Grindelwald Travel Guide 2026: Skiing, Jungfraujoch & Stays

Grindelwald sits at around 1,034 metres in the Bernese Oberland, at the end of a valley that the Eiger, the Wetterhorn and the Mettenberg close off like a wall. It is a real village with a year-round population rather than a purpose-built resort, and it has two separate lift systems: First on the sunny side, and the Eiger Express and Männlichen gondolas at Grindelwald Terminal on the other. HomeToGo’s 2026 holiday travel report for the US put Grindelwald up 263% for Christmas, so book early. Prices, dates and fares below were checked on 29 October 2026.

When is the best time to visit Grindelwald?

December to March is for skiing and sledging; June to September is for hiking. Late October to November and late April to May are the quiet gaps, when lifts close for maintenance and some hotels shut.

MeteoSwiss has no climate station in Grindelwald itself, so the table uses its 1991-2020 normals for Interlaken (577 metres), the valley town 36 minutes away by train. Grindelwald is about 450 metres higher, so expect it to be a few degrees colder and much snowier.

Up at the top it is a different climate. The MeteoSwiss station at the Jungfraujoch, 3,571 metres, averages -11.7°C in December, with highs of -8.7°C and frost on every day of the month. Pack for that if you go up: our guides to thermal base layers, heated gloves, packable down jackets and winter boots cover what works.

How much does skiing in Grindelwald cost in 2026/27?

Grindelwald is part of the Jungfrau Ski Region: three ski areas and 211 km of pistes, sold on one pass. The Grindelwald-Wengen area (Kleine Scheidegg, Lauberhorn and Männlichen) is reached by the Eiger Express and the Männlichen gondola, Grindelwald-First is the freestyle and family mountain on the other side of the valley, and Mürren-Schilthorn sits across in the Lauterbrunnen valley.

• High season runs from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 and from 30 January to 28 February 2027, and high-season rates also apply to one-day and half-day passes on low-season weekends.
• Season start: passes are sold for 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027, but Jungfrau Railways says the opening date depends on snow and that it expects weekend-only or partial operation until the end of November.
• The train is included. The pass covers rail travel from Interlaken Ost, plus the First Flyer and First Glider rides.
• Children ski free on Saturdays: up to three children aged 6 to 15 get a free day pass when an adult buys a day or afternoon pass at the list price.
• Ski lockers at Grindelwald Terminal cost from CHF 12 a day, which saves carrying skis back to the village.

If the bill matters most, compare it with the resorts in our cheapest ski resorts in Europe guide, and read ski gear to buy before you rent before paying resort rental rates for everything.

Where should you stay in Grindelwald?

The village stretches for a couple of kilometres along one main road, and the two lift systems sit at opposite ends. Pick the end that matches your days.

Rooms are scarce at peak dates. A Booking.com search on 29 October 2026 for a mid-January weekend showed only 36 properties still available in Grindelwald, with two-night totals for two adults from around €350 at a budget lodge to well over €850 at mid-range hotels and apartments. Christmas, New Year and February cost more and sell out first. Compare Grindelwald hotel prices for your dates before you settle on an end of the village.

How do you get to Grindelwald and around it?

Every route runs through Interlaken Ost, where the Bernese Oberland Railway takes over for the climb up the valley.

Switzerland is not in the EU, but it is a Schengen associated state, so the Schengen 90/180-day rule applies, and the EU Entry/Exit System is in use at Schengen external borders. Pay in Swiss francs; cards work almost everywhere.

What should you not miss in Grindelwald in winter?

• The Jungfraujoch on a ski or sledging pass: with a Jungfrau ski pass or Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass of three days or more, the Top Ticket takes you to the Jungfraujoch for CHF 63, from 1 December 2026 to 30 April 2027. The Ice Palace is not open to visitors in ski boots.
• Seat reservations for the Jungfraujoch cost CHF 10; Jungfrau Railways strongly recommends one in good weather.
• Events: Grindelwald Tourism lists the World Snow Festival of snow sculptures from 18 to 24 January 2027 and the Velogemel World Championship, a race on the local wooden snow bike, on 7 February 2027.

Which sledging runs are best in Grindelwald?

Jungfrau Railways counts more than 50 km of sledging runs across the region, and Grindelwald has the best of them.

• Jungfrau Eiger Run by Night: 3.5 km from Alpiglen to Brandegg on a floodlit run, with up to a 36% gradient. The evening ticket costs CHF 29 for adults and CHF 19 for children or ski-pass holders, daily from 28 December 2026 to 2 January 2027 and on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 January to 13 March 2027. The sledge is extra.
• Big Pintenfritz: one of the longest toboggan runs in Europe. You walk about two and a half hours from First via the Bachalpsee to the Faulhorn, then sledge down to Bussalp, or to Lochsteinen in good snow, and ride the bus back. The day ticket is CHF 55 for adults and CHF 29 for children or Half Fare Card holders.
• First to Schreckfeld to Bort: a steep run alongside the ski piste, around 20 minutes.
• Rita’s Speedway: a fast 15-minute run from Männlichen down to Holenstein.

