How to Visit First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald

First Cliff Walk

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The First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald is one of the must-see attractions of the Jungfrau Region in the Bernese Oberland in Switzerland. This elevated walkway is perched to the side of the mountain at over 2,000 m (6,500 ft) height. It offers some incredible mountain views and a fun, thrilling experience that will make your trip to Grindelwald even more memorable.

Some say that the First Cliff Walk is for the thrill-seekers only. I say it’s for everyone!

Young people, families with kids, baby-boomers – everyone will enjoy a walk on this hanging walkway that wraps the cliffs of the First mountain and takes you on a short but thrilling journey high above the mountains. So conquer your fear of heights and enjoy this amazing experience – it will be worth it!

In this short guide, you can learn about what to expect when visiting the First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald and find some practical information and tips for your trip. We also share some top tips based on our experience. Take a look!

First Cliff Walk in Switzerland
Suspension bridge at the First Cliff Walk

What is First Cliff Walk by Tissot

First Cliff Walk presented by Tissot is a popular mountain attraction in Grindelwald, Switzerland. It’s a metal walkway and a unique single-rope hanging bridge, built along the cliff of the First Mountain (2168 m – 7112 ft).

In addition to the cliffside catwalk wrapped around the mountain, there is also an elevated viewing platform with a vantage point stretching 45 m (148 ft) above the abyss affording fantastic views of the alpine landscapes and snow-capped mountain peaks of the Bernese Oberland region.

Opened in September 2015, the Cliff Walk was one of the very first Grindelwald-First summit attractions. In recent years, more attractions have been opened nearby, such as First Glider and First Flyer, and several others, making the First area one of the most popular places to visit in Grindelwald.

Despite the big variety of things that you can now do in the First-Grindelwald area, the First Cliff Walk remains the most popular one, attracting the biggest number of visitors. It has become a true landmark and is considered a must-visit attraction for everyone who travels to Grindelwald. So don’t miss it!

First Cliff Walk by Tissot
First Cliff Walk is a combination of a suspension bridge and a metal walkway fixed to the side of a mountain cliff

How to Get to the First Cliff Walk

First Cliff Walk is located at the top mountain station of Grindelwald-First gondola (see here for tickets).

The scenic cable car from Grindelwald to First takes about 25 minutes, passing two other mountain stations in between – Bort and Schreckfeld. If you are planning to go on the First Glider, you’ll need to disembark at Schreckfeld. For the First Cliff Walk or First Flyer, remain seated till you reach First.

Once in First, the Cliff Walk can be reached from two different sides. You can either go to the restaurant where the elevated viewing platform is located and do the cliff walk after visiting the platform. Alternatively, you can exit the gondola and walk in the direction of Bachalpsee Lake and enter the Cliff Walk from that side, leaving the viewing platform for the end of the walk. You can find more explanation and our tips on how to approach this further below.

Getting to the gondola station: If you are coming to Grindelwald by train, you’ll have to walk from the Grindelwald railway station to Grindelwald Firstbahn gondola lift station. Follow the main street, Dorfstrasse, to the east for about 700 meters (0,43 mi). The gondola is well indicated in town and you can’t really miss it. This walk shouldn’t take you longer than 10 minutes. You can see the map here.

Mountain views from Grindelwald-First cable car
The view from Grindelwald-First cable car is worth the ride just in itself

Best Views

You’ll have the best views if you start your walk at the lower entrance of the First Cliff Walk (on the way to Bachalpsee). That way, you are walking towards the ravine and have amazing scenery in front of you all the time. If you walk in the other direction, it’s still nice, but you will be walking towards a mountain with the best views behind you. If you can, do both!

If starting as I suggest, at the end of the walkway you’ll get to the elevated viewing platform that stretches further into the emptiness underneath. It’s supposed to be the climax of the Cliff Walk, with amazing scenery all around you. However…

The views from the viewing platform are stunning indeed, but it’s usually so busy that it takes away the intended effect. Most people rush here immediately after exiting the cable car (without even doing the cliffside walk) and stand in line in order to take a picture at the end of this ‘hanging bridge’. When we visited last summer, the queue was so long that we didn’t even attempt to do this.

Instead, we walked the Cliff Walk once more – in the other direction this time. It was quiet here with very few people doing the walk. It felt so special and magical to be there surrounded by such amazing scenery and almost no other people around us. It’s like standing on top of the world with magnificent mountain scenery all around you…

TIP: For the best views, fewer crowds, and the best light for photography, visit early in the morning. Needless to say, it’s much busier in the summer than in the shoulder season or in winter.

