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Your Ultimate Guide to Spending a Week in Grindelwald
- Silke
- Dec 19, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Jan 27
The ultimate week discovering breathtaking hikes, staying at a Swiss campsite, thrilling outdoor adventures, and charming local culture in the heart of the Jungfrau Region.
Switzerland is one of my favourite places to travel to. It has beautiful mountains, lakes and lots of places to hike. There is a special feeling to hiking up a Swiss mountain, standing on the top and looking at the view. Switzerland is also known to be an expensive country to visit. So this trip is as 'cheap' as it can be. But this does not make it less fun.
If you are not familiar with Grindelwald, it is an alpine village located in the Bernese Oberland region of Switzerland. Nestled beneath the iconic peaks of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau mountains, it is a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts and nature lovers. Known for its stunning landscapes, Grindelwald offers year-round activities such as skiing, snowboarding, hiking, and mountain biking. Travellers can explore attractions like the First Cliff Walk, the Grindelwald Glacier, and scenic train rides to Jungfraujoch, the "Top of Europe." Its charming Swiss chalets, vibrant alpine culture, and breathtaking views make Grindelwald an amazing travel destination.
How to get to Grindelwald
There are numerous train stations in Switzerland, including one in Grindelwald. Depending on your starting point, you might even be able to take a train directly from your home country to Switzerland. However, these tickets are typically not the cheapest option. For instance, as I am based in the Netherlands, I found that a train ticket would cost more than travelling by car, so I opted to drive instead. If you plan to drive in Switzerland, do note that your car must have a special vignette (a sticker or e-vignette) to access certain roads. The country’s roads are exceptionally well-maintained, and the scenic views along the way are truly breathtaking!
Where to stay in Grindelwald
Grindelwald offers a range of accommodation options, including hostels, hotels, Airbnbs, campsites, and guesthouses. However, I found that hotels, Airbnbs, and guesthouses were prohibitively expensive. In the end, I chose a lovely campsite called Camping Eigernordwand. This campsite costs 9 Swiss francs per night per adult (excluding taxes and electricity). We were two adults and did not require electricity, so our total for six nights came to 108 Swiss francs. The campsite is situated in a peaceful valley, offering a calm and cozy atmosphere. The facilities are clean, and there is ample space for everyone.
What activities should you do in Grindelwald?
There is simply too much to experience in Grindelwald to fit into one week! You can hike, paraglide, enjoy various outdoor activities, take scenic train rides to nearby towns, explore the lake, or spend a day in a city. We narrowed our plans to a few activities that we particularly enjoyed and would highly recommend. Before diving into the details, it’s important to note that many of these activities involve using gondolas, buses, or trains. To save money, we opted for a 3-day pass, which turned out to be significantly cheaper than buying individual tickets for each journey (although the passes themselves are still quite expensive). I suggest purchasing these passes online through the Jungfraujoch website or directly at one of the gondola stations. As shown on the map, these passes provide access to a large region. Currently, a 3-day pass costs 210 Swiss francs (approximately 225 euros).
Day 1: The top of Jungfraujoch
Depending on the weather, visiting the Jungfraujoch is an absolute must. Known as the "Top of Europe," it is the highest accessible point in Europe. Unfortunately, this trip is not included in the 3-day passes, but the pass does offer a discount. For 63 Swiss francs (approximately 67 euros), you can reach the top. At the top of the Jungfraujoch, you can enjoy activities such as sledging, hiking to a cozy restaurant, throwing snowballs, and exploring the fascinating ice palace. Most importantly, take the time to marvel at the breathtaking views from this extraordinary location.
Day 2: Going up Grindelwald First
Taking the gondola from the valley in Grindelwald brings you to First, a mountain offering a wide range of activities. Here, you can enjoy exciting options such as the First Flyer, the First Glider, mountain carts, or trottibikes. These are all quite expensive so we decided not to do Flyer or the Glider, but they looked like lots of fun! There are also numerous hiking trails to suit all levels of hikers. After about an hour’s walk, you’ll reach a stunning lake, which makes for an ideal spot to pause and enjoy a lunch break. We chose a scenic hike along the mountain ridge, which was truly beautiful. Initially, we planned to take the mountain carts back, but it was extremely crowded.
Tip: Instead of waiting, take the gondola one station down and try a trottibike instead. It was just as fun, more affordable, and there were no queues!
Day 3: Taking the 126-year-old Schynige Bahn (train) to Schynige Platte
This was probably my favourite experience of the week. While Schynige Platte is undeniably a beautiful mountain with breathtaking views, the journey to get there was the highlight for me. You ascend on a 126-year-old train, which at times sounds as though it’s moving backwards rather than forwards—but that’s all part of its charm! Sadly when I wanted to upload a picture, I realised I only made videos of our train trip. If you are interested, here ;). At the top, we explored the area by hiking, enjoyed a lovely lunch, and strolled through the enchanting alpine flower garden, featuring native plant species. And don’t forget to keep an eye out for the local wildlife—we even spotted a snake slithering by! As the trains were included in our travel pass, and it was the last day to use them we took a detour and went with the train past Lauterbrunnen & Kleine Schleidegg and then back to Grindelwald. I highly recommend doing this as the views are INSANE.
Day 4: Chill day
After three days of exploring various mountains, we felt the need for a more relaxed day. We took a short hike around the village, did some grocery shopping, read a book, and enjoyed some snacks. While I would usually aim to stay active every day, especially with just a week to explore, taking a break was much needed!
Tip: The most affordable and conveniently located supermarket is Landi Market. They also offer delicious fresh bread in the mornings!
Day 5: Visting the Glacier Canyon
On this day, we visited Glacier Canyon, where you can enjoy a one-kilometre walk through the dramatic landscape and learn about its fascinating history. Along the route, you’ll see a river fed by icy water cascading down from the mountains. At the start of the walk, there’s a unique iron ‘spiderweb’ structure suspended over the river. Walking across it, you can feel the immense power of the rushing water below—it’s an exhilarating experience! For thrill-seekers, there’s also an option to bungee jump from the top into the canyon. While we were there, we watched some people leap—it looked incredible! The entrance fee is 21 Swiss francs (around 22.50 euros). While I found this a bit pricey for a one-kilometre walk, I must admit the canyon’s unique natural beauty makes it a one-of-a-kind experience.
After this activity, we went out for dinner, as this was our only full day left. We went to a cosy place called Onkel Tom's Pizzeria und Weinlokal in Grindelwald. The food was amazing and the waiters were very kind. On our last evening, there was a beautiful sky, so a very good last evening and goodbye to Grindelwald.
As you plan your own week in Grindelwald, I hope this guide has inspired you to explore the beauty and adventure this stunning village has to offer. Whether you're chasing adrenaline or simply soaking in the views, Grindelwald is sure to leave you with unforgettable memories. Enjoy every moment of your Swiss adventure – it’s a place that truly has something special for everyone!
Thanks for reading!✮⋆˙
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