With apologies for what may be a very basic question, but if one stays in Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen, how easy is it to get up the mountains for the amazing hikes (Kleine Scheidegg, etc.). We are a family of five (3 teenage kids who love adventure) and are looking at where to stay, including Murren, but were wondering if we stayed lower to make easier with luggage, etc., would it still be easy to get up mountain for day hikes etc. The books suggest it is very doable, but since first trip, just want to avoid making easy on front end luggage wise and then finding much more difficult for activities once there. Thanks!!!! (P.S., any family friendly hotel recommendations for five would be a double-bonus)
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you can step into a train carriage or even if you can roll aboard in a wheelchair that is the extent of the energy you will need to expend in order to get up the mountains on the local trains, funiculars and gondolas. By all means do NOT NOT NOT stay in Interlaken because Lauterbrunnen and the surrounding alpine villages of Murren and Wengen are so INCREDIBLY superior. Interlaken is not in the alps but rather a starting point to travel there. Staying in Lauterbrunnen or the other villages will put you right smack in the middle of the alps.
Our destination every summer is Murren and we would never stay any place else. If your kids are <16 years old then all you need is a free Swiss Family Pass and they will ride EVERYWHERE in Switzerland on public transport with you 100% free. That's a great deal especially if you're planning on going to the super expensive Jungfrau.
Another very nice advantage that the Swiss Public Transport offers is to ship your luggage to your arrival destination so that you don't have to carry it with you. It is quite a nice service.
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Tim, many thanks. We were looking at Murren and appreciate you vouching for it, and that we should be able to figure this out!!
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32363 posts
Given the incredible transportation system in Switzerland, it's very easy to get up to communities like Mürren or Kleine Schedegg. However, nothing is inexpensive there, so be sure to budget accordingly.
Lauterbrunnen is the transportation hub, so I find that it's more convenient to stay there. From Lauterbrunnen, there are two routes you could take to reach Mürren, Gimmelwald or the Schilthorn. You could easily travel up via one route and travel back via the other route. It's also very easy to take the Wengernalpbahn cog railway for the trip up the hill to Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg and the Jungfraujoch.
Posted by
Deep South, USA
139 posts
The only real disadvantage to staying in Mürren (or Wengen for that matter) compared to Lauterbrunnen is that it will add a modest amount of time and money onto any visit to anything on the 'other' side of the valley. But the views each morning as you walk out your hotel front door will be impossible to beat :-)
Posted by
OP
19 posts
Thanks everyone. Very much appreciated.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you have a Swiss Pass you'll be covered 100% as high up as Murren and Wengen. You'll get a hefty reduction above those points. And as I pointed out earlier your kids travel free with you even to the highest points beyond Murren (Schilthorn) and beyond Wengen (Jungfrau).
Use www.sbb.ch/en to find your traveling times in all of Switzerland. From Murren to the valley floor (Lauterbrunnen) is 19 minutes.