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Season: early January to late October and early December to late December
Recommended season: early January to late October and early December to late December
Max. altitude: 2168 m (7113 ft)What is Grindelwald-First? 
The mountain First (to be pronounced as "Feerst") can be accessed by gondola from Grindelwald.
From the top, you’ll have beautiful views of the Bernese Alps. Most prominent are the Wetterhorn, the Schreckhorn, and the famous Eiger. You’ll also see Kleine Scheidegg on the other side of the Grindelwald Valley: a starting point for train rides to Jungfraujoch.
You can watch the mountain panorama from the restaurant, walk the spectacular Cliff Walk, fly down to mid-station Schreckfeld with the First Flyer or First Glider zip lines, and get back to the valley on mountain carts and Trotti bikes.
Incl. Cliff Walk
Grindelwald-First
Skip the ticket counter. Full ticket including First Cliff Walk.
Unlimited travel
Jungfrau Travel Pass
Unlimited train, bus, boat & many Jungfrau Region mountain railways.
Unlimited travel
Berner Oberland Pass
Unlimited train, boat, lifts & mountain railways across the Berner Oberland.
➤ About prices, gondola and activity tickets, and pre-booking
Grindelwald-First - price overview 2027
| View more prices and discounts | Price high season (May - October) | Price low season (other months) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| View ticket prices and discounts (swissrailways.com) | CHF 40 | CHF 38 | Return trip with a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, or Swiss Half Fare Card |
| View Berner Oberland Pass prices (swissrailways.com) | CHF 40 | CHF 38 | Return trip with a Berner Oberland Pass |
| View Jungfrau Travel Pass prices (swissrailways.com) | CHF 0 | CHF 0 | Return trip with a Jungfrau Travel Pass |
| View ticket prices and discounts (swissrailways.com) | CHF 80 | CHF 76 | Return trip with a normal ticket, full fare |
| More details | CHF 83 | CHF 81 | Adventure Package for unlimited gondola rides + 2 activities with a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex or Swiss Half Fare Card. Note: not all activities are available all year. |
| More details | CHF 113 | CHF 109 | Adventure Package for unlimited gondola rides + 2 activities, full fare. Note: not all activities are available all year. |
Tickets for the Grindelwald-First gondola
- In 2027, a standard return ticket costs CHF 80 in May-October, and CHF 76 in the other months.
- You'll get a 50% discount with a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, Swiss Half Fare Card, or Berner Oberland Pass, and free travel with the Jungfrau Travel Pass.
Find a detailed overview of rail pass discounts here.
How often can I use the gondolas with a normal return ticket?
A regular gondola ticket allows just 1 journey up and 1 journey down. You can get out at mid-stations Bort and Schreckfeld and resume your journey later, but you're not allowed to repeat stretches.
Only Adventure Packages allow unlimited gondola rides.
Tickets and Adventure Packages for the Grindelwald-First activities
Paying for activities separately
Access to the Cliff Walk is included in all gondola tickets. But for the other activities, you need additional tickets. This concerns the First Glider, the First Flyer, the mountain carts, and Trotti bikes.
You can pay for them separately, or buy an Adventure Package: see below.
Individual rides cost the following in 2027:
- First Flyer: CHF 35 for adults, CHF 26 for children (from 6 up to and including 15)
- First Glider: CHF 35 for adults, CHF 26 for children (from 6 up to and including 15)
- Mountain carts: CHF 25 for adults, CHF 19 for children (from 6 up to and including 15)
- Trotti bikes: CHF 25 for adults, CHF 19 for children (from 6 up to and including 15)
What exactly is an Adventure Package?
An Adventure Package includes unlimited access to the gondola Grindelwald-First for a full day, plus either 1 or 2 activities.
When can I buy Adventure Packages?
At the moment, Adventure Packages are only for sale at the gondola valley station in Grindelwald. If you have a Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) or Swiss Half Fare Card, show it to get a discount.
