Grindelwald is one of the most striking mountain villages in Switzerland, sitting in a valley ringed by three peaks above 4,000 metres: the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The Eiger North Face — 1,800 metres of sheer rock rising directly above the village — is the kind of view that keeps your camera busy for hours. Whether you come to ski in winter, hike in summer, or simply sit with a cheese fondue and watch the light shift on the cliffs, Grindelwald delivers an Alpine experience that is hard to replicate anywhere else.
#1 Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe
Europe's highest railway station, open since 1912 at 3,454 metres. The rack railway drills through tunnels cut inside the Eiger and Mönch before emerging at the summit. Up top: an outdoor viewing terrace, an Ice Palace, the Sphinx Observatory, and a restaurant. Come prepared for mild altitude symptoms, and pack warm layers — summer temperatures hover between -5 °C and 0 °C. The views justify every franc of the fare.
- Book tickets in advance at jungfrau.ch for the Good Morning Ticket (trains departing before 07:00) — it saves roughly 30–40 CHF compared to the standard fare
- Wear at least three warm layers including gloves and a hat, even in summer — the summit is genuinely cold
- If clouds are sitting low over Grindelwald, don't cancel automatically — clouds usually top out below 3,000 m, and the Jungfraujoch summit often breaks clear above them
#2 First
A full-day destination for visitors of every age. The Firstbahn gondola reaches the summit in 25 minutes, and the activity list at the top is long: the First Cliff Walk (a glass-railed walkway along the edge), the First Flyer (the fastest zip line in the Alps), Mountain Cart (go-kart-style downhill carts), and Trottibike (downhill scooters). From the top you can also walk on to Bachalpsee lake in another 30 minutes. It regularly ranks as the most fun single day out of Grindelwald.
- First Glider and First Flyer require separate tickets on top of the gondola fare — budget 28–46 CHF per activity
- The Firstbahn gondola return ticket costs around 65–70 CHF; Swiss Travel Pass holders get a discount
- Alpine weather shifts fast — check the MeteoSwiss forecast at meteoswiss.admin.ch the evening before you go
#3 Eiger North Face
The most famous face in mountaineering: 1,800 metres from base to summit, nicknamed the Mordwand (Death Wall) after claiming more than 64 lives before its main route was first climbed in 1938. Today's visitors can study the face from the village itself, from Kleine Scheidegg station, or from the Jungfraujoch train that passes through a tunnel cut directly into the rock. In person it is more imposing — and more beautiful — than any photograph suggests.
- The best ground-level angle for photographing the North Face is near Grund, in the early morning or during the golden hour about 1 hour before sunset
- The Eiger Trail runs directly beneath the face from Eigergletscher to Alpiglen — a 2–3 hour hike with dramatic views the entire way
- The Eiger shows best in the morning: direct sunlight picks out the detail in the rock and the snow ledges with unusual clarity
#4 Bachalpsee
A lake at 2,265 metres that looks too good to be real. On a still day the water reflects the Wetterhorn and Schreckhorn with mirror-like precision — one of the most reproduced landscape photographs in Switzerland. The walk from First station takes 30–40 minutes on a relatively easy path. In summer the meadows around the lake fill with wildflowers, and you may encounter Alpine ibex grazing nearby.
- Leave First station before 09:00 to reach the lake ahead of the main group tours — the water surface is calm and the reflection is sharpest
- Proper hiking footwear is essential: the path is manageable but strewn with loose rock, and trainers slip easily
- The loop around the lake takes about 20 minutes; strong hikers can continue on to Faulhorn or Schynige Platte from here
#5 Kleine Scheidegg
Arguably the most scenic railway junction in Switzerland, sitting on a col with the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau all visible in a single frame. It's the transfer point for the Jungfrau Railway and the start of several hiking routes. Many visitors spend hours here over a hot chocolate while the mountains fill and empty of cloud. In winter there are sledge runs; in summer the meadows fill with dairy cows and the sound of cowbells — a genuinely Swiss moment.
- The train from Grindelwald Grund to Kleine Scheidegg takes about 35 minutes; the Swiss Travel Pass covers this route
- Restaurants at the station charge noticeably more than in the village — bring food and water from Grindelwald to save money
- Walking from Grindelwald Grund up to Kleine Scheidegg takes 3–4 hours and offers superb views the entire way for confident hikers
#6 Grindelwald Glacier Gorge
A gorge carved over thousands of years by the Lower Grindelwald Glacier. Walking into it means moving between rock walls shaped by water and ice into forms that look almost sculpted. The glacier has retreated significantly due to climate change, and the walkable Glacier Gorge has now closed, but the glacier itself remains viewable from the Pfingstegg cable-car viewpoint. A good option for an extra day in Grindelwald without ascending to altitude.
- The Pfingstegg cable car costs around 18–22 CHF return and offers a lower-altitude glacier view — ideal for those who prefer to stay below the high mountain zones
- The Pfingstegg hiking trail connects onward to Stiereg and Baregg for hikers seeking quieter paths
- If poor weather rules out a Jungfraujoch day, switch to the glacier area instead — it sits well below the cloud ceiling most of the time
Where to stay in Grindelwald for this trip
A well-located hotel means less commuting and more sightseeing. Here are real, top-rated stays in Grindelwald — compare Agoda · Booking · Trip.com in one click.
Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel
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Hotel Bergwelt
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Eiger Selfness Hotel
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Aspen Alpin Lifestyle Hotel
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Tours, tickets & activities in Grindelwald
Day tours, attraction tickets and travel essentials for Grindelwald — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
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Before You Pack
Grindelwald is at its best in summer (June–September), when the meadows are green and wildflowers are out, and in winter (December–March) for skiing on some of the finest pistes in Switzerland. Plan at least 3–4 days: one full day for Jungfraujoch, one for the First–Bachalpsee hike, and one for exploring the village at a slower pace.