GRINDELWALD FAQ`S

Where is Grindelwald located?

Grindelwald is a mountain village in Bernese Oberland in the Swiss Alps.

Grindelwald is centrally located in Switzerland, in the Jungfrau Region, the eastern part of the Bernese Oberland. At 3,392 ft above sea level, the `Glacier Village` lies in the upper end of the valley of the Schwarze Luetschine River, in a hollow that is relatively flat on three sides, and it is surrounded by impressive mountain peaks. With an area of 66 sq miles, Grindelwald is the second largest community in the Canton of Bern.

What are the different places of the region?

The area names that sound the same, but are different places (like Jungfrau and Jungfraujoch or Grindelwald and Grindelwald First). Here is a breakdown of the area:

-Jungfrau is the name of the area that covers popular towns like Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken and Grindelwald.

-Grindelwald is a valley and a town, whereas Grindelwald First is a summit that can be reached by cable car and is famous for hiking. There is not a Second, Third or Fourth summit, in case you were wondering.

-Jungfraujoch is the name of a mountain col and it`s the highest train station in Europe (11,332 ft.).

-The Bernese Oberland is the mountain area in Jungfrau and it basically means the Highland of Bern because this part of the Alps is close to the city of Bern.

How do I get to Grindelwald by plane?

Zurich-Kloten is the nearest international airport (travel time approx. 2.5 hours by car and 3 hours by train), but also the EuroAirport in Basel-Mulhouse is within approx. 3 hours. In addition, the Bern-Belp Airport with some international flights is reached within just an hour by car.

How do I get to Grindelwald by train?

The Jungfrau Region is located above Interlaken, where you will need to get to first if you are not already in the area. The Bernese Oberland Railway (BOB) leaves from Interlaken East station. The trip takes 35 minutes.

The easiest way would be to use the Swiss Travel System; we recommend the Swiss Travel Pass which is an all-in-one ticket to travel by train, bus and boat throughout the whole of Switzerland. Take a train to Interlaken-Ost where you will then transfer to the Bernese Oberland Railway.

What are my other options to get into Grindelwald?

Charter/Tour buses, taxis, and car rentals are also possibilities. If you`re driving, take the Wilderswil road south from Interlaken and follow the signs all the way to Grindelwald.

In summer and early fall, it is also possible to hike into Grindelwald from well-marked Bernese Oberland trails, with or without the assistance of gondolas or cable-cars.

How do I get around Grindelwald using Public Transportation?

Grindelwald has two train stations: Grindelwald and Grund. The Grindelwald station is in the center of town; the Grund station is in the valley floor, on the way to Kleine Scheidegg. Wengernalpbahn trains (painted yellow and green) to Kleine Scheidegg generally stop at both stations. Berner Oberland Bahn trains (in blue and yellow livery) from Interlaken via Zweilütschinen stop only at Grindelwald. If you plan to walk between these stations, be aware that the two stations are about 0.6 miles apart, and separated by roughly 325 ft of vertical elevation.

A local bus service can get you to nearby destinations.

The gondola lift to Männlichen departs a few hundred meters west of Grund station. The gondola lift to First begins about ten minutes` walk east of Grindelwald station, while the cable car to Pfingstegg is about fifteen minutes` walk east of Grindelwald station.

If I have a car in Grindelwald, where can I park?

In both summer and winter the region can be reached by car from Basel/Zurich/Geneva via Bern or Lucerne/Brünig Pass. From the south, you reach the Jungfrau Region via Grimsel- or Sustenpass (only in Summer) or via Simplonpass and afterwards Lötschberg Car Transport.

Wengen and Mürren are car-free.

Parking for Wengen is available in Lauterbrunnen, Parking for Mürren in Lauterbrunnen and Stechelberg. There is a road that goes to Wengen or Mürren. If you type in `Wengen` or `Mürren`, the navigation system will lead you on a small alpine gravel road where no private cars are allowed.

Parking in Grindelwald:
There are different car parks: Parkhaus Eiger (252 car parks) and Parkhaus Sportzentrum (160 car parks) or Grindelwald Grund.

What is there to do in the summer months in the Jungfrau Region?

In summer you can choose from over 300 miles of marked walking, hiking and mountain paths. The crystal-blue mountain lakes and gushing waterfalls provide a welcome refreshment. The Jungfrau Region boasts the most spectacular views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The landscape has also been awarded the status of a UNESCO World Heritage site.

-Hike to Bachalpsee Lake (difficulty: easy)
-Hike to Grosse Scheidegg (difficulty: easy)
-Hike to Eigergletscher (difficulty: medium)
-Walk to the Grindelwald First Cliff Walk
-The First cable car
-Downhill trotti biking
-First Flyer zip lining

What is there to do in the winter months in the Jungfrau Region?

