9 Best Things to Do in Grindelwald-First (+ One Day Itinerary)
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Grindelwald-First is one of the top places to visit when traveling to Grindelwald in Switzerland. Just like many other places in the region, it’s a destination in itself and you can easily spend several days exploring this area alone. However, even if you only have a day in Grindelwald, this guide should help you make the absolute best of your time.
In this article, we cover some of the best adrenaline-rushing activities at Grindelwald-First, the best views including the famous Cliff Walk, and also some of the nicest hiking trails in the area.
Below, you can find a list of the best things to do in Grindelwald-First. Further down, you can find a map of the area and practical information for your visit. At the bottom of this article, we included four different itinerary suggestions for how to spend one day in Grindelwald. Take a look!
Good to know: While most outdoor activities at Grindelwald-First are possible in any season, some of the adventurous mountain attractions are only available in summer. For example, Mountain Cart and Trottibike are summer activities, but First Glider, First Flyer, and Cliff Walk are usually open in the winter as well (weather permitting). In winter, this area is very popular with skiers and snowboarders.
Keep in mind that you can only visit Grindelwald-First when the cable car is running, which is usually almost all year except for a few weeks in November to mid-December.
Here are the best things to do at Grindelwald – First:
1. Amazing Views from Grindelwald-First Cable Car
Grindelwald – First is located at the top of the mountain and can best be reached by cable car from Grindelwald. The scenic gondola ride from Grindelwald to First takes 25 minutes and the views along the way are simply phenomenal. You won’t know where to look first…
On your way up, you’ll pass two mountain gondola stations – Bort and Schreckfeld. For Trottibike, you’ll have to disembark at Bort. If you are planning to go on the First Glider, First Flyer, or Mountain Cart, you’ll need to disembark at Schreckfeld. For the First Cliff Walk and Bachalpsee Lake, remain seated all the way to the end, until you reach First.
Ideally, you first go all the way up and start with the activities at First. Then slowly make your way down the mountain. On the other hand, that’s what most people do and so if you want to avoid the queues at some of the most popular activities, you may want to start there first thing in the morning. More information below.
2. First Glider
I recommend starting your day with a flight over the mountains. If you ever wanted to see the world from a bird’s eye, this is your chance. First Glider is a recent attraction at the Grindelwald-First area and is an absolute must!
First Glider is a sort of a zip line experience, except that you are flying like a bird with your face down. At first, you are pulled 800 m backwards up the hill and then you fly down at a speed of 83 km/h.
Securely fastened and free as an eagle, you soar over an alpine valley with the most incredible views around you. It’s one of the most special things you can do, not just in Grindelwald, but anywhere in the world. And I strongly recommend you overcome any fears and uncertainties and give it a try.
We went on First Glider mainly because our kids absolutely wanted to do it. I was terrified and wasn’t sure until the last moment if I’d dare. When they buckled me up to the ‘bird’, I really thought of throwing in the towel. But there was no way back and so I decided to relax and enjoy the experience to the fullest.
As we were flying, I was looking all around me trying to absorb every single detail and every single moment of this short flight. I absolutely loved it and so did the kids!
First Glider with Kids
When we visited, we found conflicting information with regards to age/height requirements for First Glider. Some sources said that the minimum age is 10 years, whereas others said that the minimum height is 130 cm (4ft 3).
Our twins were just 8 so we weren’t sure if they could fly. Upon arrival, the staff told us that the only thing that matters is the height. Since our kids were taller than 130cm, they could go on First Glider.
Flying on First Glider is by far one of the most unique experiences ever and I’d do it again in a heartbeat. The kids loved it as well! They wouldn’t stop talking about it for days to come. We all agreed that First Glider was the most remarkable experience of the summer.
Practical Information
First Glider starts and ends near Schrekfeld gondola station. The flight itself takes just a minute or two, but only 4 people can go at once, so the queues here can get really long. If you want to do this, I recommend coming here first thing in the morning.
The maximum allowed weight is 125 kg (275 lbs) per person. Bags are not allowed on First Glider. But since you start and end at the same place, you can easily leave all your belongings there.
First Glider requires a separate ticket. At the end of this article, you can find more information about the tickets.
3. First Cliff Walk by Tissot
First Cliff Walk by Tissot is the most popular thing to do in Grindelwald-First. It doesn’t require any special equipment, doesn’t take much time, and is free to enter. So if you do just one thing at Grindelwald-First, make it this one.
Cliff Walk is a metal walkway and a swinging bridge perched on the side of the First Mountain (2,168 m – 7,112 ft). There is also a viewing platform that stretches high above the ravine affording wonderful views of the region.
If you have a fear of heights, it might look a bit intimidating at first. But the views are amazing and it’s well worth beating your fears and taking a short walk here.
READ MORE: First Cliff Walk
4. First Flyer
First Flyer is another flight attraction at Grindelwald-First. It’s a zip line with one-person chairs, so you fly while seated. It’s a bit like a chair swing ride, but downhill and really fast. Secured with a harness, you fly down from First to Schreckfeld, enjoying incredible views along the way.
We didn’t do this because our younger kids were too small for the First Flyer, but it looked really fun.
If you have enough time, I think I’d do both flights – First Glider and First Flyer. But if you only want to do one, I’d go for the First Glider as it’s a much more unique experience that just can’t be compared to anything else.
Practical Information
First Flyer starts at First and ends at Schreckfeld. It’s also a very popular attraction and queues can get quite long.
Furthermore, backpacks or other bags are not allowed on the First Flyer. You have to leave them at the top gondola station in First. That means that after your ride, you’ll have to take a cable car back to First. Grindelwald Train Station also has luggage storage, but you’ll probably want to take a small backpack with you anyway, so keep this in mind when planning your day at Grindelwald – First.
The minimum weight for the First Flyer is 35 kg (77 lbs) and the maximum weight is 125 kg (275 lbs).
First Flyer requires a separate ticket – more info further below.
5. Bachalpsee
Picturesque Bachalpsee Lake is another popular thing to do at Grindelwald-First. This charming mountain lake is located within a short walking distance from the Grindelwald-First cable car station and is one of the most beautiful hikes in Grindelwald.