First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald
First Cliff Walk as seen from the lower entrance – if you walk this way, you’ll have the best views in front of you all the time

How Long is the Cliff Walk & How Much Time You Need

The First Cliff Walk is just a couple of hundred meters long. It shouldn’t take you longer than 10-15 minutes to walk it in one direction, photo stops included.

If it’s not busy, you can visit the Cliff Walk and its viewing platform in 15-20 minutes. However, if you are traveling in high season and are here during the busy hours, you’ll need much more time, especially if you decide to wait in the queue for a picture at the viewing platform.

Cliff Walk in First, Grindelwald
Views from the First Cliff Walk in the direction of Bachalpsee

First Cliff Walk Tickets

There is no entrance fee to visit First Cliff Walk. It is sponsored by Tissot and is therefore free of charge for everyone. However, you’ll need to buy a gondola ticket in order to get here from Grindelwald. You can also hike to First from Grindelwald, but it’s a very long and steep climb that will take you half a day, so not really recommended.

At the moment of the last update, Grindelwald – First – Grindelwald gondola tickets cost 68 CHF for adults. Various discounts are available and kids under 6 travel free of charge.

Alternatively, you may want to opt for an ‘adventure package’ with tickets including one or several First-Grindelwald attractions (First Flyer, First Glider, Mountain Cart, etc.). Here you can find tickets from Grindelwald to First. For combination tickets, check the regional website or ask at the ticket desk.

We had Jungfrau Travel Card that covers all the trains and gondola rides in the region – it’s a good investment if you are here for 3 days or more. However, it doesn’t cover any additional First-Grindelwald attractions, for which we had to buy separate tickets. The Berner Oberland Regional Pass also includes the Grindelwald-First gondola, but not the extra activities.

Good to know: Swiss Travel Pass gives a discount for this and other cable cars (so it’s not 100% free as with the regional cards).

First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald Switzerland
First Cliff Walk by Tissot has no entrance fee

Additional Information

  • This cliff walk is suitable for everyone. Even though it might look intimidating to walk high above the abyss, the metal walkway is really well fixed and secured. People with a fear of heights might find it an intimidating experience, but it’s really worth it. The views are spectacular!
  • First Cliff Walk can be visited the whole year round, weather permitting, and depending on the gondola schedule. Gondolas run in summer and during skiing season in winter; they are closed for a few months in between. In summer, gondolas run from 8 AM to 6.30 PM; hours vary a bit per season. You can find more information on the Jungfrau Region website.
  • You don’t need any special equipment for the First Cliff Walk. However, hiking shoes are recommended if you are planning to do any other hikes in the area – even if just to Bachalpsee.
  • If visiting on a sunny day, it’s a good idea to wear sunglasses because the best views during the day are in the direction of the sun.
  • There is a restaurant, souvenir shops, and bathroom facilities at the First gondola station. In winter, you can also rent ski equipment here as well.
First Cliff Walk in winter
First Cliff Walk can be visited in summer and in winter – Photo © Jungfraubahnen

Things to Do Nearby

Grindelwald-First are is a real paradise for adventure and thrill-seekers. As already mentioned before, the First Cliff Walk by Tissot is just one of the many things you can do here.

Most people choose to do one or several of the many fun attractions at First. You can try flying above the mountains in the First Flyer or First Glider or rush down in a Mountain Cart or Trottbike Scooter. Bagjump is also available and there are several playgrounds for children as well.

TIP: I highly recommend the First Glider – in my view, it’s worth the time and the money the most. We did it with our kids (age 8, 8, 10) and they said that it was the best thing they have ever done. I was so anxious about it but absolutely loved it as well. An unforgettable experience!

One of the most popular things to do at First (after the Cliff Walk) is a short but very scenic Bachalpsee hike. It’s really worth it and the views are stunning! Some others take one of the countless longer hikes in the area (I recommend the Flower Trail or the Faulhorn mountain peak). If you love hiking, you can also consider a day hike to Schynige Platte via Faulhorn. More information in our Schynige Platte hiking guide.

If you visit Grindelwald in winter, you can go skiing or snowboarding at First. However, Grindelwald and the entire region is a real winter wonderland with so much more to do. You can find more information in our guide to the Jungfrau Region in winter.

READ MORE: Things to Do at Grindelwald-First

Where to Stay

If you want to stay on top of the mountain at Grindelwald-First, check out Berggasthaus First (only reachable by gondola). This can be nice if you are looking for a really special experience and don’t mind simpler facilities.