What does an Adventure Package cost?
The packages are discounted for holders of a Swiss Travel Pass, Swiss Travel Pass Flex, and Swiss Half Fare Card. The other rail passes don't provide discounts.
Prices for an Adventure Package with 1 activity in 2027:
- CHF 94 (May - October) / CHF 90 (other months) for adults
- CHF 62 (May - October) / CHF 60 (other months) for adults with a Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) or Swiss Half Fare Card
- CHF 47 (May - October) / CHF 45 (other months) for children (from 6 up to and including 15)
- CHF 26 (all year) for children (from 6 up to and including 15) with a Swiss Family Card, Junior Travelcard, or Co-Children's Travelcard
Prices for an Adventure Package with 2 activities in 2027:
- CHF 113 (May - October) / CHF 109 (other months) for adults
- CHF 83 (May - October) / CHF 81 (other months) for adults with a Swiss Travel Pass (Flex) or Swiss Half Fare Card
- CHF 63 (May - October) / CHF 61 (other months) for children (from 6 up to and including 15)
- CHF 52 (all year) for children (from 6 up to and including 15) with a Swiss Family Card, Junior Travelcard, or Co-Children's Travelcard
Where to buy your tickets
I advise buying your gondola tickets online, so that you don't have to spend time purchasing them before boarding the gondolas. Alternatively, you can get your tickets at the Grindelwald railway station or the cableway valley station.
When to buy your tickets
I recommend buying your tickets as soon as you've chosen a date for your excursion. First is a popular destination, and tickets for the adventure activities can get fully booked. This especially applies to days with beautiful weather in high-season months: June-September.
In low-season months such as April and mid- to late October, it's less important when you get your activity tickets.
How to board the gondolas with your ticket or pass
You'll have to pass electronic turnstiles before boarding the gondola. Scan your digital ticket from your phone, or your paper ticket, to open them. If you have a discounted ticket because of your rail pass, the personnel may want to check that rail pass as well.
Some rail passes, such as the Jungfrau Travel Pass, allow a free gondola ride. Scan your digital pass or printed pass in that case.
➤ Discounted First tickets with your rail pass
The passes below get you discounted or even free travel to First. In some cases, the adventure activities are discounted too.
| Pass | Discount |
|---|---|
| Berner Oberland Pass | Discount 50%:
Adventure activities: no discount |
| Day Pass | Discount 50%:
Adventure activities: no discount. |
| Interrail Global Pass | Discount 50%:
Adventure activities: no discount |
| Interrail Switzerland Pass | Discount 50%:
Adventure activities: no discount |
| Jungfrau Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass | Free:
Adventure activities: no discount |
| Jungfrau Travel Pass | Free:
Adventure activities: no discount |
| Swiss Half Fare Card | Discount 50%:
Adventure activities: discount varies |
| Swiss Travel Pass | Discount 50%:
Adventure activities: discount varies |
| Swiss Travel Pass Flex | Discount 50%:
Adventure activities: discount varies |
How to reach Grindelwald-First: directions and map
How to travel to First
You'll first have to get to the village of Grindelwald. My Grindelwald guide explains how.
The gondola valley station is a 10-minute slightly uphill walk from the railway station, along Grindelwald’s main shopping street. The route is indicated. Alternatively, you can use one of the frequent buses from the rail station. This ride takes only 3 minutes.
Then board the 6-seater gondolas. The ride to the top takes 25 minutes. You can also get on or off the gondolas at the mid-stations Bort and Schreckfeld, where several activities are available.
Operation dates, schedules and timetable
2027 operating dates for Grindelwald-First
The gondolas to First operate all year, except for a yearly maintenance break:
- from 26 October to 27 November 2026
- from 25 October to 26 November 2027
Here's when the adventure activities are available:
- First Flyer and First Glider: all year, with the exception of the gondola maintenance break mentioned above
- Mountain carts: 15 May - 31 October 2027
- Trotti bikes: 1 May - 26 October 2027
Note that the availability of adventure activities can be suspended in case of bad weather, and that the exact operation dates can vary with the weather circumstances too.
