets in the Jungfrau region.
Getting Here: From Mürren, you will ride a cable car to Birg and then transfer to a second cable car to Schilthorn. Click here for pricing. Cable cars leave every 30 minutes starting at 7:40 am in Mürren.
IMPORTANT: A new cable car system is currently being constructed from Stechelberg to Mürren to Schilthorn. It will be replacing the original cable car route. The original cable cars are still in operation, so you can still visit Schilthorn, but readers are reporting that the Birg Thrill Walk is closed and that the construction materials are taking away from the view at Schilthorn. This construction project is planned through 2026. Learn more here.
8. Birg Thrill Walk
When you travel from Mürren to Schilthorn, you will transfer cable cars at Birg. On the way up or the way down, spend 30 minutes at Birg to visit the Thrill Walk.
Steel platforms and ladders are bolted into the cliffs at Birg, giving visitors a thrilling, bird’s eye view of the Jungfrau massif. It’s included in your ticket to Schilthorn, and it is a fun, thrilling, quick add-on to an already spectacular experience.
Birg Thrill Walk | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
Birg Thrill Walk | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
9. Gimmelwald
Gimmelwald is a tiny, postcard perfect town located on the cliffs that tower over the Lauterbrunnen Valley. This town is smaller, less touristy version of Mürren.
While you are here, don’t miss the Honesty Shop. If you want a short, easy walk past more farms and alpine meadows, head west out of town, past Olle & Maria’s Bed and Breakfast, into the farmland that sits west of Gimmelwald. Go as far as you like (10 minutes is enough for nice views and a wonderfully empty walking trail) and then turn around when you are ready.
Gimmelwald | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
10. Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe
A trip up to Jungfraujoch is one of the best things to do in the Jungfrau region. Stand on one of the highest points in the Swiss Alps, walk through an ice cave, play in the snow, get panoramic views over the Alps, and hike out to Mönchsjochhütte.
Jungfraujoch | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
The only way to get to Jungfraujoch is by train. This can take several hours, depending upon your starting point. It’s also very expensive, with round trip journeys costing as much as 200 CHF per person, depending upon your starting point.
Learn more about how to visit Jungfraujoch, and if it is worth it, in our article A Visit to Jungfraujoch…Is It Worth It?
11. Kleine Scheidegg
Kleine Scheidegg is a high mountain pass that is located next to Jungfrau and Eiger.
If you have plans to visit Jungfraujoch, you will pass through Kleine Scheidegg. Trains from Grindelwald, Wengen, and Lauterbrunnen drop off passengers at the railway station here. This is where you transfer onto the Jungfraubahn, the final leg of the journey up to Jungfraujoch.
Because of its location high up in the mountains, you have wonderful views across the Lauterbrunnen Valley to Mürren and Gimmelwald.
Jungfraubahn | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
Kleine Scheidegg with Jungfrau in the background.
Several hiking trails start and end here, including the very popular Männlichen Panorama Trail and the Jungfrau Eiger Walk, which connects Eigergletscher with Kleine Scheidegg.
12. Männlichen and the Panorama Trail
Männlichen is a mountain located in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland. From the peak of Männlichen, you are rewarded with some of the most spectacular views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley (the cover photo of this post was taken from Männlichen).
The walk from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is one of the most popular hikes in the Jungfrau region. This easy, mostly downhill trail offers spectacular views of the mountain peaks of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
Männlichen | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
Panorama Trail | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
This hike is suitable for all ages and ability levels. It’s perfect for families, travelers with limited time who want to do a short, memorable hike, and those who want jaw-dropping views with minimal effort.
The Panorama Trail is 4.4 km long (2.75 miles) and if you start in Männlichen, it is a downhill walk to Kleine Scheidegg. This is an easy walk that takes about an hour and a half of your time.
13. The Eiger Trail
The Eiger Trail is another short but sweet hike in the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland. This point-to-point hike follows the north face of the Eiger mountain. Along the way, you get jaw-dropping views across the Lauterbrunnen Valley to Mürren and also down to Grindelwald.
Eiger Trail | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
This was one of our favorite hikes in the region. We liked this more than the Panorama Trail (mentioned above), but you really can’t go wrong with either one. The views are unbeatable, it is mostly a downhill walk so you don’t have to be super fit to hike this trail, and it can be easily added onto a visit to Jungfraujoch or Kleine Scheidegg.
