Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland: travel, sightseeing and accommodation guide 

How to travel to Grindelwald by train

I advise using the excellent public transport to Grindelwald rather than driving. You can reach the village by train from Interlaken Ost in about half an hour.

Note that the train from Interlaken Ost also heads for Lauterbrunnen. It's split into two separate sections at the rail station of Zweilütschinen. Information boards on the train and at the platforms clearly indicate where you have to be seated to reach Grindelwald: mostly sector B of the train and platform.

The 3 train stations of Grindelwald

Grindelwald has 3 train stations. You can find each in the timetable.

1. "Grindelwald". This is the main station in the village, where shops, hotels and holiday homes can be found. It's the final destination of the train from Interlaken. From the station, you can reach the valley stations of First and Pfingstegg on foot or by bus. Buses to Bussalp, Grosse Scheidegg, the Rosenlaui Valley and Meiringen depart here too.
2. "Grindelwald Terminal". This is west of the town center, and it's the stop before the train reaches the village. The gondolas to Männlichen and the Eiger Express to Eigergletscher/Jungfraujoch depart here.
3. "Grindelwald Grund". This station is situated lower than Grindelwald and it's not in the town center. It's one of the stops on the cogwheel train route from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg/Jungfraujoch.

How to reach Grindelwald by car, and where to park

It's best to park your car at the railway station of Interlaken Ost or Matten, and continue your journey to Grindelwald by train.

Grindelwald itself can be reached by car. The rest of the valley is car-free though. There are several smaller parking options in the village, and a large one near the railway station "Grindelwald Terminal".

How to reach Grindelwald from the airports

You'll probably fly in to Zurich Airport or Geneva Airport. Some flights land at the EuroAirport near Basel too. From the airports, you can continue your journey by public transport.

Train travel times to Grindelwald are:

• 2h55 from Zurich Airport
• 3h45 from Geneva Airport
• 3h10 from Basel EuroAirport

Getting by in Grindelwald: on foot and by bus

The village is stretched out from west to east. To give you an idea of distances: walking from the main train station in the west to the Pfingstegg cable car valley station on the eastern edge of town takes 15 to 20 minutes.

Grindelwald isn't that big, but it is hilly. Many hotels and chalets are on the slight slopes above or a bit below the main street that runs from west to east. If you have accommodation in the outskirts, you may need to count on some light descending or ascending.

There's a good bus network throughout the town, so if you'd rather not walk, simply hop on one of the buses that frequently operate from and to the train station.

Discounts on local trips with the Grindelwald Guest Card

The hotels provide a free Guest Card when you check in. It provides various discounts on local attractions and cableways.

Rail passes for your stay in Grindelwald

If you own a rail pass, you'll usually get a better discount than the Guest Card offers. I advise looking into these passes if you stay in Grindelwald:

• The Berner Oberland Pass is a great choice if you plan to explore not only the immediate surroundings of Grindelwald, but other parts of the Bernese Oberland too.
• The Jungfrau Travel Pass is suitable if you'll be making trips in the Jungfrau Region only.
• The Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card are usually best if your itinerary includes several regions of Switzerland.

Use our free tools to check which pass is best for your plans.

The best months to visit Grindelwald are early January to early March and early May to late October.

Grindelwald in spring, summer and fall

Due to its altitude of over 1000 meters, snow in the surrounding mountains can occur in early spring (April) and late fall (November-December). During these months, mountain trails can be too muddy to properly hike. This is low season for some cable cars too.

That's why Grindelwald can best be visited from May to October. Nature is prettiest during these months, and most attractions are available. High-altitude hiking can best be done in July, August and early September.

Grindelwald in winter

Grindelwald is a great destination for winter holidays. Its altitude at 1034 m means that snow is likely in winter, especially in the mountains near the village. January and February are the best winter months.

Grindelwald is a charming and bustling resort during this season. But: it can feel touristy and crowdy, especially during the Christmas season and Swiss school holidays.

3 things you shouldn't miss when staying in Grindelwald

If you can't see and do it all, here's what I think you shouldn't miss:

1. The Jungfraujoch is very easy to reach from Grindelwald. If you prefer a budget variant without the Jungfraujoch, make this scenic round trip: Grindelwald-Kleine Scheidegg-Wengen-Lauterbrunnen-Zweilütschinen-Grindelwald.
2. Visit at least one other mountain: Männlichen, First or Pfingstegg.
3. Do at least one high-altitude hike. Walking to the Bachsee is a good option, or hike from First to Schynige Platte if you're up for a challenge.

Bad weather activities

Grindelwald is in the mountains, and that's where the weather can change quickly, for the better or the worse. These are good excursions if it rains in Grindelwald:

• The Glacier Gorge just outside of Grindelwald
• The indoor sports center
• The Wellness & Spa in the Sunstar Hotel
• Shopping in Interlaken
• Great for kids: Heimwehfluh in Interlaken
• Great for kids: JungfrauPark Interlaken

Grindelwald summer activities

The main summer excursions in Grindelwald are hiking, mountain biking, and mountain visits.

Several mountains offer fun family activities, such as toboggan runs and zip lines. Examples are Grindelwald-First and Pfingstegg.

Grindelwald winter activities

If you're in Grindelwald during winter, you can enjoy lots of skiing, sledding, and other snow-fun options.

Four ski areas are within easy reach:

• Grindelwald-First
• Grindelwald-Wengen
• Mürren-Schilthorn
• Meiringen-Hasliberg

Together, they offer more than 265 km of pistes.

Apart from skiing, you can enjoy winter hiking, snowshoe hiking, curling and skating at the indoor ice rink. There are lots of sledding runs, including the longest one in the world: from Faulhorn (near First) to Bussalp and Grindelwald.

Each January, Grindelwald hosts the World Snow Festival. You can watch beautiful ice sculptures made by international artists.