Best things to do in Grindelwald
Tiered above the valley floor on a series of long terraces, Grindelwald is one of the most picturesque villages and popular resorts in the Swiss Alps, perfectly placed for its many visitors to take advantage of the hiking and skiing possibilities all around.
Viewpoints and panoramas
First Cliff Walk: The First Cliff Walk is a sky-high walkway peering out over the cliffs, providing a panoramic view of the Bernese Alps - including the famous Eiger mountain - like no other.
Schilthorn, Mürren: For a Bond-worthy panorama, take the cable car up to Schilthorn. The revolving restaurant Piz Gloria, made famous by the James Bond film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, offers 360-degree views of the Alps.
Grosse Scheidegg: High mountain pass that offers stunning views of Grindelwald’s surrounding peaks, including Wetterhorn and Schreckhorn.
Pfingstegg: For fantastic views over the valley and the village of Grindelwald, take the cable car to Pfingstegg.
Sphinx Terrace: The panoramic views from the open-air terrace at 3571m to Germany’s Black Forest, the Vosges in France and across a gleaming wasteland to the Italian Alps are truly heart-thumping.
Museums
Ballenberg Open-Air Museum: A huge area of rolling parkland which serves as a living showcase for traditional Swiss architecture and crafts. 13 separate areas contain several examples of traditional houses from different parts of Switzerland, transported here piece by piece from their original settings, reassembled and restored.
Parks and gardens
Schadau Park, Thun: Home to perfectly tended flowerbeds, stunning views across the water to the mountains, and a 19th-century folly planted majestically on the waterside.
Historical monuments
Eiger Nordwand (Eiger North Face): The Eiger mountain is one of the most iconic sights in the Swiss Alps, particularly for climbers and is, in its own way, a historical monument. You can admire the mountain from various points in Grindelwald or take the train up to Kleine Scheidegg for a closer look.
Day trips in the area
Lauterbrunnen Valley: Breathtaking U-shaped cleft, its high, craggy walls doused by spectacularly high waterfalls such as the Trümmelbach.
Aare Gorge: The sheer-sided Aareschlucht is threaded through by a path that snakes for 1.4km, linking the two entrances: a series of tunnels and walkways take visitors through the spectacular feature, which narrows to only a metre in one part.
Thun and Lake Thun: Historic town whose fine castle allows for outstanding views towards the High Alps, beautifully ranged above Lake Thun, one of the prettiest in the country, a tranquil patch of misty blue loomed over by high shoreline mountains.
Activities for families in Grindelwald
Grindelwald is well set up for kids, especially those for whom the outdoors appeals. Whether summer or winter, there’s always plenty for families to do on their holidays to Grindelwald.
Cable car rides: More cable cars run from Grindelwald than from anywhere else in the Jungfrau region, giving access to lofty viewpoints and numerous short- and long-distance trails. At the eastern edge of the village, a cable car rises to First, while a little further east another rises south to Pfingstegg; there are various walking suggestions from the upper station.
Pfingstegg Toboggan Run: In the summer, the toboggan run at Pfingstegg is a huge hit with children. It’s a fun and fast way to enjoy the mountains, with a beautiful view of Grindelwald to boot.
Indoor sports: If you need a break from the outdoors, the Grindelwald Sports Centre offers a variety of family-friendly options, including an indoor swimming pool and ice skating rink in winter.
Lake Cruises: If you want to escape the mountains and get on to the water, both Lake Thun and Lake Brienz offer year-round cruises. Thun is the more picturesque of the two, overlooked by the pyramidal Niesen and the Stockhorn to the west, the wooded slopes of the Beatenberg to the east, and with the snowy peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau always in view to the south.
Nature and outdoor activities in Grindelwald
It goes without saying that the main focus of your holidays to Grindelwald will be the outdoors, and in that sense, this is one of Switzerland's most enticing destinations.
Hiking and trekking: The area around First (2168m) has some particularly lovely hiking trails: the gondola rises in three stages, and from the hotel/restaurant on top relatively easy routes lead off in all directions – to the Schwarzhorn summit (3hr) passing through Schilt, renowned for its population of marmots; on a high-level route over the Grosse Scheidegg pass (2hr or so); back down to Grindelwald (2hr 30min); or, best of all, on a stunning ridge-top walk to the Bachalpsee and on to the Faulhorn summit (2hr 30min).
Skiing and snowboarding: As part of the Jungfrau Ski Region, Grindelwald can offer some of the finest skiing and snowboarding in the Alps. Beginners are best served at Wengen and Grindelwald, both of which have nursery slopes and plenty of blue runs very close to the village centres. Red pistes run beneath the long Männlichen–Grindelwald gondola line.
Sledging: Plenty of options for sledging include the section from Alpiglen to Brandegg in the shadow of the Eiger’s North Wall, and a huge 15km run from First round to Bussalp and down to Grindelwald.
