Forget about dark wizards and wands – the real Grindelwald is magic for altogether different reasons. The village looks up to the Lower Grindelwald Glacier, and is watched over by a wall of peaks, including the 4,000-metre-plus Mönch and the looming north face of the Eiger. Hikes range from Alpine epics like the Eiger Trail to family-friendly rambles and getting from A to B is easy, thanks to the gondolas and trains that wind their way up to improbable heights. Back in Grindelwald, sunny terraces are laid out for marvelling at the huge mountains that kicked off the 19th-Century golden age of alpinism.
First things first
A gondola connects Grindelwald to First, on the scenic Schwarzhorn mountain north of the village. Grab a bite to eat with views over peaks and glacier, dare to fly down the ziplines - four friends at a time can whizz down the First Flyer or fly like an eagle on the First Glider. Release the kids onto the Alpine playground or mountain kart tracks and if you've a good head for heights, take on the Cliff Walk. Keen hikers can set off for the mountain lake of Bachalpsee and on to the ridgetop Alpine gardens and mountain station of Schynige Platte before returning by cog-railway and train. Or, head towards the Grosse Scheidegg mountain pass - a great spot to enjoy sunset.
Jungfraujoch: visit the top of Europe
Grindelwald is the gateway to the Jungfraujoch – the seat between two of the highest mountains in the Bernese Alps. To get there, catch the Eiger Express mountain lift to the Eiger Gletscher station, which sits on the mountain ridge between Grindelwald and Wengen, then hop on a train to the highest train station in Europe. On arrival, you’ll be treated to panoramas of the vast Aletsch Glacier - the longest in Europe. It's easy to spend a few hours up here, admiring the views of the glacier from inside as well as out - take a walk through the Ice Palace for an inside look at this wonderful world of ice.
Interlaken and the lakes
The arrival of the railway transformed Grindelwald from a mountain climbing base to the Jungfrau region’s biggest ski resort. Catch the train down the valley to Interlaken, the adventure capital of Switzerland. From here, you can wander the half-timbered houses of the old town, jump aboard a glass-roofed boat for a cruise on the brilliant turquoise waters of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz or take the funicular up to Harder Kulm to admire the lakes from above. Paragliding is a favourite activity here too.
Mountain adventures for families
Grindelwald First is for high-adrenalin family fun, while the Pfingstegg area specialises in more laid-back mountain adventures – lazy zip lines that loop through the trees and a summer toboggan. There’s also lots of mountain biking trails around Grindelwald, plus canyoning routes, adventure playgrounds and an indoor rope park. Another lift goes up to Männlichen, where there’s a treetop walk and a playground themed around Lieselotte, the beloved storybook cow.
Why book a summer holiday in Grindelwald with Inghams?
At Inghams, we do walking holidays differently. With no fixed itinerary, you have more time in your destination and the freedom to walk as much or as little as you like, discovering some of the Jungfrau's best walking routes and activities at your own pace.
Plus, we've included two optional guided walks every week in Grindelwald. Join a professional walking guide and really get to know the area (see more details in the ‘walking’ tab below).
With over 85 years of outdoor travel experience, our holiday packages to Grindelwald include flights, transfers, and accommodation, so you can relax and leave the small details to us. Our experts can help you choose the best holiday for you, and our team in resort can give you the inside scoop on how to spend your time away with us.
