Grindelwald Switzerland

Neither of us had ever been to Switzerland, and we had both seen a number of beautiful pictures and videos of the mountains, lakes and valleys. In the midst of planning this particular trip (click the Travel Tile below to view our Trip Overview Page), we realized that we had decided to spend time in Lake Hallstatt, Austria and Lake Como, Italy but we had not yet decided how to get from one location to the other.

So we sat down with Google Maps and started to ponder how we ought to connect the dots. Once Celeste discovered that a really cool zipline was located in Grindelwald, and that we would be in a valley next to the Eiger Mountain, well that was enough for us to say "looks like we need to stay in Grindelwald for a while".

We selected the A-96 route 652 kilometers; it would bring us through some beautiful Bavarian countryside, and a small stretch of Liechtenstein. The closer we got to Switzerland, the more pronounced the alpine scenery becomes. Snow-capped peaks and glacial valleys will start to dominate the horizon. The final stretch into Grindelwald is truly magical, with the road winding its way through lush green valleys and past charming Swiss chalets. The iconic Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks will come into full view, providing a spectacular backdrop to your journey.

Grindelwald is very "walkable" as it is not very big (population 3,800 as of December 2018), so we knew that we wanted to park our rental car and that it would be nice to be near the village shops & restaurants. After those decisions were made, it was a simple process of finding a hotel that was reasonably located and had a parking lot.

Further Grindelwald research showed us that a 3 day itinerary would be sufficient for us to see all that we wanted to see, and more importantly, it proved to us that Grindelwald was worth visiting. So if you are planning a trip to Switzerland, we can safely say the answer to "is grindelwald worth visiting" is yes.

The Grindelwald area is probably the most geographically diverse location we have ever visited. Chalets, tall mountains, cog railroads, cable cars, ziplines, mountain trikes, and excellent hiking trails. We decided that day one would be devoted to the First Flyer side of the village, and day two would be devoted to the Jungfraujoch side - the side where the Eiger Mountain sits.

Click the above video poster image to explore our video that provides a 3-day itinerary for Grindelwald, Switzerland which lies in the heart of the Swiss Alps. Discover some of Switzerland's top sites and places to visit including Grindelwald First Mountain: First Mountain Cliff Walk, trottibikes, zipline, and then adventure to the the Top of Europe at Jungfraujoch. This itinerary will give you an overview of the area and tips to help you plan your own trip and show you interesting things to see and do.

You can fly into either Bern, Zurich or Geneva and travel by train or car. There are a number of train booking companies serving Grindelwald including; Rail Europe, The Train Line, Happy Rail, and others. You may want to do your own Google Search if you plan to travel by train.

If you are Driving to Grindelwald;

• Bern to Grindelwald: 74 km It will take about 1 hour and 10 minutes by car. If you take the train it will take about an hour and a half and typically requires one train change.
• Zurich to Grindelwald: 137 km It will take just over 2 hours by car. If you take the train several train changes are required and takes about 3 hours.
• Geneva to Grindelwald by train: 233 km It will take 2 hours and 41 minutes. If you take the train it will require about three train changes and require approximately 4 hours of travel.

From either location a car is the faster option and maybe the best way to get to Grindelwald. We enjoyed the scenery so much in Switzerland that we prefer driving, at least in the summertime when the roads don’t have snow on them.

We drove to Grindelwald from Lake Hallstatt, Austria - nearly 700 kilometers but a beautiful drive through mountains, lakes, numerous tunnels and vistas that begged us to stop and take pictures. Once at Interlaken, we departed the A-8 and drove up to Grindelwald on route 6.

Click the above video poster image to view a video we made as we drove up the hill from Interlaken to Grindelwald via Switzerland route 6. This is a relatively short drive of 20 kilometers, but two lane all the way with a number of places you may want to stop and take a few pictures.

We researched and followed a 3 day itinerary because that was the amount of time we allocated to Grindelwald. If you have additional time to spend in Grindelwald, you may still might find our itinerary useful as a starting point;

• Day 1: Travel to Grindelwald, explore the town and shops and do a hike ( click here see our list of hikes below on this page).
• Day 2: Visit First Mountain Grindelwald Switzerland;
   Take the gondola to the top and walk to the First Cliff Walk Tissot
   Ride the zipline ( First Flyer) or First Glider.
   Ride either a First Mountain Cart and hike down the mountain or take the First Mountain bike ride (aka Trottibike Scooters) all the way into the town of Grindelwald (warning - this is via a steep trail!).
• Day 3: Visit Jungfraujoch;
   How to get to Jungfrau Top of Europe? Take the Jungfraubahn Train from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg Railway Station and then board the cog train to Jungfraujoch. Or you can take the new Grindelwald Cable car called the Eiger Express (opened in 2020) which will get you to the cog train that takes you the final stretch to the Jungfraujoch-Top of Europe 45 minutes quicker than taking the Jungfraubahn Train from Grindelwald.
  You need reservations and can get them online here. Or you can get them the day before you go. We waited until we knew the weather was going to be good before we booked.

