Hi,
Is there a Trainline that will travel direct to Mürren from Chamonix, France/French Alps? Or some combination of tram cars and trains? I have been able to determine there are two train stations in Mürren. I am looking to find out which one is closest to the Eiger Guesthouse. Does anyone know/has anyone stayed at the Eiger? I have sent two emails to the B&B and await their reply to these same questions. Thank you.
No, there are no "direct" trains from Murren to Chamonix, but you can get there with 7 train changes in 4.5 hours or more, depending on time of day.
If you go to www.sbb.ch/en and put in Murren you'll have 2 choices but they are one and the same. [There is only ONE train station on the North side of Murren. On the South side (10 min walk) is a cable car station that can lead you down to Stechelberg.] Then on destination put in "Chamonix". It will be something like Murren > Grutschalp > Lauterbrunnen > Interlaken Ost > Spiez, etc. The first quoted price assumes you have a half fare card.
If you go to Google maps and put in "Muerren, CH" you will see that Eiger Guesthouse is practically across the street from the train station marked as "Murren BLM".
So that means you do NOT want to get down to the valley floor (and thus Lauterbrunnen) via Stechelberg, but rather via Grutschalp, because you will be right next to that train station (there is only one in Murren). The sbb.ch site also lists routes via the cable car down to Stechelberg, but that's out of your way.
I do not know what you mean by “Trainline”but this is a fairly easy journey with the Swiss railway, SBB.ch, albeit with many transfers. We just did it in the opposite direction (to Chamonix from Mürren) a few days ago. If you have a Swiss Pass ( not Eurail Pass or Half Fare Card) the whole journey is covered.
Starting in Chamonix, you board a train heading to Switzerland ( Martigny). You most likely will change trains at the border ( Vallorcine), but it is a simple matter of walking across the platform from one train to the other.
At Martigny you change to a train heading east to Visp. From Visp you catch an Intercity train through the tunnel to Spiez. Then to Interlaken Öst and change for Lauterbrunnen. Make sure you board the train at the section going to Lauterbrunnen (track 2A) as they split the train and part goes to Grindelwald instead.
At Lauterbrunnen you follow the signs to the cablecar up to Grutschalp (also signed for Mürren). You can leave your luggage in the container to be transported up to Mürren under the cablecar and then attached to the train). At the top of the cablecar you just walk to and board the waiting train ( generally only one car). It will take you to the Mürren BLM station and you pick up your luggage from the wagon attached to the back of the train. Go upstairs and walk out of the station. Eiger Guesthouse is across the street.
I know it sounds complicated but it really works pretty seamlessly. You can find the journey with track numbers and times at SBB.ch. I like to write it down so I know which track to head to at each station. You can also check the board to confirm.
Lola,
If I have the Swiss Pass does that mean I do not have to make train reservations online ahead of time?
If I have the Swiss Pass does that mean I do not have to make train reservations online ahead of time?
Botanical, you never have to make train reservations on Swiss trains, same whether you have a Swiss pass or buy tickets. The trains are all unreserved seating.
If you have a Swiss Pass, you don't need to buy tickets at the station (that is the whole point of a Swiss Pass). You just get on any train you fancy heading in the correct direction, and sit down in any empty seat.
And if it is a Swiss Flexi Pass (you choose the days), be sure to write the date in the little box provided, before you board your first transport of the day.
Note that a 2-Country or 3-Country Pass which includes Switzerland is NOT the same as a Swiss Pass. However if it is a 2-Country Pass that includes France, your journey from Chamonix to the border will be covered. It is the part from Interlaken Öst up to Mürren that will require extra payment.
Little Mürren has three "stations." When you haven't been there, it is indeed confusing. When you're actually there, it's very clear.
Mürren BLM is the one that gets the train from Grutschalp, which in turn gets the cable car from Lauterbrunnen (across the street from the Lauterbrunnen train station). These rides (Lauterbrunnen to Grutschalp to Mürren) are all coordinated, and at each change you just follow the crowds.
Mürren Schilthornbahn is the one that gets the cable cars, down to Gimmelwald and then Stechelberg, or up to Birg and the Schilthorn. From Stechelberg, you can get a bus to Lauterbrunnen, or it's a lovely walk taking about 1.5 hours. You should do at least part of this walk while you're there; it's a perfect activity, as Rick says, for the "cloudy day, weary body, or tight budget." Plus, you can do as much of the walk as you want, then catch the bus the rest of the way.
Mürren Allmendhubelbahn is the one with the funicular up to Allmendhubel; no further connections. This is a great thing to do, as the ride up the Allmendhubel is much shorter and cheaper than the Schilthorn, but you get great views of all three peaks and a lovely park area to walk around; there's even a restaurant.
Yes, if you have a Swiss Travel Pass, you don't need to buy tickets or make reservations for any fully covered rides. You just board, and show your pass when tickets are checked. However, for any rides not fully covered (such as the Jungfraujoch, or the Wengen to Maennlichen cable car), you have to buy tickets BEFORE boarding; show your pass to get the appropriate discounts when buying the tickets.
I can't emphasize enough that I know transit in this region seems confusing before you get there, but it's really easy once you're there. You can't go through mountains - only up, down, or around them. So, when you can see the mountains, and there are large maps at every station showing the route options, it's easy.
If you use the Swiss Rail website or app, it will give door to door directions for the whole country. For instance, if instead of "Mürren" you put in your hotel's address, it will include walking directions to the hotel; for cities, it includes tram and bus directions and times.
Four star forum! Each response offered well received advice. This has been very helpful in the decision making process. Chris I am planning on using some of your suggestions. Thank you!
botanical,
For travelling that route, there are a couple of methods you could use......
If you'd rather travel all the way by train from Chamonix to Mürren, that's certainly possible and the time is about the same. You'd have to buy a separate ticket for the portion on the TER train leaving Chamonix (DON'T forget to validate your ticket prior to boarding the train). However there will be about seven changes on that route. For example, there's a departure from Chamonix-Mont-Blanc at 10:54, arriving Mürren at 15:28 (time 4H:34M, 7 changes). I've travelled that route and it's really not too difficult.
You can see all the solutions on the Bahn.de websites.
On the trip from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen, be sure to check the small display on the side of the coach on the Berner Oberlandbahn, to ensure that the coach is going to Lauterbrunnen and not Grindelwald (some trains split at Zweilütschinen).
One other point to note is that there are two routes from Lauterbrunnen to Mürren. The easiest route is probably the Murren BLM route, which uses a cable car from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp and then the small mountain railway from there to Mürren. The cable car is right across the street from Lauterbrunnen station, you can't miss it.
Thank you Ken! We are so excited and really looking forward to riding the rails in the Alps. : )