This hike is 7 km (4.5 miles) long and, like the Panorama Trail, is an overall downhill walk. The Eiger Trail is slightly more strenuous than the Panorama Trail.
Learn how to combine Jungfraujoch and the Eiger Trail into one amazing day in our One Day in the Jungfrau Region itinerary.
LEARN MORE: How to Hike the Eiger Trail
14. Go Paragliding
Paragliding is one of the most thrilling things you can do in the Bernese Oberland. There are numerous companies that offer tandem paragliding, leaving from Interlaken or Mürren. It’s a bit pricey, coming in at around CHF 200, but what a view you will have!
15. First Cliff Walk
In Birg, you have the Thrill Walk. In First, you have the Cliff Walk.
This is very similar to the Birg Thrill walk, with metal platforms that are bolted onto the cliffs. You will walk on suspended platforms and narrow bridges, with views of Grindelwald in the valley below.
First Cliff Walk | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
It’s a nice view, but if you only have time for one cliff walk experience, the Birg Thrill Walk is the winner. The Birg Thrill Walk is more impressive, since you are at a much higher elevation and you are looking directly at the mighty Jungfrau massif.
However, while in First, you can also fly like a bird or zip-line on the First Flyer or First Glider for a quick thrill. Or, ride go-karts downhill on a wide gravel path. The First Cliff Walk is free to visit but you will have to pay to ride the zip-lines and go-karts.
16. Bachalpsee
Bachalpsee is a very pretty alpine lake that is just a short walk from First. This is a popular, easy day hike that’s great for families and people of all ages. From First, follow the wide gravel trail and the signs to Bachalpsee. It is 6 km round trip and takes about 2 hours.
This is the view of Bachalpsee when hiking from Faulhorn to First | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
17. Schynige Platte
Schynige Platte is mountain ridge in the Jungfrau region. To get here, you will ride the cogwheel train from Wilderswil to Schynige Platte. This is a scenic, historic railway that has been in operation since 1893. It takes 52 minutes to get to Schynige Platte, but along the way you have beautiful views of Lake Brienz, Interlaken, and the Lauterbrunnen Valley.
The view from Schynige Platte | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
Once in Schynige Platte, there are several ways to fill your time. Visit the Botanical Alpine Garden, walk the Swiss Flower or Panorama Trails, and kids can play at the alpine playground. There is also a restaurant and hotel here.
Getting Here: From Wilderswil, ride the Schynige Platte Railway to Schynige Platte. The train is in operation from the end of May through the end of October.
18. Hike from Schynige Platte to Faulhorn to First
The hike from Schynige Platte to Faulhorn to First is a big day hike in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland, but what a spectacular day. A scenic ride on a cogwheel train, alpine lakes, rustic mountain huts, snow-covered trails, and some of the best views of Swiss Alps…these are just a few highlights of this exciting hike.
With views of the Jungfrau massif, Lake Brienz, and numerous alpine lakes, this is often labeled as one of the best day hikes to do in the Jungfrau region.
The most popular way to do this hike is to start in Schynige Platte and end in First. Once in First, add on the First Cliff Walk before riding the gondola down to Grindelwald. This is a great way to spend one day in the Bernese Oberland if you enjoy hiking.
This hike is 16 km (10 miles) long with 860 meters (2820 feet) of elevation gain, so it’s a strenuous hike.
19. Journey Behind Trummelbach Falls
Glacier melt from Mönch, Eiger, and Jungfrau drains down into this cavern, forming a series of waterfalls located entirely within a mountain.
Trummelbach Falls is an immensely powerful waterfall, carrying up to 20,000 liters of water per second. The water thunders through these caverns and is almost deafening.
To visit Trummelbach Falls, you will ride an elevator to the upper levels and then walk on a series of staircases to different viewing platforms. It’s loud, it’s chilly (even in the summer months), and you could get wet.
If it is a rainy day, this is one of the best things to do in the Jungfrau region.
Trummelbach Falls | Best Things to do in the Jungfrau Region
Website: Click here for updated hours and pricing.
Getting Here: You can walk here from Stechelberg or Lauterbrunnen (20 – 30 minutes one-way) or take the public bus that runs through Lauterbrunnen Valley.
