6 Nights in Berner Oberlalnd Area. Should we split up 3 nights on each mountain?

We stayed the whole time in Lauterbrunnen took the trains, cable cars, etc. on various days to Wengen, Gimmelwald, Murren, Schynige Platte and so on. Part of the fun was in the various journeys.

Either way will be fine. I’m splitting in June. I have 3 murren and 4 Wengen.

On previous trips I have done all Wengen and all lauterbrunnen.

No bad options.

Hi Kathy. I asked a similar question a few weeks ago. Here are the replies and our final decision:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/question-about-where-to-spend-six-nights-in-the-berner-oberland

I wouldn't split. Having top pack and unpack is more tedious than having to travel on a spectacular cable care a few more times. Anyway, what do you expect to do for three days in Gimmelwald?

Gimmelwald has very little other than the youth hostel for restaurants, there are a few houses who sell things like cheese and sausage, and there is the cable car.

If you don't want to go from one side of the valley to the other because of the cable cars how much will you enjoy Gimmelwald where the only way to get around is the cable car and on foot. Nearest grocery shops in Lauterbrunnen and Mürren (cable car and bus for Lauterbrunnen, cable car to Mürren )

I find the various transportation around area fun as well getting me where I want to go. But that's me, what is it that worries you or you don't want? If we understood that, and the attraction of Gimmelwald while still using the transportation we could perhaps give better advice....

Having top pack and unpack is more tedious than having to travel on a
spectacular cable care a few more times.

A tip for traveling more efficiently is to keep everything neatly organized in your suitcase using packing cubes. I like these:

https://www.eaglecreek.com/products/pack-it-reveal-cube-set

https://www.eaglecreek.com/products/pack-it-isolate-quick-trip-s?_pos=10&_sid=4d9bb8b99&_ss=r

Wengen to Mürren is 46 minutes. The means of transportation is different from what most people are used to, but to travel 46 minutes from your hotel to see something new is not that difficult or unusual.

Since you will be there for six days you will most likely decide to venture even further afield than that - lots of beauty in the entire region to explore!

Thank you all for the advice. So very helpful for the first timer! I do not want to stay in Gimmelwald. Just mentioned since it is on the other side of Wengen. Now I think we Would most likely pick Mürren if we split our time.

But it sounds like staying in one place is great too! Again, thanks for taking the time.

Anyone have a good one bedroom apartment suggestion in Wengen or Muirren?

now I am slightly more confused. Gimmelwald, which is what I wrote about above based on your use of the name, is down a shallow slope on the edge of the cliff below and to the side of Mürren, and definitely on the Mürren side of the valley.

There is a similarly named large village / small town which allows buses and cars in the town called Grindelwald the next valley over beyond Wengen.

Which are you referring to?

My bad! As I said I am a first timer to Switzerland. Disregard what I said about Gimmelwald. I now understand that I will be in Murren and Wengen for my nights. Sorry for the confusion.

no prob! That's what we're here for. There was a time when I hadn't been there before too, just like everybody. And it can become confusing.

We stayed in Wengen for 7 nights this past last half of September. We rented an apartment through Wengen select (recommended on this site) associated the Hotel Falken (had a great dinner there FYI). I would consider renting through Wengen apartments https://www.wengenapartments.com/ as they had a brick and mortar office in Wengen and appears to have many more options. Personally I would stay in Wengen. If you end up splitting your nights I would stay in Murren over a Sunday as construction was not active the Sunday we were in Murren. We were also in Murren during the week and the construction traffic was a deterrent IMHO. I would not want to waste my time checking out in Wengen and checking in at Murren. The area is gorgeous. Either place will be wonderful.

The thing to understand about this area is that getting around on cable cars and mountain railways is part of the fun. It is not tedious to take the Wengen to Lauterbrunnen train a third or a fourth time etc..... Weahter changes. You can look out for that waterfall you missed on the first go etc...

People ride the trains here just for fun, not just to get somewhere. I sometimes go up to the Männlichen to have a beer and enjoy the view, or to Gimmelwald to get a Schwarzmönch.

My son & I enjoyed 3 + terrific days in Murren Sept '23. The construction noise alarm on this thread is near nonsense. We stayed in Hotel Eiger and heard...very little traffic (no cars in Murren, unlike the expressway thru Lauterbrunnen). Workers in this amazing town were constructing, but any "noise" was unnoticed, unobtrusive. We wandered all over town with vehicle free lanes, walkways.

The lift/train from/to the valley presented fun experiences. We enjoyed the efficient trip down and then up thru the other valley side to the Jungfraujoch. Murren's access to the Schlithorn via lift and to Allmendhubel via funicular presented life affirming wondrous views.

The construction noise alarm on this thread is near nonsense. Workers
in this amazing town were constructing, but any "noise" was unnoticed,
unobtrusive.

It’s great that you did not notice any construction noise. I don’t think it’s fair to call the concern nonsense though. Depending on the time one is staying in Murren, the noise level will be different. There was definitely construction noise and mess when I was there in June 2022. I don’t expect the conditions to be the same today. And when I return next June, the conditions will be different then too. It just depends on what they are working on at the time.

The construction schedule can be viewed here:

https://schilthornbahn20xx.ch/en/Info/Planning_Schedule

Many people head to the mountains for the peace and quiet. So, they should be aware of this massive construction project that is happening. I plan to stay in Murren for a few nights, so it’s not keeping me from the area. But I won’t be surprised if I see construction vehicles and hear some noise near the site.

Also, there will be some closures that some may want to plan around. It's just good information to have.

Thanks again to everyone who took the time to reply! So very helpful. We are so so excited to go!

Kathy

End of August/early September is the perfect time to see the cows up on männlichen. I watched this video before my Sept. 2021 trip and it convinced me to add männlichen to my list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsp2XG8lPyw

It was one of our favorite things and we still talk about it. My sister and brother-in-law are not big on walking too much, so we took the cable car up and down from Wengen. But you can also walk down to Klein Scheidegg as he does in the video. I did that walk twice last year and can’t wait to do it again when I return next year.

This is a great resource of the area put together by forum member shoe:

https://lauterbrunnenhiking.wordpress.com/

Another favorite walk of mine is from Murren down to Gimmelwald.

Be aware that the mountain sun is hot!!!! I got so sunburned last year. I hate to wear hates but forced myself to order one for my return trip. It just arrived today. Looks like I’ll be on a safari. 😊

https://sundayafternoons.com/collections/womens-sun-hats/products/ultra-escape-boonie?variant=39363386015934

You might find my trip reports helpful:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/still-dreaming-of-switzerland-a-trip-report

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/trip-reports/solo-in-switzerland-my-trip-report

And I’ll have another one after June! How lucky am I that I get to go back to this fabulous country?? 😊

Have a great trip!!!!

P.S. I lived in Omaha for 3 years. Went to law school at Creighton. 😊

Carrie!! So cool that you lived in Omaha! We live in downtown Omaha and are close to Creighton! Thank you for all the extra links and tips! So very appreciated!!! I will look for your June post!
Kathy

In addition to the resource provided above, the Wengen tourist office lists vacation rentals.

https://wengen.swiss/en/eat-and-stay/holiday-flats/