How we ranked the best things to do in Grindelwald
Grindelwald has more cable cars, trails and viewpoints than you can fit into a short stay. We ranked them by what they give you for your time and money: Eiger views, easy access from the village and appeal for different groups.
Most of the list sits in summer, when the cable cars run from late May to 25 October. Two items work in winter, and the Glacier Canyon stays open into November.
The top 8 at a glance
Tap a card for the full guide with tickets, trails and tips.
Grindelwald First
A 25-minute gondola ride to the cliff walk, which is free with your ticket, plus zip line and mountain carts.
Bachalpsee
The lake above First at 2,265 metres, about an hour each way on a wide path.
Glacier Canyon
A walkway into a gorge with 300-metre rock walls and a net above the river.
Männlichen
The Royal Walk to the summit and the panorama trail to Kleine Scheidegg.
Eiger Trail
Six kilometres at the foot of the Eiger north face, mostly downhill to Alpiglen.
Pfingstegg
A short cable car ride to a 725-metre summer toboggan run and glacier trails.
Eiger Express
Fifteen minutes from the Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher, right next to the north face.
Sledging
Long sledge runs from the Faulhorn, Bussalp, First and Männlichen once the snow arrives.
Our picks: things to do in Grindelwald
A swing into the Glacier Canyon, the gondola to First and a ticket for the canyon walkway.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in Swiss francs (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency. We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
Canyon Swing in the Glacier Canyon
A giant rope swing into the Glacier Canyon, for anyone who wants more than the walkway.
Check availability →Gondola ride to Grindelwald First
The return gondola to First. The cliff walk is free at the top. With a Half Fare Card the official ticket is half price.
Check availability →
Glacier Canyon entrance ticket
Entry to the Glacier Canyon walkway and the net above the river, at the official adult price of CHF 21.
Check availability →Tickets and tours for Grindelwald
Cable car tickets, the Glacier Canyon, adventure activities and day trips, with live prices and availability.
We may earn a commission when you book through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
1. Ride up to First and walk the cliff walk
The gondola leaves from the village centre, about 8 to 10 minutes on foot from Grindelwald station, and climbs via Bort and Schreckfeld to First at 2,168 metres in 25 minutes. At the top, a steel walkway runs along the cliff and ends in a platform that sticks out 45 metres. Walking it takes about 20 minutes and costs nothing extra: you only pay for the ride up.
A return ticket costs CHF 76 for adults in 2026, or CHF 38 with a Half Fare Card, GA, Swiss Travel Pass, Berner Oberland Pass or Eurail/Interrail. The Jungfrau Travel Pass covers it in full. If you want more, the First Flyer zip line and the First Glider cost CHF 35 each, and the mountain cart (Schreckfeld to Bort) and the Trottibike scooter (Bort to the village) cost CHF 25 each. Go up early: there are no time slots, and queues grow towards midday. Read the full Grindelwald First guide.
2. Walk to the Bachalpsee
From the First top station, an easy, family-friendly path leads to the Bachalpsee at 2,265 metres. Plan a good hour each way, or about 2 hours for the round trip. The local tourism office lists the route at 5.8 kilometres return with 202 metres of climbing, rated easy.
Combine it with the cliff walk on the same ticket: walk to the lake first, then do the activities on your way back down. Details in our Bachalpsee guide, and longer routes in hiking in Grindelwald.
3. Explore the Glacier Canyon
The Glacier Canyon is the best thing to do in Grindelwald on a cloudy day. A walkway runs about 1 kilometre into the gorge between rock walls up to 300 metres high, and you return the same way, so plan 1 to 2 hours. Halfway in, the Spiderweb is a 170-square-metre net stretched 7 metres above the river, which you can walk on without any equipment.
Entry costs CHF 21 for adults and CHF 11 for children aged 6 to 16, with a discount for guest card holders. Tickets are only sold at the entrance. Bus 122 from Grindelwald station takes about 15 minutes, or walk 30 minutes on the flat. The season runs from May to November, weather permitting. See the Glacier Canyon guide.
4. Männlichen: Royal Walk and panorama trail
The gondola from the Grindelwald Terminal reaches Männlichen at 2,225 metres in 19 minutes. From the top station, the Royal Walk climbs 120 metres to a viewing platform on the summit in about 25 minutes. The panorama trail to Kleine Scheidegg is 4.5 kilometres and takes about 1 hour 20 minutes, with the Eiger ahead of you for much of the way.