20. Hike the Hardergrat Trail
The Hardergrat Trail is one of the most famous day hikes in Switzerland and some people say that it is one of the most beautiful hikes in the world. This is a tough day hike and for part of the way, the trail follows along a very narrow ridge. With drop-offs and brief sections of rock scrambling, this is a dangerous hike and only recommended for those with a high level of physical fitness and lots of hiking experience.
This was a hike that was recommended to us, but we had to skip it, since Kara was recovering from an injury and was not able to do a massive day hike. But it looks amazing so I couldn’t leave it out of this post. You can read more about it here and we hope to do this on our next visit to Switzerland.
If you have done this hike and would like to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below!
Best of the Jungfrau Region: On a Map
Here are the best things to do in the Jungfrau region on a map.
How to Use This Map: Click the icons on the map to get more information about each point of interest. Click the star next to the title of the map to add this map to your Google Maps account. To view it on your phone or computer, open Google Maps, click the menu button, go to “Your Places,” click Maps, and you will see this map on your list.
Do you have any questions about visiting the Jungfrau region? Let us know in the comment section below.
More Places to Go in Switzerland:
JUNGFRAU REGION OF THE BERNESE OBERLAND: What exactly is the Jungfrau region? Find out in our Guide to the Jungfrau Region, which includes maps and important travel planning information. Learn how to plan your time with our Jungfrau Itinerary.
SWITZERLAND ITINERARY: If your visit to the Jungfrau region is part of a bigger trip to Switzerland, check out our Switzerland Itinerary, which has suggestions on what to do if you have 7 days, 14 days, or even longer.
ZÜRICH: For things to do on a quick visit, check out our article One Day in Zürich.
LUCERNE: Learn how to spend one perfect day in Lucerne with a trip to Mt. Pilatus.
ZERMATT: In Zermatt, don’t miss the hike from Gornergrat to Riffelberg. For more ideas on what to do, read our article Best Things to Do in Zermatt. For more alpine views, learn how to visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (and find out if it is worth it).
LUGANO: Lugano is located in southern Switzerland. From here, you can visit the fairytale bridge called Ponte dei Salti and you can easily day trip to Lake Como and Bellagio.
EUROPE TRAVEL INSPIRATION: For more great ideas on where to go in Europe, check out our article 30 Beautiful Places to Visit in Europe. You can also get more travel ideas in our 10 Days in Europe itinerary guide, which has 10 great itineraries for your next trip to Europe.
Read all of our articles about Switzerland in our Switzerland Travel Guide.
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Comments 41
Hello, thank you so much for such a detailed itinerary. We are visiting this area soon and I am deciding to stay between Interlaken or Wengen. Unfortunately because of our late booking, areas such as Lauterbrennan are all sold out. We plan on Visiting most of the towns you have listed as well as Brienz. Traveling with kids as well so where would you recommend we stay?
Author
If you can stay in Wengen, I think that would be better than Interlaken. Wengen is located in the heart of the Jungfrau region, so you will have shorter transportation times to get to some of the towns/experiences. Plus, it is a very pretty small town. If you haven’t seen it yet, we have a Where to Stay article and Jungfrau Itinerary that could be helpful for your trip. Cheers, Julie
Hi! This has been incredibly helpful as my wife and I plan our trip. We will be staying in Wengen for 3 full days at the beginning of September.
We plan to spend one of the days visiting Jungfraujoch and doing the Eiger trail.
For the other 2 days we’d like to visit Lauterbrunnen, Murren, and Gimmewald and combine those with hiking. Do you have any suggestions on the most logistical practical ways to do this coming from Wengen, including any hike nears each you recommend 🙂 ?
Thanks so much in advance!
Author
On day 2, start off traveling to Schilthorn (we cover how to get here from Wengen in our guide to Schilthorn). After Schilthorn, ride the cable car to Murren, walk to Gimmelwald and consider doing the Northface hike. Have dinner (it might end up being an early dinner depending on how the day goes) from Murren so you can enjoy views of the mountains. Then return to Wengen. On your third day, ride the train to Schynige Platte, do the Schynige Platte to First hike if you want to do a big hike, or just visit First. In the afternoon, visit Lauterbrunnen. That should cover the highlights in 3 days. If you have any other questions please let me know. Cheers, Julie
Hi! Thanks for such a detailed description of this fabulous region.
