Grindelwald Travel Guide

City Alpine village beneath the Eiger, gateway to Jungfrau

Below the Eiger’s north face, Grindelwald stages glacier hikes, cable-car ascents to Jungfraujoch and steep alpine trails. Visitors ski in winter, book guided climbs, and ride summer gondolas to mountain pastures and carved ice caves.

Costs

Expensive: $200-350 per day

Plan on $200-350/day for lodging, dining and mountain transport in high season.

Safety

Very safe; alpine hazards exist

Very safe; mountain hazards (avalanches, altitude) require caution for outdoor activities.

Best Time

June-September; December-March

June-September for hiking, December-March for skiing and winter sports.

In This Guide

Why Visit
Best Things to Do
Bucket List
Best Time to Visit
How to Get There
How to Get Around
Where to Stay
Where to Eat

Local Time

11:19 AM

GMT+2

Weather

58°F

Partly Cloudy

Population

3,730

Infrastructure & Convenience

Excellent rail and cable-car connections, clear signage and tourist services; very walkable village.

Popularity

Very popular international mountain resort attracting hikers, skiers and sightseers year-round.

Known For

Eiger views, Jungfrau region access, cable cars, alpine skiing, hiking trails, Grindelwald First, glacier scenery, mountaineering history, Swiss chalets, summer meadows

The Eiger's infamous north face towers above Grindelwald and became a legendary, first-successfully-climbed alpine wall in 1938.

Why Visit Grindelwald? #

Surrounded by jagged peaks, Grindelwald is a classic Alpine base for mountaineering, glacier hikes and year-round cable-car access to viewpoints like First and the Jungfraujoch. The village streets link chalet architecture with active outdoor culture - winter skiing and summer via ferrata alike - while restaurants serve regional fondue and alpine rye breads. Travel here for dramatic mountain scenes and easy connections to Interlaken and the Bernese Oberland.

Best Things to Do in Grindelwald

All Attractions ›

Pilatus (mountain)

Alpine mountain with steep ridges and panoramic views

Mountains

Interlaken

Swiss resort town between Lakes Thun and Brienz

Section of Populated Place

Eiger

Alpine peak famed for its steep north face

Mountain

Jungfrau

Iconic Alpine peak overlooking Bernese Oberland and glaciers

Mountain

Aletsch Glacier

Europe's largest glacier in Swiss Alps

Glacier

Mönch

Swiss Alpine peak between Eiger and Jungfrau

Mountain

Lake Brienz

Alpine lake with turquoise water near Interlaken

Lake

Lake Thun

Scenic Bernese Alpine lake below mountains

Lake

Grindelwald Bucket List

Don't Miss

Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe - Ride the cog railway to Jungfraujoch for glaciers, ice palace, and high-Alpine vistas.
First (gondola, Cliff Walk, Bachalpsee) - Take the First gondola for the Cliff Walk, trottibike, and Bachalpsee hikes.
Gletscherschlucht (Glacier Gorge) - Descend through the narrow Gletscherschlucht gorge carved by glacial meltwater and rock.

Hidden Gems

Männlichen viewpoint and trails - Hike or take cable car to Männlichen for sweeping meadow trails and quiet mountain panoramas.
Pfingstegg toboggan run - Ride the wooden toboggan from Pfingstegg, great family fun in summer and autumn.
Grosse Scheidegg pass - Drive or hike the Grosse Scheidegg pass for quieter alpine scenery and wildflowers.

Day Trips

Interlaken - Short train ride to Interlaken for lakeside promenades, boat trips, and adventure sports.
Lauterbrunnen and Mürren - Visit waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen and take the cable car up to car-free Mürren.

Best Time to Visit Grindelwald #

Grindelwald is ideal in summer for hiking and alpine views, while winter draws skiers with reliable snow. Shoulder seasons are quieter but can be unpredictable with mixed snow or sun.

Winter

December - February · -10-2 °C (14-36 °F)

Reliable snowpack, world-class skiing and epic mountain views; expect cold temperatures, busy slopes and higher prices during the peak winter season.

