The lovely Swiss village of Grindelwald is one of the most popular destinations for tourists in Switzerland. It’s famous for its excellent skiing opportunities, but also for easy access to Jungfraujoch Saddle, which is home to the highest train station and post office on the European continent.
But traveling to Jungfraujoch is a pricey adventure. Some tourists can’t afford it all, and others can’t afford anything else following the trip to the mountain saddle. So, here’s a quick overview of all the other things you can do in Grindelwald for free!
Table of Contents
Grindelwald Village Tour
Grindelwald is one of the most popular resorts in the mountains of Switzerland. As such, it offers a wide variety of activities for visitors. From outdoor ice skating rinks to Michelin-starred restaurants, there’s something for everyone in this village.
A walking tour of the village is a must for anyone who visits for the first time. Get acquainted with the adorable houses in the central part of the village, and the striking contrast between them and the opulent hotels. Just because it’s a village doesn’t mean that you can see everything in 15 minutes.
It would take you about 40 minutes to walk from Hotel Lauberhorn in the northeast of the village to the Grindelwald Terminal station in the southwest. A nice section of that walk follows the river, offering wonderful views of the towering mountains that surround the resort.
Overall, walking is one of the best things you can do in Grindelwald for free, whether it’s through the village or on the countless hiking trails in its immediate surroundings.
Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg Panorama Trail
The panorama hike from Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg is one of my favorite trails near Grindelwald. It’s an easy walking trail over mostly flat terrain, and it takes about an hour and a half to complete. The views along the way are stunning, and it’s honestly impressive that such an easy walk can be so rewarding.
The starting point of the hike is the Mannlichen train station, which is accessible by walking trails and gondola rides. The gondola costs 32 CHF for a one-way ride to Mannlichen from Grindelwald Terminal. If you want to hike, it’s approximately 4 hours from Grindelwald to the mountain.
From Kleine Scheidegg back to Grindelwald, the funicular will cost you 34 CHF. But the walk is only two and a half hours and downhill all the way.
I would recommend springing for the gondola to Mannlichen, and then just hiking all the way back into Grindelwald via the Eiger Ultra Trail, enjoying the best landscapes of the Bernese Oberland. Anyone with the Swiss Travel Pass can get a 50% discount on tickets.
Also, you can make this hike more difficult if you wish. Continue hiking to other summits in the area, or walk back to Mannlichen once you’re done.
Eiger Trail (Eiger Glacier to Alpiglen)
The Eiger Trail is another wonderful hike you can do in Grindelwald to discover the enchanting panorama of the region. And there are several versions of the hike, from an easy point-to-point walk to a more challenging loop.
Take the mountain trail to Eiger Glacier and then descend down the north face of the Eiger to Alpiglen. The trail takes about 2 hours to complete, and if you do it in this direction, you’ll be hiking downhill nearly the entire time. This is the easiest version of the hike.
For a bigger challenge, start at Alpiglen and hike to Eiger Glacier. The ascent is almost 800 meters, so it will take at least two and a half hours when walking in this direction. You can also continue hiking to Kleine Scheidegg and then back to Alpiglen, to turn this into a five-hour loop trail.
Also, factor in the cost of train tickets into this hike. From Grindelwald to Alpiglen a full-price ticket is 18 CHF, but from Grindelwald to Eiger Glacier it’s around 40 CHF. Discounts are available with the Swiss Travel Pass and Half-Fare Card.
Bachalpsee Lake
Bachalpsee Lake is a stunning Alpine lake in the mountains above Grindelwald. It is accessible by gondolas and mountain trains, but also via walking trails. Hiking to the lake is the best way to experience the beauty of Swiss landscapes near the village without spending any money.
It takes approximately 3 hours and 30 minutes to hike from downtown Grindelwald up to the lake. Most of the hike is uphill, and it’s much quicker to descend back into the town from the lake. Gondola lifts can take you up to mountains, but they’re not free.
Want To Save This For Later?