Not just the lake is pretty, but the scenery along the Bachalpsee trail is phenomenal. Furthermore, it’s a really easy hike with little elevation gain and is doable for most people.
The downside is that this hike is extremely popular and very busy. But don’t get discouraged by the crowds – there is plenty of space for everyone and the hike and the lake itself is very enjoyable.
READ MORE: Bahalpsee Lake
6. First Mountain Cart
Mountain Cart is another popular thing to do at Grindelwald-First. It’s a sort of a go-cart that’s adapted for the mountains, with big rubber tires and an efficient brake system. You need some skill to drive it, but it’s not too difficult and something that can be done with older kids as well.
You can find Mountain Carts at Schreckfeld cable car station. From there, you can drive down the mountain to Bort.
There is no minimum age, but kids have to be at least 135 cm (4ft 4) tall in order to drive this Mountain Cart. Keep in mind, however, that everyone sits on their own and have to be able to control the cart by themselves.
You need a separate ticket for the Mountain Cart – more info below.
7. First Trottibike Scooter
Somewhat more adventurous and requiring more skill is the scooter bike, First Trottibike. It’s a scooter bike with no seats or pedals and is suitable for kids from 125 cm (4ft 1). You can rent them at Bort cable car station and ride down the mountain all the way back to Grindelwald.
Our boys really wanted to give this a try and it looked fun. But when we asked the staff what they thought about letting kids do this, the guy working there said that he wouldn’t advise it. Some parts of the ride are quite steep and you have to be able to brake and steer really well.
I think it’s really fun for adults and teens, but we didn’t feel comfortable doing this with our kids (age 8, 8, and 10 at that time).
You also need a separate ticket for the Trottibike Scooter – more info below.
8. Hiking
In addition to the Bachalpsee hike mentioned above, there are many more hiking trails in the Grindelwald – First area. Further below you can find a map with an overview of all the hiking trails in the area.
Here are some of the most popular options, the best hikes starting at Grindelwald – First and passing Bachalpsee:
- Bachalpsee Trail (#1): First – Bachalpsee – First: 2 hrs
- Faulhorn Trail (#2): First – Bachalpsee – Faulhorn – Bussalp: 4 hrs
- Flower Trail (#4): First – Bachalpsee – Waldspitz – Bort: 2,5 hrs
- First – Schynige Platte (#62): First – Bachalpsee – Faulhorn – Schynige Platte: 6-7hrs
READ MORE: Best Hikes at Bachalpsee
9. Family-friendly Activities
While most activities at Grindelwald – First are quite adventurous, there are also some nice things to do here for families with young children.
To start with, the Bachalpsee Lake hike is family-friendly and First Cliff Walk can also be done with young children.
In addition, there is a nice playground for kids at Bort gondola station. Here, you’ll find swings, climbing and balancing frames, a kid-friendly mountain stream, and more.
You can also embark on the interactive Marmot Educational Trail (#17) that starts at First cable car station. Make sure to ask for kids’ booklet before you set on this hike – it’s available at the ticket desk.
Map of Grindelwald-First Area
This map should give you a better idea of where everything is.
You can also see all the hiking trails – I used those numbers to indicate the hikes mentioned in this article, so you know exactly which hike I mean.
Tickets & Prices
At the moment of the last update, the Grindelwald – First round trip gondola ticket costs 68 CHF per person, with 50% discounts available for Swiss Travel Pass or Half-Fare Card holders. Kids pay half the price; kids under 6 travel free of charge.
You can find the best deal for these tickets with flexible cancelation here.
First Glider and First Flyer tickets cost 31 CHF each (24 CHF for kids under 15). In winter, these activities are included with the multi-day Grindelwald ski pass.
Mountain Cart or Trottbike Scooter Bike rides cost 21 CHF per ride per person (17 CHF for kids under 15).
We used the Jungfrau Travel Pass during our visit – it’s a multi-day summer ticket that includes all the gondola and train rides in the area. But it doesn’t include any of the extra attractions at Grindelwald-First that require a separate ticket.
TIP: If you are in Grindelwald just for a day and are planning to do some of the additional activities at Grindelwald-First, it is probably better to get a combination ticket that includes cable car rides as well as extra attractions. It’s called Adventure Package and you can choose 1, 2, 3, or all 4 activities. There are further discounts available for discount card holders. In that case, you may want to get the ticket on the spot (and ask them about all the possible activities and/or discounts).
Good to know: You can disembark at the intermediate gondola stations and take the gondola using your day ticket as many times as you want.
For up-to-date pricing and tickets, you can check the website of the Jungfrau Region. Please note that you don’t necessarily have to buy these tickets in advance and can just get them upon arrival. Keep in mind that they do not issue any refunds in case of bad weather.
READ ALSO:
★ Swiss Travel Pass: What’s Included & Is It Worth It
★ Swiss Half Fare Card & When It’s Worth It
One Day in Grindelwald – Itinerary Suggestions
There are so many ways to spend your time in Grindelwald. Even just at the Grindelwald – First area, you can spend a couple of days… Not even mentioning the rest of the beautiful Jungfrau Region.
Nevertheless, here are 4 different suggested itineraries for this area that should give you a good idea of how you can spend one day in Grindelwald. Whether you are visiting with kids, are looking for adrenaline-rushing activities, or something in between – Grindelwald-First area truly has something for everyone.
How to spend one day at Grindelwald-First:
I. Adventure & Hiking Itinerary
This itinerary is based on what we did last time we visited Grindelwald with our kids. In my view, this is one of the best and more relaxing ways to spend a day in Grindelwald. It has a nice combination of everything that this area has to offer.
- Take a cable car from Grindelwald to Schreckfeld.
- First Glider.
- Take a cable car to First.
- First Cliff Walk.
- Hike to Bachalpsee (#1) and picnic lunch along the way.
- Hike the Flower Trail (#4) to Bort.
- In Bort, time permitting, take a Trottibike Scooter down to Grindelwald (optional). Otherwise, take a cable car to Grindelwald.
One alternative is to hike Faulhorn Trail (#2) to Bussalp and take a bus down to Grindelwald.
Another alternative is to hike to Bachalpsee and back to First (#1) and do one or more mountain attractions there, e.g. First Flyer or Mountain Cart.
