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

Should you visit Saint Andrews or Murren?

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

If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saint Andrews or Murren, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.

Saint Andrews

Saint Andrews is a peaceful, historic, and charming university town. 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 nightlife, food, and beaches.

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. And you can't forget about the food, hiking, and skiing.

Saint Andrews and Murren: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Saint Andrews or Murren?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Saint Andrews. Although Saint Andrews and Murren are popular destinations, Saint Andrews has more sights and attractions for tourists. Saint Andrews is very popular for its museums, food, nightlife, beaches, and shopping, while Murren attracts visitors for its skiing, hiking, and impressive beauty. Murren is more touristy than Saint Andrews and is known for its spectacular mountain views, authentically local atmosphere, and world class hiking and skiing. Saint Andrews is famous for its reputation as the birthplace of golf. It is also well known for The Old Course.

The Old Course

How is Saint Andrews different from Murren?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is Saint Andrews or Murren Better for Skiing?

Murren is terrific for snow skiing. However, Saint Andrews is not a skiing destination.

The snow ski experience you'll have in Murren is among the best in 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.

Saint Andrews is not a skiing destination.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Saint Andrews or Murren?

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

Saint Andrews is a good place to visit if you're interested in museums or other recognizable sights. For many, a highlight of their trip is to play a round of golf at St. Andrews Links Golf Courses. Golf enthusiasts will also appreciate a visit to the British Golf Museum. Other interesting sights in the area include a visit to the ruins of the Cathedral of St. Andrew, visiting the St. Andrews University Museums, or stopping by St. Andrews Castle.

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 Saint Andrews or Murren? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Saint Andrews 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, Saint Andrews makes for a great culinary experience. The town holds on to its history and heritage, and that stands out with the restaurant selection. There are a range of of independent cafes and pubs and surprisingly few major chain restaurants and fast food joints.

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 Saint Andrews or Murren Better for Nightlife?

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

Saint Andrews has an active nightlife scene for those who seek it out. There are a large number of pubs and bars throughout the town, and you'll find students hanging out and keeping things lively.

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 Saint Andrews or Murren Better for Beaches?

Saint Andrews is a university town with good options for its beaches. However, Murren is not a beach destination.

Plenty of visitors enjoy relaxing on the beach in Saint Andrews. Adding to the natural beauty is the beautiful coastline around St. Andrews. Some of the best beaches include West Sands Beach, Kingsbarns Beach, Castle Sands, and Saint Andrews Beach.

Murren is not a beach destination.

Is Saint Andrews or Murren Better for Hiking?

Murren is terrific for the nearby hiking options. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its hiking trails.

Known for its hiking, Murren draws a crowd to experience the nature and the trails. 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.

Plenty of visitors go hiking around Saint Andrews. There are some beautiful hikes just outside of town. Check out the views from Chamcook Mountain or wander down the Van Horne Trail.

Is the Shopping Better in Saint Andrews or Murren?

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

Saint Andrews is an extremely popular place for shoppers. The town is filled with boutique shops and local markets where you can buy unique items like artisan food, handmade crafts, or local art.

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 Saint Andrews or Murren Better for Families?

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

Murren is a very kid-friendly town. 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.

Saint Andrews is a family-friendly university town. There are some great playgrounds, parks, and gardens that kids will enjoy. Check out Kingbrae Gardens, Ministers Island, and Katy’s Cove. For museums, head to Ross Memorial Museum and Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium.

Is Saint Andrews or Murren Better for Couples?

Murren is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for couples.

Murren has so much to offer for a romantic couple's vacation. 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.

Saint Andrews makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The scenic landscapes, stunning views, and quaint charm make this a perfect place for couples to escape to. You can enjoy boat rides, seafood restaurants, golfing, and spas all while you soak up the natural beauty.

Is Saint Andrews or Murren Better for Students?

Saint Andrews is an amazing university town to visit for students. However, Murren is not popular with students.

Saint Andrews is a very popular university town for students. At its heart, this is a university town with a long standing history in teaching. You'll find the town's population doubles when students are in town.

Murren is not popular with students.

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

Both Saint Andrews and Murren offer nice public transit options.

Saint Andrews has a few public transit options. There are buses through St. Andrews.

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

Is Saint Andrews or Murren a more walkable city?

Murren is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Saint Andrews is not as famous, but is still a good university town to visit for its ease of walking around.

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.

Saint Andrews is a somewhat walkable university town. Parts of the town are compact enough to explore on foot.

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

Should I spend more time in Murren or Saint Andrews?

How long in Saint Andrews or Murren?

It's fun to spend time in either Saint Andrews or Murren. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Murren due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 1-2 days is a good amount of time for Saint Andrews, and 2-4 days is enough time in Murren.

Families should spend more time in Murren than Saint Andrews. 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 Saint Andrews. 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.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews.

One day in Saint Andrews or Murren?

Saint Andrews might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. One day is often enough time to do most activities.

Many travelers enjoy the skiing and food when visiting the stunning small town of Murren. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Your budget might influence how long you stay. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it.

A weekend in Saint Andrews or Murren?

Saint Andrews 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. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do. For many, it makes a great getaway for a weekend. A weekend is usually enough time to experience most activities.

Five days in Saint Andrews or Murren?

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

Travelers enjoy the skiing and food when visiting the serene small town of Murren. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from. 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.

A week in Saint Andrews or Murren?

Saint Andrews is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. This university town offers a variety of activities to choose from. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

You'll find food and skiing around the beautiful town of Murren. 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. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to United Kingdom, The Best Sightseeing 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 Saint Andrews and Murren, we can see that Murren is more expensive. And not only is Saint Andrews much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Saint Andrews would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Saint Andrews 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 Saint Andrews.

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

Which is Bigger, Saint Andrews or Murren?

Saint Andrews has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Murren. When comparing the sizes of Saint Andrews 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.