A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Dover vs. Murren for Hiking, Couples, Families, and Food

Should you visit Dover or Murren?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dover and Murren can help you decide which place is right for you.

Dover

Dover is a rustic, stunning, and natural town. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. It's also known for food, hiking, and museums.

Murren

Murren is a stunning, serene, and authentic town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. You'll find world class beauty here as well. Other popular activities here include hiking, skiing, and food.

Dover and Murren: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Dover or Murren?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Murren than Dover, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Murren is better known for its skiing, hiking, shopping, and small town charm, while Dover is more popular for its museums. Murren is more touristy than Dover and is known for its spectacular mountain views, authentically local atmosphere, and world class hiking and skiing. Also, Murren is famous for Lauterbrunnen Valley. Dover is well known for the famous White Cliffs of Dover as well as the ferry connection to mainland Europe.

How is Dover different from Murren?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Murren and Dover. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Is Dover or Murren Better for Skiing?

Murren is a world-class destination for snow skiing. However, Dover is not a skiing destination.

Murren is among the world's best ski destinations. If you're visiting in the winter, you're in luck because the scenery and the slopes are both amazing. The top of Schilthorn is quickly accessed from the gondola and ski lifts, and heading down you'll find some difficult runs along with easier slopes. Enjoy your apres-ski in the village with cozy drinks and a dinner of fondue. And with more time, you can easily get across the valley to the Grindelwald-Wengen ski area, too.

Dover is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Dover or Murren?

Dover is a town with good options for its museums and landmarks. However, Murren is not particularly known for its historical sights.

Dover is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. Aside from the iconic White Cliffs of Dover, there is the Dover Castle, the South Foreland Lighthouse, and the Grand Shaft.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Murren. You don't visit this area for the museums, so if you're looking for an indoor activity on a rainy day, your options are limited.

Is the Food Better in Dover or Murren? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Foodies will find both Dover and Murren both to be notable destinations.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Dover area. The town has a growing food scene that includes waterfront restaurants and local dishes. Find a restaurant with a view to make sure you take full advantage of the setting.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Murren. If you can afford the prices, you'll enjoy some great meals of fondue or local steak. There aren't many restaurants in town and some of the best are attached to the hotels. Those on a tight budget will be frustrated because cheap eats are hard to come by. You may as well pay a little more and enjoy a high quality, fine dining experience.

Is Dover or Murren Better for Nightlife?

Both Dover and Murren are respectable when it comes to partying.

Most people don't head to Dover specifically for the nightlife scene, but you can find a few options. The nightlife has a relaxed atmosphere with wine bars and microbreweries.

Those looking for nightlife will find a few places to hang out in Murren. It's a quiet and residential town that is more about the daytime activities than the nightlife scene.

Is Dover or Murren Better for Hiking?

Murren is a world-class destination for the nearby hiking options. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its hiking trails.

Many people visit Murren specifically for its hiking. Hiking trails pass right through the town, connecting the many alpine towns in the area. There are hikes for all levels, and each offers stunning views of the surrounding peaks, which include Eiger, Jungfrau, and Monch.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Dover. There are many beautiful countryside walks that take you through the rolling hills and along the iconic white cliffs. Some of the best hikes in the area include The England Coast Path, The North Downs Way Saxon Shore Way.

Is the Shopping Better in Dover or Murren?

Murren is not a good place to visit for its shopping areas. However, Dover is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Murren has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. Aside from a food market or two, there aren't many shops in town and prices for everything are a bit high.

Dover is not a noteworthy shopping destination.

Is Dover or Murren Better for Families?

Murren is a well-known place for its family-friendly activities. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Murren is known to be a very family-friendly place to visit. Kid-friendly activities are everywhere in this amazing town. Take the Allmendhubel Funicular Train and explore one of the coolest playgrounds ever! Family-friendly trails abound and outdoor adventures with spectacular views are fun for everyone.

Dover is a family-friendly town. There are a few kid-friendly museums like the Dover Transport Museum and the Dover Castle. Also make sure you check out the South Foreland Lighthouse.

Is Dover or Murren Better for Couples?

Murren is a world-class destination for couples. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for romance.

For those traveling as a couple, Murren has plenty to offer. This small town offers charming hotels, hidden viewpoints, and romantic hikes through the Alps. If you want to experience an authentic side to the Alps, then stay in this town and explore the many hiking trails in the area.

Dover makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The White Cliffs of Dover are an iconic sight and perfect for a romantic trip away. Also make sure you check out St. Margaret's Bay Beach and the Kearsney Abbey Gardens.

Is Dover or Murren Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Dover is a town with good options for backpackers. However, Murren is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Dover is a good town to visit for backpackers. You'll find several nice hostels to choose from in the town.

Murren is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There aren't any hostels in town so it's a bit difficult to stay in Murren as a backpacker. There are a number of charming hostels in the surrounding area though and they each have a unique local character.

Is Dover or Murren Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Murren is very good for its public transit. However, Dover is not a good town for times when you don't have a car.

Murren has a few public transit options. Train, cable car, and funicular are the only ways to reach this car-free town.

Public transit is mostly limited in Dover. There are public buses through the district.

Is Dover or Murren a more walkable city?

Murren is a world-class destination for its ease of walking around. Also, Dover is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its walkability.

It is easy to get around Murren on foot. It's a small town with a very limited number of vehicles so it's best explored on foot. There are also many walking trails in the area.

Dover is somewhat walkable. You can wander around the countryside, but prepare for rolling hills and great views.

For even more information, also check out Is Dover Worth Visiting? and Is Murren Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Murren or Dover?

How long in Dover or Murren?

It's fun to spend time in either Dover or Murren. In our opinion, Murren has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Murren than Dover. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in Murren than Dover. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Murren, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Murren than Dover. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Murren that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Dover or Murren?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Dover. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Even though Murren is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Dover or Murren?

Dover is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Murren. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This would be the perfect place to spend a weekend, as it has just the right amount of activities. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

Five days in Dover or Murren?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Dover. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Murren is a fun place to experience. Murren is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything.

A week in Dover or Murren?

Travelers enjoy the food and museums when visiting the rustic destination of Dover. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Murren is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 3-Day Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Bicycle Tours in United Kingdom, The Best Luxury Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dover and Murren, we can see that Murren is more expensive. And not only is Dover much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Dover would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Dover and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Murren would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Murren than you might in Dover.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dover Expensive? and Is Murren Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Dover or Murren?

Dover has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Murren. When comparing the sizes of Dover and Murren, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.