This Gorgeous Car-Free Village Is Only Accessible by Cable Car
Mürren, located high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley in Switzerland, is a place that appears to be another world. It stands 5,374 feet above sea level, doesn’t allow cars, and its wooden chalets and narrow lanes are rare today. Reaching it is half the adventure. Travelers arrive in the valley by train, then switch to a gondola that climbs steeply toward the village or ride a narrow-gauge mountain train that winds through pine forests and rocky cliffs. The steepest option is the Schilthorn cableway, which gains 2,543 feet in minutes, a smooth glide through astonishing Alpine views.
The story of how people settled here goes back to the 13th century. Mule tracks once connected residents to supplies down in the valley, but progress came in the late 1800s with a small railway and later a cable car system. Now, it’s a village where you walk past traditional hotels like the Alpenruh and the Eiger, then turn a corner and see the jagged trio of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau towering above the rooftops.
Steep Slopes and a Spirited Past
Image via Wikipedia/Andrew Bossi
Mürren is famous for being a pioneer in winter sports. Sir Arnold Lunn and his circle of British skiers helped shape downhill and slalom racing here in the early 1900s, and their legacy lives on with events like the Inferno Race each January.
This route from the Schilthorn down to Lauterbrunnen measures 9.8 miles, and racers complete it in astonishing times. The village has 34 miles of pistes served by cable cars, chairlifts, and a funicular called the Allmendhubelbahn. In the evenings, you see skis propped outside inns and hear lively talk from bars where people recount their runs.
Those who aren’t here for skiing still find plenty to enjoy. In summer, trails go through meadows dotted with alpine flowers and grazing cattle. The Flower Trail above the village showcases delweiss and bright gentians through June, July, and August.
Some visitors try the via ferrata route that descends toward Gimmelwald, secured by steel rungs and cables, ending with a suspension bridge that hangs above the valley floor. Others ride the gondola up to Piz Gloria, the revolving restaurant made famous in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.
A Village Full of Character
The Hotel Mürren Palace, known as Switzerland’s first palace hotel, reopened after a careful restoration, and its elegant rooms look out on mountain spires. At the Hotel Eiger, old photographs line the walls, reminding guests of generations of travelers who arrived by foot or mule. The Edelweiss, near the cliff edge, serves hearty breakfasts with a view that stops conversation. The village lanes are lined with restaurants and cozy bars where you can sample Swiss rösti or fondue after a day outside.
Every turn has a new detail, like an old wooden barn used for skis in winter, the distant thunder of waterfalls like the 1,370-foot Mürrenbach Falls, or the sound of the funicular heading up Allmendhubel.
Getting There Is Part of the Story
Reaching this mountain village always feels like a reward. Travelers start at Lauterbrunnen, a village that serves as the valley gateway. From there, one route involves a quick gondola ride up to Grütschalp, then a scenic train into the heart of Mürren. Another option is to ride a bus to Stechelberg and board the Schilthorn cableway, which carries passengers straight up to the village in a few minutes. Cars stay behind in the valley parking areas.
A Place That Stays With You
Mürren may be small, but its setting and history give it a big presence. It has seen centuries of mountain life, the birth of modern skiing, and moments of movie magic, all framed by cliffs and waterfalls. Long after leaving, many remember Mürren as the kind of place that makes a trip through the Alps unforgettable.