The gondola schedule
The gondolas operate continuously and usually start at 08:00. The last ride down is around 16:30 in winter, and 18:00 in summer.
Planning your mountain trip in the timetable
You can use the Grindelwald-First timetable (see the links below) or consult the general Swiss timetable. This is what the relevant destinations are called:
- "Grindelwald" for the main train station of Grindelwald
- "Grindelwald, Bahnhof" for the bus stop at the main station
- "Grindelwald, Firstbahn" for the bus stop closest to the gondola valley station
- "Grindelwald (Firstbahn)" for the gondola valley station
- "First (Grindelwald)" for the gondola top station
- "Bort (Firstbahn)" and "Schreckfeld (Firstbahn)" for the gondola mid-stations
Best season to visit Grindelwald-First
Grindelwald-First can be visited from early January to late October and early December to late December. I think each month is fine for a visit:
- Late December to February is the winter season, so it's likely that the mountains are snow-covered and that you get to enjoy winter hiking, sledding, and more. The gondolas can be crowded in the early morning, as that's when most skiers and snowboarders travel up.
- March is the end of the snow season. Depending on how many pistes are still open, it may or may not be busy in the morning. If not much winter sports activity is going on, this is a great month for a quiet visit.
- In April-May, spring will set in and you'll get to see amazing contrasts between green valleys and snowy mountain tops.
- June-October is when nearly all activities at Grindelwald-First are operational. Especially in June, July and August, things can get busy.
Incl. Cliff Walk
Grindelwald-First
Skip the ticket counter. Full ticket including First Cliff Walk.
Unlimited travel
Jungfrau Travel Pass
Unlimited train, bus, boat & many Jungfrau Region mountain railways.
Unlimited travel
Berner Oberland Pass
Unlimited train, boat, lifts & mountain railways across the Berner Oberland.
Weather info and forecasts for Grindelwald-First
Check weather forecasts before you leave to Grindelwald-First. If you get up for the views or for hiking, clear skies are best. Most adventure attractions can be done in clouds or light rain too, but they may shut down in case of bad weather.
If you want to hike, make sure you have sunglasses, solid shoes and other appropriate gear.
All about the adventure activities: Cliff Walk, First Glider, First Flyer, Trotti bikes, and more
Summary
- The Cliff Walk is an easy walk at the top and suitable for everyone.
- The First Flyer is a zip line with seats from the top down to Schreckfeld.
- The First Glider is a headfirst zipline. You enter at Schreckfeld, are pulled up, and fly back down.
- There are mountain carts between Schreckfeld and Bort.
- You can ride down from Bort to Grindelwald on a scooter (“Trotti bike”).
1. The Cliff Walk
What to expect
The Cliff Walk is a 20-minute roundabout walk from the summit station of First. Turn left after leaving the gondola building to get to the start.
The metal walkway is attached to steep rocks, so it’s a thrilling experience. A single-rope hanging bridge and spiraling catwalk are part of it too. On your way, you’ll have impressive views of the Eiger North face, the valley deep down, and the Bachläger waterfall.
The last part of the route is also accessible directly from the terrace of the mountain restaurant. It leads to a wonderful vantage point with a glass balustrade, from which you can overlook the valley of Grindelwald and the mountains.
Is it worth it?
The walk is included in your cable car ticket, so if it’s not too busy: yes, go for it! I love the route and the views, but only at reasonably quiet times. It’s not much fun if the narrow path is crowded.
I wouldn’t recommend this if you have a genuine fear of heights either. In that case, you can also admire the views from the comfort of the mountain restaurant.
