Wengen vs Mürren

Pulses?
Wengen is more desirable as far as location.

This is a recent post and I think it will provide with some good information:

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/switzerland/berner-oberland-hiking-base

We stayed in Wengen last fall for a week and would happily go back. Views were gorgeous, car free, easy to get to other locations. We enjoyed our visit to Murren and it is also very nice; however, the construction during the week for the new cable car we found annoying. It was a very different town during the weekend on our second visit. Both are very nice but I would give Wengen the nod at least until the cable car construction is complete.

You can do a fair amount in 3 days and will want to return I guarantee. I could have stayed easily for 2 or more weeks.

Four nights is the minimum in my opinion. I favor Murren but the construction could be a limiting factor currently. Enjoy!

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Murren+and+Wengen&utf8=%E2%9C%93

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Murren&utf8=%E2%9C%93

https://search.ricksteves.com/?button=&date_range=2y&filter=Travel+Forum&query=Wengen&utf8=%E2%9C%93

You will get opinions on both sides, so you might as well flip a coin, or decide on the basis of a hotel that calls to you.

Wengen is only preferred for location if one is going up the Jungfrau, as it is closer to that. Mürren is on the other side of the valley, with better access to the Schilthorn.

Mürren is higher up, and offers access to more good hiking right from the village. We are hikers, so we choose Mürren. I find the views of the surrounding peaks are more spectacular from Mürren, at least from the upper village.

But we always travel down to Lauterbrunnen and up the other side at least once during our stay, to do the Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg hike, or other hikes at Grindelwald. Riding around on the lifts is half the fun of being there, and if you get a.Berner Oberland Pass, the gondolas and most cablecars are free. The train up the Jungfrau is covered only 25% with the BO Pass, and the Schilthorn cable car 50% above Mürren. All others, such as the Allmendhubel funicular, the cablecar up to Männlichen, the gondola down the Grindelwald, the Eiger Express and First Gondola at Grindelwald are all free with a BO Pass.

Wengen is a larger village, with more shops and restaurants, and some high-end resort hotels. Mürren is quieter, and many buildings are the wooden Swiss chalet style.

You really cannot go wrong with either one.

We stayed in Wengen for 5 nights last July and visited Murren. Both are lovely, but the construction happening in Murren would be a big negative. I also preferred the views of the mountains and the valley from Wengen. You can see Murren across the valley. It’s easy to get up to Jungfraujoch, and easy to go up and over the mountain to Grindelwald.

I preferred the view of the mountains from Murren, but it is easier/quicker to get to Wengen. I like the hike from Murren down to the restaurant at Winteregg or all the way to Grutschalp.

We did four nights in Murren, but because of rainy weather we could have used another nice weather day.

We have stayed in Gimmelwald, Murren, and Lauterbrunnen and day-tripped to Wengen. I far prefer Murren- the views are slightly better and it just had more character (to me). Wengen feels more built-up while Murren has more charm. For what it's worth, although this isn't a super popular opinion, we loved staying in Lauterbrunnen- super easy access to both sides of the valley, and it was easy to get to the Schiltorn as well as back to Interlaken, from there. Also a nice variety of restaurants and places to stay.

Youtube is full of vloggers who have been to both, watch and see what you think are the pulses

We've stayed in both and have also stayed in Lauterbrunnen. As others have said Wengen is larger and a bit more upscale and Murren is more layed back.

I'm going to go against the grain and say with only 4 days - visit both, but stay in Lauterbrunnen as it's more central and easier to head up either side.

You really can't go wrong. The area is absolutely fantastic!