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Hi,
I will be travelling from Grindelwald to First Mountain. Just want to confirm that the route should be from Grindelwald BGF to First (Grindelwald) via the cable car ride. With the half fare travel card, is the cost of the round trip CHF30?
Once we reach First, is the cliff walk free or do we have to pay extra for that?
We are also planning to head to Bachlapsee Lake. I have checked that it is within walking distance (about 45-50mins) but we are also looking to try the First Flyer. How much is one ticket for the First Flyer? Would it be a good idea to take the First Flyer after the cliff walk, then walk to Bachalpsee lake?
Thank you!
Regards, Shikin
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Hi Shikin – we did this trip as a family last week with our Half Card passes. The round trip up and down would be 30chf with the pass.The journey up to First is actually in 3 stages (you can get out at each stage if you want ) and you stay in your cable car as it very cleverly changes direction up to the top: http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwaldfirst/gettingthere. From Grindelwald you go to Bort and then onto Shreckfeld and then finally reach First. It takes about 25 minutes and the views with the Eiger behind and Schwarzhorn ahead are amazing. Returning you have various options. The First Flyer (zip wire) goes from First down to Shreckfeld. The new First Glider whizzes you backwards in a harness from Shreckfeld up to First and back again. Both cost 29chf/22chf ages 6-15. From Shreckfeld you can travel by mountain kart down the mountain track to Bort where you can swap the kart for a Trotti bike and scoot back downhill into Grindelwald on twisty but quiet roads. Both cost 19chf (15chf 6-15) So you may not want to buy a return cable car ticket at the start in case you want to come down by different means? There are various deals including the Fun Package which is the cable car to the top, the Flyer and then the karts and trotti bikes back into Grindelwald. This saves you about 3chf compared to paying separately. We had heard that there can be long queues for the flyer so waited til we got up there before making a decision. So it was 15chf with the Half Pass from Grindelwald to First.
At the top, First has a lodge, restaurant and toilets. We walked to Bachalpsee (about an hour and mainly up hill to start, quite muddy in places but it follows a wide gravel path and would be fairly impossible to get lost) There are toilets at the lake but nothing else so take a snack. It was also very cold when we visited – gloves and hats required!
The cliff walk back at First is free. I would suggest doing the Bachalpsee hike and then the Flyer otherwise the Flyer ends in Shreckfeld and you would then have to get back up to First ( a few chf on one leg of the cable car – or you can walk back up about 30 mins) Our “kids” did the First Glider and loved it. You go up and then down for the same price although the zip wire seemed a little faster watching from the ground! However the highlight for all of us were the Go Karts – we are still laughing about it over a week later – it turned out to be one of the most fun things we did during the whole holiday. We liked the Trotti bikes too but the Go Karts were just brilliant. It was a great family day out.
Mel
Hi Mel,
Thank you for providing such a detailed explanation. I am very excited about my trip to Switzerland and exploring the beautiful scenery and activities it offers 🙂
If we were to take the First Flyer down to Shreckfeld and then the mountain cart to Bort, what is the last cable car timing from Bort back to Grindelwald?
THANK YOU!!
Shikin
Hi Shikin – it runs 8.30am-5pm until October 1st and then 8.30am-4.30pm until October 22nd. I think the last one down from Bort at the moment is 17.46 but you would need to check.
http://www.myswissalps.com/grindelwaldfirst/gettingthere
Most of the cable cars in the area finish at 17-17.30. The trains carry on much later. We got the cable car up around 11am and had plenty of time to do the hike (we didn’t stay at Bachalpsee more than 15 mins as it was cold and overcast and we didn’t want to hike any further) and all the activities. It all depends on your weather. We had sunshine in Grindelwald and up to First but it was cloudy for the hike. Then sunshine again once we got back at First. It changes so quickly. The good thing about this day is that you don’t need perfect weather. I hope you enjoy the Karts – you feel a bit daft but once you are on the move they are surprisingly comfortable and quite fast. You go past some very docile cows (obviously used to tourists!) and the views of the surrounding mountains are wonderful.
I am sure you’ll have a great time. I’ve been trying to find time to post a trip report since getting back but have been too busy!
Mel
Salam Shikin!
I read your post and I’m keen to follow-up more abt your trip to Grindelwald if you don’t mind. We are going to Switzerland from 10-14 Dec and I’m hoping to include Grindelwald in our itinerary. Are you from Sg? 🙂
Hi Mel,
May I know if this picture is taken in Grindelwald? I found this clip on fb and took a screenshot of it. Is this the town area where we can do some shopping? And what time do you reckon that this pic was taken? Hope to get some ideas from you. Thank you!
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Hi Cloudcatcher – I’m no expert having only visited once! but that’s the main street I’d guess around Christmas time (judging by the decorations) Grindelwald is a linear layout with the commercial centre spread along a long main street so everything is within easy reach.
There is the usual range of shops from tourist souvenirs to outdoor clothing, equipment etc. There are supermarkets (a big Co-op & a smaller Migros) plus specialist food shops with local produce and lots of hotels, cafes and restaurants.
You can easily check it out on Google maps.Although the main train station is in the centre of town (for travel to Interlaken/Lauterbrunnen) the other station Grindelwald Grund (for Kleine Scheidegg) whilst close is lower in the valley down a very steep road. It is linked by the train and a bus but if you are considering accommodation be aware that some of the apartments and chalets “below” the main street down towards Grindelwald Grund might involve a steep climb back up along Endweg (the road which links the two) We walked up once and weren’t in a hurry to do it again! Grindelwald is a nice town to base yourself in. We had a car but didn’t need it for the 3 nights we were there.
Hi cloudcatcher,
yes I am from SG haha! If you’re planning a trip to Grindelwald in December, it would be best to check the opening hours for the diff mountains- Jungfrau, First, Eiger etc if you’re planning to visit them since it will be winter when you’re there and some rides may be closed.
Grindelwald is after all a really pretty pretty small village. Nothing much to shop for in Grindelwald except for souvenirs and do visit coop and migros for cheaper food alternative wherever you are in Switzerland.
Enjoy! Have a safe and great trip.
Regards,
shikin
Hello Shikin! Great to know that u’re from Sg hehe. You are right abt Grindelwald in winter. Actually Inwas just planing on taking part of the Golden Pass route which is the Lucern-Interlaken OS ride. So I’m just wondering what we can do when we get to Interlaken. Do something to make the 3h trip from Engelberg worthwhile. hehe.
By the way, do you you think we can exchange our contacts?
>> And what time do you reckon that this pic was taken?
As macca mentioned, it does look like it was taken at Christmas.
That lovely snow cover is not guaranteed at that time of the year though. I was there in 2011 and 2016 at Christmas time. In 2011 there was a substantial amount of snow, but last year there was none unfortunately.
Alpenrose
Hi cloudcatcher,
sure, maybe you can drop me an email at <removed>.
I can share my itinerary with you.
Regards,
shikin
Thank you Alpenrose and macca for the valuable info.
Shikin, i’m sorry but somehow your email add can’t be seen.
Hi Cloudcatcher and Shikon,
Our forum rules are that members should not share private data – it’s a matter of protecting people, as posting email addresses on any public internet page will attract spammers unfortunately.
The forum is here for people to share and discuss travel itineraries in any case. 🙂
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