Grindelwald
102km terrain, iconic Eiger views, Lauberhorn downhill course. Grindelwald skiing in Switzerland's Bernese Oberland.
Season 2026 - 2027
Opens
21 Nov 2026
Closes
25 Apr 2027
Days open
155
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 2026 - 2027
21 Nov 2026
Opens
25 Apr 2027
Closes
155
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
FIS Weighs Holding World Championships in Almost Every Winter, Starting 2032
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation is looking at a major shake-up to its title events calendar. From 2032, World Championships could run not just in odd-numbered years but in every non-Olympic winter too, effectively putting a global title event on the calendar almost every season. The FIS Council has approved the concept following a feasibility study, though an accelerated rollout as early as 2028 is also under consideration.
4 Sept 2026
Mount Buller Becomes Latest Australian Resort to Call Time Early on 2026
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4 Sept 2026
Tremblant to Add New Timber Summit Ski Sector for 2027/28 Season
Tremblant has confirmed a major expansion of its Quebec ski area, with a new Timber Summit sector adding 62 acres of terrain, eight trails and a high-speed quad chairlift for winter 2027/28. It's part of a CAD 42.5 million investment that also includes a new beginner learning zone at Versant Soleil opening this coming season. The project has grown considerably since it was first announced back in 2020, when it carried a far smaller budget and an opening date that never eventuated.
2 Sept 2026
Mount Hotham to Close for the 2026 Season on Sunday, September 6
We knew when the Bird Bath Pond Skim showed up on Hotham's Instagram that the season was on its way out. It's been a rough one - I only managed two days on snow all year, at Falls Creek - and now Baw Baw, Selwyn and Hotham have all called it, possibly the worst Australian season I've seen in a decade. Hotham's last day of lift operations is Sunday, 6 September, with a Retro Day, Father's Day après and closing sales before the lifts stop turning for good.
1 Sept 2026
Thredbo to Replace Ageing Gunbarrel Quad With New Six-Seat Chairlift for 2028
Thredbo Alpine Resort has confirmed plans to replace its 37-year-old Gunbarrel quad chairlift with a new six-seat Doppelmayr D-Line, targeting winter 2028. The AUD 35 million project will keep travel time roughly the same but lift capacity from 2,800 to 3,000 skiers per hour. It's part of a broader investment push that also includes doubled snowmaking capacity at Friday Flat for 2027, with the ageing Kosciuszko Express now flagged as the resort's next major lift replacement after Gunbarrel.
31 Aug 2026
Aerial Tram Collides With Crane at Alpe d'Huez: 23 Injured
An aerial tram carrying around fifty passengers struck the boom of a construction crane on the route to Pic Blanc at Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three seriously. The cabin tipped on impact before the operator reversed it to right the car. Most of the injured were treated on site, with five taken to hospital in Grenoble, including a pregnant woman assessed as a precaution.
28 Aug 2026
Why Glaciers Are Collapsing - And What Happens When They Do
A deadly flood on the Nepal-China border, a decade-old tragedy on Italy's Marmolada, and an unstable glacier right now above a village near Zermatt - three very different mountain ranges, the same underlying story. Warming ice is destabilising terrain that was considered settled for generations, and the results range from catastrophic floods to slow-motion monitoring situations that could go either way.
27 Aug 2026
Pitztal Glacier Set to Reopen for the 2026/27 Ski Season on 26 September
Tyrol's highest ski area is gearing up to open a full month ahead of most of the Alps. The Pitztal Glacier is scheduled to start its 2026/27 season on Saturday 26 September, running through to 2 May 2027, with the lower-altitude Rifflsee area following in December. High-altitude terrain up to 3,440 metres gives the glacier a head start on snow, though as always, the actual opening extent will depend on how September's weather plays out. Early online ski pass bookings can save up to 30%.
26 Aug 2026
Grindelwald Snow Report
Snow Report
Updated 7 Sept 2026
2400m
summit
+0cm
new snow · last 24 hours
Partly Cloudy14°C / 25°C · E 7km/h
Snowfall
24 hours
0cm
48 hours
0cm
7 days
0cm
Base depth
0cm
Season total
0cm
Total lifts28
Live open status isn’t available right now.
21 Nov 2026 - 25 Apr 2027
Hour by Hour
Next 36 hours· Updated Sep 7, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Scroll for the full outlook · Open-Meteo
7-Day Outlook
2,400 mUpdated Sep 7, 2026 at 6:02 AMOpen-Meteo
Days 1–7
0.0cm
Days 8–14
0.0cm
Mon, Sept 7
Slight Rain
Temp25° / 14°°C
Snow0.0cm(13%)
Wind7 km/h E
Live snow from the resort feed; forecast from Open-Meteo, via Supabase.
Understanding the Grindelwald snow report
Planning a day at Grindelwald? Our snow report combines official mountain data with live weather so you know exactly what conditions look like right now, from the 796m base to the 2400m summit.
Snow measurements
Base depth, summit depth, and recent snowfall are the core numbers to watch. At Grindelwald, summit conditions (2400m) can differ noticeably from the base, so we break both out separately rather than showing a single average.
Weather conditions
Snow quality tracks closely with temperature and wind. We surface both alongside the snowfall data so you can judge whether conditions at Grindelwald are holding up or starting to soften.
Data sources
Grindelwald snow data is collected through a combination of on-mountain reports and weather forecasting services, giving you both official resort updates and independent forecast data in one place. The mountain is served by 28 lifts, including an aerial tram and 6 quad chairlifts.
When to check
Snow reports are typically updated early morning and late afternoon. For the most current conditions, check back regularly, especially if a winter storm is approaching.