Switzerland, Europe
Grindelwald
102km terrain, iconic Eiger views, Lauberhorn downhill course. Grindelwald skiing in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland.
Season 2025 - 2026
Opens
15 Nov 2025
Closes
26 Apr 2026
Days open
162
Annual snow
13m
The Overview
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
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.
1604m
Vertical
108
Runs
102 km
Piste
13m
Annual snow
Watch
See Grindelwald in motion
The Terrain
108 runs across 102 km of piste
Grindelwald spreads 108 runs across 102 km of piste of terrain. It leans intermediate at 55%, with 35 beginner runs to find your feet and 14 advanced or expert runs when you want to push.
Terrain split
108
runs
108 runs across 4 grades
Beginner35 runs · 32%
Intermediate59 runs · 55%
Advanced11 runs · 10%
Expert3 runs · 3%
Time it right
When to visit Grindelwald
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 2025 - 2026
15 Nov 2025
Opens
26 Apr 2026
Closes
162
Days open
13 m
Annual snow
Getting there
Getting to Grindelwald, and where to stay
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.
Where to stay
Search all stays →Hotels and lodges near Grindelwald, powered by Stay22.
Latest News
From the SnowStash desk
Maverick Mountain's Only Chairlift Destroyed as Sand Creek Fire Tears Through Montana Ski Area
Firefighters saved every base building at Maverick Mountain, Montana, but the resort's sole chairlift didn't survive the Sand Creek Fire. Owners Erik and Kristi Borge say the lift is "most likely" out for the 2026/27 season after flames tore through the mountain on August 8. The wildfire has since grown past 27,700 acres with zero percent containment. It's a gutting result for the tiny, one-lift operation near Dillon - though the lodge, groomers and equipment all made it through untouched.
15 Aug 2026
Spain Moves to Ban Smoking at Ski Resorts Under New Tobacco Law
Spain's government has approved a draft tobacco law that would ban smoking across a wide range of outdoor spaces, including sports venues - a category Spanish winter sports media expect to cover ski resorts, potentially extending to slopes and lifts themselves. The rules would also apply to e-cigarettes and vaping devices, even nicotine-free ones. The bill still has to clear the Spanish parliament before any ban, signage, or fines can take effect.
22 July 2026
South Tyrol Approves New 16-Person Ciampinoi Gondola in Val Gardena
South Tyrol has approved a full rebuild of the Ciampinoi cable car in Selva di Val Gardena, replacing the current 12-person gondola with a 16-person cabin and a new mountain-station restaurant. Capacity is capped at 3,200 people an hour rather than the 3,600 the operator wanted, and 250,000 euros must go toward compensatory measures. No construction or opening date has been set, though the upgrade is partly aimed at clearing bottlenecks before the 2031 Alpine Ski World Championships.
22 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Hoshino Tomamu - Corporate Japan's Mountain Playground Revisited
Hoshino Tomamu is the ski resort equivalent of a conference hotel that happens to have excellent powder. Built for corporate retreats and package tourists, it offers genuine Hokkaido snow on surprisingly limited terrain - 29 runs spread across 585 vertical metres.
21 July 2026
La Thuile's New Cable Car Replaces Two Ageing Chairlifts
La Thuile is spending 38.7 million US dollars on a new 10-person cable car linking Les Suches to Chaz Dura, replacing the La Combe and Chaz Dura chairlifts after nearly forty years of service. Built by Leitner, the new cable car runs 1,950 metres to a top station at 2,576 metres, carrying up to 3,000 people an hour with a six-minute ride. It also improves the connection to La Rosiere in France via the Petit-Saint-Bernard Pass, and is on track to open for the 2026/27 season.
21 July 2026
The Remarkables Adds Scarpa Bowl to Its Inbounds Terrain
The Remarkables is adding new inbounds terrain for winter, bringing the Scarpa Bowl - known locally as the Toilet Bowl - into its lift-accessed network after years as backcountry-only ground. The roughly 500 metre run is reached by bootpacking from the top of the Sugar Bowl chairlift, with a shuttle picking skiers up from the road at the bottom. It's a smaller, faster addition than the resort's planned Doolans expansion, though the new terrain hasn't opened yet due to a lack of snow this season.
21 July 2026
Ski Portillo Cut Off After Storm Dumps More Than 4.5 Metres of Snow
Ski Portillo remains isolated after an extended storm buried the Chilean resort under more than 4.5 metres of snow, with both ground and air access suspended since Tuesday while crews monitor avalanche hazards and worsening weather. Resort officials say further snowfall is expected in the coming days and haven't set a timeline for reopening the mountain road. Once access resumes, the scale of the snowpack could set up a strong season at one of the Southern Hemisphere's most historic ski resorts.
21 July 2026
Resort Spotlight: Lotte Arai - Japan's Corporate Ski Anomaly With 22 Metres of Annual Snowfall
Lotte Arai receives 22 metres of annual snowfall - exceptional even by Japanese standards - but its corporate ownership model and limited terrain create an unusual cost-benefit equation. Here's what the numbers actually mean on the ground.
19 July 2026
Live webcams
9 live angles across the mountain. Tap any camera to go full-screen.
About Grindelwald's live webcams
Check live conditions across Grindelwald with 9 real-time webcams showing snow, weather, and lift operations, updated every 10 minutes. Check high-elevation cams for powder visibility and base-area cams for crowd levels before you head up.