Myself , wife, and 22 year old daughter are active travelers and planning on a 7 day trip in September. I realize most travelers seem to plan a trip in the summer months…from your perspective is September (mid – to late ) too late in the season for a trip with hiking as a main component.
Thanks,
Brad
Author
I think September is a great time to visit this region. Crowds tend to lessen in September, throughout most places in Europe, including Switzerland. It can still feel busy but shouldn’t be as bad as July or August. The weather should still be good during this month and you should still be able to go hiking. Maybe avoid the last week of September, just in case there is a very very early snowfall. But early to mid September should be a great time to visit. Cheers, Julie
Hello Julie,
I have to start by saying you’ve compiled the most detailed information regarding travels to Switzerland. Your adventures are simply unparalleled and jaw-dropping. I can’t thank you enough for all the inspiration.
My friend and I are planning on traveling in either early or late June. We are trying to avoid the huge crowds in July and August. We understand that weather changes quickly in the mountains; however, we were wondering if you have some knowledge regarding the weather in early or late June. It may not be the prime time to hike, but do you think we’d get views as gorgeous as yours? I’m worried about the rainy days. Any insight would be much appreciated.
Here is a rough 10-day itinerary base on all the posts we’ve read from you:
Day 1: Arrive in Zurich
Day 2: Lucerne (Mt Pilatus vs Mt Rigi, then afternoon walk in Lucerne town)
Day 3, 4, 5, 6, 7: Bernese Oberland (Not sure where to stay as our home base yet, but if Interlaken is cheaper that’s where we’ll be). We favorited the article “15 Great hikes to do in Bernese Overland ” and this article as our travel inspiration since weather can change quickly at least we have these as ideas.
Day 8: Zermatt – I just want to see Matterhorn.
Day 9: either go to Geneva and fly back home from there or back to Zurich and fly from there.
Based on this, do you think we’d benefit from the Swiss Pass?
We appreciate the time you’ve put into this. Well done.
Regards,
Riza
Author
That’s a great trip that you put together. If you can, stay deeper into the Jungfrau region. Grindelwald could have some cheaper hotels but you can take a look at our Where to Stay in Jungfrau article, click the links into Booking for your dates of travel, and get pricing. It would be a better experience to stay in Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, or Murren, since it will eliminate travel time each day and these are more beautiful towns to stay in. We loved our time in Murren. The Swiss Travel Pass would absolutely be worth it if you stay in Interlaken since you will ride the trains each day of your trip. If you stay in the Jungfrau region, it is still probably worth it, but you could look into getting a flexible Swiss Travel Pass, that you could use on most days of trip. If you get a rainy day and hang out at your hotel instead, you won’t be using transportation, so you don’t lose any many that day if you have the flexible pass. You most likely will get rain or clouds at some part of your trip, but it does not tend to rain all day. Save the things in the Jungrau valley for that day (Trummelbach Falls, Lauterbrunnen) so you can journey higher into the mountains on the other clearer days. We had some rain and clouds too, but still found fun things to do, and had a little break from busy sightseeing, which can be nice (go to a cozy restaurant and eat Swiss food and drink wine or beer). One more tip…look into traveling to Zermatt the evening of day 7, which would give you one full day in Zermatt. The weather is clearest in the morning and your best chance of seeing the Matterhorn. We have a one day itinerary on our newly published Zermatt Itinerary guide. I hope all of this helps and that you have a beautiful trip to Switzerland! Cheers, Julie
I am so excited to have found your web site! I have been researching information a little at a time fir months now – just trying to get a sense of where to start in hopes of a long trip to Switzerland in 2024. Maybe starting in May and going into June. I will come back and read more info on your site soon – It is packed with great info, thank you so much!!! (By the way, I am looking for an Air BnB to rent I. Murren if you have any recommendations I would be happy to receive an email with the information)
Author
Hi Kelly. That’s so exciting that you are planning a big trip to Switzerland. We don’t use AirBnB so don’t have personal suggestions for AirBnB, but for suggestions on where to stay in Murren, take a look at our Jungfrau Hotel Guide. This has a wide range of options in the area, including Murren. We stayed in Murren, loved it, and absolutely recommend it as one of the best locations in the Jungfrau region. If you have any more questions as you plan your trip, please let me know. Cheers, Julie
Love your post. It’s one of the best ones I’ve read to give you all the highlights.
