Grindelwald
Grindelwald spreads across a green bowl directly beneath the Eiger's infamous north face, which looms over the high street like a permanent weather report.
- Best forWalkers & hikers · Skiers & snowboarders · Families
- In May14°C · 20 rainy days
- Ideal stay4–5 nights
- Approx. flying time~11h 55m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyCHFSwiss franc
- LanguageGerman, French, Italian and Romansh
- Local time12:351h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / JBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+41
Why go
A village spread across a green bowl at just over a thousand metres, directly beneath the Eiger's north face, which fills the sky at the end of the high street. Glaciers hang above the valley, farms still work the steep slopes, and lifts run from the valley floor in three directions. It is the busiest of the Jungfrau region's bases and comfortably the best connected.
Winter brings skiing linked with Wengen and Mürren; summer brings a walking network that is hard to match anywhere in the Alps. The Eiger Express gondola has cut the journey towards the Jungfraujoch considerably. June gives wildflowers and working farms with thin crowds, while July and August are busy and expensive. Weather at altitude changes faster than any forecast admits.
- Ideal stay
- 4–5 nights
- The vibe
- Alpine, vertical, farm-scented
From our guides
It's busier than Wengen but earns it: the First cable car opens the cliff walk and the ludicrously pretty trail to Bachalpsee, where the Schreckhorn doubles itself in still water. Come in June for wildflowers and working farms, and use the swift Eiger Express to dodge the queues for the glacier trains.
Featured in Ten alpine villages that feel like a deep breath
Things to do
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First cliff walk
A metal walkway bolted to the rock face at the top of the First gondola, ending in a cantilevered platform over the drop.
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Bachalpsee
An hour's easy walk from First to a lake that mirrors the Schreckhorn and Wetterhorn on still mornings. Go before the wind rises.
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The Eiger north face
The 1,800-metre wall above the village, with an interpretation trail at Eigergletscher explaining the climbing routes and their grim history.
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Jungfraujoch
Europe's highest railway station at 3,454 metres, with an ice palace and a long view down the Aletsch Glacier.
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Glacier Canyon
A walkway through a narrow gorge cut by meltwater below the lower glacier, ten minutes from the village centre.
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Männlichen ridge walk
A nearly flat panoramic path to Kleine Scheidegg, about an hour, facing the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau the entire way.
Getting there
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Fly to
Zurich (ZRH)
Nearest airport to Grindelwald, about 100km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Grindelwald
About two hours by train from Bern (BRN) via Interlaken Ost, or a similar drive. From Zurich or Geneva allow around three hours by rail, changing at Bern and Interlaken.
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On the ground
Getting around
The village strings along one main street and is easily walked, with local buses to the outlying hamlets. The First gondola, the Eiger Express and the Pfingstegg lift all start in the village and open the high trails.
Public transport: Excellent: half-hourly trains from Interlaken, plus the mountain railways and cable cars. A regional pass covers most of it and pays for itself quickly.
Flights
Los Angeles Grindelwald, Switzerland
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Roughly 11h 55m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
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When to go
Daytime highs run from about 3°C in January to 22°C in July. Driest January to April; wettest in June, with rain on about 22 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
May14° · rain 20 daysCool and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Chalet hotels, family-run three-stars and holiday apartments, plus mountain inns up at First and Kleine Scheidegg. One or two large hotels, otherwise no chains.
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Best base overall
Grindelwald Dorf
The village centre, with the Eiger north face at the end of the street and the shops, station and most hotels around you. Busy, and priced for the view.
Find stays in Grindelwald Dorf -
Closest to the sights
Grund
The valley floor below the village, where the Eiger Express and the Mannlichen gondola start. Less charming, but you are first onto the mountain and last off it.
Find stays in Grund -
Best with children
Wengen
Car-free across the valley and reached by cog railway, with meadows instead of traffic and a gentler pace. Everything comes up by train, so travel light.
Find stays in Wengen -
Best value
Wilderswil
Down near Interlaken on the same line, with village guesthouses at a fraction of Grindelwald prices. You trade the Eiger from your balcony for a half-hour train ride.
Find stays in Wilderswil
Worth knowing before you book: Rates swing hard between seasons, and the valley empties in the shoulder weeks of May and November when many hotels and lifts simply close.
Search everything else in Grindelwald by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Getting there
- Swiss rail reaches the village from Interlaken Ost in about thirty-five minutes, connecting from Bern and Zurich. A car is unnecessary.
- Pack this
- Proper walking boots and a warm layer. Trails are stony, and the Jungfraujoch stays below freezing all year.
- Timing
- High trails are usually clear from late June to early October. Lift maintenance closes some sections in spring and late autumn.
- Book ahead
- The Jungfraujoch train uses timed tickets in high season, and morning slots go first because cloud builds later in the day.
- Cash or card
- Cards are accepted everywhere, though a few mountain huts remain cash only. A regional travel pass usually pays for itself.
Similar places
Peak 2 Peak Gondola
Whistler, CanadaAlso for skiers & snowboarders and families · 11°C in May (14°C here) · cheaper to stay
Ben A'an
Trossachs, ScotlandAlso for walkers & hikers and families · 13°C in May, as here · cheaper to stay
Kranjska Gora
SloveniaAlso for skiers & snowboarders and families · 12°C in May (14°C here) · cheaper to stay
Nearby destinations
Wengen
Switzerland · 9km away →
Jungfraujoch railway
Switzerland · 10km away →
Paragliding
Interlaken, Switzerland · 15km away →
Schilthorn
Switzerland · 17km away →
Oeschinensee
Switzerland · 28km away →
Furka Pass
Switzerland · 29km away →Elsewhere in Switzerland
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Grindelwald?
Daytime highs run from about 3°C in January to 22°C in July. Driest January to April; wettest in June, with rain on about 22 days.
How long should I spend in Grindelwald?
Our suggestion: 4–5 nights.
How do I get to Grindelwald?
About two hours by train from Bern (BRN) via Interlaken Ost, or a similar drive. From Zurich or Geneva allow around three hours by rail, changing at Bern and Interlaken.
Do I need a car in Grindelwald?
No. Excellent: half-hourly trains from Interlaken, plus the mountain railways and cable cars. A regional pass covers most of it and pays for itself quickly.
What currency and language are used in Grindelwald?
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF). Language: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Plugs: type C and J.
Who is Grindelwald best for?
Best for walkers & hikers, skiers & snowboarders and families. In a phrase: alpine, vertical, farm-scented.