Despite being the largest and one of the oldest resort towns in the Jungfrau region, Grindelwald retains a small-town feel in the high Alps. With its Swiss chalets and their neat geranium-filled window boxes, sloping pastures with grazing cows and craggy, white-capped mountains in all directions, the valley can look like living inside a postcard.
While the town itself is worth the visit on its own, it’s also an especially good base for exploring the region around it. From Grindelwald, you can easily access three skiing areas — Grindelwald-Wengen, Grindelwald-First and Mürren-Schilthorn. Grindelwald-First in particular also offers many other activities besides skiing for both cold and warm weather.
Hiking is practically the national pastime here. You can try everything from challenging hikes requiring equipment and multiple attempts, to an easy daytime walk along a flower-strewn lake. The immense face of the Eiger, one of the three peaks that form the Jungfrau, is the constant backdrop of the town.
Unlike many of the resorts in the Jungfrau region, you can reach Grindelwald by car. But getting around the area tends to involve tramways, gondolas and other less conventional means for reaching the many activities available in the Alps.
Whether snowy mountain adventures or wildflower-dotted hikes through green meadows, the area boasts an array of warm and cold weather outings for individuals and families — not just skiing.
When snow blankets the valley, you can try sledding — including on the so-called ‘longest sled run in the world’. If you’re up for pulling your sled behind you for two-and-a-half hours, you’ll be rewarded with a 15 km (9.3 mile) descent. There are plenty of other runs that are less epic but just as exciting, including a trail that’s illuminated by night, with a fondue restaurant at the bottom.
Winter hiking is also popular for the peaceful crunch of the snow underfoot and the monochrome mountain panoramas, and the surrounding glassy frozen lakes lined with green-black pines. On some trails, snowshoes can help make the best views more accessible.
In the warmer months, the hiking is also excellent, and the views from the heights still offer snow-covered mountains, but with the addition of deep-green hills, yellow, white and purple mountain flowers, and clear turquoise glacial lakes. You can also go mountain biking and trail running along the many well-kept trails.
If you take the gondola up to Grindelwald-First, you’ll find even more warm-weather adventure. The zip-line called First Flieger is joined by First Glider, a multi-person ride that lets you glide horizontally like Superman. Back on the ground, you can try sledding in July with a three-wheeled mountain cart.
In any weather, the Jungfraujoch, known as the Top of Europe, is a huge draw. The Jungfrau railway takes you all the way to a height of 3,454 m (11,332 ft), where you’ll find the sculptures of the Ice Palace, guided glacier treks and 360-degree views across the Alps from a rotating restaurant. Snow and ice are year-round at this elevation, and you can visit the Snow Fun Park to try winter sports even when it’s summertime down the mountain.
Best time to visit Grindelwald
This part of the Alps is pleasant to visit year-round, but the best weather is between June and October. The average temperature in July and August is around 64°F (20°C), and it rains very little during that time.
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