Ski Holidays in Murren, Switzerland

• Snow Conditions in Murren Switzerland +

  Snow report issued:	7th Feb 12
  Last snowed:	4th Feb 12
  Fresh snow depth:	10cm
  Depth at resort:	168cm
  Mountain depth:	347cm
  Piste state:
  Excellent (Great skiing thanks to the recent snowfalls)
  Weather report:
  Partly cloudy, some sunny spells
  Temperature:	-12°C
  Open lifts:	17 of 17

  View Murren snow history

• Murren Resort Statistics+

  Slope Direction	N S E W
  Very Easy Runs	0
  Easy Runs	8
  Medium Runs	11
  Difficult Runs	6
  Toughest Run Name
  Skiable Vertical	2175m
  Number Of Lifts	14
  Top Lift Height	2971m
  Night Skiing	N
  Snowboarding Parks	1
  Half Pipes	1
  Swimming Pools	1
  Night Clubs	3
  Mountain Restaurants	7

• Murren Piste Map+

  

• Murren Transfer Times+

  Zürich:	3 hours
  Bern / Berne:	1 hour and 30 minutes

Mürren is a picturesque mountain village, located in one of the most stunningly beautiful mountain regions you will find anywhere, the Jungfrau. Rich in tradition and originally the home of settlers from the Lötschen Valley in the Valais, it was one of the first ski resorts adopted by early British tourists thanks in good part to the arrival of the mountain railway in 1891.

The first Alpine Ski World Championships were staged here in 1931 by the Ski Club of Great Britain and the famous Inferno race down from the top of the ski area to the valley below, the world's longest downhill race, is also the world's oldest public race.

Despite its long history Mürren has maintained its small size and is car-free, making it a very special, intimate resort. It is perched on a high, sunny terrace facing the famous Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The local ski area is of medium size, although the skiable vertical is huge and Mürren's altitude (the village is the highest altitude ski resort in the Bernese Oberland) makes the whole area snowsure.

It is also linked to the ski areas above Wengen and Grindelwald across the valley, to create one of Switzerland's biggest ski pass regions.

Another famous aspect of the resort is the revolving Piz Gloria Restaurant on top of the Schilthorn above the village. This was the main filming location for the James Bond film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' whilst still under construction. At the time the village was having difficulty raising funds to complete this major engineering feat and the film company financed its completion.

• Skiing for Beginners+

  There are nursery slopes right by the village, snow-sure throughout the season, normally, thanks to the altitude. It is quite something to learn to ski under the supervision of Switzerland's first ski school, in one of the world's most beautiful mountain resorts and in the resort that many regard as the birthplace of downhill skiing in the Alps.

• Intermediate Skiing+

  There's plenty to keep intermediates of all ability levels happy on the local slopes of the Schilthorn, but the availability of all the extra piste kilometres in the wider Jungfrau region makes the opportunities available world class. The largest sector of Klein Scheidegg - Mannlichen covers the terrain between Grindelwald and Wengen.
  
  In addition Grindelwald has its own First ski area. Most of the terrain across the region is suited to the intermediate skier, and although new high -speed chair lifts have made getting around easier and quicker than in the past, these are the same classic ski runs that have entertained skiers for more than 100 years. Pistes are up to 12km (seven-and-a-half miles) long.

• Advanced+

  A kind of Garden of Eden for advanced skiers, one of the birth places of serious skiing, maintained in its pure form for over a century. There are four excellent black pistes but the original form of skiing, through the powder, before grooming tractors were invented, remains a key element of the Murren experience.
  
  Ski touring is very popular with the local mountain guides taking experienced skiers to local off-piste havens on the Hundshorn (2928m), Sulegg (2412m), or over the mighty Aletsch Glacier - at 24 km, the longest ice-stream in Europe - to Riederalp in Valais.
  
  Jungfrau Railways offer fantastic high-Alpine guided ski tours, from the Jungfraujoch over the Lötschenlücke Pass to Blatten. Or you can make a two day tour to the Äbeni Flue (3905m) or the Finstaarhorn (4273m) with overnight accommodation in an Alpine mountain hut. Heli-skiing trips are also organized by the local ski schools.
  
  Murren's famous Inferno Race in late January was organized for the first time in 1928 by a group of "ski-crazy" Englishmen. Today it is the largest amateur skiing race in the world, limited to "only" 1800 competitors - about half the skiers who would like to participate. The course covers 15.8 kilometres (ten miles) of contrasting terrain and topography, and is open to the skiing public at other times of the year. Good skiers can usually complete the course in about 45 minutes. The winner takes less than 15 minutes.

• Snowboarding at Murren+

  Almost all of the lifts in the area are easy to use gondolas, cable cars, funiculars and chairlifts so getting up to the powder is very easy for boarders. The resort builds a half pipe and other terrain features each season depending on snow conditions, usually at Kandahar chairlift, close to the Schilthornhütte.
  
  There are two larger terrain parks in the Jungfrau region. The First area above Grindelwald has a snow park with superpipe whilst Klein Scheidegg - Mannlichen has a park, half pipe and "Jump Street". First's Stoneland Park contains kickers, rails, corners, wave ride and dips and is designed with different lines for different ability levels from beginners to experts.

• Other Activities And Facilities at Murren+

  Tobogganing is very popular in Murren, with the forest run from Sulwald to Isenfluh one of the favourites. Traditional wooden toboggans are still often used as a means of transport on snow covered village streets and paths and the well known local "Grindelwald" model is made in the village. Toboggans can be hired at local sports shops and night-time tobogganing is organized by the local Ski School.
  
  There are about 12km (eight miles) of well maintained winter hiking trails through stunning Alpine scenery. Some 20 curling tournaments for guests are organised through the winter, every Tuesday from 4-6pm, including the ever-popular Children's Curling Cup.
  
  Snowshoeing and cross country skiing are also popular and there are two artificial ice rinks at the resort's Alpine Sports Centre. The Golden Snowball Ice Skating Championship is held annually on 29th December. For more activities or a shopping trip, take the cable car and rail link down to Interlaken.

• Apres Ski And Dining Out+

  Murren's hotels and bars are largely informal and hotel based. There's a choice of about 20 establishments, with the Tächi Bar, Belmont and Inferno normally the more popular bars. Most of the restaurants serve traditional Swiss Alpine feasts, with the Stäger Stübli a good choice for fondue. You can also find Italian and Japanese establishments.
  
  For a contrasting night out it's easy to take the train down to the city of Interlaken below which has more than fifty bars, restaurants, night clubs and a casino, centred on the half mile Höheweg central street. As well as traditional Swiss cuisine on the menu, there are also several different choices of Far Eastern style - Chinese, Korean, Indian and Thai as well as another Japanese restaurant.

• Ski Holidays in Murren suitable for Families+

  Murren is a wonderful resort for any family to enjoy 'quality time' together in. Kinderparadies in the Sports Centre accepts children aged from 18 months to five years old for non-ski fun. The Ski and Snowboard School operate a ski kindergarten for those first days on skis for children aged four and older. They also arrange popular 'Children's Afternoons'.
  
  Many other family activities in the daytime and evenings are organized by the resort and the Winteregg and Gimmeln Restaurants have winter playgrounds for fun and frolics.