The First Glider and First Flyer
The First Flyer is a zipline from First to mid-station Schreckfeld. It takes off a bit below the gondola station at the top. You’ll be seated in a solo seat. The staff makes sure you’re safely secured before you get released. You can reach impressive speeds, up to 84 km/h!
The First Glider is a 4-person zipline in which you can fly like a bird. You’re first pulled up from the station of Schreckfeld to First, and then you’re released for a headfirst-flight down.
My tips:
- The rides are fun, but short. Consider if you’re willing to wait pretty long for a quick ride, especially in high season.
- Enjoy the activities as early in the day as possible. Waiting times go up in the course of the day.
- Check which activities are suitable for your travel party. For some, a minimum height and/or maximum weight applies.
Activities at Bort and Schreckfeld
Bort and Schreckfeld are the two mid-stations on the gondola route between Grindelwald and First.
- Bort offers a guesthouse, restaurant and children’s playground. You can also rent kid-friendly scooters called “Trotti bikes” there (available from May to late October), with which you can have a fun ride down to Grindelwald. The scooter path is well-paved.
- Schreckfeld is your starting point for the mountain carts (available from mid-May until late October) and for the First Glider. The 3-km mountain cart path is an adventurous way to descend to mid-station Bort.
More summer and winter options at Grindelwald-First
In summer, the First area is great for scenic hikes. Many beautiful trails start directly from the summit of First. My personal favorites are:
- the relatively easy walk to the Bachalpsee;
- the challenging and famous panoramic trail to Schynige Platte;
- the gentle hike to Grosse Scheidegg.
You won’t get bored in winter either, even though not all activities are available:
- The Cliff Walk, First Flyer, and First Glider can be enjoyed in winter too.
- You can explore the area on one of the groomed winter hiking trails, such as the route from First via Waldspitz to Bort.
- You can enjoy one of the world’s longest sledding runs, on a 15-km downhill route from Faulhorn to Grindelwald.
- There are several skiing and snowboarding areas, for both beginners and professionals.
Duration of the excursion and nearby activities
How long an excursion to Grindelwald-First takes
Allow at least 2 to 3 hours for your visit to First. The gondola ride takes 25 minutes (one way), and you need some time at the summit to stroll around and enjoy the views. If you want to enjoy outdoor activities, you can easily spend half a day to a full day at First, Bort and Schreckfeld.
Which other excursions to do on the same day
If you don’t spend more than half a day at Grindelwald-First, you can add more activities. Here are my suggestions:
- Travel down to Grindelwald and take the train or bus to Grindelwald Terminal. There, you can board the gondolas to Eigergletscher (en route to Jungfraujoch) or to Männlichen for more beautiful views.
- Get down to Grindelwald after your visit to First, board the cogwheel train to Grindelwald Grund and to Kleine Scheidegg, and enjoy the views there. You may travel to Jungfraujoch or make a scenic round trip via Wengen and Lauterbrunnen in the adjacent valley.
- Get down to Grindelwald and visit Pfingstegg with its toboggan run.
- Hike to Grosse Scheidegg and enjoy the bus ride to Meiringen via Schwarzwaldalp, which takes you through the Rosenlaui Valley. Add side trips to the Rosenlaui Gorge, the Reichenbach Falls, or the Aare Gorge if your schedule allows.
➤ Where to buy Grindelwald-First tickets: reliable sellers
- www.jungfrau.ch: snow and winter activities at Grindelwald-First
Schedules
- www.jungfrau.ch: operation dates and hours of transport in the Jungfrau Region, including Grindelwald-First
- www.jungfrau.ch: operation dates for the Grindelwald-First adventure activities
Prices
- www.jungfrau.ch: Jungfrau Region prices for transportation, including Grindelwald-First
- www.jungfrau.ch: Grindelwald-First Adventure Packages
Hike First-Grosse Scheidegg
Hike First-Bachsee
Hike Grosse Scheidegg-Meiringen
Männlichen
Pfingstegg
Jungfraujoch
Grindelwald