NOTE: If you plan on riding or hiking back to Grindelwald, then you only need a one way gondola ticket!

NOTE: Click here to perform a YouTube search for "Trottibike" and "Mountain Cart" and enjoy a video!

When we researched accommodations in Grindelwald, Google showed us that there were 152 "places to stay" ranging from high-end resorts with spa facilities to family-run hotels and budget-friendly guesthouses. We also wanted to have secure on-site parking and easy access to restaurants.

We found that the Derby Swiss Quality Hotel was close to the train station, it had decent parking and it was close to the village main street where the shops & restaurants were primarily located. Since it seemed to fit what we needed, we decided to give it a go and we were happy we did. They also serve a good breakfast each morning, so on those days where we had time, we dined at the hotel.

A list of Grindelwald accommodations would be extensive, so rather than us listing each & every place, we will provide you with a link to Expedia where you can find whatever price level you prefer. Enter a destination city, the time frame you are going to stay and then click the "Search" button. Expedia will come up in a new Browser tab.

Or if you prefer to use Google, click here to see a Google Search Results list of all 152 accommodations in Grindelwald.

This is the cable car station just below the summit, so get ready to hike up to the First Flieger (zipline)! Not actually that far to walk, but it is definitely uphill most of the way. By the way, you are now at 7,000+ feet above sea level.

The First Cliff walk is officially called the "First Cliff Walk presented by Tissot" or “First Cliff Walk Tissot” because it was built by, you guessed it, the watch company. It was constructed over a period of five months, and first opened in December 2012.

It is just a short 5 minute walk from where the gondola drops you off at the top of First Mountain. The cliff walk walkway was literally built into the side of a cliff! Can you imagine building this thing? Just past the area where the walkway "hugged" the cliff, you have to cross a short bridge that provides an unobstructed view of the valley way, way below you! Be forewarned if you are afraid of heights.

The Grindelwald cliff walk price was zero, however for other Grindelwald First activities prices, click here to go to their website page for current prices & information.

This is a short video on YouTube of our descent down the First Flieger. It would be impossible to describe how much fun this ride was, made even more fun by the incredible scenic views of the mountains and the valley below.

The First Flieger is one of the largest ziplines in Europe, ie; 2,480 feet long, a vertical drop of 675 feet, average grade of 28.4%, top speed of 55 miles per hour and four side by side cables. This is what actually drove us to visit Grindelwald. Little did we know at the time that we’d get much more for our money than we thought.

NOTE: Click the image to start that video playing, then click the "square" in the lower right corner of the video to make the video appear "full screen". Once the video has completed, push your computer's "escape key" to minimize the video again.

A video of me starting our trike ride down from the zipline area of the First Flyer in Grindelwald, Switzerland. This is a great way to start your downhill trek back to the valley below and a serious amount of fun! Click this image to launch the video.

The trike centre of gravity is low, the wheels are wide apart, and hydraulic brakes ensure that you can keep the speed under control over long distances. The trike path route concludes at the Bort cable car station - and it is a lot of fun! Note that helmets (usage is compulsory) are provided at no charge.

After we completed our mountain trikes ride, the remainder of the trek was downhill from Bort back to Grindelwald. Click this image to see a video we made of our hike. If you decide to try this hike, it is a constant downhill, approximately 4 kilometers in length & not well marked. Fortunately, you can see Grindelwald most of the time so you know where you should be going!

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Kleine Scheidegg is the mid-mountain train station, where passengers from Grindelwald (or elsewhere) exit the standard train they arrived on and board the cog train that will convey them to the top of Jungfraujoch.

NOTE: This picture is the property of Martin Hawlisch via Wikimedia Commons using the GNU Free Documentation License Version 1.2.

Click here to go to the Kleine Scheidegg Wikipedia page.

At 3,454 meters (11,332 ft) above sea level, this is the highest railway station in Europe, and it is close to the summits of the Eiger, Jungfrau and Mönch mountains. We have just arrived and everyone has to exit the train and walk up to the observation platform outside.

This station opened on 21 February 1912, which was 16 years after the railroad construction had begun. If you are interested in the history of this amazing railroad, click here. The story of how they built this railroad and the difficulties they went through, are a fascinating read.

A view of the Aletsch Glacier behind the Jungfraujoch mountain. We were at 3,454 meters and the air was thin & cold. We were there in August and there was snow everywhere. Make sure to bring warm clothing!
Click here to go to the Aletsch Glacier Wikipedia Page.