A return ticket costs CHF 68 in summer 2026. It is free with the Jungfrau Travel Pass and the Berner Oberland Pass and half price with a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass. A round-trip ticket for the panorama trail, up to Männlichen and back from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald Grund, costs CHF 74.60. More in our Männlichen guide.
5. Hike the Eiger Trail
The Eiger Trail runs 6.1 kilometres from Eigergletscher to Alpiglen, directly at the foot of the north face. Going this way it is mostly downhill: 78 metres up, 779 metres down, about 2 hours. It is rated medium, so wear proper shoes. From Alpiglen the train takes you back to Grindelwald, CHF 18 one way in 2026.
The trail opens only when the snow has melted, which depends on the year. Our Eiger Trail guide has the details.
6. Pfingstegg and the summer toboggan run
The Pfingstegg cable car leaves from the southern edge of the village and takes less than 5 minutes to reach 1,387 metres. Up there, a 725-metre summer toboggan run with a drag lift is the main draw for families. A single ride costs CHF 8 for adults, with no pass discounts. The run closes when it is wet.
The cable car costs CHF 32 return for adults, CHF 16 with a Half Fare Card or Swiss Travel Pass, and is free with the Berner Oberland Pass. From the top, trails lead towards the Lower Glacier. The 2026 season ends on 25 October and the 2027 season starts on 5 May. See the Pfingstegg guide.
7. Ride the Eiger Express to Eigergletscher
The Eiger Express is a tri-cable gondola with 26-seat cabins. It runs from the Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher at 2,320 metres in 15 minutes, heading straight towards the Eiger. A return ticket cost CHF 81.20 on a summer date in 2026, half price with a Half Fare Card and about 25 percent off with the Swiss Travel Pass or Berner Oberland Pass. It is included in the Jungfrau Travel Pass.
Eigergletscher is the start of the Eiger Trail and the station for trains to the Jungfraujoch. Maintenance closure: 9 to 20 November 2026. See getting to Grindelwald for the Terminal station.
8. Go sledging in winter
Grindelwald counts around 50 kilometres of sledge runs. The longest is the Big Pintenfritz: you walk about 2.5 hours from First up to the Faulhorn and sledge down past the Bussalp, in good conditions all the way to Lochsteinen, over 1,000 metres lower. A sledging ticket for this route costs CHF 55 for adults, CHF 29 with a Half Fare Card (as of October 2026).
Shorter options start at the Bussalp, which has a family run, at First down to Bort, and at Männlichen down to Holenstein. In winter 2026/27 the First gondola reopens on 28 November and Männlichen on 12 December. Everything else is in our guide to Grindelwald in winter.
Compare the top things to do
Adult prices for 2026. Pass discounts as listed by the operators.
| Experience | Time needed | Adult price 2026 | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| First and cliff walk | Half day | CHF 76 return | Cliff walk free, 50% with Half Fare Card |
| Bachalpsee | About 2 h from First | First ticket | Easy, good with children |
| Glacier Canyon | 1 to 2 h | CHF 21 | Tickets only at the entrance |
| Männlichen | Half day | CHF 68 return | Free with Jungfrau Travel Pass |
| Eiger Trail | About 2 h walking | Eiger Express plus CHF 18 train | Medium, snow-dependent |
| Pfingstegg | 2 to 3 h | CHF 32 return | Toboggan CHF 8 per ride |
| Eiger Express | 15 min each way | CHF 81.20 return | Included in Jungfrau Travel Pass |
| Faulhorn sledge run | Full day | CHF 55 | Winter only, 2.5 h walk up |
Things to do in Grindelwald: FAQ
What is the number one thing to do in Grindelwald?
For most first-time visitors it is the ride to First, with the free cliff walk and the easy walk to the Bachalpsee. It gives you the classic views in half a day.
What can you do in Grindelwald when it rains?
The Glacier Canyon is the best option, since the walkway runs inside the gorge. The toboggan run at Pfingstegg closes when it is wet.
Is the First cliff walk free?
Yes. The cliff walk has no separate ticket, you only pay for the gondola. The return ride costs CHF 76 for adults in 2026, or CHF 38 with a Half Fare Card.
What is there to do in Grindelwald in late October and November?
Not much at altitude. In 2026 First is closed from 26 October to 27 November, Männlichen until 11 December and Pfingstegg until spring. The Glacier Canyon stays open into early November, weather permitting.
Which pass covers the most activities?
The Jungfrau Travel Pass covers the train from Interlaken, First, Männlichen and the Eiger Express. It does not cover the adventure rides at First or full Pfingstegg tickets. Compare it with other passes in Getting to Grindelwald.