Grindelwald First

The Basics

Cable cars run to the summit of Grindelwald First, from which you can embark on hikes that lead to Lake Bachalpsee and Schynige Platte. Additionally, the white-knuckle First Cliff Walk leads you along a suspended walkway on the cliff face. If you’re visiting in winter, enjoy more than 25 miles (40 kilometers) of winter hiking and sledging trails, and the ski areas of Grindelwald-First Snowpark, which encompasses beginner and advanced skiing areas, and a 427-foot (130-meter) halfpipe.

Things to Know Before You Go

• Purchase one-way and return tickets for the Grindelwald First cable car or opt for an adventure package that includes several outdoor activities.

• At the top of the mountain, there is a children’s playground, gift shop, and the First Mountain Restaurant, which has a panoramic terrace with views of the Eiger North Face.

• Admission to the First Cliff Walk is free.

• Some activities have age, height, or weight limits.

How to Get There

Grindelwald First Mountain is located just north of Grindelwald and is easily reached by cable car from the center of Grindelwald village. Cable cars pass two intermediate stations, Bort and Schreckfeld, before arriving at First; the total journey time is around 25 minutes.

When to Get There

It’s possible to visit Grindelwald First at any time of year—cable cars operate from 8am- 6:30pm in summer, and 8:30am-4:30pm in winter. The most popular times to visit are either in July and August, an ideal time for hiking and outdoor activities, or from December to March, when ski season is in full swing.

Adventure Activities at Grindelwald First

The mountaintop also offers a number of adrenaline-fueled activities. The First Flyer and First Glider let you soar through mountain valleys on a chair lift or cable hang glider, and reach speeds of up to 52 miles-per-hour (84 kilometers-per-hour). If you’re visiting over summer, hire a Trottibike scooter or mountain cart to explore in or have fun bouncing on the Bagjump.

Ways to explore

The scenic journey to Grindelwald First sets the scene for all the fun that awaits at the top. After a three-stage gondola ride, Grindelwald First offers views of Eiger North Face and Jungfrau along with its mountain attractions, hiking trails to Lake Bachalpsee and Schynige Platte, sledging routes, ski pistes, and a snow park for freestyle skiers and snowboarders.

Travelers staying in Lucerne and Zurich can take advantage of Grindelwald First day trips that cover round-trip transportation (often from hotels), gondola and attraction tickets, and ample free time at the summit to enjoy it all.

Accessibility

Wheelchair-accessible gondola

Age limits

Some summit attractions impose minimum age, height, and weight restrictions.

What to pack

The weather can change quickly, so bring sunscreen and sunglasses even if it seems cloudy. A baby carrier is useful if you have young kids.

What to wear

Sturdy shoes, layered clothing that’s suitable for the season, waterproof jacket

Not allowed

Strollers are allowed, but aren’t ideal to bring up the mountain.

Amenities

Eateries, picnic area (Schreckfeld mid-station), playground (Bort mid-station), public restrooms, ticket office

Address 

Grindelwald First sits high above the village of Grindelwald, in the Swiss canton of Bern.

Driving

Put the gondola valley station of Grindelwald Firstbahn in your GPS. As you drive through the village, there are several paid parking lots, although you’ll need to arrive early to find a good space near the gondola. On a traffic-free, snow-free day, the drive from Interlaken only takes around half an hour.

Public transportation

Take the train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald train station, and then hop on a bus marked “via Firstbahn” to take you to the gondola valley station. The routes are normally #121, #122, or #123. From Grindelwald Firstbahn, ride to the Grindelwald First summit, passing the mid-stations of Bort and Schreckfeld.

Best times to visit

The gondola is open from around breakfast time to late afternoon or early evening in the summer, with the earliest rides being the quietest.

Best days to visit

Check the weather forecast when you rise, as the best days to visit are the cloud-free days. In the summer, weekends tend to be busier.

Best months to visit

July and August offer excellent hiking conditions and the best chance of clear summer days, although there are more people around. In the winter, the Grindelwald-Wengen ski season runs from December through April.

Special events

There are no annual on-the-mountain events at Grindelwald First, although Grindelwald hosts the World Snow Festival at the end of January. The event showcases ice art with international artists creating huge sculptures from blocks of snow.