The hills are alive in Grindelwald, a picturesque mountain village in the Bernese Alps, home to wooden chalets at the foot of Mount Eiger and distant snow-capped peaks and glaciers. Hikers, skiers and climbers flock here year-round for Grindelwald’s heart-racing alpine pursuits and glorious scenery.

Things to do

Ride the train to Jungfraujoch on the world’s highest altitude railway set at 3,454 metres above sea level. Swoon over the Aletsch Glacier as you traverse through the peaks of Mönch and Jungfrau. Stand “on top of Europe” at the Sphinx Observatory and enjoy views as far as France.

Take the gondola from Grindelwald to First summit and follow the First Cliff Walk, a narrow and winding platform that hugs the sheer cliffs thousands of metres above the pastures below. From the observation deck, you can marvel at the glimmering slopes of Eiger and soaring peaks of Wetterhorn.

Fly through the fresh Alpine air at 80 kilometres per hour on the First Flyer, a zip-line stretching 800 metres between the peaks of First and Schreckfeld. For more mountain thrills, hire a mountain cart and whizz down the hillside or ski 160 kilometres of groomed runs.

When the pastures turn green, pick from an array hiking trails. Experience the iconic north face up close by following the five-kilometre-long Eiger Trail or witness the beautiful Lake Bachalpsee on a six-kilometre-long round hike. On a sunny day, hikers are rewarded with a perfect reflection of Schreckhorn, Wetterhorn and Finsteraarhorn in the lake.

Getting around

Grindelwald is a two-hour drive from Zurich Airport. There is limited car parking in the village, making the three-hour train an ideal option. Regular buses and trains run between Grindelwald and the nearby towns of Interlaken, Kleine Scheidegg and Wengernalpbahn.