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Major city · Switzerland

Grindelwald

Stay 3 nights: two full days for First and Kleine Scheidegg, one for the village and Pfingstegg. Skip it as a day trip from Interlaken.

Weather
see forecast
Currency
CHF
Best months
Jun–Sep for hiking; mid-Dec–mid-Apr for skiing
avoid Late Mar–Apr (scratchy snow, closed trails), Nov (lifts and many hotels shut)
Airports
ZRH · BSL · GVA
Nights
3
Not field-verifiedbasic guide
Print / PDF guide
3 pages, for the metro and roaming-off days
Map
Google Maps Apple Maps Street View
Rules in force · 7Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window…
  • Europe ↗Non-EU visitors get 90 days in any rolling 180-day window, counted across all 29 Schengen states together — not per country; the Entry/Exit System now logs each crossing, so an overstay is detected automatically.
  • Europe ↗On the first Schengen entry since EES began, non-EU travellers give four fingerprints and a face photo at the border instead of a passport stamp; there is nothing to apply for or pay in advance.
  • Central Europe ↗Six of the nine countries here — Austria, Switzerland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia — charge a time-based motorway vignette, mostly digital and linked to the number plate; buy it before the first motorway past the border, because cameras, not toll booths, do the checking.
  • Central Europe ↗Temporary police checks at internal Schengen borders are common in this region in 2026 (Germany, Austria, Poland, Slovenia among others — check): keep your passport on you on every cross-border train, bus and road even though there is no fixed control post.
  • Switzerland ↗Switzerland is in the Schengen area but not the EU: check entry rules, the EU Entry/Exit System and any travel authorisation requirement for your passport on official sources.
  • Switzerland ↗Switzerland is outside the EU customs area: allowances on meat, alcohol and tobacco are strict and checked at borders.
  • Switzerland ↗Motorways need a vignette (sticker or e-vignette) before you drive on them.

Grindelwald is a working Alpine village at 1,034 m on the north slope of its own valley, 30 min by train from Interlaken Ost. Two cable-car systems leave from opposite ends of the village: First to the north-side trails, and Grindelwald Terminal for Männlichen and the Eiger Express to Jungfraujoch. Three nights covers the classic hikes and one high summit without rushing; two nights works if you pick one mountain.

Essentials

Quick answers and what things cost

Quick answers

The questions people ask first about Grindelwald, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.

Cost cheat-sheet

2026 desk estimate · check

Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.

  • CoffeeCoffee or a pastry in the villageCHF 4–8
  • Beerdraught in a bar / can at the Co-opCHF 6–9CHF 2–3
  • SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekCHF 20–40
  • Museum or sight ticketHeimatmuseum entryCHF 7 adult, CHF 2 child
  • Budget bedCampsite pitch, two adults and tent, a night, per roomCHF 20
  • Mid-range bedHotel double room, a night, per roomCHF 200
  • High-end bedHotel double room, a night, per roomCHF 320

A day, not counting the bed: Budget CHF 90 · Mid CHF 150 · High CHF 240

Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →

Decide

What it is known for, and when the weather works

At a glance

What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.

The Eiger north faceFirst and BachalpseeKleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch accessGrosse Scheidegg passWinter skiing on the Grindelwald–Wengen lifts
Airports
ZRH Zurich (Train to Interlaken Ost via Bern, then BOB to Grindelwald; about 3 h 30 min total) · BSL Basel-Mulhouse (Longer rail route via Bern; check connections) · GVA Geneva (Rail via Bern and Interlaken; about 4 h 30 min)

Weather and climate

Forecast from Open-Meteo · averages rounded

Grindelwald: next 7 days

Loading forecast…

Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.

Air quality

Loading…

Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.

Jan

1°C

−6°C

10 rd

Feb

2°C

−6°C

9 rd

Mar

6°C

−3°C

11 rd

Apr

10°C

0°C

12 rd

May

15°C

4°C

14 rd

Jun

18°C

7°C

14 rd

Jul

20°C

9°C

13 rd

Aug

20°C

9°C

13 rd

Sep

16°C

6°C

11 rd

Oct

12°C

3°C

10 rd

Nov

6°C

−2°C

11 rd

Dec

2°C

−5°C

11 rd

High / low °C · rd = rain days

Arrive & move

Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in

Getting around

The village is walkable end to end in about 20 min along Dorfstrasse. Grindelwald Bus runs several seasonal routes from the main station; buses 121 and 123 link the station, Terminal and Grund. The BOB train stops at Grindelwald Terminal then the main station, 5 min apart. The WAB train to Kleine Scheidegg leaves the main station and takes 40 min. First gondola and Pfingstegg cable car cover the north side.

See & do

Day-trips, door to door

Day-trips

Door-to-door, not ride time

Kleine Scheidegg

go

Door to door: About 45 min

WAB train from Grindelwald main station, 40 min

Views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau; hiking hub in summer, ski link in winter.

Lauterbrunnen

go

Door to door: About 45 min

BOB to Zweilütschinen, change for Lauterbrunnen

Staubbach and Trümmelbach falls; a half-day or a full one with the valley walk.

Wengen

go

Door to door: 1 h 15 min–1 h 45 min

WAB over Kleine Scheidegg, or BOB and change at Lauterbrunnen

Car-free village above the Lauterbrunnen valley; the ridge walk from Männlichen is the reason to come.

Mürren

go

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

BOB to Lauterbrunnen, cable car to Grütschalp, train to Mürren

Cliff-top village facing the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau; separate lift pass from Grindelwald.

Interlaken

caution

Door to door: About 35 min

BOB train from Grindelwald main station

Useful for connections and lake boats, not worth a day of a short mountain trip.

Meiringen

caution

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

Seasonal bus over Grosse Scheidegg

Summer only; the pass road is closed to private cars.