II. Adventure Itinerary
This itinerary is focused on all the mountain attractions that you can do at Grindelwald-First.
If you want to do everything from this itinerary, you’ll have to start early and plan well. Otherwise, skip one or two things (I indicated them as optional below) – that way you’ll have a more relaxing day.
- Take a cable car from Grindelwald to Schreckfeld.
- First Glider.
- Take a cable car to First.
- First Flyer (optional)
- Cable car back to First and lunch at the restaurant in First.
- First Cliff Walk.
- Bachalpsee hike (optional – count at least 2 hours).
- Take a cable car down to Schreckfeld and take a Mountain Cart down to Bort.
- In Bort, time permitting, take a Trottibike Scooter down to Grindelwald (optional). Otherwise, take a cable car to Grindelwald.
III. Hiking Itinerary
If you are not very interested in the Grindelwald – First mountain attractions, you can also opt for this option. However, keep in mind that it’s a strenuous hike and you have to start it very early in the morning.
- Take a cable car from Grindelwald to First.
- First Cliff Walk.
- Hike to Bachalpsee, Faulhorn, and all the way to Schynigge Platte (trail #62). It’s a rather strenuous 16km hike and you should count at least 6-7 hours for it (realistically 7-8 hours). Here you can find more info about First – Faulhorn – Schynigge Platte hike.
- Take a train from Schynige Platte to Wilderswil and from there back to Grindelwald or wherever you are staying.
IV. Itinerary for Families with Young Kids
This is an easy-going itinerary for families with young children.
- Take a cable car from Grindelwald to First.
- First Cliff Walk.
- Hike to Bachalpsee (#1) or Marmot Educational Trail (#17) and have a picnic along the way.
- Take a cable car to Bort and visit the playground.
- Take a cable car back to Grindelwald.
Where to Stay
Grindelwald has a big range of accommodations for different budgets. When looking for a place to stay, consider a few things: the season when you travel, transportation you’ll be using, accessibility of the hotel from the main roads, and – if driving – parking.
Here are some of the best-rated, centrally-located hotels for various budgets:
$$$$$ Belvedere Swiss Quality Hotel
$$$$ Eiger Selfness Hotel
$$$ Sunstar Hotel & SPA
$$ Hotel Central Wolter
$ Eiger Lodge Chic
Good to know: If you want to stay on top of the mountain, there’s also a hotel at Grindelwald-First, Berggasthaus First. It’s a really special experience being here early morning and late evening when the gondolas are not running and there’s hardly anyone around.
FAQ
Grindelwald can be reached by car, by bus, or by train. If you don’t have a car, the easiest way to get to Grindelwald is by taking a train from Interlaken Ost station.
The easiest way to get to First from Grindelwald is by taking a cable car. The ride takes about 25 minutes and the views are spectacular! You can also hike from Grindelwald to First, but it’s a challenging hike of almost 9 km one way, with an elevation gain of about 1,200 m (4,000 ft).
The best thing to do in Grindelwald First is to admire the views from the First Cliff Walk by Tissot and the viewing platforms at the top cable car station. You can also hike to Bachalpsee Lake and there are many other nice hikes. In addition, there are many adventure activities, such as First Glider and First Flyer. In winter, you can go skiing here.
Grindelwald is one of the most popular mountain resorts in Switzerland. It’s famous for its stunning scenery of the surrounding mountains, a big variety of outdoor activities in all seasons, and also shopping. The main landmark in the area is Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe. The most beautiful mountain peaks nearby are Jungfrau, Mönch, Eiger, and Wetterhorn on one side and First and Oberjoch on the other side.
Grindelwald-First area has a lot to offer in every season and the scenery here is some of the most beautiful in the whole of Switzerland. No matter if you are visiting in winter or in summer, Grindelwald-First is definitely worth it. Plan to spend at least one full day here!
READ ALSO: Switzerland Itinerary For First Trip
So, this is our guide to the best things to do in Grindelwald-First and suggestions for how to plan your visit. Planning a trip to Grindelwald and have any questions? Leave a reply below and we’ll try to help.
Have a great trip!
More info for visiting the Jungfrau Region:
- Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe – a must-see in this region!
- Which is better: Mt Titlis or Jungfraujoch
- Schynige Platte – a hidden gem of Switzerland
- Best Hikes at Schynige Platte – including one of our all-time favorite hikes in Switzerland
- Day Trip to Interlaken – with several suggested 1-day itineraries
- Trümmelbach Falls – must-see underground waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen
- Jungfrau Region in Winter – just as beautiful as in summer
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Zermatt Must-Sees & Top Attractions & Best Day Trips from Lucerne
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Hi your info is very informative! I have two whole days in Grindelwald, other than whole day in First, is there any nearby places you would recommend? (We will also spend two days in interlaken)
Hi Gigi, with an extra day, I would recommend visiting Jungfraujoch. You will need a good half day for it. If visiting in the summer, you can also do some hiking around Kleine Scheidegg after visiting Jungfraujoch.
Otherwise, after Jungfraujoch, you can take a train to Wengen, then visit Lauterbrunnen, and come back to Grindelwald via that side of the mountain.
Why do you keep calling if Grindenwald-First? Is that different from just Grindenwald ? I’m not understanding!
Grindelwald is the name of the town. Grindelwald-First is the mountain peak that you can only reach by gondola. All the activities described in this article are on the mountain and not in town.
I am going to be arriving in G Dorf around 11:45 and have 5 hrs to spend. If I would like to do the Glider should I stop on the way up and do that first and then get back on cable car and go on to First for views and then Tissot walk? Im thinking I will just take the cable car back down to Gwald to explore town? THANKS
Hi Beth, what you can do on the day of your visit will highly depend on the weather and on how busy it is. If there are no queues at the Glider, you could do it first. Otherwise, maybe visit the top first and then see how much time you have left for the extra activities.
And yes, once you come back down, you can explore the town. There isn’t that much to explore in town itself, apart from some shops and restaurants.
@Jurga, THANK YOU. Your info and website is awesome
I’m going to visit Switzerland for 8 days with my car. I’ll spend one of those days traveling to Grindelwald and from there, going up to Jungfraujoch to visit the Ice Palace and walk on the Aletsch Glacier. Then I want to go back down, go up to Mount First to walk on the First Cliff Walk, and ride the First Flyer before returning to the car and our apartment in Sachseln. Does that sound like too much for one day? Or should I skip one of the two and dedicate the whole day to just one mountain?
