Grindelwald
Resort Overview
Michael Fulton
50+ resortsMelbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
Skiing for 15 years and visited resorts in:
🇦🇺 Australia (6) • 🇺🇸 USA (15) • 🇯🇵 Japan (5) • 🇪🇺 Europe (10)
Grindelwald serves as the primary access point to the Jungfrau Ski Region, offering 102 kilometres of marked trails across 108 runs from a base elevation of 796 metres to a summit of 2,500 metres. The resort divides into two distinct sectors: Grindelwald-First with 56 kilometres of terrain accessed via a 6-seater gondola, and the larger Grindelwald-Wengen sector with 103 kilometres spanning Kleine Scheidegg and Männlichen. The tricable Eiger Express gondola, opened in December 2020, delivers skiers from Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher in 15 minutes, cutting 47 minutes from the journey to Jungfraujoch. The 2025-26 season runs from 15 November to 26 April, with day tickets priced at CHF 79.
The terrain breakdown favours progression, with 32 per cent beginner runs, 55 per cent intermediate, 10 per cent advanced and 3 per cent expert. Long cruising reds dominate Kleine Scheidegg, whilst the tree-lined slopes of Männlichen offer more challenge. Grindelwald-First delivers sunny intermediate terrain and hosts the White Elements Snowpark with a 130-metre halfpipe. The Lauberhorn downhill course, the longest in World Cup racing at 4.48 kilometres, opens to the public from late January following the mid-January race weekend. The Bodmi Arena provides dedicated beginner terrain with surface lifts, whilst high-altitude runs from Oberjoch stretch 7 to 8 kilometres back to the village through forest and meadow.
Grindelwald village sits at 1,034 metres beneath the Eiger North Face, maintaining traditional chalet architecture alongside modern facilities. The car-free resort relies on efficient bus and train connections, with trains departing Interlaken Ost every 30 minutes. On-mountain restaurants cluster at Kleine Scheidegg, Männlichen and the First summit, whilst the village offers supermarkets, sports shops and equipment rental. Saturday lift tickets include free skiing for up to three children aged 6 to 15 when an adult purchases a full-price day pass. Peak crowds appear during Christmas, February half-term and the Lauberhorn race weekend in mid-January.
The Jungfrau Ski Region pass covers Grindelwald-First, Grindelwald-Wengen and Mürren-Schilthorn, totalling over 200 kilometres of terrain accessed by trains, cable cars and chairlifts. The CHF 949 AlpsPass adds Adelboden-Lenk, Aletsch Arena and Engelberg-Titlis. Grindelwald suits confident intermediates seeking long cruisers, families wanting varied progression terrain, and advanced skiers chasing off-piste below the Eiger. Limited expert piste terrain makes this better for volume than vertical challenge, though the extended season and reliable mid-station snowmaking counter the south-facing exposure of Grindelwald-First.
Live Grindelwald Webcams
Video Review: Grindelwald
Trails & Terrain
Trails
Total Runs
108
Total Area
102km
63.4 miles
Grindelwald Lift System
The Jungfrau Ski Region deploys 28 lifts across the Grindelwald sectors, comprising 1 aerial tram, 6 quad chairs, 3 six-pack chairs, 2 gondolas, 10 surface lifts, 3 T-bars and 3 cogwheel trains. The Eiger Express tricable gondola forms the centrepiece, carrying 2,200 passengers per hour in 44 cabins of 26 seats each across 6.5 kilometres with only 7 support towers. The parallel 10-passenger gondola to Männlichen completes the V-Cableway configuration at Grindelwald Terminal, both installations opened as part of a CHF 470 million infrastructure project. The Wengernalp Railway and Grindelwald-First gondola provide the historic access routes, with the 6-seater First gondola climbing 1,100 vertical metres in 25 minutes via intermediate stations at Bort and Schreckfeld.
The Eigernordwand six-pack chair serves the north-facing terrain holding late-season snow, whilst the Lauberhorn quad accesses the World Cup race start at 2,473 metres. Männlichen connects to Wengen via a separate 10-minute cable car, creating a triangular network across the ski area. The Wengernalp Railway links Grindelwald Grund to Kleine Scheidegg in 35 minutes, with trains departing every 30 minutes and continuing to Wengen. At Grindelwald-First, the Oberjoch quad and Bärgelegg surface lift serve the main intermediate bowls, with the Schreckfeld mid-station offering downloads during poor weather or tired legs.
Grindelwald Terminal integrates the Bernese Oberland Railway platform with 1,032 parking spaces, 8 retail shops, dining options and heated ski lockers. Trains from Interlaken Ost reach the terminal in 29 minutes, with direct connections to the Eiger Express and Männlichen gondola. The Jungfrau Railway departs Eigergletscher for the 25-minute climb to Jungfraujoch at 3,454 metres, completing the 45-minute journey from Grindelwald Terminal. Kleine Scheidegg functions as the central hub where the Wengernalp Railway from Grindelwald meets the line from Wengen and the Jungfrau Railway, with multiple chairlifts radiating to surrounding peaks.
The 2020 V-Cableway project replaced the 1978 Männlichen gondola and eliminated the bottleneck at Kleine Scheidegg, cutting journey times from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch from 2 hours 17 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes. Wind-resistant tricable technology keeps the Eiger Express running in conditions that would close conventional lifts. Uphill capacity increased substantially, though weekend queues still form at Grindelwald Terminal during peak season. The integrated ticketing system allows seamless transfers between lifts and trains, with real-time status updates available via the Jungfrau app showing wait times and operating status across all installations.
