2 full days in Wengen - seeking input

1. Agree!
2. No you can't pre-book these. If you asked, they would probably look at you like you had lobsters crawling out your ears.

Pace is a little slow for me. If the weather is nice I’d be tempted to head up to the Schilthorn first thing on the morning of day 2. That would be in addition to what you have planned. Do it in the morning as weather can move in later in the day.

It’s a beautiful area so no matter what you’ll have fun.

Enjoy your trip.

2 days is hardly enough to scratch the surface. This is the most beautiful place on earth I've ever seen. There's just nothing like it, and I'm guessing you're going to be wishing you had devoted more time to it. If you want to sit and/or relax and soak it all in then this is the region to do it.

Sounds like a good plan, but here's a few things to consider:
Be willing to switch days. If the first day seems a bit cloudy/misty, then do the Grutschalp route first. Put another way, you want Mannlichen for the clearest day, because it has the greatest vistas.

It is a great walk from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg (about 1.5 hours) but you can extend it by walking to the right behind the train station at K.S., and walking down to Wengernalp (30 min). There's a train station there where you can pick up the next train.

For Grutschalp, if it's a nice day, you can take the nice walk to Murren that follows the tracks, roughly 2 hours. Or, walk half way to Winteregg, where you can also catch the train to Murren. I'd also suggest that at Gimmelwald, instead of backtracking, you could take the cable car down to Stechelberg, walk over to Trummelbach Falls (Google it) and then walk or take the Postal Bus back to Lauterbrunnen.

Also, there are more hikes out of Murren/Allmendhubel than out of Gimmelwald, but they're both nice places.

The most important thing has already been stated, but it cannot be emphasized enough.

Whatever your plans are, be flexible and ready to change them depending on the weather. If the weather's good when you arrive, don't waste time unpacking - get going! If you have some things planned for a day, check with your hotel if the weather predictions should make you change the order, or do other things instead.

"I'd also suggest that at Gimmelwald, instead of backtracking, you could take the cable car down to Stechelberg, walk over to Trummelbach Falls (Google it) and then walk or take the Postal Bus back to Lauterbrunnen."

That's my suggestion too. You will get very different views this way, and the advantage of the Postbus is that it makes multiple stops, so you can walk as far as you wish and take the bus the rest of the way (or, not take the bus at all if you're feeling up to it).

I also highly recommend the Allmendhubel, which leaves from the "middle" of Muerren. It takes less time and costs much less money than the Schilthorn, but has great views, as well as great walks at the top.

Thank you, Harold, Shoe, Tim, Rocket and Sam. There are some wonderful details in your replies (which I'll be googling/digging into) but also some great general principals - especially weather-centered flexibility - hadn't thought about that. (And yes, I know 2 days is not enough, but that's all we could afford this time around. No doubt we'll leave aching for more!)

I second the suggestion to head up to Schilthorn, especially if you're using the Swiss Travel Pass that allows you to travel up for free. You can also reserve a seat on a specific car for 5 CHF if you want to be sure to get a space on the first or second cable car of the morning -- enabling you to head up, soak in the views for a few hours, and then head back down in time for lunch. I've been there twice and found each time that the bigger groups started to arrive by 10 am or so.

Going up to Allmendhubel might also be worth it if you just want to sit and stare a bunch, as you say :) -- once you take the train up there, you'll see some benches for reclining at the top of the hill that I found perfect to just sit and admire the view on a nice day!

I agree with the others about going up. Our favorite hike is the North Face Trail from Allmendhubel. It is nice, clearly marked. Several places to stop and eat along the way. Most importantly is the amazing views!

This sounds like a good pace ... unless you can spare more time. I spent five nights in Mürren a couple of weeks ago and I wished it had been longer.

If you're going to go to Murren, do continue on to the Schilthorn. It's not as high as the Jungfraujoch, but the views are spectacular. And I second the advice to go early, not just because of tour-group crowds but also because the Schilthorn often clouds over as the day progresses.

If time permits, you could stop at Birg on the way back to Mürren from the Schilthorn. Birg has a "Thrill Walk" and an outdoor restaurant with gorgeous views. If it's a sunny day but clouds have descended on the Schilthorn, Birg may be clear (as may Allmendhubel).

By the way, you can walk from Mürren to Gimmelwald instead of taking the cable car if you want. And you could take the cable car from Gimmelwald to Stechelberg and return to Lauterbrunnen either by bus or on foot; it's a beautiful walk through meadows and woods.