Summer

June - August · 8-22 °C (46-72 °F)

Lush alpine meadows, long daylight, superb hiking and climbing; weather can change fast, but it's the best time to tackle high trails.

Spring/Autumn

March - May, September - November · -2-12 °C (28-54 °F)

Unpredictable - late snow or warm sunshine; quieter villages, cheaper stays, and lower lifts/route availability for high-altitude activities, so plan accordingly.

Best Time to Visit Grindelwald #

Climate

Grindelwald's climate is classified as Warm-Summer Continental - Warm-Summer Continental climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -6°C to 21°C. Abundant rainfall (1218 mm/year), wettest in June.

Best Time to Visit

SeptemberJulyAugust

Temperature & Rainfall

Temperature Range

26°

Warmest Month

-29°

Coldest Month

Monthly Conditions

January

January is the coldest month with highs of 2°C and lows of -6°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

36 Poor

Comfort

-2°

Feels Like Freezing

-2°C

Temperature

-6° – 2°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

77 mm

Rainfall

1.9 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.2

UV Index

Low

8.9h daylight

February

February is freezing with highs of 3°C and lows of -5°C. Regular rainfall (85 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

45 Poor

Comfort

-1°

Feels Like Freezing

-1°C

Temperature

-5° – 3°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

85 mm

Rainfall

2.2 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.3

UV Index

Low

10.2h daylight

March

March is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -2°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

45 Poor

Comfort

2°

Feels Like Cold

2°C

Temperature

-2° – 6°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

89 mm

Rainfall

2.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.7

UV Index

Moderate

11.8h daylight

April

April is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

51 Acceptable

Comfort

5°

Feels Like Cold

5°C

Temperature

1° – 10°

84%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

92 mm

Rainfall

2.6 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.0

UV Index

High

13.4h daylight

May

May is cold with highs of 15°C and lows of 5°C. Significant rainfall (110 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

51 Acceptable

Comfort

10°

Feels Like Cold

10°C

Temperature

5° – 15°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

110 mm

Rainfall

2.5 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.3

UV Index

High

14.8h daylight

June

June is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 8°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (137 mm) and mostly overcast skies.

57 Acceptable

Comfort

13°

Feels Like Cool

13°C

Temperature

8° – 18°

78%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

137 mm

Rainfall

2.4 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.7

UV Index

Very High

15.6h daylight

July

July is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (130 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

63 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

10° – 21°

77%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

130 mm

Rainfall

2.3 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.7

UV Index

Very High

15.2h daylight

August

August is cool with highs of 20°C and lows of 10°C. Significant rainfall (131 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

61 Good

Comfort

15°

Feels Like Cool

15°C

Temperature

10° – 20°

79%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

131 mm

Rainfall

2.1 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.4

UV Index

High

14.0h daylight

September

September is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 7°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

65 Good

Comfort

12°

Feels Like Cool

12°C

Temperature

7° – 17°

81%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

89 mm

Rainfall

2.2 m/s

Wind

Calm

1.0

UV Index

Moderate

12.4h daylight

October

October is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 3°C. Regular rainfall (94 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

55 Acceptable

Comfort

7°

Feels Like Cold

7°C

Temperature

3° – 12°

83%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

94 mm

Rainfall

2.1 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.5

UV Index

Low

10.7h daylight

November

November is cold with highs of 6°C and lows of -2°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

45 Poor

Comfort

2°

Feels Like Cold

2°C

Temperature

-2° – 6°

87%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

95 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.2

UV Index

Low

9.3h daylight

December

December is freezing with highs of 2°C and lows of -4°C. Regular rainfall (89 mm) and partly cloudy skies.

37 Poor

Comfort

-1°

Feels Like Freezing

-1°C

Temperature

-4° – 2°

85%

Humidity

Very Humid

Weather

89 mm

Rainfall

2.0 m/s

Wind

Calm

0.1

UV Index

Low

8.5h daylight

How to Get to Grindelwald

Grindelwald is best reached by train: SBB to Interlaken Ost followed by the Bernese Oberland Railway into the valley. International airports at Zurich and Geneva both offer frequent rail connections; once in the valley local buses and mountain railways handle short transfers and tourist routes.