Thun

skip

Door to door: About 1 h 30 min

BOB to Interlaken Ost, then train

A town day that eats a mountain day; save it for a rainy forecast.

Kandersteg

overnight

Door to door: About 2 h 30 min

Rail via Interlaken Ost and Spiez

Oeschinensee deserves its own base, not a return trip from Grindelwald.

Eat & sleep

Which area to sleep in

Where to sleep

Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.

Dorfstrasse (village centre)

Between the main station and the First gondola; shops, restaurants and both churches on foot.

Grindelwald Terminal / Grund

South slope and valley floor; 5 min before the main station on the BOB. Best for Männlichen, Eiger Express and Grund trailheads.

Terrassenweg and Kirchbühl

Above the village on the north slope; quieter, ski-in/ski-out in winter, buses 122 and 124.

Obere Gletscherstrasse

East end near the First gondola and the Heimatmuseum; buses 121–124.

Practical

What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card

Cost per day

2026 estimate, excluding the bed unless stated
Budget
CHF 90–140 excl. bed
Mid
CHF 140–220 excl. bed
High
CHF 220+ excl. bed

Trip budget

2026 estimate · converts to your currency
Hotel double room1 × 3 nights × CHF 200CHF 600
Food, local transport, entries2 × 3 days × CHF 150CHF 900
Grindelwald–Wengen day lift pass, adult2 × CHF 69CHF 138
Jungfraujoch add-on above Eigergletscher, return2 × CHF 49CHF 98
Terminal car park, 5–24 h1 × CHF 12CHF 12
eSIM, about a week of data2 × CHF 25CHF 50
Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurgeCHF 180
Trip total≈ CHF 330 per person per day, bed includedCHF 1,978≈ US$2,500

2026 estimate in Swiss francs; travel to Grindelwald and lift passes excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.

Prices of common things

Coffee or a pastry in the villageCHF 4–8
Plate of rösti or a bowl of soupCHF 18–28
Pizza in a village pizzeriaCHF 18–26
Beer: draught in a bar / can at the Co-opCHF 6–9 / CHF 2–3
Co-op supermarket picnic for twoCHF 20–30
Heimatmuseum entryCHF 7 adult, CHF 2 child
Tandem paragliding flightabout CHF 200, lift to launch not included
eSIM or data SIM, about a weekCHF 20–40

2026 estimate; check locally.

Watch out

Safety

Very safe for a mountain village. The real risks are altitude and weather: trails above 2,000 (≈ US$2,500) m turn cold and foggy fast, and the Schwarzhorn ridge is exposed. Tell your hotel your route and carry a charged phone.
  • Cars are allowed but parking is tight: the Terminal car park has about 1,000 (≈ US$1,300) spaces and pre-booking is advised in ski season and on Jungfraujoch days.
  • The Grosse Scheidegg road to Meiringen is closed to public traffic; use the seasonal bus.
  • No lift pass is valid above Eigergletscher on the Jungfraujoch train: buy the add-on.
  • Mountain restaurants open only in season; check before you set out.
  • Mobile signal is good in the valley but patchy on the mountains.

Emergency numbers

Police
117
Ambulance
144
Fire
118
Rega air rescue
1414
European emergency
112

Pocket card

One page · print or save as PDF

Fill in, then print or save as PDF

Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.

GrindelwaldGrindelwald

Pocket card · Voykit

My bed tonight

—

—

—

Bitte zu dieser AdresseTo this address, please

Emergency

  • Police117
  • Ambulance144
  • Fire118
  • Rega air rescue1414

Embassy

No embassies in the village; most are in Bern, with consulates-general in Zurich and Geneva. US citizens: the embassy is in Bern.

My embassy: —

Fare anchors (2026 estimate)

  • Interlaken Ost → Grindelwald, BOB: about 35 min; Swiss Travel Pass valid, Eurail gives a discount only
  • Grindelwald → Kleine Scheidegg, WAB: about 40 min; Swiss Travel Pass holders pay half
  • Grindelwald Terminal → Männlichen, gondola: about 20 min
  • Terminal car park, 5–24 h: CHF 12

Say or show

  • Grüezi — Hello (GRUE-tsi)
  • Merci vielmal — Thank you (MER-si FEEL-mal)
  • Exgüsi — Excuse me (ex-GUE-si)
  • Was kostet das? — How much is it? (vas KOS-tet das)
  • Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? — Can I pay by card? (kan ikh mit KAR-te TSA-len)
  • Wo ist die Toilette? — Where is the toilet? (vo ist dee toy-LET-te)

Swiss German is spoken here; standard German and English work in hotels, lifts and restaurants.

Deep dive

What this guide covers so far, and its sources

Not a trip line yet

This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Grindelwald. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.

What we know, and what is coming

On this page

  1. Best months: Jun–Sep for hiking; mid-Dec–mid-Apr for skiing · avoid Late Mar–Apr (scratchy snow, closed trails), Nov (lifts and many hotels shut) · month by month →
  2. 3 airports and 4 areas to sleep in
  3. Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
  4. Cost per day in 3 bands
  5. 8 day-trips, door to door
  6. 5 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers

Coming as the guide grows

  1. Airport-to-bed contract for ZRH and GVA: last BOB departures from Interlaken Ost, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
  2. Four walking clusters with rescue anchors: main station and Dorfstrasse, Terminal and Grund, First and Bort, Terrassenweg and Kirchbühl.
  3. Place pages with verified cutoffs (First, Männlichen, Kleine Scheidegg, Pfingstegg, Heimatmuseum) and eat pages with last orders.
  4. Seasonal fixtures for lift closures, Grosse Scheidegg bus dates and Jungfraujoch add-on pricing.

Meanwhile

Back to Switzerland

Sources