Grindelwald holidays

© Jungfrau Region Tourismus AG / Grindelwald, Switzerland

© David Birri / Grindelwald, Switzerland

Popular holidays

Holidays to Grindelwald are best spent on its walking trails amongst the almost overwhelming mountain scenery. You can also ride the famous Jungfrau Railway, right up to a peak in the Bernese Alps called the Top of Europe.

Hard-to-beat day trips

Grindelwald is a true gem when it comes to alpine scenery – with the famous Eiger mountain on show wherever you are in town. One of the best ways to make the most of it all is to take the Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station. Known as the Top of Europe, it’s capped in snow all year round and is a camera-snapping paradise. From here you can visit the Sphinx Observatory, one of the highest observatories in the world, as well as find your fave ice sculpture in the Ice Palace. A tunnel connects the two and is an experience in itself, with multimedia displays sharing the history of the railway.

'First' time for everything

This place serves up all sorts of outdoor activities, from easy-going hiking trails to high-adrenaline adventures – and the First Cliff Walk sits somewhere in between. This incredible pathway snakes around Grindelwald First’s sheer cliffside, leading up to a viewing platform where a panorama of peaks opens out. Or if you’ve a need for speed, test out the First Flyer zipline or the First Glider eagle flight – both experiences will have you soaring through the skies at over 80kph. Want to reach the heights but don't fancy the flights? Take a ride on the Firstbahn gondola. From the top, a leisurely walk over to Lake Bachalp's perfect on a warm summer's day.

Everyone say 'cheese!'

Switzerland’s known for its quality Alpkäse (alpine cheese), and in Grindelwald you’ll find plenty of restaurants and cafes serving up their lip-smacking local produce – often with views that’ll have you coming back for more. Walk along Dorfstrasse down in the town and pop into one of the cheese shops if you find the stuff's too good it needs to come back home with you. This street's also the go-to area to pick up any holiday souvenirs – from cuckoo clocks to walking socks.

Useful tip

There's no rep based in Switzerland, but you can call our 24/7 TUI Service Centre at any time if you need help.

Out and about

Here are some ideas of things to do when staying in Grindelwald:

Cycle routes
Outdoor & indoor pool
Grindelwald First
First Flyer zipline
First Glider zipline
First Cliff Walk
Panoramic viewpoints
Pfingstegg Alpine Coaster
Glacier Canyon
Hiking trails
Mountain carting
Trottibike scooters

Popular hotels in Grindelwald

Top things to see and do in Grindelwald

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

For an evening with ambience, grab a table on the outdoor terrace at the interestingly named Avocado Bar. Despite its name, though, the fashionable green fruit isn't what this bar is famous for - it's simply a relaxing environment with good, soothing music and a low-key atmosphere. The Cork Club oozes elegant wine bar vibes, with quality Swiss wines top of the list – sip in style and buy a bottle for home too. If you're passing mid-afternoon, don't miss coffee with a merveilleux – a French sweet treat with meringue, cream and a dusting of chocolate.

Lively evenings

Upbeat evenings are also on the cards in Grindelwald. The Espresso Bar, next to the Hotel Spinne, is usually lively and has an outdoor terrace and beer garden facing the north face of the Eiger. Another option, Barry's Bar at the hotel Eiger, has been popular since the sixties for it's gin selection and cocktail list. If you're visiting in July and early August, the village hosts Strassenfest Ï a street party with live music, dancing and food stalls.

Food & drink

Fondue dining

Grindelwald is known for its mountain cheeses, so you'll find lots of fondue restaurants for when you're craving a melted pot of gooey goodness with fresh bread and potatoes. There are plenty of mountain restaurants to take lunch at if you've taken a cable car up for the day, all with excellent views, as well as a variety of eateries on Dorfstrasse in the centre of town.

Superb scenery

If you take a cable car up into the mountains for the day, there are plenty of mountain restaurants to grab some lunch and enjoy the view. And what a view.

Quick bites in town

There's a good choice of eateries on the Dorfstrasse in the centre of town. You'll find lots on offer for breakfast or lunch, including a large selection of reasonably priced breads, sandwiches, quiches, cakes, ice-creams and pastries as well as larger meals.

Getting about

Buses

The main bus station in Grindelwald is opposite the main train station, and the local routes are free with the Visitor’s Card. Mountain buses are an extra charge and go to Grosse Scheidegg, Bussalp and Waldspitz, departing roughly once an hour. And your Swiss Half Fare Card that you get as part of your holiday gives you up to 50% off mountain bus journeys during your stay.

Summer lifts

From Grindelwald, you can catch a the mountain railway and a variety of cable cars. The Firstbahn, Männlichen and the Bernese Oberland railway are just a few available. All of them run daily between 8am and 6pm in high season, taking you up to incredible heights for panoramic views of the Jungfrau region. And don't miss the Eiger Express cable car, it'll whizz you up from Grindelwald to the Eiger glacier in just 15 minutes.

Trains

Grindelwald's main station has services that can take you to Interlaken and other neighbouring towns every half an hour. From Interlaken you can access the rest of the Swiss Transport System – so places like Zurich, Lucerne and Montreux are on the cards. And take advantage of your Swiss Half Fare Card that you get as part of your holiday for up to 50% off Swiss train journeys during your stay. Or you might even consider getting a Jungfrau Travel Pass for unlimited travel on regional trains, mountain railways, gondolas and funiculars – available to buy with TUI experiences.

On foot

The slightly hilly resort of Grindelwald has a lot of walking to keep you busy. The town's main road, Dorfstrasse, is a great place to take a stroll as it's full of shops and restaurants - you'll surely find the perfect place to stop for lunch.

Walking

Grindelwald is a real walker’s paradise, with everything from gentle strolls to full-day hikes. The valley floor is a lovely place to just wander, looking out for bright alpine flowers, and the range of summer lifts means you can explore higher up too. Use the First gondola to access a range of routes, like the Marmot Trail or the walk to the picture-postcard Lake Bachalp. And the Jungfrau Railway is a unique way to travel to the 'Top of Europe'.

First to Bachalpsee

Catch the First gondola from Grindelwald all the way to the top – and sit back for great mountain views. Walk along the steady incline footpath, following the signs for Bachalpsee. At the end, you’ll come to the two lakes where you can stop for a picnic, paddle in the water, or just take in the views.