Home - Travel Destinations - Discover Grindelwald – For One of the Most Beautiful Swiss Holidays
If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
We link to affiliated partners at no extra cost to you.
Home - Travel Destinations - Discover Grindelwald – For One of the Most Beautiful Swiss Holidays
If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation.
We link to affiliated partners at no extra cost to you.
Grindelwald feels like the Swiss Alps turned the volume all the way up. This mountain village sits right in the heart of the Jungfrau region, surrounded by dramatic peaks, green meadows, and fresh alpine air that hits you the moment you arrive. Days here revolve around scenic walks, cable cars climbing toward glaciers, cozy cafés with front-row mountain views, and landscapes so beautiful they barely look real. Grindelwald isn’t just a stop on the map near Interlaken — it’s the kind of place that makes you slow down, look around, and think, this is exactly why I came to Switzerland.
Grindelwald is in central Switzerland, in the canton of Bern, set high in the beautiful Bernese Alps. It lies southeast of Interlaken in the Jungfrau region, in a mountain valley beneath the very impressive Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks.
Zurich Airport (ZRH) is the nearest International Airport, serving Zurich and with links to pretty much everywhere in Switzerland.
Approximately 152 km and a beautiful 2-hour drive. You can hire a car and this would be the fastest way to get there. Traveling by car would also give you the option to stop at Brienz and Interlaken and do some extra sightseeing, or maybe stopover for a night or two. It’s fabulous doing a road trip in Switzerland.
This option would take you about 3 hours but might be the cheapest if you’re only two people traveling. Scenic and stress free.
From Zurich Airport you can take the train to Interlaken. Then from Interlaken, you have to take the Bernese Oberland railway to Lauterbrunnen (spend a day or two there if you like). Afterwards travel with the Wengernalp Railway to Grindelwald, via Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg. It’s a beautiful and special travel experience.
Popular in winter for skiing, this is also the base in summer for mountain-climbing up the North side of Eiger Mountain.
Surrounded by mountains everywhere you look, this town has awesome views no matter where you go. Everywhere in the town, you’ll find little “viewpoints”: Just little areas where you can take in the breathtakingly beautiful vistas. The buildings are beautiful and many are decorated with window flower boxes or pots filled with petunias and geraniums/pelargoniums during summer. All this makes for the picture-perfect town the Swiss Alps are known for.
Walking in the streets of Grindelwald in summer, you hear birds singing and you can get lost in all the beautiful sights. For me, this is Jaw-droppingly beautiful.
Walking down Dorfstrasse and following the road from the railway station – just a few minutes walk – will bring you to some of the most beautiful areas, where you will find this “suspended moment of silence”. In my opinion, just walking around and enjoying the outdoors, is already worth calling the Swiss Alps the best traveling destination ever.
You will also find world-class shops and restaurants. I would recommend a lunchtime restaurant with an outside seating area with a view. After all, this is what you came for, right, and if you are spending on restaurant food, then you might as well, “make it worth the view”. LOL
I don’t quite have the perfect words for it, but if I had to sum it up in just one, it would be:
Grindelwald is easy to explore on foot. The village stretches along a gentle valley with paved paths, sidewalks, and clearly marked walking routes linking hotels, shops, cafés, and train stations. Many scenic walks start right from the center, so you don’t need a car to enjoy the views.
For longer distances or steeper climbs, cable cars and trains pick up where walking leaves off, making it simple to see a lot without feeling rushed.
The village feels welcoming and manageable, with shops, cafés, and hotels close together, while still offering those big, unforgettable Swiss views people imagine when they think of the Alps.
Summer weather months in Grindelwald runs from June through September. June brings green meadows and waterfalls at their strongest, July and August offer the warmest weather and the best conditions for hiking, and September adds cooler days with clear mountain views and fewer visitors. Daytime temperatures usually sit comfortably in the mid-teens to low-20s Celsius, perfect for being outdoors without the heat.
Mountain slopes turn a deep, lush green in summer, dotted with wildflowers and grazing cattle, with stunning vistas stretching in every direction. This is the view that welcomes you when you arrive. As the only mountain resort that can be reached by car, this holiday destination is perfect for family travel or sharing a ride with fellow travel buddies, which can also help to keep travel costs low.
The wintery colder months in Grindelwald usually runs from December through March. Snow often arrives in late November, January and February are the coldest and most reliable for snow, and March still offers winter scenery with slightly longer, brighter days.
Winter transforms Grindelwald into a snowy alpine scene, with mountain slopes blanketed in white, wooden chalets edged with snow, and crisp air all around. The village feels calm and storybook-perfect, framed by dramatic peaks and winter light that makes everything sparkle.
The shoulder months of May and October are perfect for visiting Grindelwald if you want fewer crowds and a peaceful atmosphere. In May, the snow melts and the first green shoots appear, waterfalls swell, and flowers start blooming. October brings crisp air, autumn colors across the valley, and clear mountain views, making it ideal for quiet walks and photography without the busy summer or winter crowds.
Jungfraujoch: Known as the “Top of Europe,” Jungfraujoch is a popular attraction near Grindelwald. It is the highest railway station in Europe, located at an altitude of 3,454 meters (11,332 feet). Visitors can take a cogwheel train from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch and enjoy panoramic views of the surrounding mountains. The site also features an ice palace, observation platforms, and a restaurant.
Going up to the Jungfrau is not cheap, but there is more to this town than just getting to the Jungfrau (although it is absolutely spectacular).
The accommodation options are endless. You have the choice of international hotels and chalets, beautiful apartments, country houses and many more. With our trusted links below, you are sure to find the perfect place for you and your budget.
Most rooms have a balcony with a breathtaking view of the Eiger Mountain.
Several hiking and biking trails start directly at the property.
Just next to the train station but without any noise at night! With superb Eiger views right in front of your room.
Hotel accommodation often includes almost everything you need on a trip, so if you can afford to spoil yourself, do so. Booking an all inclusive stay is a very good idea.
Offering panoramic views of the North Face of the Eiger and the Bernese Alps, this family-run 4-star superior hotel is just a 5-minute walk from the center of Grindelwald. You too can stay here….
WHY WE RECOMMED: Firstly the hotel is a real gem. Superb. Their restaurant is of high quality: Chef Dávid was again awarded one star by the Guide MICHELIN 2025 selection and new 16 points by Gault&Millau.
And then they have a truely unique thing to experience: You can enjoy a Swiss cheese fondue in a gondola, without going anywhere, but with fabulous views. The old Männlichen gondolas may be nostalgic, but their intimate two-person cabins create the perfect setting for a romantic alpine moment. Fabulous for anyone looking for the most romantic things to do in Switzerland.
Your Swiss Pass will include access to many places for ‘free’. (Refer to our article on Switzerland on a budget)
Switzerland is known to be one of the most expensive places to visit, but it is not all lost to those who have to travel on a budget. In my opinion, you definitely can make this dream holiday a reality, so remember to also read our article on See Beautiful Switzerland on a Budget for useful money-saving tips and tricks.
