Grindelwald

Updated October 2026 · Sources: Jungfrau Railways (jungfrau.ch), Grindelwald Tourism, Männlichen, SBB timetable

Find a place to stay in Grindelwald

Grindelwald is in Switzerland, in the canton of Bern, in the Jungfrau Region of the Bernese Oberland, right below the north face of the Eiger. The village sits at 1,034 metres, has about 3,900 residents and speaks German. Around it rise the Eiger (3,967 m), the Wetterhorn (3,690 m) and the Mettenberg, with two glaciers reaching down towards the valley.

Distances by road: Interlaken about 22 km (half an hour), Bern about 76 km, Lucerne about 87 km, Zurich about 137 km (2 hours), Geneva about 233 km (3 hours), Milan about 282 km (4 hours). By train, Grindelwald is 35 minutes from Interlaken Ost, with a train every half hour, and 2 hours 55 minutes from Zurich Airport.

Why go: Grindelwald is where the Eiger Express starts, the gondola that takes you to Eigergletscher station in 15 minutes, where the train continues up to the Jungfraujoch (3,454 m). Above the village you have three mountain areas (First, Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg) with easy trails facing the Eiger, and Lauterbrunnen is 40 minutes away by train. In winter Grindelwald is the hub of the Jungfrau Ski Region, with 211 km of slopes. It is expensive: further down you will find the official prices we could verify and ways to spend less.

The Eiger and its north face

The Eiger is 3,967 metres high and its north face drops almost vertically above the meadows of Grindelwald. You see it from everywhere in the village, without going up anything. It is one of the most famous walls in climbing history: the first ascent came in 1938, after years of fatal attempts.

To get close: take the Eiger Express, which runs along the foot of the face, or walk the Eiger Trail at its base (see the summer section).

Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe

The Jungfraujoch is the saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau. The station is at 3,454 metres, the highest railway station in Europe. The Jungfrau Railway climbs through a tunnel inside the Eiger and the Mönch, stopping for about 5 minutes at Eismeer (around 3,160 m), where you look out at the glacier through a window in the rock.

At the top you get the Sphinx observation deck at 3,571 metres, the Ice Palace carved into the glacier and the Plateau, with snow all year round. In front of you lies the Great Aletsch Glacier. It is open 365 days a year. Allow half a day and bring a warm jacket, even in August.

From Grindelwald Terminal you reach the top in 45 minutes: Eiger Express to Eigergletscher, then the train. From Interlaken Ost it takes 1 hour 30. A seat reservation costs CHF 10 and is mandatory from 1 May to 31 October; the rest of the year it is recommended. Ticket prices change with the date and the season, so check them on the Jungfrau Railways website. To pay less: the Good Morning Ticket gives 15% off the first trains of the day (May to October 2026), and if you have a ski pass the Jungfraujoch Top Ticket costs CHF 63 from 1 December 2026 to 30 April 2027. Swiss Half Fare Card holders get discounts on the mountain railways. Only go up on a clear day: in cloud you see nothing.

Eiger Express

The Eiger Express is a tricable gondola that opened in December 2020. It leaves from Grindelwald Terminal (943 m), in the Grund area, and reaches Eigergletscher station, at about 2,320 metres, in 15 minutes. Each cabin carries 26 people and the line is almost 6.5 km long. It saves about 47 minutes on the trip to the Jungfraujoch.

At the Terminal you find a covered car park, the railway station, the Männlichen gondola, ski rental shops and ski lockers.

First: Cliff Walk, Flyer and Mountain Cart

First is the mountain on the sunny side of the valley. A six-seater gondola from the village centre takes about 25 minutes, with stops at Bort and Schreckfeld. The top station is at 2,166 metres. Right next to it is the First Cliff Walk by Tissot, a walkway fixed to the cliff with a 45-metre suspension bridge: a 20-minute loop with the Eiger and the Wetterhorn in front of you.

There are paid activities too: the First Flyer, a zip line of about 800 metres at up to 84 km/h down to Schreckfeld; the First Glider; the Mountain Cart from Schreckfeld to Bort (about 30 minutes); and the Trottibike scooter from Bort down to the village (another 30 minutes). The Flyer and Glider also run in winter.

Lake Bachalpsee

Bachalpsee is a lake at 2,265 metres above First, with the Oberland peaks reflected in the water. It is the best-known walk in Grindelwald and an easy one: trail no. 1, First – Bachalpsee – First, is 5.84 km with about 200 metres of ascent and descent, taking 1 hour 40 for the round trip. The path is wide and fine for children.

