From Mürren’s alpine charm to Lucerne’s urban rhythm in a single day’s journey.
📅 July 20, 2025
On Sunday, July 20th, 2025, our time in Mürren came to an end. Packing felt like a slow goodbye—we checked the apartment one last time, lingered at the doorway and breathed in the quiet mountain air. It was more bitter than sweet, the kind of leaving that makes you walk slower.
We closed the door and admired the edelweiss in their vases, as we started our last walk into town.
We lingered, walking past the station and back to InSport Café for one final coffee.
Jonas took to the playground out back, and we joined in for a round of tag. The rope merry-go-round spun until we were dizzy, and then he bounced on the trampoline while we soaked in the last bits of crisp air.
We made our way back to the apartment to collect our luggage, snapping a few final photos on the way — and wheeled our luggage toward the station.
From Mürren, we took the train to Grütschalp, the cable car down to Lauterbrunnen, and then the train that would carry us out of the valley. The sun was bright, clouds trailing across the jagged peaks.
We changed trains in Interlaken, riding in style with views of Lake Brienz’s emerald water gleaming in the sun. The train took us through mountain passes, along rivers, past small towns nestled up next to lakes and green pastures.
After a long train ride, we finally made it to our final destination: Lucerne
Lucerne (or Luzern in German) is a postcard-perfect city in central Switzerland, nestled on the shores of Lake Lucerne and framed by snowcapped peaks. Known for its medieval Old Town, colorful frescoed buildings, and the iconic Chapel Bridge, it blends historic charm with modern Swiss efficiency. Visitors come for lakeside walks, mountain excursions, vibrant markets, and a gateway location to the heart of Switzerland.
We disembarked the train into a huge bustling train station in the middle of a busy city. It was a jarring contrast to the quiet, tranquil, slow, cool mountain village of Mürren. Our first impression of Lucerne, was noisy, crowded, busy, fast-paced, and much warmer than what we had gotten accustomed to.
The difference almost gave us a sense of regret and foreboding. Did we make a mistake coming here? Why did we trade our peaceful mountain home for this?
We left the train platform through the crowded station, found a Coop grocery store to get food for dinner, then made our way outside the station.
After a few attempts, we found the right bus which took us a few stops to our AirBnb. It was in a tall modern building on a busy street. We were able to get the key out of a lockbox, get inside and took the elevator to the 4th floor. There, we made our way down a long, while hallway to the door of our AirBnb apartment.
The Airbnb was modern and minimalistic: white furniture, straight lines, and not a mountain in sight. We unpacked, settled in with dinner from the Coop, and discovered that city life comes with its own set of challenges—like figuring out how to turn on the oven.
We went to sleep, unsure of what tomorrow would bring…
🏙️ Highlights of the Day
- One last coffee at InSport and playground time for Jonas.
- Scenic farewell train ride along Lake Brienz.
- First glimpse of Lucerne’s busy streets and bustling energy.
🧳 Parenting & Perspective
Jonas felt the shift in scenery as much as we did—excited by the city’s energy but already nostalgic for the quiet woods of Mürren. On the train, he cycled through wanting to eat, read, and “nap” in a silly, over-the-top way that made the ride lighter. He lit up when we arrived at the sleek apartment, but admitted he missed the mountain trails. We’ve learned that small compromises—like agreeing to a sweet treat now and then—can turn travel-day fatigue into something closer to family adventure.
🏛️ Travel Tips
- In Lucerne, buses don’t accept cash—download the SBB app or buy a ticket in advance.
- Coop grocery stores are reliable for quick dinners when arriving in a new city.
- If your Airbnb has an unfamiliar appliance, take a picture and ask ChatGPT how to use it before dinnertime.
✨ Favorite Quote or Moment
The train ride views of green mountains and lakeside towns.
↺ Related Posts
Our last day in Mürren brought mountain mist, goodbye tears, and a dinner that didn’t go as planned — but still brought us together.
The Tullmann Travels 
Leave a comment