Otherwise, you’ll find plenty of hotels in Grindelwald town. If traveling by train, we recommend that you stay close to the main road not too far from the station.

Here are our recommended Grindelwald hotels for various budgets:

$$$$$ Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel.
$$$$ Eiger Selfness Hotel.
$$$ Derby Swiss Quality Hotel.
$$ Eiger Lodge Chic (a bit further from the station, but close to the Eiger gondola toward Junngfraujoch).

FAQ

Is First Cliff Walk free to visit?

yes, First Cliff Walk is free to visit for everyone. However, while the Cliff Walk itself doesn’t require a separate ticket, you will need to get to First, and that requires a cable car ticket or a strenuous hike of several hours.

How long is the First Cliff Walk?

The First Cliff Walk is just about 300 meters long. It takes just 10-15 minutes to walk it in one direction, photo stops included. If you want to walk it both ways, count about half an hour for your visit.

How to get to the First Cliff Walk by Tissot?

The easiest way to get to First Cliff Walk is by taking a 25-minutes gondola ride from Grindelwald to First. From there, it’s just a short walk of 5 minutes to the Cliff Walk. You cannot drive up to First by car or by bus and hiking here from Grindelwald would take you several hours.

When is the First Cliff Walk open?

Weather permitting, First Cliff Walk is open during the winter ski season and during the summer hiking season in the Grindelwald-First area. Usually, this means that it’s open daily from mid-December to Easter and from mid-May to mid-October.

More tips for your trip to central Switzerland:

READ ALSO: Best Places to See & Things to Do in Zermatt, Switzerland

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Complete guide for visiting First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald Switzerland

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38 Comments

  1. Hi, I am planning to travel from the end of May to the first week of june with my 2.5-year-old daughter. Is this First Glider ride suitable for her?

  2. We are staying in Basel for three days. How easy is it to get to First and do everything you have just described from there and how? Approximate what would it cost and do we need a Swiss rail pass to travel there. We are totally unfamiliar with the area.

    1. Hi Val, you can take a train from Basel to Grindelwald via Interlaken Ost Station, but it takes almost 3 hours one way.
      As for tickets and passes, it really depends on what exactly you’re planning to do in Switzerland. Prices of train tickets vary a lot depending on when you book and when you travel. Here you can find more info about the Swiss Pass.

  3. Thanks for your insight!! I have a couple of questions… how far in advance do you need to buy online tickets for the Adventure Pack at First? It looks like you can buy tickets for a certain date, but there is nowhere to book specific times for the two activities our family would like to do (First Flyer and the mountain carts). Are those just on a first come first served basis on the day you have tickets for?

    1. Hi Katherine, you don’t absolutely have to book in advance and indeed, the tickets are for a specific day and all activities are first come first served. That’s why it’s best to start early in the morning when hopefully the queues are not too long yet (this is mostly for the First Glider and First Flyer, so I recommend going there first).
      Hope this helps.

  4. Hi I stumbled upon this article while looking for Tissot watch for my husband for Valentine’s Day. I have to say I was unaware of the walkway made by to sell from the Jung Frau and Grindelwald, both of which I HIKED in 1993 when I was traveling Europe after attending school in Italy for one year. Thank you so much for writing this article site whatever I can’t wait to take my husband to show him Switzerland. I probably traveled in Switzerland when the norm wasn’t to go to Europe by college students although there were some back in the late 80s and 90s they werent hordes and hordes of people . Switzerland …they took the best views that almost made me feel like a cartoon character superimposed onto a picture And my sheer love of fondue two levels I’ve never expected. Just wanted to say thank you so much for this you brought back a memory for me that I will never forget and am forever grateful for. I also wanted to put this little tip in for your readers for traveling. You don’t have to buy every shirt and every hat and every place .so what I did was I collect all the patches from all the places I visited Spain, Italy, England, Ireland, Switzerland, Amsterdam, when I arrived home, I had them sewn on a large background of suede then I framed it. It remains original piece of art one that went asked brings on lots of conversations about the travels. I had in Europe dispatch cost a couple of dollars at the time. They travel well they’re light and you don’t have to claim them when you come back into the United States. Really looking forward to reading more of your articles. Sincerely, LoriAnn.

    1. Hi Lori, glad to hear that this article brought back some great memories to you. I’m sure a lot more has changed in Grindelwald since the 90s, but the scenery remains spectacular! And thanks for the souvenir tip – it’s a nice idea for those who like to travel light.
      Happy travels!

