I want to travel to Murren, Switzerland from Lauterbrunnen. This requires a cable car ride from there to Grutschalp and then train to Murren. I will be traveling for a month in various climates and will have one large piece of luggage, a medium piece and a tote bag.Question: can I take that much luggage on the cable car? How can I find out? I cannot find any info in R. Steves' book on how to contact the cable car company or tourist info places in those towns. Thank you. Donna
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32212 posts
Donna, Rest assured, your luggage won't be a problem in the Cable Cars in the Berner Oberland. I haven't used the Grutschalp lifts, but have used the alternate route to Murren. For travel to Murren, you could also take the Post Bus from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg (it's bright yellow, you can't miss it - trip is about 15 minutes) and then the Cable Car (walk across the platform and transfer to another Car at Gimmelwald). The last time I rode that car, I shared the ride with a large concrete hopper and other construction equipment (which weighed considerably more than my luggage). Happy travels!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
16327 posts
The cablecar from Lauterbrunnen up to Stechelberg is one of the large, room-sized ones (like 10 x 12 or so). You can carry your luggage on it or place it in the bin that they attach to it to ride up below the car. We were last there in 2007 and I can't remember if you reclaim it from the bin and transfer it yourself to the train for the last leg of the journey to Mürren. But it will be obvious, so just watch and see what others do. Either way, your luggage is absolutely no problem. People take all kinds of things up on the cablecar (including, as Ken says, construction equipment).
Posted by
Gettysburg, PA
1589 posts
Dear Donna, You present another good reason to pack very light. One week=one month=one year- you really don't need much. You will have a LOT to haul around the Alps. No matter what your decision, have a great trip. That area is spectacular!
Posted by
Seattle, WA
689 posts
Like the others, I've never heard of or seen evidence of luggage restrictions. Since it's the main way to get up to Murren, people take all sorts of stuff up. Last time I rode it someone had 3 large Bernese Mountain Dogs with them--they took up a lot more room than luggage does.
Posted by
Seattle, WA, United States
96 posts
As the others have said, you will have absolutely no problem taking your luggage in the cable car. The actual car itself is very large and everyone will have luggage. You can cross this "worry" item off of your list! Do keep in mind that depending on where you are staying in Murren you may be toting your luggage a ways down the street, because the train station is located at one end of town. There are a couple of hotels right across form the train station if that is an issue you're concerned about. We were in Murren in August so feel free to PM me if you have questions.