Mürren is a car-free alpine village perched high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and reached only by cable car and mountain railway. For four nights on our 2025 trip we marveled at Mürren’s unreal beauty with a balcony at Hotel Alpina that opened straight onto the silhouettes of the big three – Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. With its flower-lined chalets, quiet lanes, and views that stop you in your tracks, it set the stage for some of our most unforgettable adventures – tackling the thrilling via ferrata to Gimmelwald, soaring on a paraglider from Birg, hiking the Northface Trail, and riding up to the legendary Schilthorn.

🏔️ Mürren Base

We based out of Mürren at Hotel Alpina for four nights from August 21-24. See our other blogs for detailed itineraries and tips for activities we did while based in Mürren.

• Day 1 (Aug 22)
  • 🚆 Evening arrival via train/cable car (Interlaken Ost → Lauterbrunnen → Grütschalp → Mürren)
  • 🍽️ Dinner at Panorama Restaurant Alpina
• Day 2 (Aug 22)
  • 🚴‍♂️ Biking from Mürren to Lauterbrunnen via Trümmelbach & Staubbach Falls
  • 🥾 Northface Trail Hike
  • 🍽️ Dinner @ Hotel Eiger Restaurant
• Day 3 (Aug 23)
  • 🧗 Mürren Via Ferrata
  • 🐄 Gimmelwald
  • 🍽️ Dinner @ Hotel Edelweiss Restaurant
• Day 4 (Aug 24)
  • 🎬 Schilthorn Piz Gloria
  • 🚶‍♂️ Birg Thrill Walk
  • 🪂 Paragliding from Birg to Stechelberg over Lauterbrunnen Valley
  • 🍽️ Dinner @ Hotel Alpenruh Restaurant

💡 Mürren Tips

• 🏔️ Stay cliffside for the views – Hotel Alpina offers unbeatable panoramic views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau right from the balcony. Request a valley-facing room with a tub for the full views and relaxation.
• 🚠 Getting there – Mürren is car-free and accessible only by cable car + mountain railway via Lauterbrunnen and Grütschalp. Plan connections ahead and pack light for easier transfers.
• ☁️ Weather can shift fast – Mountain views may be hidden by clouds at times, so allow flexibility in your plans and check Schilthorn webcams (Piz Gloria, Birg, Allmendhubel) before heading out. We pivoted our schedule in Mürren to delay paragliding to our last day for the best visibility and replaced it with biking from Mürren on our first full day. It was cloudy during part of our via ferrata (which did not have free cancellation/reschedule), but we embraced the extra cloudy thrill during the hammerecke and fortunately it cleared for the latter half.
• 🥾 Plan for adventure – Mürren is the perfect base for alpine experiences like the via ferrata, Northface Trail, paragliding from Birg, and Schilthorn. Bring sturdy hiking shoes which can be worn for most outdoor activities including biking, hiking, or paragliding. Don’t be that person that has to rent hiking boots to do the via ferrata because grippy shoes are required.
• 🧥 Pack layers – Whether you’re hiking the Northface Trail, paragliding from Birg, dining on a chilly terrace, or crossing a suspension bridge on the via ferrata, weather in Mürren changes fast. Bring a light rain jacket, zip-off hiking pants, leggies/tights, gloves, and neck/ear buff – even in summer.
• 🎢 Don’t miss the free thrills – Birg’s Thrill Walk (tightrope, glass floor, and tunnels) is a free and adrenaline-filled stop on the way to or from Schilthorn.
• 📷 Bring a drone if you have one – The aerial views over Mürren are spectacular, with chalets perched on cliffs and the Lauterbrunnen Valley stretching below.
• 🚴 Bike rentals come with caveats – Intersport Mürren’s rentals do not include transport fees on cable cars, and e-bikes can be fully booked. Consider renting from Imboden in Lauterbrunnen instead if you want easier logistics and included accessories like locks and phone mounts. See more tips under Switzerland – Bikes, Hikes & Waterfalls from Mürren → Lauterbrunnen.
• 🛒 Grocery hours: Coop in Mürren closes early – shop in the afternoon for next day’s breakfast, lunch or snacks.
• 🥘 Gluten-free (GF) friendly – Panoramic Restaurant Alpina and Hotel Edelweiss Restaurant were our top picks for GF dining in Mürren, thanks to clearly marked menus, incredibly kind service, and views that steal the show. Hotel Eiger Restaurant delivered solid GF food and scenic views, but the service left something to be desired. Hotel Alpenruh Restaurant served excellent food with beautiful views, but it’s not recommended for GF dining – their cross-contact practices felt uncertain at best. Raclette and rösti are naturally GF, and are the best options to ensure issues. Several of the restaurants above can accommodate GF fondue, and advance notice is advised.

Mürren Village

The views from Mürren are nothing short of jaw-dropping, with the mighty trio of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau towering above the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Perched high on a sunny terrace with no cars, this little alpine village feels worlds away. Scott’s drone shots captured Mürren’s charm perfectly – chalets clinging to the cliffs, flower-filled balconies, and the dramatic peaks rising like giants in every direction. It’s the kind of place where every angle looks like a postcard.

Hotel Alpina

Hotel Alpina clings to the cliff edge in Mürren, offering jaw-dropping, front-row views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley and its countless waterfalls. Our balcony was the highlight, with a panoramic view so breathtaking it felt like the mountains were right at our doorstep. The rooms were cozy, the staff couldn’t be friendlier, and breakfast comes with a spread of Swiss classics – plus gluten-free options happily arranged on request. It’s the kind of stay where the panorama steals the show, but the warm hospitality makes you want to linger.

Sunset Timelapse from Balcony

360 from Balcony

Panorama Restaurant Alpina 

The Panorama Restaurant Alpina, connected to Hotel Alpina, serves up the same blockbuster views as our balcony, whether you’re on the sun-soaked terrace or tucked inside behind picturesque windows. As the newly coined Mr. & Mrs. Fondue (see story below), the silky fondue we had our first night was unforgettable – bubbling, rich, and perfect for dipping. Raclette quickly became one of Scott’s favorite gluten-free meals in Switzerland: they heat a massive wheel of cheese under a broiler, scrape the melted layer onto a plate, then pile it high with veggies (potatoes, pearl onions, pickles, tomatoes, etc.). Throw in a surprisingly bold Thai green curry and the best apple strudel I’ve ever had, and Restaurant Alpina became one of those rare places where every dish somehow lives up to the view.

Meet Mr. & Mrs. Fondue

We arrived at our charming Mürren stay, Hotel Alpina, ready for our first gluten-free fondue. The staff instantly won us over – especially one friendly guy we nicknamed Keanu (in the background of the picture below). But the real laugh came at dinner. As soon as we sat down, the waitress set bubbling fondue pots on our table. Confused, we told her we hadn’t ordered yet. She double-checked the reservation and said, “But it says here: Fondue.” Turns out she’d misread Perdue as Fondue. From then on, we proudly embraced our new Swiss alter egos: Mr. and Mrs. Fondue.

Hotel Edelweiss Restaurant

We had dinner at Hotel Edelweiss Restaurant, where the views were also spectacular. The menu had clearly marked gluten-free options (always a win), and Scott enjoyed a hearty rösti while I sipped warm soup and an enchanting rosé. As the evening chill crept in, I asked if they had a blanket – and was promptly brought the one blanket they owned, kindly lent by a coworker. Before heading in, we also made sure to get a few photos with the Edelweiss mascots out front – life-sized statues that are either charming or slightly creepy depending on the lighting. Between the crisp air, comfort food, borrowed blanket, and alpine oddities, it was dinner we won’t forget.