A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Murren vs. Kilkenny for Couples, Food, Families, and Nightlife

Should you visit Murren or Kilkenny?

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 Kilkenny 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 authentic, breathtaking, and stunning town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. The famous beauty of this place is one of the main draws. And you can't forget about the food, hiking, and skiing.

Kilkenny

Kilkenny is a fascinating, active, and ancient town. It's a gorgeous place to visit. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Murren and Kilkenny: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Murren or Kilkenny?

Both Kilkenny and Murren have plenty of things to do for visitors. Both offer a variety of sights, activities, and attractions for tourists. Murren is very popular for its skiing, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty, while Kilkenny attracts visitors for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping. Murren is more touristy than Kilkenny and is known for its spectacular mountain views, authentically local atmosphere, and world class hiking and skiing. Kilkenny is famous for its medieval castle and long running history.

How is Murren different from Kilkenny?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Murren or Kilkenny Better for Skiing?

Murren is terrific for winter skiing. However, Kilkenny 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.

Kilkenny is not a skiing destination.

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

Kilkenny is well known for its museums and landmarks. However, Murren is not particularly known for its historical sights.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Kilkenny. It's seeped in history and there are many historic landmarks in the area including Kilkenny Castle. Also make sure you check out the National Design & Craft Gallery, Saint Mary's Cathedral, and the Medieval Mile Museum.

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 Murren or Kilkenny? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Kilkenny 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, Kilkenny makes for a great culinary experience. The town has two Michelin starred restaurants as well as many Irish pubs and international restaurants to choose from.

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 Kilkenny Better for Nightlife?

Kilkenny is a town with good options for nightlife. However, Murren is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Kilkenny has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. You'll find traditional pubs and local breweries around town. The town also hosts several local music festivals.

Murren doesn't have the most active nightlife scene. It's a quiet and residential town that is more about the daytime activities than the nightlife scene.

Is Murren or Kilkenny Better for its Old Town?

Kilkenny is well known for its historic old town. However, Murren does not have a historic old town.

Kilkenny is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Known as the Medieval Mile, the old town dates back 1,500 years and is filled with city walls, cathedrals, and meandering lanes.

Murren does not have a historic old town.

Is Murren or Kilkenny Better for Hiking?

Murren is terrific for its hiking experiences. However, Kilkenny is not a hiking destination.

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.

Kilkenny is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Murren or Kilkenny?

Kilkenny is a town with good options for shopping. However, Murren is not particularly known for its shopping opportunities.

Kilkenny is a great destination for shopping. There's a mix of shopping malls, shopping streets, and local markets. Make sure you check out Market Cross Shopping Centre, MacDonagh Junction Shopping Centre, Connolly's Red Mills, and Castleinch Sunday Market.

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 Kilkenny Better for Families?

Both Murren and Kilkenny are superb 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, Kilkenny is very family-friendly. The obvious activity is visiting the Kilkenny Castle, but there are so many other adventures that your family can have. You can do the zip line and other outdoor adventures at Castlecomer Discovery Park, try out falconry, or visit the National Reptile Museum. There's also river rafting, kayaking, and many other outdoor adventures in the area.

Is Murren or Kilkenny Better for Couples?

Murren is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Kilkenny is still popular, but not quite as popular for couples.

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.

Kilkenny is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Adventure lovers will enjoy rafting, kayaking, hiking, and cycling through the area. There are also Michelin starred restaurants and other romantic settings that make for a great couple's weekend.

Is Murren or Kilkenny Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

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

Kilkenny is a good town to visit for backpackers. The area has some unique hostels that offer interesting experiences while you're in 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 Murren or Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny.

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 Kilkenny offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There are city buses through town.

Is Murren or Kilkenny a more walkable city?

Murren is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Kilkenny is still popular, but not quite as popular for its ease of walking around.

Getting around Murren on foot is easy. 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.

Kilkenny is a very walkable destination. The town is easy to walk around and most areas can be explored on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Kilkenny or Murren?

How long in Murren or Kilkenny?

You'll be able to find lots of things to do in Murren or Kilkenny to fill your time. Many travelers usually spend more of their time in Murren than Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny.

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

Couples should spend more time in Murren than Kilkenny. 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 Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny.

One day in Murren or Kilkenny?

Murren is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and skiing. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Kilkenny. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

A weekend in Murren or Kilkenny?

Murren is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have a weekend, this town makes for a great vacation. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. While some people choose to spend more or less time in Murren, a weekend is sufficent for most. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Kilkenny 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 Kilkenny?

Murren is a popular choice for travelers. Five days 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. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Kilkenny. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. 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 Kilkenny?

Murren is a great place to explore. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. This town offers something for everyone.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the ancient destination of Kilkenny. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most visitors spend time around the old town 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 2-Week Tours in Ireland, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Ireland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Murren or Kilkenny?

Kilkenny has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Murren. When comparing the sizes of Murren and Kilkenny, 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.