Thank you for all the information you provide on your blog.
Hi Camacho, in theory, this is doable (in that case, start with the very first train in the morning). But in practice, I think you will have a much more enjoyable day if you just pick one mountain and explore it to the fullest rather than rush all the time. Both – Jungfraujoch and Grindelwald-First are extremely popular destinations, so it’s going to be very busy everywhere. You need to factor in extra time and long queues, especially at attractions like First Flyer which are first come first served. And last but not least, each mountain peak requires its own ticket so doing both in a day would be very expensive for the little time you would spend at each of them. So I wouldn’t recommend doing both of these on the same day. Often, less is more. Take the time to actually experience the stunning surroundings, do some hiking, or simply sit down for a drink at one of the mountain restaurants and enjoy the views. Have a great trip!
@Jurga,
Thank you very much for your quick response. I have it clear now, I will follow your advice and unless my wife prefers the other option, we will go to the First only and enjoy the day there.
Thank you very much for your opinion and for your blog. You can’t imagine how helpful it has been for me. For example, I am going to Zermatt for a day trip by car from Sachseln, and now I know that I will need to leave at 5:30 am to be able to arrive and hike up to Furi, then to the glacier, and later to Gornegrat. We’ll take sandwiches for lunch and enjoy both places.
And then there’s the day I’m going to Stoos to do the hike just as you indicated. What I have thought of doing is to not buy the different funicular tickets for each day until a couple of days before, so that depending on the weather, I can choose one destination or another.
Well, I’ll leave you alone now. Thanks again. See you in Switzerland!!!
Have a great trip and enjoy Switzerland!
This may be a silly question but it seems that the adventure package only offers 2 adventures and the gondola ride now. Did you book elsewhere besides on the main site or did they just change the rules? Thanks!
Hi Kristin, from what I hear, the queues at the Grindelwald-First attractions are crazy at the moment with people waiting 2-3 hours to do one ride (!), so that could be the reason why they don’t offer more than 1 or 2 because you would simply run out of time…
If you are traveling in the high season and are not keen on spending half the day queuing, I would just buy the simple gondola ticket, explore the cliffside walk, hike to Bachalpsee, and then decide on the spot if you want to pay for one or the other activity/ride based on how busy it is. It might be a bit more expensive but it gives you more freedom. I think that you will enjoy your day better this way rather than trying to do ‘everything’.
Hi Jurga,
Wonderful blog – thank you for including all the details and your personal experiences to make the most informed decisions.
I was curious in your multiple trips to Grindelwald, have you ever taken the gondola to Pfingstegg and done any of the activities (fly line and tobaggon) and/or hiking trails?
Thanks,
jeff.
Hi Jeff, no, somehow we never seem to get to that side of the mountain. It looks fun and should be much less busy than all the rest in the area though, so if you have some extra time, give it a try.
Dear Jurga,
Thank you for such an informative write up really appreciated it, Have you been there during winter and what are the available activities during winter?
Regards
Brian
Hi Brian, yes, weather-permitting most of the things are open in winter too. The viewing platforms and First Cliff Walk are open and also First Glider and First Flyer. You can go skiing and sledding as well.
Keep in mind that the summer season ends in the beginning of November and the winter season starts around mid-December. For a short period in between, everything is likely closed.
Have a great trip!
Thank you for such an informative post about the Grindelwald-First region. Question for you…Do they have professional photos taken of all four people on the Glider while you’re flying down? Are the photos in your blog actually of you and your family? If so, do you have the opportunity to buy the pictures at the end of the ride? Thank in advance!
Hi Malee, my husband took the pictures of us on the First Glider. There is no photo service as far as I know, but you can always ask someone else who is staying behind or maybe even the staff.
How long is the round trip hike from First to Bachalpsee
Hi Claudette, you can find all the info in our guide to Bachalpsee hike.
Do you know are backpacks allowed on the Trottibike Scooters and/or Mountain Carts?
Hi Mark, I’m not 100% sure. Based on our experience in various places in Switzerland, they don’t allow backpacks on Mountain Carts, but allow them on Trottibikes.
If your backpack is very small and you can somehow wear it in front of you on the mountain cart, maybe it could work, but I wouldn’t want to do that myself. You really need to focus on steering and avoid anything that could be in your way.
It’s best to take as little with you as possible if you want to do all these activities. Or you will simply have to take the gondola back to where you started to pick up your backpack. A small crossbody bag is often easier.
Hello Jurga,
Firstly; I loved the detail on this blog. Very informative.
I have a couple of questions I seek your clarification on:
1. What are the methods of payment that are accepted in most of the places in Switzerland?
Preferably in tourist destinations.
2. How much discount is available for Swiss pass holders?
3. Is the cable car covered in Swiss Pass?
4. Are there secure lockers available to store the baggage while we choose to use the GLIDER. (Are these covered with the SWISS PASS)
Hi Shrey, see my answers here:
1. Cash, credit cards, debit cards, cashless payments (phone, watch, etc). For credit cards, Visa and MasterCard are best everywhere in Europe.
2. The discount depends on the place/activity. Swiss Pass is basically used as a ticket for all public transport (including train journeys like Glacier Express, Golden Pass Line, Bernina Express) and many museums. There are just a few mountain gondolas where it gives you free access (Mt Rigi, Stanserhorn, and Stoos – all near Lucerne). You get discounts for many other rides but no free tickets. You can find more info here.
3. No, Grindelwald First cable car is not free with the Swiss Travel Pass, but you get 50% discount. You can find more information about what’s included or not in our article about the Swiss Travel Pass.
4. There are no lockers that I know of, but they have a place where you can leave your stuff (next to where you depart, so it’s only the staff there and maybe the people who are going after you). We just left our bags like that (it’s Switzerland ;)). And no, these activities are not included with the cable car ticket and there is no discount for the Swiss Pass holders.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
Hi,
Firstly thank you so much for your useful blog
I will be staying in Grindelwald around end of November. Many are saying that there won’t be any cable rides. But some are saying there are cable rides. I am lost!