Lifts
Total Lifts
28
Lift Types
7
Lift Breakdown
Season Info
The 2025-26 Jungfrau Ski Region season operates from 15 November 2025 to 26 April 2026, with individual sectors maintaining slightly different schedules. Kleine Scheidegg runs 15 November to 27 April, Männlichen operates 13 December to 6 April, Grindelwald-First opens 20 December to 6 April, and Mürren-Schilthorn extends 22 November to 26 April. Early season relies on weekend operations depending on snowfall, with full daily service typically commencing in mid-December. The Eiger Express faces maintenance closure from 20 to 24 April 2026. Late November opening represents optimistic scheduling, as natural snowfall rarely provides adequate coverage before December.
Groundelwald receives 13.4 metres of snowfall annually, though the south-facing First sector suffers in warm periods despite snowmaking down to Bort at 1,570 metres. The north-facing Eigergletscher slopes retain coverage better, with reliable conditions above 2,000 metres from December through April. Kleine Scheidegg and Männlichen sit between 1,600 and 2,300 metres, delivering consistent mid-winter conditions but requiring caution in early December and late April. The data shows current base depth at 122 centimetres, with 66 centimetres falling in the past week and 368 centimetres season total as of May 2026. Spring skiing excels on shaded Eigergletscher runs, whilst First becomes slushy by midday in March and April.
January and February deliver peak powder, with January temperatures cold enough to preserve snow quality on all aspects. March offers longer days and settling snowpack ideal for off-piste exploration, though freeze-thaw cycles demand early starts. Christmas week and February half-term bring maximum crowds and peak pricing at CHF 89 per day versus CHF 79 regular rate. Saturdays offer free skiing for up to three children per adult, making weekends busier than midweek. Quieter periods span early December, mid-January outside race week, and late March when university schedules create gaps. Late April delivers spring corn snow on north aspects whilst south-facing terrain closes progressively.
The International Lauberhorn Races dominate the calendar, held 16 to 18 January 2026 with Super-G Friday, downhill Saturday and slalom Sunday. The 4.48-kilometre downhill course, the longest in World Cup racing, closes for preparation from early January and reopens to the public from 19 January. The annual event attracts 30,000 spectators and transforms Wengen into a festival atmosphere, with accommodation requiring booking months ahead. Grindelwald hosts the Season-End Party at First in late April with a treasure hunt across the slopes. Night skiing operates at Bodmi Arena on selected evenings, with illuminated slopes and extended lift hours advertised via the resort website and local signage.
Season Info
Current Season
2025 - 2026
Opening Day
11/15/2025
Closing Day
4/26/2026
Days Open
163
Location & Getting There
Grindelwald occupies the Lütschental valley in the Bernese Oberland at 1,034 metres elevation, positioned between the Wetterhorn massif and the Eiger North Face 13 kilometres south of Interlaken. The village of 3,800 residents spreads along the valley floor with the dramatic north walls of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau rising 3,000 vertical metres to the south. Grindelwald Terminal sits 2 kilometres from the village centre, connected by frequent buses and a 5-minute train ride. The UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch designation covers the surrounding glacial landscape, with the resort functioning as the eastern gateway to this protected zone whilst Wengen and Mürren occupy the western valley accessed via Lauterbrunnen.
Interlaken lies 20 kilometres north at the junction of Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, serving as the transport hub for the Bernese Oberland with connections to Bern, Zurich and Geneva. The region centres on the Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald valleys, car-free villages perched on terraces above deep glacial troughs. Grindelwald retains road access unlike Wengen and Mürren, supporting a larger permanent population and visitor infrastructure. The village developed as a mountaineering base in the 19th century, with the 1893 Wengernalp Railway establishing winter sports tourism. Traditional chalets predominate in the Dorfstrasse area, whilst modern hotels cluster near Grindelwald Terminal and the First gondola base station 600 metres from the centre.
Road access from Interlaken follows Route 6 through Wilderswil, turning south at Gündlischwand for the winding 15-kilometre climb to Grindelwald taking 30 to 40 minutes. Winter conditions demand snow tyres or chains, with black ice risk on shaded corners. Parking at Grindelwald Terminal costs CHF 12 to 15 daily in the 1,032-space garage, with village parking charging similar rates. From Bern, the 80-kilometre drive via Interlaken takes 90 minutes on the A6 and A8 motorways. Zurich sits 140 kilometres northeast requiring 2 hours via the A1 and A8, whilst Geneva lies 220 kilometres west involving 3 hours on the A1 and A6. The Brünig Pass route from Lucerne remains open year-round, whilst Grimsel and Susten passes close November to May.
Zurich Airport, Switzerland's largest hub at 140 kilometres distance, connects via hourly trains requiring one change at Bern or Interlaken, taking 2 hours 30 minutes total. Geneva Airport lies 220 kilometres west with trains via Bern requiring 3 hours 30 minutes. Bern Airport at 70 kilometres provides the closest option for private aviation, connected by train in 1 hour 45 minutes via Interlaken Ost. Direct trains from Interlaken Ost depart every 30 minutes on the Bernese Oberland Railway, arriving at Grindelwald Terminal in 29 minutes or Grindelwald village in 35 minutes. The Swiss Travel Pass covers trains to Grindelwald with discounted mountain transport, whilst the Jungfrau Travel Pass includes 3 to 8 consecutive days of unlimited regional transport including lifts.