ACTIVITIES in GRINDELWALD:

The village of Grindelwald is among the Alpine beauties of Switzerland, located in the Bernese highland southeast of Interlaken, with its southern end covered by the three high mountains of Wetterhorn, Mettenberg, and Eiger. In the past, the region was mainly used as pastoral land for the livestock of wealthy aristocrats. Nowadays, the region is mostly famous for its glaciers and serves as a mountaineering, summer, and winter resort. 

• JUNGFRAU REGION

Towering 4,000 meters high, the triple peak crest of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau form what’s commonly known as the Jungfrau Region. If you only have time to visit one region in Switzerland, this is arguably one of the best spots to land.

In summer you can choose from over 500 km of marked walking, hiking and mountain paths. The crystal-blue mountain lakes and gushing waterfalls provide a welcome refreshment. The landscape has also been awarded the status of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Rail Grindelwald Terminal via Bernese Oberland Railway (9:00 am – 30 minutes)

Change there and take the Eiger Express tricable gondola (from 5 December 2020) directly to the Eiger Glacier. Journey time from Grindelwald Terminal to Eiger Glacier station: 15 minutes.

The most modern Tricable Gondola of the World

New: the new Eiger Express tricable gondola will take you from Grindelwald to the Eiger Glacier station in just 15 minutes. With a direct transfer option, you will be on the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe and on the slopes 47 minutes faster than before.

Eismeer Station

Bluish, furrowed ice blocks under a blanket of eternal snow, and in the distance the panorama of four thousand metre peaks: This is how the Eismeer station appears at 3,160 metres above sea level. This is where the train stops, so that the passengers can take their own personal souvenir picture. What actually lasts five minutes seems like a journey through time lasting many thousands of years: During the last ice age, all of Switzerland must have looked like this mountain.

Stopover at train station: 5 minutes-A unique train journey through the mountain. THE pioneering work of the mountain railways: Since 1912, the Jungfrau Railway has travelled through the Eiger and Mönch mountains to Europe’s highest railway station.

• THE JUNGFRAUJOCH – TOP OF EUROPE-Day trip to the Jungfraujoch – This will be the highlight of your trip to Switzerland!

Immerse yourself now in the high alpine wonderland of ice, snow and rock and discover the highlights of the Jungfrau Region from Interlaken to Grindelwald:

Sphinx Obswervation Deck

Travellers of antiquity who could not solve the riddle of the Sphinx were strangled by the monster. Visitors of the eponymous rock formation on the Jungfraujoch need not worry about this. And they can travel in greater comfort: An ultrafast lift takes you to the observatory, an international research station. It climbs 108 metres in 25 seconds. They need do nothing more than enjoy the view up there. They can safely leave the riddles to the explorers.

Glacier Plateau

Barely ten minutes from the Jungfraujoch railway station, the coolest hotspot in the Alps awaits you: the Plateau, the vantage platform on the Jungfraujoch. On one side, the Mittelland spreads out and offers a view as far as the Black Forest and the Vosges, while on the other, the Aletsch Glacier comes into view, bordered by four-thousand-metre peaks. You won’t get a better view anywhere else. And if you’ve had your fill, there are more attractions to discover around Europe’s highest railway station or simply a refreshment in one of the restaurants.

Ice Palace

The more transient something is, the more beautiful. This is especially true of the Ice Palace and its treasures. Mountain guides created the aisles and halls in the 1930s with picks and saws in the middle of the Jungfraufirn. Today, artists create the ice – with a great deal of flair. On a mirror-smooth tour through a frosty world, visitors will discover their works of art in nooks and crannies. An eagle, penguin or bear, as though they had just turned to ice, appear quite natural. Even at minus three Celsius, they are melting.

Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven

Rodolphe Lindt could have torn his hair out. The Lindt founder tried everything to make chocolate taste even better. It was all in vain. Frustrated, he left his factory on a Friday evening – and forgot to turn off his self-made stirring machine. When he returned on Monday, he was flabbergasted. The crumbly cocoa-sugar mixture had become a delicately melting crème. Lindt tried it and it seemed like heaven. Visitors to the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven experience this key moment. They turn Lindt’s mixing machine, learn from a virtual Lindt Maître Chocolatier how a chocolate bar is made, and discover delicacies in the shop. Heavenly.

Hike to the Monchsjoch Hut

The Mönchsjochhütte has no shortage of attractions: The highest-altitude serviced hut in Switzerland is accessible from the Jungfraujoch on a marked footpath in 45 minutes. The trail leads through the alpine glacier world in the midst of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch.

The hut offers a breathtaking view into Central and Eastern Switzerland as well as the Valais mountains. It is the starting point for tours all year round. No less impressive is daily life at 3,650 metres above sea level. Even the most mundane tasks need a special solution here. You wash with melt water from a 3000-litre tank; the hut keeper gets food and drinks from the Jungfraujoch on a snowmobile. 

Jungfrau Panorama

Sometimes on the Jungfraujoch you can’t see the mountains for the clouds. However, this has nothing to do with bad weather – quite the opposite. Clouds are fascinating. Who has not dreamed of plunging into this soft cotton-like wonder? The Jungfrau panorama film makes it possible. It provides a 360-degree panorama of the mountain world that you could never see otherwise – 365 days a year. Visitors race with the camera through clouds, sink into ice crevices or fall into heaps of snow. And this is regardless of what the weather is doing right now.

