Grindelwald (Switzerland)

Skiing in the Jungfrau Region

From Grindelwald, the Firstbahn cable car whisks you up to 2168m above sea level, in the heart of the First ski area, so named because it was the first ski area established in this location. A series of long valley runs lead back to the village of Grindelwald, some of them up to 12km long. The First ski area also has a large snow park with a halfpipe, bag jump, ski cross and various small and large jumps. On the other side of the village of Grindelwald is the Kleine Scheidegg ski area, accessible from Grindelwald via cog railway. The Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen ski area has more than 100km of slopes, most of them best suited to intermediate skiers and snowboarders. It's the largest of the ski areas in the Jungfrau Region. Starting in the 2019-20 ski season, the new V-bahn cable car will transport skiers from Grindelwald to the Eiger glacier.

Dining with a view at Grindelwald

Grindelwald and the Jungfrau Region have several dozen mountain restaurants where you can stop for a delicious meal while enjoying the panoramic mountain views. When it's time to start après-ski, the Holzer Bar on the Tschuggen slope is a good place to begin. Move on to the Gepsi Bar and the Espresso Bar, and finish the night at the Mescalero. Once a year, Grindelwald comes alive for the World Snow Festival, an ice sculpture competition that sees some of the world's best artists compete for the gold.

Off the pistes at Grindelwald

In addition to the ski slopes, Grindelwald and the surrounding region also offer endless sledging runs, some of which are illuminated for night sledging. The Big Pintenfritz, which starts at the Faulhorn peak (2681m), is the longest sledging run in Europe, measuring a whopping 15km. If you prefer to relax after your day on the slopes, there are many spas in the village centre. Or, explore the beautiful Jungfrau Region on foot via 100km of hiking trails or 30km of cross-country skiing trails. There's a skating rink in the village centre, and it's possible to go paragliding. Plenty of activities for young and old, adventurous and relaxed alike! And of course, a visit to Grindelwald isn't complete without a day trip to the Top of Europe at the Jungfraujoch.