Murren-Brienze-Bern-Geneva?

I would add extra time in Murren if possible and just do a day trip to Ballenberg. I have done that and it is easy to do and will save you a hotel change.

I would not go out of my way to see Bern, but I am not a fan as many others are. That could also be a day trip from Murren or Montreux if you are able to add nights to one or both of those locations.

Hi Carrie,

Thanks for your input!

I'm happy with 10 full days in Murren, so perhaps your idea to add a day to go to Ballenberg from Murren would work. It looks like at least 2.5 hours to get to Ballenberg from Murren, then 3 hours at the museum, then at least 2.5 hours to get back to Murren. If I'm correct, that looks like more travel time than time spent at the museum. I guess that doesn't sound easy to me, so what am I missing?

I would like to see Bern, and if we day tripped to Ballenberg from Murren, we could just do the ~2 hours to Bern the next day and stay one night.

Are you checking the times on the SBB website? I'm seeing less than two hours from Mürren to Ballenberg.

When I went, I took the train and bus to get there as quickly as possible. On the way back, I took the bus, boat, and train instead, just to enjoy a different route.

Travel times in Switzerland never seem long to me because the scenery is so gorgeous. If it were two hours on an expressway, that would be a completely different story!

And don't let the multiple connections put you off. Traveling in Switzerland is incredibly easy. Most connections simply involve stepping off one train or cable car and walking a few steps to the next one, which is often already waiting.

Honestly, Switzerland has one of the easiest public transportation systems I've ever used. The multiple connections look much more intimidating on paper than they are in reality.

Oh no. I confess, I was using Google for travel time!

I was intimidated by the multiple connections. Thanks for your reassurance.

I'll seriously consider a day trip to Ballenberg from Murren.

It does look like Brienz is a cool town though.....

When I went, I took the train and bus to get there as quickly as possible. On the way back, I took the bus, boat, and train instead, just to enjoy a different route.

I think Carrie has it right. The boat back is such a pleasant trip. And the short stop at Geisbach Falls is also very nice.

As for Brienz, it is actually our very favorite town in Switzerland. We use it as a base for a week while we visit and re-visit so many things nearby. If you have time between boat/train/bus legs, you could walk along the waterfront for a bit. Some great statues. We like the laughing man, he looks so happy. Good photo op.

Thanks Travelguy,

That sounds like a vote for spending a night in Brienz?

Spending a night in Brienz?

I don't know, depends on how your schedule fits together. There are a few small hotels there, and everything is very nearby. The boat dock, train station, bus terminal and tourist office are all next to each other. Also right there is the Rothorn Bahn. Coal-fired steam train that goes to the top of the mountain. It runs every hour, and takes an hour up, and an hour back, with about 1/2 hour at the top. If you had a full day in Brienz, you could see Ballenberg and Rothorn Bahn, but that would be a busy day for some folks (you'd have to check the schedules online). The Jobim company in the center of town is fun to look through to see all the beautiful wood carvings. And we like eating at the Steinbock.

Regarding Ballenberg, it's kind of a linear layout, and has some hilly parts. If you take the bus to the further entrance from Brienz, and then walk to the other end (closer to Brienz), it's overall less uphill walking.

Thanks!

We're leaning toward day tripping to Ballenberg from Murren so we don't have to move our stuff and lodging. We'll try to get a look at Brienz if we have the time and energy. Then we can go straight to Bern when our Murren time is up and spend two nights there before moving to Geneva by the airport.