Snow Fun Park

Too hot in the lowlands? If lounging around in the sun is not your thing, Jungfraujoch is the place for you. At the Snow Fun Park, snow lovers can refresh themselves and give winter sports a try. In the hottest months, the temperatures on the Jungfraujoch are regularly above the zero degree limit.

THINGS TO DO IN GRINDELWALD (On your own)

Hike to Bachalpsee

Another popular choice for mountaineering and hiking enthusiasts visiting Grindelwald is the hike to Bachalpsee Lake. Unlike Eiger, Bachalpsee is known to be relatively easy and can be walked by regular people without a hiking background. The hike lasts about an hour on both ascend and descend, and it offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscapes and the crystal clear water of the heavenly Bachalpsee Lake. Bachalapsee has become famous worldwide, and you probably have seen it in pictures, but its true beauty can only be realized by visiting it yourself.

First Mountain Grindelwald

Towering above Grindelwald is one of the most beautiful viewpoints, the First Mountain. The place has become a favorite for families and friends because it offers many activities such as ziplines, scooters, and cart rides down the mountain. The mountain also has a hiking-friendly terrain, making it quite popular among hikers.

The mountain top is located at 2,137 meters of altitude and allows for a 360-degree view of the surrounding landscape on a clear day. There is also a restaurant with a terrace and a viewing platform where you can relax and enjoy the view. Since the mountain has a hiking-friendly terrain besides its family-friendly activities, it is also famous for its hiking activities.

First Cliff Walk

You might also want to try the First Cliff Walk when you reach the First Mountain. This thrilling experience involves walking through a specially built metal walkway and suspension bridge built around the cliff of the First Mountain. It also involves an elevated viewing platform created specifically to give walkers access to the most stunning views of First Mountain and Grindelwald. The platform attracts many visitors and has become one of the most significant landmarks of Grindelwald.

First Flyer

Next on the list of First Mountain’s attractions is the First Flyer. This 800 meters long zip cable ride can give you the thrill of your lifetime. It allows you to “fly” at 84 km/h speed from the top of First mountain, over the ski run, and to the Schreckfeld Intermediate Station. The ride can be enjoyed by up to 4 people simultaneously on the two parallel cables available.

First Glider

Another amazing experience not to miss on the First Mountain is riding its unique glider. This eagle-shaped glider can give you and at most three of your companions a thrilling ride above the sky of Grindelwald and enable you to see the region and its beauties from a bird’s perspective. So after you are done seeing the First Mountain from land and water, you should definitely see it from the air too.

First Mountain Restaurant

After doing all these activities, you will probably feel tired and need a place to rest, relax and enjoy a good meal; Berggasthaus First is the ideal place for hungry stomachs and thirsty throats. This restaurant offers a wide range of food and drinks from Swiss cuisine as well as new creations. The restaurant also has a perfect location that allows you to take in the beautiful views of Grindelwald’s landscape while enjoying your meal.

Mountain Carts

Fun activities are held all year round in the First Mountain. One of these entertaining activities is Cart Riding. People who love sledding but happen to visit Switzerland in summer when there is not much snow to sled can still enjoy the pleasure of riding down the mountain. These carts are specifically built to be as safe as possible and have all the necessary for easy maneuvering. The ride is a not-to-miss opportunity, especially for the younger visitors.

Trotti Bikes

Another attraction for extreme sports fans is riding Trotti bikes. A Trotti bike is a crossover between a bike and a scooter and is specifically built to withstand harsh mountainous terrain. These vehicles have a special suspension and braking system, as well as thick tires to avoid accidents and make your ride as comfortable and safe as possible. There are also mini-Trotti bikes for the younger visitors who want to enjoy the thrill.

Pfingstegg

Besides First Mountain, Pfingstegg is another majestic Alpine attraction. It is located at the northern foot of the 3,104-meter high Mättenberg; despite its height, it can be accessed very easily by the mountain rail line from Grindelwald. This Alpine area is definitely one of the most favorite locations for family amusement and hiking and mountaineering activities.

Grindelwald Glacier Canyon Walk

This narrow natural corridor of the Lower Grindelwald Glacier is an impressive phenomenon that attracts tourists’ attention. The Grindelwald Glacier Canyon is formed through two 300 meters high rock walls separated through a kilometer-long gorge filled with rock galleries and tunnels. The noises of the streaming water and the smashing wind offer a thrilling sensory experience to the visitors. The overall tour is unique while also being very safe through the protective engineering measures that the administrative company takes.

Grindelwald Canyon Swing

If the thrill of going through the canyon was not enough for you, jumping through its swing will definitely give you the adrenaline rush you need. This swing is located at the top of the 90-meter-tall canyon and enables you to jump 50 meters down the canyon at a speed of 120 km/h. The jump requires a lot of courage and is challenging for most people, but if you decide to do it, remember to book in advance.

Hiking in Grindelwald

Grindelwald offers limitless choices for hiking enthusiasts, such as the hikes around First Mountain to Bachalpsee, the Wanderung Hochmoor, the exhausting Grauseeli Loop, and Gelmersee Circular hike. Hikers have praised the region for its surreal beauty and pleasant walks. Generally, the hikes in this region are not very hard and can be completed by inexperienced hikers. In addition to its natural features, the area is also well equipped with all the necessary facilities and proper administrative management to ensure the safety of the hikers and the preservation of the trails.P