Start early: on sunny summer days the trail fills up fast. In early summer the lake can still be partly frozen.

Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg

The Männlichen (2,342 m) is the ridge between the Grindelwald valley and the Lauterbrunnen valley. You go up by gondola from Grindelwald Terminal, or from Wengen on the other side. From the top you see the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau side by side.

From here the Panorama Trail, the easiest walk in the area, runs 4.5 km to Kleine Scheidegg (2,061 m) in 1 hour 20, almost all gently downhill. It is open from mid-June to October. At Kleine Scheidegg you take the Wengernalp Railway down to Grindelwald or to Wengen: a loop that fits into half a day.

Glacier Gorge and Pfingstegg

Just outside the village, where the Lower Grindelwald Glacier once ended, the river has cut a narrow gorge into the rock. A walkway runs about one kilometre through it, between walls up to 300 metres high and through short tunnels. It is cool inside even in summer. There is an entrance fee and it opens in the warmer months: check the opening times before you go.

Above the gorge is Pfingstegg, an alpine pasture on the Mettenberg reached by a small cable car from the village and the starting point for trails towards the glaciers. Until around 1880 the glacier tongues reached almost to the houses; today you have to climb to see them.

The village

Grindelwald has no real old town. It is a long village spread across meadows, with a main street running from the station towards the First gondola, lined with sports shops, bakeries and restaurants. Wooden chalets dot the slopes, many of them still working farms. Tourism began in the 18th century; the first hotel opened in 1820 and the first winter season was in 1888.

Lauterbrunnen and Staubbach Falls

Lauterbrunnen is the next valley over: 39 minutes by train (change at Zweilütschinen) or about 17 km by car. It is a narrow valley with vertical rock walls and waterfalls. The best known is Staubbach Falls, a 297-metre drop right above the village: free, and within walking distance of the station.

Further up the valley, Trümmelbach Falls flow inside the mountain and are reached by a tunnel lift (paid, warmer months only). From Lauterbrunnen a cogwheel train climbs to Wengen and other lifts head to Mürren, so you can make a full loop and return to Grindelwald via Kleine Scheidegg.

Grindelwald is part of the Jungfrau Ski Region: 211 km of slopes across three areas. Two start right in the village:

• Grindelwald-Wengen: the largest area, between Männlichen, Kleine Scheidegg, Eigergletscher and Wengen. Access from the Terminal by the Eiger Express or the Männlichen gondola, or by train to Kleine Scheidegg. Long, scenic runs below the north face.
• Grindelwald-First: on the sunny side, via the First gondola. Wide slopes and a snow park with a 130-metre halfpipe.
• Mürren-Schilthorn: across the Lauterbrunnen valley, reached by train and lifts via Lauterbrunnen.

Lift passes 2026/27. Prices are dynamic: they depend on the date and on how early you buy. A Jungfrau Ski Region day pass starts at CHF 79. The AlpsPass, a season pass for four ski areas and seven partner destinations, costs CHF 949. Child rates apply from 6 to 15 years; on Saturdays up to three children ski free when an adult buys a day or afternoon pass at the list price. Buy online in advance on the Jungfrau Ski Region website.

The season. The 2026/27 opening date is not fixed yet: passes can be booked from 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027, and until the end of November lifts run only at weekends, snow permitting. The main season runs from mid-December to late March.

Races. In mid-January the Lauberhorn World Cup takes place in Wengen: in 2027 from 15 to 17 January, with super-G, downhill and slalom. Right after, from 20 to 23 January 2027, Mürren hosts the Inferno, a historic amateur race.

Beyond skiing. The region has 50 km of sledging runs, including the Big Pintenfritz, one of the longest in Europe, and the 3.5 km Jungfrau Eiger Run, also lit at night. There are about 100 km of groomed winter walking trails; the best runs from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, about 2 hours 15. Non-skiers can buy a winter hiking and sledging pass (from CHF 61). In the valley there are ski schools and cross-country trails. Ski lockers at the Terminal cost from CHF 12 a day.

In summer Grindelwald is a hiking base: trails for every level, lifts to go up and trains to come back. The high-altitude hiking season runs from June to October; the highest trails are usually clear of snow by late June. Verified routes:

• First – Bachalpsee – First: 5.84 km, about 200 m of ascent, 1 hour 40 return. Easy.
• Panorama Trail Männlichen – Kleine Scheidegg: 4.5 km, 1 hour 20 gently downhill (2 hours the other way). Easy, mid-June to October.
• Eiger Trail: from Eigergletscher (2,348 m) to Alpiglen (1,616 m), about 6 km and 2 hours, almost 730 m of descent. Moderate: you need a steady step and hiking boots. At Alpiglen you catch the train back to Grindelwald.