We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Discounts are available to passengers in possession of one of the many travel passes valid in the region around Grindelwald.
First Cliff Walk
First Cliff Walk is one of the most fun and exciting things to do near Grindelwald. Best of all, it is entirely sponsored by Tissot, so it’s free for everyone. If you’re looking to have fun and get your heart racing a little bit, this is one of the best things to do near Grindelwald.
Of course, reaching the cliff walk won’t be a piece of cake for free, but it’s doable. You can hike from the village up the mountain, which takes almost three hours. Or you can ride the cable cars; it’s not free, but if you already have one of the travel passes for the region, you might be able to ride them free of charge, or at least get a discount.
The First Cliff Walk is a steel walkway built into the cliffs below the top station of the gondola. It offers dramatic views of the surrounding mountains, especially on clear, sunny days. It might not be worth doing on foggy and cloudy days because the views can be obstructed.
Grosse Scheidegg
Grosse Scheidegg is another striking summit near Grindelwald worth exploring. Loads of hiking trails lead to the summit, and you can choose from multiple starting points to adjust the difficulty of the hike.
It’s possible to hike all the way from Grindelwald up to Grosse Scheidegg. The easiest route is Via Alpina, which is considered moderately difficult and takes about three and a half hours to complete. The ascent is nearly 900 meters and it’s quite steep at certain sections, so this isn’t a trail for newbies.
Another route is from First to Grosse Scheidegg. You can take a gondola up to First, and from there to Grosse Scheidegg the trail is mostly downhill. The descent is quite steep, but it’s a bit easier than climbing 800 meters in altitude. But this isn’t considered an easy hiking trail either, especially with the steep descent that can be very challenging to non-experienced hikers.
Alpenspielplatz
Alpenspielplatz is an outdoor playground in Grindelwald and one of the best destinations for families in the village. The playground is at the Bort station of the gondola, a 20-minute ride from the Grindelwald village.
Tickets for the gondola are 22 CHF for adults, and it’s possible to save money on transport by hiking up the mountain. It takes about an hour and a half to climb up to Bort. The ascent is about 500 meters so it isn’t extremely challenging, and this trail is generally considered moderately difficult.
In addition to the outdoor playground, you can also rent Trottibikes here. I know it’s not a free activity, but it’s very fun to descend down the mountain on the bikes. Also, the rental price is 15 CHF per bike, and that’s actually cheaper than the gondola!
Faulhorn
Head to the Faulhorn summit to experience even more stunning Swiss landscapes near Grindelwald. The mountain is most easily accessible by trails from First, and it is possible to hike up to Faulhorn all the way from Grindelwald.
From the village, the trail is approximately 12 kilometers with an elevation gain of more than 1,500 meters. It’s challenging, and uphill most of the time, and the terrain is not friendly to inexperienced hikers. This hike would be suitable only for those with plenty of experience, who are looking for a real challenge in Grindelwald.
On the other hand, the trail from First to Faulhorn is much easier. It’s about 6 kilometers and takes two hours over easy terrain. The total elevation gain is just 250 meters, and most of the ascent is during the final stretch up to Faulhorn. As far as beginner-friendly hikes in the Bernese Oberland go, this is one of the best.
Map of Grindelwald Attractions
Frequently Asked Questions
How much time do I need in Grindelwald?
You need at least 2-3 days in Grindelwald, but you can spend as much time here as you like. The village offers a wide variety of things to do in its surroundings, so it’s possible to stay more than a week and continue enjoying yourself.
What is Grindelwald known for?
Grindelwald is best known for Jungfraujoch, the mountain saddle with stunning views of the Aletsch Glacier, Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau. Many towering summits are close to the village, which translates to a myriad of hiking and climbing trails.
Hallo, can you tell us the best places to find wild flowers on Juni to 1500-2000m. I am botanist, comming by car from Zürich. We cannot walk so long ways, so can you help us the easiest roads to go the places of this lewel (ca1500-) were The snow just is gone in Juli ! Thank you ! Liisa