12 Best Things to Do in Grindelwald, Switzerland (2026 Guide + 2-Day Plan)

Grindelwald sits in a wide green valley right under the north face of the Eiger, and that face is the first thing you see when the train pulls in. It's the biggest village in the Jungfrau region and the one with the most lifts: three gondolas leave from the village, so a single base gives you a different mountain every day.

Here's what to do, grouped by type, with a 2-day plan at the end.

Grindelwald at a glance

Up to First

1. Ride the First gondola and walk the Cliff Walk

The First gondola climbs from the village to 2,168 m (7,113 ft) in about 25 minutes, with stops at Bort and Schreckfeld. At the top, the First Cliff Walk is a steel walkway bolted to the rock that ends on a platform hanging over the void, facing the Schreckhorn and the Eiger. It's free with your gondola ticket and usually open in winter too.

2. Hike to Bachalpsee

From First, a wide trail leads to Bachalpsee in about an hour, 3 km (1.9 mi) each way with only about 120 m of climbing. On a still morning, the lake mirrors the Schreckhorn and the Finsteraarhorn. It's one of the easiest high-alpine walks in Switzerland: see our full Bachalpsee hike guide.

3. Come down by zipline, glider or scooter

First is Grindelwald's adventure mountain. The First Flyer zipline runs from First to Schreckfeld, the First Glider pulls you up and back in an eagle-shaped harness, and lower down, the Mountain Carts and Trottibikes (big-wheeled scooters) take the gravel roads back to the village. The carts and scooters run in summer only. An "Adventure Package" bundles two activities with the gondola; check jungfrau.ch for this year's price and dates.

Under the Eiger

4. Take the Eiger Express toward Jungfraujoch

From Grindelwald Terminal, at the bottom of the village, the Eiger Express tricable gondola reaches Eigergletscher in about 15 minutes. There, you switch to the Jungfrau Railway, which tunnels through the Eiger up to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 m (11,332 ft). From Grindelwald, the whole trip takes about 45 minutes. Read our Jungfraujoch guide for tickets and the best time of day.

5. Walk the Royal Walk at Männlichen

The Männlichen gondola also leaves from Grindelwald Terminal. At the top, the Royal Walk climbs gently for 20 to 30 minutes to the Männlichen summit at 2,343 m (7,687 ft), where a crown-shaped platform looks down into both the Grindelwald and the Lauterbrunnen valleys.

6. Hike the panorama trail to Kleine Scheidegg

From Männlichen, the panorama trail to Kleine Scheidegg is the classic Grindelwald walk: about 4 km (2.5 mi), mostly gently downhill, with the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in front of you the whole way. Allow 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on your pace and the number of photo stops. At Kleine Scheidegg, take the train back down to Grindelwald or over to Wengen. The trail usually opens in June, once the snow has gone.

In the valley

7. Walk into the Glacier Canyon

A 10-minute bus ride from the village, the Glacier Canyon (Gletscherschlucht) is a narrow gorge carved by the Lower Grindelwald Glacier. A walkway, partly tunneled into the rock, follows it for about 1 km (0.6 mi), and a large net is strung above the rushing water for anyone who dares to walk on it. It's a good plan B when the peaks are in cloud. The canyon usually opens from May to October or early November.

8. Race down the Pfingstegg toboggan run

The Pfingstegg cable car climbs from the eastern end of the village. At the top, a summer toboggan run on rails curves back down through the meadows, and kids love it. It runs from late spring to the end of October, and closes when it's wet. Buy tickets on site.

9. Explore the Grindelwald valley on foot

You don't need a lift for a good walk. From the village, easy paths lead along the Schwarze Lütschine river and through the meadows toward the Wetterhorn. Many walkers ride up to Bort, the First gondola's middle station, and walk down through the farms in about an hour.

Winter in Grindelwald

10. Ski or snowboard Grindelwald-Wengen

In winter, First, Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg become one of the largest ski areas in the Bernese Oberland, with long, mostly intermediate runs facing the Eiger. Our Grindelwald and Wengen skiing guide covers passes, runs and where to rent.

11. Sled the Big Pintenfritz

From the Faulhorn, the Big Pintenfritz sled run descends about 11 km (6.8 mi) via Bussalp to Grindelwald, dropping more than 1,300 m (4,265 ft). It's one of the longest in Europe. You walk up from First in about two and a half hours, so it's a full-day outing. Shorter runs start at First and Bussalp. See our sledding guide for the other great runs.

Soak after

12. Unwind in a hotel spa

Grindelwald has no public thermal bath, but two hotels in the village have spas with indoor pools: the Belvedere, with Eiger views and a short walk from the First gondola, and the Sunstar, on the main street. For a bigger spa day, take the train down to Interlaken for the Victoria-Jungfrau's 5,500 m² spa.

Grindelwald in 2 days

Day 1: First

Catch an early gondola to First, walk the Cliff Walk, then hike to Bachalpsee and back by late morning. Have lunch at the First restaurant, ride the First Flyer to Schreckfeld, then take the gondola or walk down from Bort. End the day in the hotel pool.

Day 2: Männlichen and the canyon

Take the Männlichen gondola from Grindelwald Terminal, walk the Royal Walk, then hike the panorama trail to Kleine Scheidegg. Lunch there, then the train back down to Grindelwald. In the late afternoon, take the bus to the Glacier Canyon. With a third day, go up to Jungfraujoch on a clear morning, or take the train to Lauterbrunnen for the Mürren and Gimmelwald hike.

From Interlaken Ost, trains take about 35 minutes, and from Zurich about 2 hours 15 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes, usually changing in Bern and Interlaken Ost. The Swiss Travel Pass covers the train to Grindelwald and gives a discount on the gondolas. If you're still choosing a base, read Zermatt vs Grindelwald, and for the whole route, our Switzerland itinerary.

Where to stay

Stay in the village center, between the train station and the First gondola, so you can walk to the lifts and restaurants. Grindelwald Terminal is handy for the Eiger Express but has fewer hotels around it. If you'd rather stay in town, compare it with our where to stay in Interlaken guide.

See hotels in Grindelwald village →