By Air

Zurich Airport (ZRH): Zurich is the fastest major-air connection for many international travelers. From Zurich Airport take an SBB train to Interlaken Ost (about 2 hours), then change onto the Bernese Oberland Railway (BLS) to Grindelwald (about 35 minutes). Total journey time is roughly 2.5-3 hours; full‑fare second‑class single tickets Zurich-Grindelwald commonly fall in the CHF 60-90 range without rail passes.

Geneva Airport (GVA): Geneva Airport offers another international option; rail travel from Geneva to Grindelwald typically takes about 3-3.5 hours with one or two changes (Geneva-Bern-Interlaken-Grindelwald). Expect standard one‑way fares in the CHF 70-100 range depending on connections and time of booking.

By Train & Bus

Train: Switzerland’s SBB/Regional network is the primary way to reach Grindelwald. The usual route is train to Interlaken Ost (major interchange), then the Berner Oberland Bahn (BLS/Berner Oberland Railway) to Grindelwald (about 30-40 minutes from Interlaken Ost). Timetables are frequent and connections are reliable; buy tickets via SBB or at stations.

Bus: Local PostBus and municipal buses serve short hops around the valley (to First, Männlichen and nearby villages). Single bus fares inside the region are modest (typically a few CHF) and timetables coordinate with mountain railway services for day‑trips and lift connections.

How to Get Around Grindelwald #

Grindelwald is very walkable for a village of its size; most hotels, shops and restaurants are easy to reach on foot. Regional public transport (trains and Postbus services) is frequent and reliable for getting to nearby lifts and trailheads. Cable cars and mountain railways are the practical way to reach high alpine areas; expect higher-than-normal prices for lifts and mountain transport, and consider a regional pass if you’ll use multiple services.

Where to Stay in Grindelwald #

Budget

Grindelwald village - CHF 30-90/night

Budget travelers find hostels, guesthouses, and a few simple hotels; expect shared facilities and great access to trails and lifts.

Hotel Belvedere Grindelwald (simple rooms) - Basic rooms with mountain views
Swiss hostels / mountain huts - Dorms and low-cost private rooms

Mid-Range

Village center - CHF 120-220/night

Mid-range hotels cluster in the village with easy access to cable cars and trails - solid comfort and alpine character.

Hotel Eiger - Comfortable rooms, central village location
Romantik Hotel Schweizerhof - Boutique charm, good service

Luxury

Ski lift base / mountain side - CHF 250+/night

Grindelwald has several full-service luxury hotels and alpine resorts offering spas, fine dining, and direct lift access to ski areas.

Upscale alpine hotels and spa resorts - Full-service luxury hotels available
Sunstar Hotel Grindelwald - Premium rooms, spa facilities

Where to Eat in Grindelwald #

Alpine Classics

Alpine village where Swiss mountain cuisine reigns: fondue, raclette, bratwurst and alpine dairies feed mountain huts, cozy restaurants and après-ski crowds.

Hut Fare & Bakery Treats

Trail-side restaurants and bakeries serve dense breads, cheese plates and warming soups-perfect for meals after hiking or ski days with panoramic views.

Breakdown of cuisine types found across Grindelwald's restaurants and food venues, based on OpenStreetMap data.

Regional

Schweiz

Burger

International

Cake

Swiss

Indian

Schweizer

Coffee Shop

Juice

Local

Pizza

French

Noodle

Skibar

Italian

Fine Dining

Italian Pizza

Regional International

Nightlife in Grindelwald #

Nightlife is modest and centered on hotel bars, après-ski spots and relaxed restaurants; it’s not a clubbing destination. Evenings are pleasant for a drink after a day in the mountains, with some hotels hosting live music seasonally.

Shopping in Grindelwald #

Shopping is focused on mountain sports stores, tourist boutiques selling local foodstuffs (cheese, chocolate) and souvenir shops. You’ll also find rental outlets for skis, boards and hiking gear. For more extensive shopping or specialist goods, larger Bernese Oberland towns offer broader choices; in Grindelwald expect small, quality-focused stores.

Nearby Cities #