The ski areas around Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren and Hasliberg Mountains offer a total of 160 miles of ski runs ranging from fast to leisurely, and from four to seven miles in length. A total of more than 40 percent of the ski runs are equipped with snow-making machines. In the Jungfrau Region however, non-skiers also get their money`s worth: over 60 miles of winter footpaths enable you to explore the mountains on foot. Furthermore, with its countless toboggan runs, the region is a real paradise for tobogganing. Amongst them is the longest toboggan run in the Alps.

How do I get around Grindelwald by bike?

Grindelwald`s railways and cable-cars are adapted for mountain bikes, so summer opens up many miles of trails in the region. One designated route is from First back to Grindelwald.

Thankfully bike hire centers in Grindelwald test their brakes rigorously! There`s no reason to rush down the trail as it weaves along flowery pasture, over tracks and asphalt road. It goes without saying that the panoramas are like something out of a movie.

Can I pay/tip in US dollars?

The currency of Switzerland is the Swiss franc, usually indicated as CHF or SFr. While Switzerland is not part of the European Union and thus is not obliged to convert to the Euro, many prices are nonetheless indicated in euros so that visitors may compare prices. Most of the restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs accept euro, but expect to pay a premium rate.

The Swiss Franc (CHF or SFr) is divided into 100 centimes (known as Rappen in German speaking Switzerland). Bills come in 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 10000SFr and coins are divided into 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimes and 1, 2 and 5SFr.

US dollars are not accepted. Please be sure to have the correct currency on hand or be prepared to exchange your dollars for Swiss Francs upon arrival. Currency exchange desks can be found at the airport, train station and many bank locations throughout the city. ATMs are also widespread throughout the city accepting bank cards and credit cards.

Switzerland has a reputation for being an expensive destination. Those amazing transportation options, meals, hotels and attractions come at a cost. Once you get there, expect your hotel to cost you an average of $200 USD per night and that cheap pizza at a restaurant will cost you around $30 USD.

What is the weather like in Grindelwald? When is the best time to visit?

Average temperatures in Grindelwald vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a chance of rain or snow throughout most of the year. The area is less temperate than compared to tourist destinations worldwide. If you`re looking for the very warmest time to visit Grindelwald, the hottest months are July, August, and then June. The warmest time of year is generally mid July where highs are regularly around 77°F with temperatures rarely dropping below 57°F at night. The coldest month is generally December and January with temperature highs around 38°F and lows around 27°F.

I don`t speak German. Will many people speak English? Grindelwald is situated in the German speaking part of Switzerland. In addition to German, however, many locals also speak English and French.

Most of the employees working for hotels, restaurants, and shops that are aimed at tourists can speak the English language at a competent level. We suggest you get a good English-German guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, excuse me and numbers 1-10.
What is the food like?

Grindelwald has a good selection of restaurants, mostly hotel based, serving international meals from around the world: Chinese, French, Italian, Japanese and of course Swiss specialties. Bars, restaurants, bakeries and supermarkets can be found up and down central Dorfstrasse.

Some Swiss local specialties we recommend you trying are the Bernese Rosti, skilleted hash brown potatoes flavored with bacon or cheese, it is as popular as is Valaisian Raclette. This is prepared by melting cheese over a fire, scraping it onto a baked potato and garnishing it with meat and vegetables of your choice. And no trip to Switzerland is complete without trying a `fondue`. This is a communal dish served in a pot over a small burner. There are different types of fondue, the most popular being cheese. Those eating the fondue, dip different things (on most occasions bread) into the pot. Simple!

What is the nightlife like in Grindelwald?

Grindelwald`s nightlife is fairly low-key, though things do crank up a gear in winter, with DJs at hotel bars and clubs. Grindelwald transforms itself into one of the liveliest towns in the Bernese Oberland. Often times, nightly entertainment consists of musical concerts, folklore evenings, or socializing at the bars and discos. In the winter, the nightlife often starts with the `Apres-Skid` at one of the numerous ski bars which are located on the slopes and at the bottom of the various ski areas. Night tobogganing is another popular evening activity. Grindelwald`s Green Village sits right off of the best sledding hill.

What is the shopping like in Grindelwald?

There are plenty of shops in the village center, including groceries. Grindelwald is famous for a wide range of high-class shops. In addition to the traditional jewelers, boutiques and souvenir shops, on the village`s main street you will find many sports shops, including biking, walking and climbing shops.

Opening hours: In general, shops in Grindelwald are open from 8 or 9 am - Noon and 1:30 or 2 pm - 6:30 pm on weekdays (5:30 pm on Saturdays), shops are closed on Sundays. During high season, some shops extend the opening hours in the evenings as well as are opened on Sundays.

Note: Value-added tax (VAT) rate is 8% in Switzerland which applies to supplies of goods or services registered in Switzerland, including hotel and restaurant bills. There are no other special taxes.

What should I do if I need medical assistance or need to go to the hospital?

Police Emergency Number - 117
Ambulance / Medical Emergency - 144
Fire Department - 118