Also, towards the end of November can i still get to do the activities such as First glider, First flyer, First cliff walk and visit the Bachalpsee Lake?
Hi Catherine, at the moment, the official website shows that Grindelwald-First cable car and all the activities at the top will be running until November 5 this year. They usually close for a few weeks after that until the ski season begins before Christmas.
So no, in principle, you won’t be able to visit any of these places at the end of November. November is about the worst time to visit the mountains in Switzerland – too late for the summer activities and too early for skiing.
Normally, you can still visit Jungfraujoch in this region at this time of the year. Also places like Mount Titlis near Lucerne or Gornergrat in Zermatt remain open year round, but you always have to check for your specific travel dates because many places do maintenance works in November and close for a week or two.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga, thank you so much.
Hello Jurga. We have two old people with us on our 9 day trip to Switzerand and two teenagers. We will be hiring a car and planning to buy the Adventure Package for a trip to the First. We are also planning a trip to Jungfraujoch peak. Our itinerary broadly takes us South from Zurich to Lotschen and then onwards to the east towards St. Moritz.
I am not seeking itinerary suggestions but it will really help if you are able to recommend a travel pass which would include some additional attractions for the elderly members in our group, and particularly for discounted entry to Jungfraujoch and on Adventure Package. Thank you.
Hello, there are too many ticket and pass options for me to be able to help you much. For the kids, if they are under 16, take a look at the Swiss Junior Travelcard. You can get it at some of the main railway stations in Switzerland and it offers great value and can save you a lot of money. For adults, just ask at the ticket desk what the best options are.
Usually, the best way to save money is to stay in one region for 3-5 days and explore deeper. But if you are everywhere just for a day or two, you’ll have to rely on day tickets and those can be really pricey indeed.
As for Grindelwald-First, there is not really an ‘adventure package’. These are just the different names that we gave to different itineraries that we recommend, to give people a better idea of how the 4 suggested day itineraries differ from each other. You’ll need a gondola ticket from Grindelwald to First anyway, and the rest depends on which activities you choose to do while there (if any). I’m afraid there are no big discounts available for those additional activities like First Glider or First Flyer. But you can configure your own ‘adventure ticket’ for Grindelwald-First depending on which extra activities you are planning to do. If you are not sure, just ask at the ticket desk what the best options are for your family when you get there.
Hope this helps a bit. Have a great trip!
@Jurga, many thanks for your advice. We will research further on this. Thank you again!
Hi. Very informative blog.
Just a clarification, might sound silly but practical info.
Visiting Grindelwald in September. Backpack can be stored at First station.
What about a Purse (as in a sling that i carry for money, phone, etc). Does that also
have to be stored before every ride i.e. First Flier, Mountain Ride and Glider.
Please guide
Thanks a lot
Anshu
Hi Anshu, it depends on the ride. For First Glider, for example, you are not allowed to take anything with you. I think that a very small purse should be fine for the First Flyer, but I don’t know for sure and it might also depend on the exact dimensions of the purse or how you carry it.
I’m not sure what you mean by Mountain Ride.
Anyway, it’s always best to pack as little as possible, but if you have to leave stuff behind, they will usually have a safe place to store it.
Have a great trip!
Hello Jurga,
Thank you for your so helpful blogs.
I just have one we are going to swiss, will be staying in Bern for four days. We have a wheelchair person with us, will Grindelwald will be a good choice in that case. If not then will please just name few places where he can also enjoy.
Thank You.
Hi Pooja, you can find an excellent accessibility guide for all the main places of Jungfrau Region here. At Grindelwald First, you can visit the main viewing platform with a wheelchair.
Another nice place could be Harder Kulm in Interlaken. You could also do a boat trip from Interlaken and maybe visit one or a few towns, like Thun.
Also Lauterbrunen could be nice. It’s in the valley and there are lots of flat walkways and bike paths there.
Lucerne is also a beautiful city and much flatter than Bern. You could also take an excursion to Mt Pilatus.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
Hello. We will be in Grindelwald May 17-18 and the weather forecast is calling for 50% chance of rain. Will the lifts to Grindelwald-First be open? We are traveling from USA.Thank you for your informative review of the area.
Hi Judy, you really can’t rely on the weather forecast in the mountains 10 days in advance. Even a day in advance can still be wrong. So just go with the flow and make the best of the weather you get. The lifts are usually open as scheduled, no matter the weather.
Have a great trip!
@Jurga, Thank you. This is good to know about the weather forecast
If traveling by car did you use Half Fare Card ?
Would it help to cut the cost ?
We are family of four ( 2 kids at age 14 AND 17 ) travelling by rented car in June from Paris to Bern in 1 day. The next day Bern to Tasch/ Zermatt ( sightseeing on the way – plan to see Monteruex and Chillon Castle.
Zermat – 3 nights, 2 days: Gornegrat and Matterhorn Kline, Zermat museum and Gorner Gorge
Lucern 1 night and two half days : Mt Pilatus 1 day and 2d 1/2 day sightseeing the town.
Then to Jungfrau for 4 nights but 3 full days – so I thought about Jungfrau Pass.
Total 9 days in Switzerland.
To me it looks like Half Fare Card may cut the cost minimally but still some. Am I right ?
Hi Agnieszka, as already said in my answer to your previous question, you really have to make your own calculation if you want to be sure that you are getting the cheapest option. There are so many passes and so many options that the only way to do this is to check all the prices, and all the possible discounts, and then compare. Unfortunately, I really have no time to do this for you. In general, at least for kids under 16, the Junior Travelcard is the cheapest option. For adults, there are just too many variables.
Hi Jurga,
I love reading your blog posts, really helpful information. My family of four ( 2 kids age 14 and 17 ) plans to come to Switzerland this coming June. We will be traveling by car. Plan to visit half day in Bern, 2 days in Zermatt , 1 day in Luzern and 3 days in Interlaken/ Grindelwald/ Lantenbrunnen/ Wengen area.
I understand you travelled by car too. Did you use car at all when in Oberland area or you parked it for a few days and travelled mainly by train/ gondola? Should I look for a hotel or apartment with parking space or it is just narrowing my options unnecessary.
