Hi, we are looking at a 2023 cruise that ends in Venice. We plan to travel from Venice to Murren by train to spend a week relaxing, hiking on trails, and visiting the Schilthorn. We have been to the area before but usually travel in the fall.
For this trip, we would arrive in Murren April 11 or June 2. Aside from the possibility of snow, rain, or mud, is there anything else we need to take into consideration when deciding between the two dates? Thank you!
I would do June. It is still snowing and melting and snowing and melting in April.
I stayed in Murren May 15 2019 and it snowed and then melted up there and rained in the valley and I recall others saying the hiking paths were treacherous especially for senior citizens.
June would give you more sun light also.
Although I have visited there in April (2 years ago, on the way to Lake Maggiore) it is too early usually... We had snow when I was there that trip, about 3 feet, but most of the paths had been cleared. There were still plenty of slushy stretches, and when the snow came it stayed until it could be dealt with.
In early June everything will be running and the wildflowers and farm animals will be out. Far superior of a time there, IMHO.
By the way, the only reason we were so early on that trip was so that we in Maggiore at the right time so we could swing back up north for a get-together with friends at the right time...
In answer to your main question, definitely June. We were there in late June and while the trails at the lower levels around Murren were glorious, there was still snow at the top of the Schilthorn which prevented us from doing a hike down the mountain that we had planned for.
I'm curious how you plan to get from Venice to Murren? We did the trip in reverse, and we took two days: Stechelberg to Chur by car one day (with stops in Luzern and Liechtenstein); then Chur to Tiranno by Bernina Express, Tiranno-Milan by Trenord regional train, and Milan-Venice by Frecciarossa high speed train the second day. The Bernina Express was the main goal of our entire trip to Europe so that is what required the convoluted itinerary. For us it was worth it.
Thanks to everyone who responded! Spring seems like ‘off season’ and I was wondering if things would be open. Good points about extended daylight and snow. We’re ok with snow but 3 feet is a bit much! Bet it’s beautiful. Looks like June is our best option.
I researched the train on ‘rome2rio’ and it shows an itinerary from Venice to Brig (5 hrs) then Brig to Murren (30 min). We took the train from Zurich to Murren a few years ago and understand that a cable car and local train are also required to get from Lauterbrunnen to Murren. We love the area and are looking forward to visiting there again!
Hi - just wanted to point out that Rome2rio is giving you incorrect information. Brig to Mürren is more like 2 hours...not sure where they are getting 30 minutes from (strangely, if you enter Brig to Mürren it gives a more realistic timetable). I'd recommend using the SBB website to check, or at least double-check, train timetables involving Switzerland. Anyway, may not make a difference to your travel planning, but just so you are prepared that it's a significantly longer journey...
yeah, anybody doing Brig - Mürren in half an hour is either on a magic carpet or in a helicopter, I'm afraid...
Hopper & Nigel, thanks for the heads up! I’ll check the SBB site for better info on the train routes.
My suggestion would be the June date as it will be somewhat warmer, so hiking conditions will be better.
You can look at the Gimmelwald webcam for today (April 14) and see there's snow on the ground.
And at the higher elevations such as Maennlichen it might as well be January.
Thanks Ken & FastEddie, I’m convinced! June it is. Thanks!
https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/schilthorn-muerrenlauterbrunnen/
Just so you know, Murren is part of a ski resort that operates through late April. ;)
Definitely June. Unless you like skiing.
I think you looked up Birg to Muerren, not Brig to Muerren. Birg is between the top of the Schilthorn and Muerren, and you stop in Birg on the way down. On my visit, my views from the Schilthorn were clouded over, but my views from Birg were crystal clear.
I bet that's it, Harold. Never occurred .....
Interesting idea, but no, it wasn't a type. When I wrote my original comment, I had actually recreated the Venice-Mürren search on rome2rio because I wanted to see what it was suggesting. The gray line between Brig and Mürren with transport type "unknown" was a dead giveaway.... And as I originally wrote, in a separate search between just Brig and Mürren everything was fine, so it seems like the problem comes from the full journey in one itinerary.
I've actually noticed this problem before with rome2rio. It often seems to have issues with itineraries that have multiple transport providers or irregular schedules. Probably ok to use as a rough estimate or to see which companies operate routes, etc but I never rely on it for definitive planning (and definitely not for European train routes, as the national train sites like SBB or DB are easy to use and more accurate, also for international journeys).