The Aletsch Glacier (aka Great Aletsch Glacier) is the largest glacier in the Alps. It has a length of about 23 kilometers and has a volume of 3.7 cubic miles, and covers about 31.5 square miles. Due to global warming the glacier is shrinking each year.

Image # 1: The cow statue celebrates Switzerland's close connection with cows, so we decided that it was an obvious kodak-moment. We found this statue as we were exploring the tunnels beneath the Jungfraujoch summit. Finding a cow statue in an icy tunnel was a surprise, but after reading the sign, we decided that it was uniquely symbolic of Switzerland.

Image # 2: This is the tunnel leading up to the cow statue, and as you can see, when it is not icy it is clearly easy to walk on.

• What are the top things to do in Grindelwald: Take a look at our list on this page below.
• Where is Grindelald Located: Take a look at our map & info on this page below.
• How to get to Grindelwald: Take a look at our info on this page below.
• Where is the best place to stay in Grindelwald: Take a look at our info on this page.
• What would be a good itinerary for Grindelwald: You can see our 3 day itinerary on this page.
• What is Grindelwald known for: It is the usual starting point for ascents of the Eiger and the Wetterhorn. Nowadays Grindelwald is also a popular summer activity resort with many miles of hiking trails across the Alps.
• Best Grindelwald Hikes: You can see our hiking list on this page below
• What is the best time of year to visit Grindelwald: During the months of June to August, when the climate is comfortable
• How should I dress to visit Grindelwald: If you're visiting in winter, bring a warm coat, gloves, a scarf, and a hat. In summer, you'll want lighter clothing, but still keep a light jacket or sweater for cooler evenings
• What Restaurants are in Grindelwald: Here is a Google Search Results list for restaurants in Grindelwald
• Grindelwald Hotels: Here is a Google Search Results list for hotels in Grindelwald
• Is Grindelwald expensive: As with many locations in Switzerland, Grindelwald can be an expensive place to be. The best approach is to be prepared, budgeting what you need in order to make the most of your visit
• Is the Grindelwald water safe to drink: From all the evidence that we have read, the answer is yes. We drank it while we were there with no issues
• What to do in Grindelwald at night: Most of the nightspots are located in or beneath the hotels (in the cellar). Some operate only in the winter months, or with reduced hours of operation in the summer. In the winter months, there is night skiing and sledding.

Berggasthaus First Sun Terrace is a mountain inn located at the Firstbahn cableway top station, 2,167 metres above sea level. You can get there easily in 25 minutes by taking the Firstbahn gondola lift from Grindelwald or in summer, you might choose to hike one of the numerous trails up here to the summit of Grindelwald’s local mountain.

NOTE: click here to visit the Berggasthaus First Webcam.

NOTE: click here to visit the Berggasthaus First Website.

Other than the Grindel Lounge & Deko and our hotel dining room, we did not eat at any local restaurants during our Grindelwald stay. So we do not have any other specific suggestions to offer you. Here is a link to a Google Search Results list for restaurants in Grindelwald.

Hiking around Grindelwald is a great way to experience more of the area landscapes, although finding the right route is not always simple - just as trying to list all accommodations, trying to list all the great hikes is not easy. To help, here are some of the top hikes and walks around Grindelwald.

Each hike below has a link to that All Trails Website page, where you can find trail maps, descriptions and other information that would be useful.

Hiking List

• First to Bachalpsee: This moderate hike rewards you with stunning views of the Bachalpsee lake.
• Grindelwald Glacier Canyon: Immerse yourself in the dramatic landscape of a glacier canyon.
• Alpiglen - Eiger Glacier via Eiger Trail: A challenging hike offering up-close views of the iconic Eiger North Face.
• Mountain Hotel Faulhorn via First - Bachalpsee Lake: A longer hike with breathtaking panoramic views.
• Flower Trail: First - Bachalpsee Lake - Waldspitz - Bort: Enjoy alpine flora while taking in the scenery.
• Grindelwald - Faulhorn - Schynige Platte: A demanding hike for experienced hikers with incredible rewards.
• Grindelwald - First: A shorter, steeper hike with direct access to the First cable car station.
• Via Alpina Green Trail, Segment 10: Grindelwald - Lauterbrunnen: Part of the long-distance Via Alpina trail.
• Grindelwald - Kleine Scheidegg: A classic hike with stunning views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
• Pfingstegg - Bäregg Hut: A challenging hike to a mountain hut with panoramic vistas.
• Top Ten Trails near Grindelwald from the "All Trails" site:
• Google Search Results list for "hiking trails near Grindelwald"