I plan to buy 3 day Jungfrau pass. Does Junior travel card works in Jungfrau area or I still have to buy a separate discounted 3 day Jungfrau pass for my 14 y/o .
Next question : if I need to choose between Kline Matterhorn, its views and Glacier Palace versus Jungafraujoch , it’s views and Glacier Palace , what is a better option ? Not sure if I can afford to pay for both attractions. 2 years ago we saw Chamonix and Mont Blanc. My kids really want to see Glacier Palace.
I would appreciate your comments.
Agnieszka
Hi Agnieszka, that’s so many questions… And the answer is – it depends.
We always travel in Switzerland by car since it’s easy from Belgium. Which passes we buy varies so much depending on where and for how long we stay during that particular trip. We’ve been to Switzerland so many times and what we do in terms of tickets is always different.
If you stay in one region for a longer time (typically at least 3 days, then regional passes are usually cheaper than anything else). But it also depends on the region. You really have to check each trip that you want to take and then make your calculations on order to figure out which passes make the most sense for your trip.
Anyway, in Berner Oberland, if you are visiting Wengen, Klein Scheidegg, Jungfraujoch,or Schynige Platte, you need a train for all those places as they can’t be reached by car. So there is no use of a car and you have to leave it either in Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald anyway.
Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt of Jungfraujoch are quite different experiences (and different areas). The latter is also quite a lot more expensive. As for the views, a lot depends on the weather. Ice tunnels are nice at both, but probably a bit more special at Jungfraujoch, but not different enough to worry that you are missing something. If you are going to Zermatt for 2 days anyway and you are worried about the cost, then I think I’d do Klein Matterhorn rather than Jungfraujoch.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga,
Thank you very much for your response.
It does help.
If I could ask you one more question.
Junior travel card can be obtained only at the railway station and passport photo is needed, am I right ? No internet option.
And a temporary card will be issued immediately as there is no time to get a permanent one.
Hi Agnieszka, you can find all this information on the official website.
We bought our kids’ cards at the station and – at least at that time – the cards that we got were valid for a year.
@Jurga,
Thank you again.
Hi Jurga,
Your blog posts are so helpful! I am planning our entire Swiss trip with your help!
My husband and I (early thirties) will be staying in Interlaken. We plan to do Grindelwald (First Glider, Tissot cliff walk and the Bachalpsee Trail if time permits) in the first half of the day. Then we plan on taking the gondola to Wengen and going to the Trummelbach falls.If we start our day from Interlaken Ost at 8:30AM, do you think we will be able to cover these spots? Any other tips you may have, what can we add to our trip etc?
Hi, yes, it should be possible to do all this in a day, but keep in mind that it will be very rushed. Mainly, because you’ll have to take into account the opening hours of Trummelbach Falls. But if you start early, hike fast, and don’t mind rushing through everything, then it should be doable.
An alternative suggestion – visit everything in Grindelwald first and then instead of taking a train to Wengen via Kleine Scheidegg, you could take a train to Lauterbrunnen. Visit the waterfall and then go to Wengen (or even higher up to Kleine Scheidegg). The trains run quite late so it would probably be more relaxing this way.
Also, if available (and depending on what you ultimately decide to do), you may want to get a 1-day ticket for the Jungfrau Region instead of separate tickets for each place.
Have a great trip!
@Jurga, Thank you for your suggestions!
Visiting on 28th July to 3rd Aug 2023 where should we plan to visit the most important places in Switzerland pl guide planning to stay interlaken for 4nites 2nites bern 1nite zurich
Hi Chandrika, unfortunately, we can’t help with individual itinerary planning for our readers. There are just way too many possibilities and I really have no time to do this.
Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!
Hi Jurga,
Love your blog and the details you provide. I am visiting with my family of 4 including 2 teenagers and basing myself in Grindelwald in the 3rd week of June. I have 2 full days there. I want to spend my first day doing First and second day doing Jungfraojoch based on the experience given in your bloh. I also want to visit Lauterbrunnen and Harder Kulm. Can you suggest if Harder Kulm and Lauterbrunnen can be planned on any of above 2 days? Also, since I will only be using Interlaken for transit and not visiting the city, do you have any other suggestion or place nearby other than Harder Kulm where I can see the views of Lake Thun or Brienz? Can you suggest which pass will make more sense for me – Swiss Travel Pass or Jungfrao 3 day pass? we are also visiting Montreux and Zurich by train on this trip. Lastly, the tour package link given above to buy the Eiger express gondola from Grindelwald + Jungfaro rail tickets above is not valid after June 2023- can you suggest a site or tour or link from where I can buy this combination?
Hi Sak, that’s a ton of questions, and the answer to most of them is ‘it depends’ so it’s really difficult for me to give you any useful advice.
Grindelwald – First area – you can spend a day here if you do all the activities and do some hiking. Otherwise, you can just visit in a few hours.
Jungfraujoch – the same. If you just go to the top and down, you can be done in 3-4 hours. But you can also do some hiking at Kleine Scheidegg, the Eiger Trail, or the Panorama Trail, or even both.
You could visit Jungfraujoch first thing in the morning, not do any hiking, then take a train to Wengen, see the village, then down to Lauterbrunnen, spend some time there, and then on to Interlaken to visit Harder Kulm. If I recall well, Harder Kulm funicular runs late in the evening, so it’s possible.
You can also just visit Harder Kulm when you are passing by Interlaken – it’s just next to the station and you don’t need much time.
The best ticket for this area is the Jungfrau regional pass since it includes everything. Swiss Pass only gives you discounts and only makes sense if you use public transport (trains and gondolas going up the mountains in the Jungfrau region aren’t public transport). It could make sense if you also take trains for the rest of your journey, but you really have to do your own calculations to see what makes sense.
As for tickets, it’s probably much too early to buy them now. It’s still ski season and the summer tickets are probably not on sale yet. You can check a month before your trip or so. You can also find all the tickets on the website of Jungfrau region itself, but it can look overwhelming with all the options. On the other hand, if you just get a multi-day pass, then you don’t have to worry about it and only have to get an additional ticket between Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch.
Have a great trip.
Hello, I went to the Junfrau website to try to purchase the Adventure Package but do not see a way to purchase. Can you only purchase this in person?