With children, try the First loop (Cliff Walk, then Mountain Cart and Trottibike down) and the Panorama Trail. For mountain biking and e-biking, ask the tourist office for the signposted routes.

For several days in the mountains, look at the regional passes. The Unlimited Jungfrau Summer Pass costs from CHF 449 (valid 3 April to 29 November 2026), and the Jungfrau Travel Pass, for 3 to 8 days, starts at CHF 165 at the reduced rate. Trails and conditions are on the Grindelwald Tourism website.

Bernese Oberland food: alpine cheese, rösti, fondue, raclette and Älplermagronen (pasta with potatoes, cheese and onions, served with apple sauce). To save money, shop at the village supermarkets and take a picnic on the trail.

• Lauterbrunnen (39 min by train): Staubbach Falls and Trümmelbach Falls.
• Wengen (54 min by train, or from Kleine Scheidegg): car-free village on the other side, home of the Lauberhorn races.
• Mürren and the Schilthorn: from Lauterbrunnen by lift; another car-free village.
• Interlaken (35 min by train): between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, with boat trips, the Harder Kulm funicular and the Schynige Platte railway.
• Gstaad: also in the canton of Bern, in the Saanenland, if you want to combine two Oberland resorts.
• Zermatt: in Valais, by train via Spiez and Visp; home of the Matterhorn.
• St. Moritz and Davos: in Graubünden, too far for a day trip but useful to compare Switzerland’s big resorts.

Grindelwald is long and steep, so pick your area by what you plan to do. You will find hotels, plenty of holiday apartments and chalets, and a few simple places to stay.

• Centre, near the station: if you come without a car. Trains, buses, shops and the First gondola are a few minutes’ walk away.
• Grund and the Terminal: for skiers and the Jungfraujoch, within walking distance of the Eiger Express and the Männlichen gondola.
• Towards First: for hiking on the sunny side and the First ski area.
• Chalets and apartments on the slopes: for families and week-long stays. Quieter and roomier, but you often need a car or the local bus.
• Budget: staying in Interlaken or in villages along the railway costs less; Grindelwald is 35 minutes away by train.

Christmas, New Year, February and July–August fill up early: book several months ahead.

By car

From Zurich or Basel, drive via Bern or via Lucerne and the Brünig Pass (open summer and winter) to Interlaken, then 22 km up the valley. Zurich is about 137 km (2 hours), Geneva about 233 km (3 hours). From Italy, the route via the Gotthard, Lucerne and the Brünig is about 282 km from Milan (4 hours); the Simplon is open all year, combined with the Lötschberg car train (Goppenstein–Kandersteg). The Grimsel and Susten passes open in summer only. You need a Swiss motorway vignette.

By train

The last leg is always the same: from Interlaken Ost, the Bernese Oberland Railway reaches Grindelwald in 34–36 minutes, every half hour. With the December 2026 timetable: Zurich HB 2 hours 38 (1–2 changes), Zurich Airport about 2 hours 55, Basel 2 hours 40, Geneva 3 hours 35. From Milan Centrale allow about 6 hours with 3 changes, via Lugano and Lucerne or Zurich. Note: in October and November 2026 replacement buses run between Interlaken West and Wilderswil. Check the SBB timetable.

By bus

We cannot confirm any direct long-distance coach to Grindelwald; the train is easier. In the village, local buses link the station, the Terminal, the First gondola and outlying hamlets. All buses are in the SBB app.

By air

Zurich is the most convenient airport: a direct train to Interlaken Ost, then on to Grindelwald, about 2 hours 55 in total. Geneva is about 3 hours 35 by train, and Basel SBB station is 2 hours 40 away. From Milan Malpensa it is about 269 km by car, just under 4 hours.

Parking

The main car park is the covered garage at Grindelwald Terminal, next to the Eiger Express and the Männlichen gondola; live occupancy is shown on the Jungfrau Railways website. There are more paid car parks in the village, near the station and the First gondola. On sunny days they fill early: arrive before 9 am or come by train.

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: W. Bulach (CC BY-SA 4.0), Leonhard Lenz (CC0), Blanky75 (CC BY-SA 4.0), Oleg Yunakov (CC BY-SA 4.0), Oleg Yunakov (CC BY-SA 4.0), misaochan (CC BY-SA 4.0), Oleg Yunakov (CC BY-SA 4.0), Oleg Yunakov (CC BY-SA 4.0).