Camera guide
- Eiger Gletscher2300m
- Experience breathtaking alpine vistas through this spectacular Grindelwald webcam positioned at the iconic Eiger Glacier station at 2,300 meters elevation. This Grindelwald live cam captures sweeping panoramic views across the entire Jungfrau ski region, showcasing the dramatic north face of the Eiger alongside pristine glacier terrain. Perfect for monitoring snow conditions and visibility across multiple ski zones, this essential Grindelwald web cam provides real-time updates from the heart of Switzerland's most famous alpine playground, accessible via the revolutionary Eiger Express gondola.
- Grindelwald-First Live Cam1970m
- Monitor current skiing conditions at Grindelwald-First through this strategically positioned webcam at 2,970 meters elevation, offering commanding views from one of the resort's most popular summit destinations. This Grindelwald live cam reveals snow quality and weather conditions across the extensive First ski area, including the famous First Cliff Walk and mountain coaster attractions. Essential for planning your alpine adventure, this Grindelwald webcam showcases the diverse terrain that makes this Swiss destination perfect for both skiing enthusiasts and sightseers exploring the UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau region.
- Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe - Live Cam3697m
- The highest train station in all of Europe and the top of Grindelwald
- Männlichen Live Cam2343m
- Experience spectacular 360-degree mountain panoramas through this Grindelwald webcam positioned at the summit of Männlichen at 2,343 meters elevation. This commanding Grindelwald live cam offers sweeping views across the Lauberhorn downhill course and the interconnected Wengen-Grindelwald ski network. Ideal for monitoring snow conditions across multiple valleys, this strategic Grindelwald webcam captures the essence of Swiss alpine skiing with dramatic views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau triumvirate that defines this legendary mountain destination.
- Kleine Scheidegg Live Cam2343m
- Track conditions at the historic Kleine Scheidegg pass through this essential Grindelwald webcam positioned at the legendary start of the Lauberhorn downhill course at 2,343 meters elevation. This iconic Grindelwald live cam monitors the world's longest downhill ski race venue while providing crucial visibility updates across the interconnected Wengen-Grindelwald ski network. Perfect for racing enthusiasts and powder hunters alike, this Grindelwald web cam captures the challenging terrain and spectacular alpine backdrop that has made this location synonymous with world-class skiing heritage.
- Harderklum Interlaken Live Cam1321m
- Discover breathtaking lake and mountain vistas through this unique Grindelwald webcam positioned at Harder Kulm at 1,321 meters elevation, offering panoramic views over Interlaken and the surrounding Bernese Oberland. This distinctive Grindelwald live cam captures the dramatic transition from lakeside valleys to high alpine peaks, providing essential weather monitoring for the broader Jungfrau region. Perfect for assessing regional conditions before ascending to the ski areas, this Grindelwald webcam showcases the spectacular geography that makes this Swiss destination a year-round alpine paradise.
- Schynige Platte Live Cam1967m
- Monitor alpine weather patterns through this scenic Grindelwald webcam positioned at Schynige Platte at 1,967 meters elevation, offering sweeping views across the mountain ridge that separates Grindelwald from the Interlaken valley. This strategic Grindelwald live cam provides essential visibility updates across the entire Jungfrau region while capturing the pristine alpine meadows and vintage railway charm of this historic mountain station. Ideal for assessing regional weather systems, this Grindelwald web cam reveals the dramatic topography that defines Switzerland's most famous alpine landscape.
- Grindelwald Terminal Live Cam937m
- Plan your mountain adventure through this essential Grindelwald webcam positioned at the village terminal station at 937 meters elevation, showing the departure point for the revolutionary Eiger Express gondola. This crucial Grindelwald live cam monitors base area activity, parking conditions, and weather at the start of your journey to the high alpine ski terrain. Perfect for timing your arrival and assessing crowd levels, this Grindelwald webcam captures the bustling activity where modern transportation meets traditional Swiss mountain culture in this UNESCO World Heritage valley.
- Jungfraujoch Snowplay Live Cam3483m
- Experience Europe's highest winter playground through this spectacular Grindelwald webcam positioned at the Jungfraujoch snow fun area at 3,483 meters elevation. This unique Grindelwald live cam captures visitors enjoying glacier activities, snow sports, and the famous Ice Palace while surrounded by pristine alpine scenery. Essential for monitoring high-altitude weather conditions and glacier visibility, this remarkable Grindelwald web cam showcases the year-round snow activities available at the "Top of Europe," accessible via the historic Jungfrau railway from the heart of the Grindelwald ski region.
Grindelwald snow cams FAQ
How often do Grindelwald snow cams update?
All Grindelwald snow cams and webcams update every 10 minutes with fresh images showing current mountain conditions. This frequent update schedule ensures you have access to near real-time conditions for planning your ski day at Grindelwald.
Which Grindelwald webcam shows the best powder conditions?
The high-elevation Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe - Live Cam webcam at 3,697m provides the clearest view of powder conditions and snowfall. These Grindelwald webcams capture fresh snow accumulation and visibility better than base area cameras.
Can I see Grindelwald lift queues on the webcams?
Yes. Multiple Grindelwald snow cams specifically show lift queue areas and chairlift operations, helping you time your arrival and avoid peak queue periods.
When is the best time to check Grindelwald snow cams?
Check Grindelwald webcams early morning (7-8am) for overnight snowfall assessment, and mid-afternoon for current crowd levels and weather. The live cams are most useful after storm events to assess fresh powder.
How can I check current conditions before buying Grindelwald lift tickets?
Use our Grindelwald webcams alongside the live snow report to assess conditions before purchasing lift tickets. The webcams show real-time visibility, snow quality, and operational status.
Do Grindelwald webcams work on mobile devices?
Yes. All Grindelwald snow cams and webcams are optimized for mobile viewing, so you can check live conditions from anywhere using your phone or tablet.
More Grindelwald intelligence: snow report, lift tickets, trail map, resort overview.