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

Should you visit York or Murren?

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

Should I visit York or Murren? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

York

York is a historic, medieval, and fanciful city. It's also known for shopping, museums, and nightlife.

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. It's also known for skiing, food, and hiking.

York and Murren: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in York or Murren?

Tourists will generally find more to do in York. Although York and Murren are both popular with visitors, York has more sights, activities, and attractions for travelers. York is more popular for its museums, food, nightlife, historical sights, and shopping, while Murren is known for its skiing, hiking, small town charm, and impressive beauty. York is popular for its markets, old town, and its many ghost tours. It is also home to The Shambles. Murren is popular for its spectacular mountain views, authentically local atmosphere, and world class hiking and skiing.

How is York different from Murren?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Is York or Murren Better for Skiing?

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

If you're an avid snow skiier, Murren should be on your list. 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.

York is not a skiing destination.

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

York 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 York. Popular museums include the York Castle Museum, the National Railway Museum, Castle Howard, and JORVIK Viking Centre.

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 York or Murren? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

York is an amazing city to visit for its restaurant scene. Also, Murren is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Many restaurants in York have been singled out for their culinary prowess. Meat pies, fudge, and fish and chips are just some of the culinary experiences you'll find here. The Shambles Market has vendors that sell a wide variety of cuisines. There are also food trucks throughout town that offer affordable and delicious meal options.

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 York or Murren Better for Nightlife?

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

York is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The young population and thriving tourist scene means there's no shortage of nightlife around town. Check out a pub or music venue to experience everything that city has to offer.

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 York or Murren Better for its Old Town?

York is an amazing city to visit for its historic old town. However, Murren does not have a historic old town.

York offers visitors a world-class historical old town to explore. The charming old town is filled with shops and restaurants. There are street performers, fudge shops, and all of the Harry Potter merchandise that a person could need.

Murren does not have a historic old town.

Is York or Murren Better for Hiking?

Murren is a world-class destination for the nearby hiking options. However, York is not a hiking destination.

People visit Murren specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. 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.

York is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in York or Murren?

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

York is a great destination for shopping. The old town has many great candy stores that sell fudge and other local specialties. There are also Harry Potter stores that sell potions, t-shirts, games, and more.

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 York or Murren Better for Families?

York is an amazing city to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Murren is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

York is an extremely popular city to visit for families. The city does an amazing job bringing history to life in a way that kids will enjoy. The JORVIK Viking Centre transports visitors back in time and introduces them to a fully immersive viking experience. The York Dungeon is great for older kids as long as they don't scare easily. Actors and special effects offer a terrifying and entertaining visit through a York dungeon. Harry Potter fans will enjoy exploring the potion shops and broomstick stores along the iconic Shambles, which is said to be an inspiration for J.K. Rowling's Diagon Alley.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Murren is very family-friendly. 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.

Is York or Murren Better for Couples?

Murren is a world-class destination for romance. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its romantic activities.

Murren makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

York makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples can explore the history and entertainment venues that make York an enjoyable destination. There are museums, restaurants, and outdoor markets that make this a great weekend getaway.

Is York or Murren Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

York is well known for backpackers. However, Murren is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Backpackers come from all over to visit York. There are a few hostels around town as well as nightlife venues and entertainment spots that appeal to backpackers and younger travelers. For great and affordable food, grab a meal at one of the many food trucks around 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 York or Murren Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both York and Murren offer good public transit options.

York has a few public transit options. There is a reliable and efficient bus system around town.

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

Is York or Murren a more walkable city?

Murren is a world-class destination for its walkability. Also, York is not as famous, but is still a good city to visit for its high level of 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.

York is a somewhat walkable place. The old town has many pedestrian streets that are easily explored on food.

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

Should I spend more time in Murren or York?

How long in York or Murren?

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

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

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

One day in York or Murren?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of York. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

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.

A weekend in York or Murren?

York is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

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.

Five days in York or Murren?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in York. Don't miss the food, as that's what most people do. 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.

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.

A week in York or Murren?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the fanciful destination of York. 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.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours from London, The Best 10-Day Tours from Edinburgh, The Best Luxury Tours to Switzerland, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Switzerland.

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

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

Which is Bigger, York or Murren?

York has a larger population, and is about 320 times larger than the population of Murren. When comparing the sizes of York 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.