We are an adventurous family of 3 with our son being 18. It’s a bit overwhelming to figure out what is a good base to stay at the entire time. Or even if it’s better to split your trip up and stay in 2 different places for variety. We will be there for 7 nights and I typically hear people talking about staying in Interlaken but I see you mentioned staying in Murren and how wonderful it was so now I’m getting confused as to what would be best to stay at. And is it too much trouble to split the stay. Any advice would be appreciated. Seems you know all the areas very well!
Author
Hello Stacy. Yes, we loved Murren. It takes longer to get here (compared with Interlaken) but it is absolutely worth it for the views you get and to be immersed in the Jungfrau region. Interlaken is fine, but it sits outside of the valley, is a larger town, and has a much different feel to it. If you have 7 nights, you could split your time. I’d put most of it in Murren. And unless there is a lot that you want to do right around Interlaken, I’d make the other town either Grindelwald or Wengen, which is on the opposite side of the valley from Murren. Grindelwald is larger, less scenic, but it’s really easy to get around from this town. Wengen is similar to Murren, a nice town in the mountains but lacks the views that Murren has. As for order, put Murren second. I think if you stay here first it will be hard to leave. Cheers, Julie
My question is how would you recommend getting around this area? Would it be easiest to rent a car for the couple of days we spend here, or stick to trains/busses/railcars etc? We are doing as much trains and public transportation for the rest of our trip so that is what I am curious about.
Author
For an overview of the Jungfrau area and info on how to get around, our Guide to the Jungfrau Area will be very useful. But in general, there is just one road and that runs through Lauterbrunnen Valley, so we don’t recommend having a car (it will be parked in a garage or parking lot for the majority of your visit). The cable cars and trains are the best way to get around. It seems like a confusing web of public transportation, so hopefully the guide I listed above will help you understand the area and how to get around better. And it may not seem like it, but once there, it seems to make more sense. Cheers, Julie
I only have enough time to visit one region of the Swiss Alps what do you recommend ready to fix? Would it be a mistake not to visit Lucerne or Zermatt or I’ve Been Told the best place is Young proud region
Author
We liked the Jungfrau area more than Zermatt, but only by a little bit. Lucerne is very nice, but I think going into the mountains is a nicer experience. So, from our personal experience and opinions, Jungfrau would be #1, then Zermatt, then Lucerne. Cheers, Julie
I been to the Jungfrau region many times and by heck, how much I miss this area (been at least four years now). Looking at your photos wants me to book a flight as soon as possible and do some more hiking.
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Looking at my own photos makes me want to go back as soon as possible. 😊 Beautiful place!! Cheers, Julie
Met de trein gaat het ook heel goed en betaalbaar. Beter dan vliegen.
Hi! Thank you for all these insights and tips. My family and I went to the Jungfrau region in 2019 and visited several of the points you mentioned. It has been the best vacation ever. We stayed a night in Lauterbrunnen, another two in Wengen. This time around we would like to be based in one town in order to wonder and hike more. Is Mürren a good option? Grindelwald? How many days do you suggest in order to get cliff experiences, Jungfraujoch, paragliding, and long hikes? We are a pretty athletic and active family from Guatemala where we hike volcanoes on occasion, so we are looking into long hikes. The Murren via Ferrata scares me a bit though. Is it safe enough?
Our idea is to fly to Geneva and later take a train to the Jungfrau for 4-5 days. Thanks so much! Isabel
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Hello Isabel. I think 4 to 5 days sounds great. We loved staying in Murren and highly recommend it. The views from here are some of the best in the Jungfrau region and there are enough hotels and restaurants in town that you should have plenty to choose from. Grindelwald is just OK. It’s down in the valley so you don’t get big views from here and I think Murren is a much better experience. On a return visit we would stay in Murren again, no doubt about it. For a hiking list for the region, take a look at our Bernese Oberland hiking guide. I also recommend visiting Jungfraujoch one morning and in the afternoon doing the Eiger Trail and maybe even the Panorama Trail from Kleine Scheidegg. It’s a lot day but one of the best days we had in Switzerland, if not all of Europe. The hike from Schynige Platt to First is also a must do. The Murren via ferrata is very safe but if you haven’t done a via ferrata yet, I recommend doing this with a guide. Ideally, spend 5 days in the Jungfrau region, to give you enough time for some hikes and a little bit of contingency time, just in case you get a bad weather day. Cheers, Julie