A Travel Price Comparison for Switzerland Murren vs. Lucerne for Couples, Nightlife, Families, and Food

Should you visit Murren or Lucerne?

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 Lucerne 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. It's also popular because of the hiking, skiing, and food.

Lucerne

Lucerne is a historic, vibrant, and scenic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is also a very beautiful destination which attracts plenty of visitors. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Murren and Lucerne: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Murren or Lucerne?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Lucerne than Murren, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Lucerne is better known for its museums, nightlife, historical sights, shopping, and big city activities, while Murren is more popular for its skiing, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. Murren is well known for its spectacular mountain views, authentically local atmosphere, and world class hiking and skiing. Lucerne is well known for it's wooden bridge, its waterfront setting, and the many nearby alpine day trips. Also, Lucerne is famous for The Chapel Bridge.

The Chapel Bridge

How is Murren different from Lucerne?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Murren or Lucerne Better for Skiing?

Murren is very popular for skiing. However, Lucerne 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.

Lucerne is not a skiing destination.

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

Lucerne 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 Lucerne. Top sights in town include the famous Chapel Bridge, the Lion Monument and the town walls and towers. There are also a number of museums including the Swiss Transport Museum and Museum Sammlung Rosengart.

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 Lucerne? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Picking the best cuisine and restaurants between Murren and Lucerne can be difficult as they are each notable in their own way.

Murren offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. 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.

Lucerne has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Food is expensive around town, but there are some unique specialties like fondue, brätwurst, and of course, chocolate. It's nice to sit out by the river and enjoy a hearty meal while you soak up the view.

Is Murren or Lucerne Better for Nightlife?

Lucerne is well known for nightlife. However, Murren is not particularly known for nightlife and partying.

Lucerne is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The city has some of the best nightlife in Switzerland, with many lively clubs, bars, and pubs. There are also many local events that are hosted in town and bring in a crowd.

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 Lucerne Better for its Old Town?

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

Lucerne is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. Sitting on the water's edge, this old town has a number of historic buildings and the beautiful Chapel Bridge.

Murren does not have a historic old town.

Is Murren or Lucerne Better for Hiking?

Murren is very popular for hiking. However, Lucerne is not a hiking destination.

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.

Lucerne is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Murren or Lucerne?

Lucerne is well known for shopping. However, Murren is not particularly known for its shopping opportunities.

Lucerne is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The city is filled with high end shopping opportunities with everything from boutique shops to major chains. Popular items to purchase in town include chocolate, watches, jewelry, and Swiss army knives.

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 Lucerne Better for Families?

Murren is great for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Lucerne is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its family-friendly activities.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Murren. 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.

Lucerne is a family-friendly place to visit. The city is filled with history and there are a number of playgrounds around town. Also make sure you pop in a chocolate shop so that everyone can enjoy a sweet treat. If the weather's warm, you can also take a swim in Lake Lucerne. Many kids enjoy escaping the city and doing a day trip to the amazing Mt. Titlis, or other peaks that are nearby.

Is Murren or Lucerne Better for Couples?

Murren is very popular for couples. Also, Lucerne is not as popular, but is still a nice city for romance.

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.

Lucerne is a very popular place to visit for couples. The city has many pleasant squares, excellent restaurants, and a romantic atmosphere that makes for a great couple's getaway. There are a number of nice hotels to choose from as well.

Is Murren or Lucerne 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 Lucerne.

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 Lucerne offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. There's a comprehensive system of buses around town.

Is Murren or Lucerne a more walkable city?

Murren is very popular for its ease of walking around. Also, Lucerne is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its 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.

Lucerne is somewhat walkable. The major tourist areas are fairly walkable if your hotel is in a convenient location.

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

Should I spend more time in Lucerne or Murren?

How long in Murren or Lucerne?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Murren and Lucerne. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Murren than in Lucerne. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Murren, and 1-3 days is enough time in Lucerne.

Families should spend more time in Murren than Lucerne. 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 Lucerne. 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 Lucerne 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 Lucerne.

One day in Murren or Lucerne?

Murren is a small town with plenty to do. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Lucerne. 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 Lucerne?

Murren might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Murren has to offer.

Lucerne 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 Lucerne?

Murren is a great place to explore. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

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

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Murren. Since Murren is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the scenic destination of Lucerne. This city 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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Zurich, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Geneva.

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

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

Which is Bigger, Murren or Lucerne?

Lucerne has a larger population, and is about 130 times larger than the population of Murren. When comparing the sizes of Murren and Lucerne, 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.