  5. Hello– I’ve really been enjoying your blog as I plan for a family trip to the Jungfrau Region this summer! I’m trying to pack in all the different things I’d like to see in the area, and there is so much! Do you think it’s ok planning to try to do the Panoramaweg Trail early in the day, and then take the train to Grindelwald when finished to see the village and fit in a trottibike scooter ride down from Bort? Too much for one day? We are a family of four with two teenage boys.
    Thank you for any advice you can give!

    1. Hi Nancy, if you start on time, this can definitely be done. However, keep in mind that you will likely want to spend some extra time at Männlichen (+Royal Walk) and Kleine Scheidegg, so start early. Either way, about 3 hours should be enough for all this part (not counting the time to get there in the morning), and you then have to make your way down to Grindelwald and on to Bort. My recommendation would be to start in Männlichen, hike to Kleine Scheidegg, and then take a train from there to Grindelwald. That way, you arrive in the town center, closer to the other gondola you need to take. Also, I would do all mountain activities (Panoramaweg, Grindelwald-First area) first and visit the village of Grindelwald afterward. That way, there is no time pressure and you don’t have to worry about the gondola schedule or what time the trottibikes have to be back.
      Just note that if you also want to visit First Cliff Walk (the area described in this article where you left a comment), you will need quite some extra time. In that case, start very early and hike fast ;).
      Hope this helps.

    2. @Jurga, Thank you so much for this helpful advice. If time for only one activity at First (after doing the Panoramaweg trail earlier in the day), would you choose the trottibike scooters or just go see the Cliff Walk for my family of four? Thanks!

      1. Hi Nancy, there are a few things to consider, not just how long it takes. Taking a gondola to Bort is cheaper than all the way to First, but then the bikes will cost money whereas the Cliff Walk is free. So it’s really up to you. Overall, visiting two areas in one day is a very expensive option – you pay for all those tickets but only use them very shortly.
        Here’s just another idea (to confuse you even more :)). If you have just one day in Grindelwald, skip the Panorama Trail and head to Grindelwald-First for the entire day. You could start with the gondola ride all the way to the top, visit the Cliff Walk, hike to Bachalpsee Lake, then back to the gondola station and do some fun activities there (First Flyer, First Glider). Or you can do the activities first and the hike after that (might be less busy that way).
        After that, take a gondola to Bort (or hike from Bachalpsee via the Flower Trail) and then take trottibikes to the village.
        While some activities are not cheap, in the end, this will likely cost about the same or even cheaper than visiting the Kleine Scheidegg area (Panorama Trail) and Grindelwald-First on the same day. Plus, the kids will probably enjoy it more. In addition, by staying on one mountain the whole day, you won’t have to worry about the timing as much – just be sure to start early.
        You can find more information and also several ‘itinerary’ suggestions for the Grindelwald-First area in this article.

  6. Hi — we are going to be staying in Grindelwald for 4 days and plan on going to the Jungfraujoch, would you recommend doing a guided tour or just buying the pass you mention earlier that will also give us access to the Gondola for first cliff.

    1. Hi Sergio, if you are already in Grindelwald, then you definitely don’t need a guided tour (I don’t even think you’d find one). Just get the tickets to Jungfraujoch and you can visit everything on your own. On your way back, be sure to stop at Kleine Scheidegg and – weather permitting – maybe do some hiking there. The Panorama Route to Männlichen is very nice and not too long or difficult.
      Please note that Jungraujoch tickets will not give you access to Grindelwald First. For that, you’ll need to buy a separate ticket.
      If you are in the region for at least 3 days, indeed, you may want to consider Jungfraujoch regional pass, but you’ll need to get an upgrade for Jungfraujoch as it’s not included in a multi-day pass. If you are in Grindelwald for 4 days and are taking mountain excursions on each of those days, then this pass is a great deal.
      Hope this helps.

    1. Hi Maggie, from what I saw on the official site, the Grindelwald-First gondola runs until November 5 this year, so – weather permitting – everything at the top should be accessible in October.

  7. hi, I will be visiting zurich this september. I was wondering what trains to take to get to this place. I have read several ways to get tere but I wanted to see what would you recommend. I will most likely be usin zurich’s main train station

    1. Hi Kristy, from Zurich, you’ll likely have to take a train to Bern, then to Interlaken, and then switch once again to Grindelwald. Once in Grindelwald, you’ll have to take the First Gondola.
      The train journey from Zurich to Grindelwald takes about 3 hours. You can use Google Maps and choose the train icon to see the best public transport options for your trip.
      Alternatively, take a look at the guided tour options here. There are quite a few nice options and because they use buses and not trains, you’ll have a bit more time left in Grindelwald (the drive is shorter than a train trip).
      Hope this helps.