Sledges and the local Velogemel can be hired at Intersport Rent shops in Grindelwald, on Männlichen and on First.

What can go wrong in Grindelwald?

• Early-season gaps. Until the end of November the lifts may run only on weekends, and the opening date depends on snow. Do not book a ski week for late November without a plan B.
• Weather at the top. The Jungfraujoch and the high runs can be in cloud while the village is sunny; check the webcams at jungfrau.ch before paying for the trip up.
• Altitude. At 3,454 metres some people get headaches or feel short of breath. Go up slowly, drink water and come back down if you feel unwell.
• Peak-date crowds. Christmas, New Year and February are high season on the lifts, and rooms run out first then.
• Sledging is not a gentle ride. The Eiger Run reaches a 36% gradient, and Jungfrau Railways says difficulty varies with snow and weather. Wear a helmet and ski goggles.
• The cost creep. Passes, rentals and mountain lunches add up fast; buy passes online, bring what you can and use the supermarkets in the village.

How many days do you need in Grindelwald?

Three days covers a non-ski trip: the Jungfraujoch, First with the Cliff Walk and a sledging run, and the Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg walk. A ski holiday needs five to seven days to cover Grindelwald-First, Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen and a day in Mürren on the same pass. For the rest of the country, read our Switzerland travel guide; for a second Alpine base, see Zermatt, and for wider ski planning the ski travel guide.

Sources

Ski pass prices, season dates, sledging runs and fares come from Jungfrau Railways, including its online price calculator for a January 2027 date; climate figures are MeteoSwiss 1991-2020 normals for the Interlaken and Jungfraujoch stations; arrival details and events from Grindelwald Tourism; Swiss Travel Pass terms from Switzerland Tourism; train times from the Swiss public timetable. Hotel prices are from a Booking.com search. All were read on 29 October 2026; the full list is in the sources box on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get to Grindelwald from Zurich?

By train via Interlaken Ost. Swiss timetable data for a weekday in January 2027 shows Zurich main station to Grindelwald in about 2 hours 38 minutes with one or two changes, and the last leg on the Bernese Oberland Railway from Interlaken Ost takes about 36 minutes, with departures every half hour. Grindelwald Tourism puts Zurich Airport at about three hours, and Geneva Airport at about four.

How much is a Jungfrau ski pass in 2026/27?

Jungfrau Railways lists a one-day adult pass (20 and over) at CHF 79 in low season and CHF 83 in high season, which runs from 19 December 2026 to 3 January 2027 and from 30 January to 28 February 2027, plus low-season weekends. Six days cost CHF 404 to CHF 424. The pass covers Grindelwald-First, Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen, Wengen and Mürren, including the train from Interlaken Ost.

How much does the Jungfraujoch cost from Grindelwald in winter?

The Jungfrau Railways price calculator gave CHF 201.60 for a return from Grindelwald Terminal to the Jungfraujoch on a January 2027 date, CHF 151.20 with a Swiss Travel Pass and CHF 100.80 with a Half Fare Card. Skiers and sledgers with a Jungfrau ski pass or Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass of three days or more can buy the CHF 63 Top Ticket from 1 December 2026 to 30 April 2027.

Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover Grindelwald?

Yes for the valley train. Switzerland Tourism says the return journey by train to Grindelwald or Wengen is fully included in the Swiss Travel Pass, and the legs from Grindelwald or Wengen up to the Jungfraujoch get a 25% reduction. Ski passes and the sledging runs are not covered, so budget for those separately.

Is Grindelwald good for non-skiers in winter?

Yes. Jungfrau Railways counts more than 50 km of sledging runs and around 100 km of winter hiking trails in the region, sold on a Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass from CHF 61 a day. The highlights are the 3.5 km floodlit Jungfrau Eiger Run on Friday and Saturday evenings, the Big Pintenfritz from the Faulhorn, and the First Cliff Walk at 2,166 metres.

How many days do you need in Grindelwald?

Plan three days for a non-ski winter trip: one for the Jungfraujoch, one for First and the sledging runs, and one for Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg. For a ski holiday, five to seven days lets you cover Grindelwald-First, Kleine Scheidegg-Männlichen and a day in Mürren, all on one Jungfrau ski pass.

Start planning your Grindelwald trip

Flying in from elsewhere? Zurich is the main gateway, and the train does the rest. Lock in a room first: the best-placed hotels near First and the Eiger Express go early for the ski season.

Find cheap flights to Zurich | Compare Grindelwald hotel prices

Planning the wider trip? See our Switzerland travel guide, the Zurich guide, the Zermatt guide and the hotels hub.