Hi Kim, there are no ‘packages’ to be purchased. These are just my suggestions for our readers on how to spend a day at Grindelwald-First based on their interests.
If you mean our suggested ‘option II’, you will simply need a regular gondola ticket. You then pay for the additional activities such as ‘First Glider’ and others once you get there.
We will be travelling to Grindewald on April 6-8, 2023. I can’t see any information that Grindewald first will be open on those days. We wanted to do the First Glider & flyer.
Your response would be appreciated.
Regards
Phil
Hi Phil, from what I see, at the moment, the winter ski season dates for the Grindelwald-First area are as follows: 17 Dec. 2022 – 26 March 2023. So it seems that they plan to close at the end of March already. After they close, there is usually a few weeks period when the cable cars are not running, and they restart for the summer somewhere at the end of May. So it looks like this area will not be open on your travel dates. April-May is a shoulder season when there’s too little snow for winter activities and too much for hiking, etc. so it makes little sense to keep the lifts running.
The other ski areas – around Männlichen – are located higher and are scheduled to remain open until April 16. And Jungfraujoch is reachable the whole year.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga, thank you for your reply. We are sad because we were so looking forward to this attraction, but I am sure we will still absolutely enjoy Switzerland
Hello
My itinerary is 3-6 March 2023. On that day, Will I play First Cliff walk , First Glider and First Flyer ?
Hi, I’m not exactly sure what your question is (maybe your autocorrect messed up some words :)). March is winter ski season in Grindelwald, so gondolas are running, and – in principle – all these places are open too. From what I see, in winter, First Glider and First Flyer are also included in the ski pass (multi-day winter ticket, not a day ticket). First Cliff Walk is normally always free.
However, it can happen that some of these activities don’t run in case of bad weather. So you’ll have to see if everything is open when you are actually there.
@Jurga,
Sorry, I mean some activities is not open in winter, I just want to know that what activities I can play on March.
No worries. 🙂 As already said above – all of these activities are normally running in summer and in winter, but it also depends on the weather. So normally you can do everything unless you encounter a really bad snowstorm/ winds.
You can also see this info on the official site of the region, e.g. for First Flyer and First Glider.
Hope this helps.
Me and my girlfriend are going to Switzerland in June 2023, any tips in traveling to Grindlewald?
Hi Kevin, it’s really difficult to answer a general question like this. Tips about what? Hiking, hotels, food, general sites… Check out our articles about the area on the blog and you’ll find lots of information about Grindelwald, Jungfraujoch, Schynige Platte, and the Jungfrau region in general.
Hello, enjoyed your post. we will be in Zurich mid November and wondering if there is sufficient time for a day trip to Grindlewald, travelling by train from Zurich. Once in Grindlewald, we would like to take a gondola, which one and to where would you suggest? Concerned if a day is enough time for this trek. Thanks!
Hi, in November, the gondola to Grindelwald-First will normally be closed (it’s a bit of an in-between season when summer hiking is finished and ski season hasn’t started yet). So if you want to visit this area, the best place to go in November is Jungfraujoch. It’s open the whole year. You can find more information about it in this guide – Jungfraujoch, top of Europe.
There is an organized tour that visits Jungfraujoch from Zurich in a day, so yes, it’s possible (just start very early because it gets dark early in November too!).
@Jurga, thank you so much for your response! We are discovering the challenge of travelling in shoulder season! I appreciate your response but Jungfraujich might be too long a day for us. Another alternative we thought might be visiting mount Titlis on gondola via Lucerne/Engelberg. Would that be similar mountain experience you’d recommend? (We do prefer to travel on our own as we find tour groups too structured).
Hi, you can visit Jungfraujoch on your own, but indeed, it’s a long trip. Mt Titlis would be shorter and likely somewhat easier (and definitely cheaper). You can find all the info in this guide – how to visit Mt Titlis. And here you can find the comparison between Titlis and Jungfraujoch.
If the weather is nice, Titlis is definitely beautiful and the area is stunning. But also there, not everything (likely nothing) at the lower stations will be open in November. So I’m not sure how much more you could do apart from visiting Mt Titlis itself. Maybe you can walk to Trübsee Lake too (just 5-10min from the gondola), but it’s possible that it will be frozen/covered in snow already. It all depends on the weather.
You could also do a combination of Mt Titlis in the morning and then spend a few hours in Lucerne in the afternoon or so. Here you can find some suggestions for what to see in Lucerne. It’s a very nice city and there are some nice indoor activities too if the weather isn’t great.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga.
I will be travelling to grindelwald on 16th October departing on 18th October.
Should I buy the J
Hi Prissy, I’m afraid your comment is not complete so I don’t really know what your question was.
Since you’re traveling in October, be sure to check what the current dates are for the gondola to First. It usually stops for the season at around that time of the year.
Hi Jurga,
I will be visiting Switzerland in early of November. But I read that the cable car to Grindelwald-First only operating until 23th October. May I know how do I get to First? Or is there any thing else to do in Grindelwald? Or better I go to lauterbrennen? (By the way, i will only stay for 3 nights in Switzerland)
Thanks!
Hi, if you only have 3 days in Switzerland and are visiting in November when most places in the mountains can’t be accessed, I think I’d go to Jungfraujoch. You could start in Grindelwald, visit Jungfraujoch, then Wengen, and then end in Lauterbrunnen. If you start early in the morning, it should be doable even with shorter daylight hours.
An alternative could be visiting Mt Titlis near Lucerne.
And otherwise, just focus on the cities.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga,
Aww, it is a pity cause i couldn’t visit those places, thank you so much for the suggestions, it is very helpful!
Hi Jurga,
I would like to seek your advice on whether I should make Interlaken or Grindlewald my base if I have 2 -3 nights to spare. We are planning to travel in early Dec. My girlfriend and I don’t ski. We just want to soak in the scenery, walk around, shop at small quaint shops, chill have coffee, nice dinner, maybe a bit of spa etc. Also is Wengren worth visiting. Appreciate your views on this. Thanks.
Hi Vivien, even if you don’t ski, I think I’d opt for Grindelwald vs Interlaken, based on what you described you are looking for. And once you are in Grindelwald, you can easily visit Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, and Jungfraujoch, etc.