  8. Is it recommended to buy tickets in advance for the gondola or can we buy them when we get there? Going first week of August. So like you said might be a line. Also if we buy tickets in advance we can just show on our phone or do we need to print them out?

    1. Hi Mary, it really depends on the day and how busy it is. If you are sure that you’ll visit on a specific day anyway, then you can as well prebook. Otherwise, you can usually just get the ticket on the spot. I see that one of the recent reviews from May on GetYourGuide talks about long queues and people say they were glad that they booked in advance. It’s really up to you.
      Enjoy your trip!

  9. what a wanderful blog Thanks very much. I’m thinking to do first cliff walk 5 or 6 may do you think it could be too early may?

    1. Hi Michele, normally, the First Gondola is open and so you can visit in May. The Cliff Walk can be done in any season and the scenery is always stunning.
      It will likely be too early for hiking though.
      Hope this helps. Have a great trip!

  10. Hi Jurga, thank you for sharing this blog. It has made my upcoming trip so exciting. I have one quick question, the First Glider, does it bring you back up to the mountain or do you finish at the bottom? Is there a safe location to leave bags etc.
    I am going in late May 2023 travelling from Australia. What clothing would be needed for this time of the year? first timer 🙂
    Many thanks
    Sharone

    1. Hi Sharoe,
      First Glider starts and ends at the same point. You can leave your bags there rather safely. First Flyer starts higher up the mountain and ends one cable car station lower. I think most people just drop their bags and come back later, but ideally, you wouldn’t pack any (big) bags with you on the mountain if you plan to do many of these activities.
      For the clothing, pack layers, since you never really know what to expect. Long pants, most likely, maybe shorts for lower altitudes (it really depends on where you go and how the weather turns out to be). Hiking shoes if planning to do any hikes or at least sneakers if you’re just sightseeing. T-shirts, a sweater or two. A waterproof and rainproof rain jacket is always a must. If you are going to places that are really high in the mountains (like Jungfraujoch, Mt Titlis, Gornergrat or Klein Matterhorn, etc), it’s good to have light gloves and a buff.
      May is a bit of a shoulder season, so you never really know what to expect. It can be quite summer-like in the cities but still quite cold in the mountains.
      Have a great trip!

  11. Just wanted to drop by a note to say that your blog is a life saver! We always intended to go to Switzerland with the kids but felt intimidated of where to start and the scarce info provided for family travel.
    Thanks for all the useful and elaborate info! Now I can plan our Swiss trip with confidence 🙂

  12. Hi! Thank you for all the useful tips! Do you think it’s possible to do the cliff walk then head over to jungfraujoch? (Or the other way around)

    1. Hi Mimi, in summer, I think it would be possible time-wise, but it would be rushed. Plus, it would cost you a lot of money for the little time that you could actually spend at each place. (You need separate tickets for Jungfraujoch and for Grindelwald-First).
      I would choose just one of the two and make the most of your time and ticket in that one area.
      If you decide to do the two, I’d probably start with Grindelwald-First as soon as the gondolas are running and then head to Jungfraujoch after that. There, the trains to get back down run much later in the evening and so you could spend more time on the mountain. Whereas in Grindelwald-First, gondolas stop at 4-5 pm, so unless you hike down, you’ll have much less time to explore.
      Hope this helps.

    2. @Jurga,
      Thank you so much for the advice. I will be visiting later this february so still winter time. If it’s not too much to ask, so how long do you think it’ll take for me just to do grindelwald cliff walk. If I’m starting later in the day I won’t be rushing if that’s the only thing I’m doing in that area right? (or possibly the bachalpsee lake walk) thank you!

      1. Hi there, the Cliff Walk itself is very short, so 20-30 minutes is normally enough. But you also need to count the time to get to the top of the mountain and to get back. If I recall well, it’s about 30 minutes one-way.
        For the Bachalpsee hike, it really depends on the snow conditions on the trail. Even in the summer, you have to count at least 2 hours for that hike. So don’t underestimate it, especially because it’s winter (be sure to also wear suitable boots if you want to hike).
        You need to check what time the gondolas stop running so that you don’t miss the last one. In the winter, it gets dark early and I think the gondolas stop at around 4 pm.
        Hope this helps.