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

Should you visit Murren or Flam?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Murren and Flam can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Murren

Murren is a breathtaking, stunning, and serene town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Other reasons to visit include skiing, food, and hiking.

Flam

Flam is a beautiful, natural, and breathtaking village. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for food and hiking.

Murren and Flam: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Murren or Flam?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Murren. Although Murren and Flam are both popular with visitors, Murren has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. Murren is more popular for its skiing, hiking, and impressive beauty, while Flam is known for its food and shopping. Murren is popular for its spectacular mountain views, authentically local atmosphere, and world class hiking and skiing. It is also home to Lauterbrunnen Valley. Flam is popular for its beautiful fjords and natural beauty as well as its popularity as a cruise ship port.

How is Murren different from Flam?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Murren or Flam Better for Skiing?

Murren is an unbeatable place for skiing. However, Flam is not a skiing destination.

Murren is a top destination for snow skiing, and it attracts visitors from around the world. 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.

Flam is not a skiing destination.

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

Neither Murren or Flam offer quality museums and landmarks.

Murren offers a few options for museum-goers. 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.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Flam. Hiking and natural beauty is why you visit this area, but there is the Flam Railway Museum that you can visit as well.

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

Flam is well known for its restaurant scene. Also, Murren is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

With its innovative style combined with traditional elements, Flam makes for a great culinary experience. Local restaurants make use of seasonal ingredients and local fish and meat. You'll also find many berries and a local goat cheese at many restaurants as well.

Murren has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. 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 Murren or Flam Better for Nightlife?

Party-goers will find similar levels of energy in Murren and Flam.

Murren is generally a quiet destination but there are options around. It's a quiet and residential town that is more about the daytime activities than the nightlife scene.

Flam doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. Most people visit as a day trip, so you won't find a huge nightlife scene in this small town. There are some local bars and breweries around town though.

Is Murren or Flam Better for Hiking?

Murren is an unbeatable place for hiking. Also, Flam is not as popular, but is still a nice village for the nearby hiking options.

Murren is well-known for its hiking and trekking. 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.

Flam is a popular spot for hiking. There are many great hikes just outside of town that are varied in length and challenge level. Both tourists and locals enjoy hiking in the area, so you'll get some of the best advice on where to go from any locals that you meet. Popular trails include the Flåmsdalen hike from Myrdal to Flam and the hike to Brekkefossen Waterfall.

Is the Shopping Better in Murren or Flam?

Flam is a village with a few options for shopping. However, Murren is not particularly known for its shopping opportunities.

Flam is a good destination for shopping. There are some shopping centers and malls near town where you can grab anything you may have forgotten.

Shopping in Murren can be found for those interested. Aside from a food market or two, there aren't many shops in town and prices for everything are a bit high.

Is Murren or Flam Better for Families?

Both Murren and Flam are very good to visit with kids.

Murren is 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.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Flam is very family-friendly. The fjords and mountain beauty make this a great place for a family adventure. Myrkdalen is also just 45 minutes away by car and it's filled with many mountain activities.

Is Murren or Flam Better for Couples?

Murren is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Flam is not as popular, but is still a nice village for its romantic activities.

Murren is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. 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.

Flam is a very popular place to visit for couples. Stunning natural beauty and dramatic fjords make this a great romantic destination. Couples who enjoy hiking and explore nature will enjoy days in this special place.

Is Murren or Flam Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Flam is a good village to visit for backpackers. There are a few hostels in the area that help keeps prices more affordable for backpackers and budget travelers.

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

You'll find somewhat comparable public transit options in both Murren and Flam.

You'll find some public transit in Murren, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. Train, cable car, and funicular are the only ways to reach this car-free town.

While Flam offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There is a local bus service through the area.

Is Murren or Flam a more walkable city?

Murren is an unbeatable place for its walkability. Also, Flam is not as popular, but is still a nice village for its high level of walkability.

Murren is a very easy town to get around 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.

Flam is a very walkable town. There are many great walks in the area.

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

Should I spend more time in Flam or Murren?

How long in Murren or Flam?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Murren or Flam to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Murren than Flam because of the number of activities and things to do in the area. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Murren, and 1-2 days is enough time in Flam.

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Flam than Murren if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Flam.

One day in Murren or Flam?

Murren is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and skiing. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

Many travelers enjoy the food when visiting the small town destination of Flam. Hikers are also drawn to this area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Murren or Flam?

Murren is a fun place to experience. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Flam 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.

Five days in Murren or Flam?

Murren is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Flam. 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.

A week in Murren or Flam?

Because Murren is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

Travelers enjoy the food when visiting the beautiful small town of Flam. This village 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Switzerland, The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland, The Best Adventure Tours to Norway, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Norway.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Murren and Flam, we can see that Murren is more expensive. And not only is Flam much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Flam would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Flam 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 Flam.

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

Which is Bigger, Murren or Flam?

Flam has a larger population, and is about 11% larger than the population of Murren. When comparing the sizes of Murren and Flam, 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.