And yes, we love Wengen, so I always say it’s worth it. On the other hand, it’s a tiny town with just one main street, a few restaurants and shops, etc. So just going there for the town itself, it’s quite an expedition. But you could rent sleds and take them from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen, then have lunch there, and then take a gondola to Männlichen and maybe a sled back to Grindelwald (or back by train via Kleine Scheidegg). There are so many ways to enjoy the area even if you are not skiing. On the other hand, you have to keep in mind that early December might be a bit too early for snow at lower elevations. Grindelwald and Wengen aren’t that high, so it’s possible you won’t have enough snow to sled yet, and some gondolas might not be running yet either. You can always visit Jungfraujoch though.
You may want to take a look at this article we have as well – the Jungfrau region in winter. It has a section about Wengen in winter.
PS If you are looking for a nice hotel with a spa in Grindelwald, we just booked this one for one of our upcoming trips. It looks pretty good location-wise too.
Good luck with the planning!
@Jurga,
Thanks very much for all the advice. It is very helpful for my planning.
Hi Jurga thanks for such a detailed itinerary and your experience. My wife and I are planning on doing the first adventure package and doing all four excursions. Do you have an idea of how much time it would require to take the cable car up and do all four activities? We weren’t sure if it would take the whole day or if we would have time to explore other parts of jungfrau. Thank you!
Hi Francis, it’s really hard to say as a lot depends on how early you start, how busy it is everywhere, how fast you hike, and whether you also do the Flower Trail or just hike to Bachalpsee and back. But – in general – any of the itineraries I suggested in the article require a full day (taking into account gondola times – they stop at around 4.30-5 pm if I recall well).
I just checked the time of the pictures of our last visit to Grindelwald. We got to the top at around 10 am. We went straight to First Glider and even though it didn’t look busy, I think we spent over an hour in line there (only 4 people can go at a time and it goes rather slow). By the time we went up to First Cliff, it was 11.30 am; noon by the time we left there. We then hiked to Bachalpsee and had a picnic lunch along the way (it takes even longer if you have to rely on the restaurant). From Bachalpsee, we hiked the Flower trail to Bort, and by then it was 4 pm. We then took the gondola down to Grindelwald and were in town at 4.20 pm.
So yes, it’s still quite a full day. If you would want to hike to Faulhorn as well, you’d have to start much earlier.
You can still do something in the evening, but by then, you’ll likely be too tired for even more sightseeing and will just want to take it easy, have a drink, do some shopping, etc. Also, you’d have to see what remains open/ accessible after 4-5 pm.
Hope this helps.
@Jurga, Thanks so much for the details!
So we are thinking of doing the Grindelwald First Adventure Package (Gondola -> First Flyer + First Glider -> Mountain Cart -> Trottbike). So we actually don’t plan on doing much of the hike. Do you have a sense of how much time you think it would take to do all five activities including the Gondola ride?
Hi Francis, depending on when you travel, there will likely be long queues at some of these attractions (mainly at First Glider and possibly at First Flyer too), so it’s impossible to estimate how long it will all take. Also, you should really go to the top and – as a minimum – visit the First Cliff walk and see the views from there.
All in all, I think 4 hours is about the minimum time you’ll need for all of this. Maybe even longer in the busiest summer months and definitely if it’s a nice sunny weekend. It’s really impossible to estimate in advance. As already said, we spent more than an hour waiting in a rather short line for the First Glider.
Is it possible for children who are just under the 135cm height requirement (125 and 130 cm) to ride with a parent on the mountain carts?
Hi Russ, I really don’t think it’s possible – mountain carts are meant for just one person and so the driver has to be able to steer/ brake when needed and that’s probably why they have this height requirement.
You can always just ask when you are there, it’s not like you can book it in advance either way.
Have a great time in Grindelwald!
Hi, we’re looking to do exactly this next year, but would love to capture photos of us on the glider etc. Is this something they can do for you?
Hi Georgina, three was no such service when we visited. I went on the Glider with the kids and my husband didn’t feel like going with strangers (you go per group of 4), so he took pictures.
You could always ask someone else, but it’s not straightforward unless it’s someone traveling with you and willing to wait next to it. You’d also need quite some zoom if you want pictures of yourself during the actual flight.
But – pictures aside- it’s an amazing experience. No pictures do it justice, so don’t let that stop you from experiencing something special just because you can’t take pictures of it.
Hi Jurga,
Wondering if we are allowed to take our mobile (of course with strip to secure from falling off) for photo / video purposes?
Hi Jerelyn, I am not sure what you are referring to. If it’s for First Glider, it would be difficult to take pictures with a phone since you’ll have to use your hands to hold yourself. I think you could use something like a GoPro if it’s safely attached and you can switch it on before you leave. In any case, you’ll always have to check with the staff once you get there.
Hi Jurga,
Hope you and your family is doing good at these tough times.
I just wanted your opinion/advise about where to base myself in Grindelwald/Jungfrau region, apart from Interlaken, like someplace more nearer to these 3 places. Just to mention that I won’t be driving around & will travel to these places using public trains/buses. I am planning for minimum 3 nights stay to cover each one of them.
1. Schynige Platte
2. Grindelwald First
3. Jungrafu top.
Thanks!!
Hi Pratip, for visiting these three places you’d best stay in Grindelwald. There are plenty of hotels/ accommodations in town.
From Grindelwald, you can take a gondola to Grindelwald-First and a train to Kleine Scheidegg where you have to change trains to Jungfraujoch. For Schynige Platte, you’ll have to take a train to Wilderswil where you have to change the train to Schynige Platte.
If you stay in the Jungfrau Region for 3 days or longer, make sure to get the Jungfrau Travel Pass (it’s often cheaper via the GetYourGuide website). It includes all the gondolas and trains, gives you a discount in the Top of Europe shops in the region, and saves you a lot of money. The only thing it doesn’t include is a ticket from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch, but you can get it with a big discount if you have this travel pass.
If you stay in the region longer, make sure to also check out Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, and Mürren. We normally always stay in Wengen. It’s also a very good base for exploring the region, but for the places you are planning to visit, Grindelwald will be easier and will require less travel time every day.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!