How to reach Grindelwald first from Interlaken?

To get to Grindelwald First by car, follow the road from Interlaken to Wilderswil, and take a left turn at Gündlischwand. Grindelwald is situated at the end of the road, making it easy to find. The drive from Interlaken takes approximately 30 minutes.



To reach the mountain summit of Grindelwald First from Interlaken in 2026, you must take a two-stage journey involving a train and a gondola. First, board the Bernese Oberland Railway (BOB) at the Interlaken Ost station. Ensure you sit in the correct section of the train, as it often splits at Zweilütschinen; look for the carriages marked for "Grindelwald." The train ride takes approximately 30 minutes, winding through spectacular alpine scenery. Once you arrive at the Grindelwald station, it is a pleasant 10-to-15 minute walk through the charming village center to the "Firstbahn" valley station. There, you board a 6-person aerial gondola for a 25-minute ascent to the "First" summit station at 2,168 meters. This route is exceptionally efficient and runs every 30 minutes. In 2026, it remains the most popular way to access the First Cliff Walk, the First Flyer zipline, and the legendary hike to Lake Bachalpsee, offering one of the most accessible "High Alps" experiences in Switzerland.

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You do however need to buy a cable car ticket to reach First mountain station, or hike up from Grindelwald to First. The trail is via the Eiger Ultra Trail and is a pretty much straight uphill hike for 7.4 km.

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From Interlaken Ost railway station, you can reach Grindelwald without changing trains by taking the Bernese Oberland Railways (BOB) train. Important: you need to board at the back of the train because it splits at Zweilütschinen. If you get on at the front of the train, it will take you to Lauterbrunnen.

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This will allow you to take part in various adventures like hiking, paragliding, mountain biking, and more. You'll also have ample time to enjoy the stunning panoramic views and capture stunning shots. However, if you're unable to dedicate a full day, we suggest spending a minimum of 4-6 hours at Grindelwald First.

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Grindelwald First with the Swiss Travel Pass If you're holding a Swiss Travel Pass, your cable car journey from Grindelwald to First would be at a 50% discounted price. Activities must be paid for individually over and above the cable car ticket and can be chosen from.

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On the sunny side of the Grindelwald valley, the gondola lift runs from the glacier village of Grindelwald towards First, at 2168 m above sea level. During the 25-minute ride you're guaranteed a breathtaking view of the mountain landscape.

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First, you'll take the train from Interlaken Ost station to Grindelwald station, just half an hour away. From there, you'll walk 15 minutes to Grindelwald Firstbahn, the cable car base station. You'll then climb aboard the cable car and head up to an altitude of 7,113 ft (2,168 meters)!

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The Jungfrau 'Top of Europe' requires a surcharge and in the high season a seat reservation (5 CHF) might be required. Swiss Travel Pass gives you a 100% Discount for the journey from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen/Wengen and Grindelwald.

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The choice is yours! Interlaken is more like a transport hub and it's also a larger town so it has more choices of shops and restaurants just to browse. Grindelwald is a scenic village (still with enough restaurants and some shopping) that is much more scenic than Interlaken.

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TIP: If you only have one day for Interlaken and don't know where to start or don't feel like planning everything, there are also nice day tours that you can consider instead. The most popular tours depart either from Zurich or from Lucerne and visit Interlaken and Grindelwald on the same day.

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Tickets to the First Cliff walk in Grindelwald The good thing is there is no entrance fee to walk the Cliff Walk because it is sponsored by Tissot. You do however need to buy a cable car ticket to reach First mountain station, or hike up from Grindelwald to First.

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It's a longer journey but you can get on the first train to Jungfraujoch. You will travel from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald. From Grindelwald, ride the Eiger Express to Eigergletscher and then the Jungfraubahn to Jungfraujoch. Travel time is 1 hour and 58 minutes.

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First is more for fun and adventure while Jungfrau is about seeing and touching snow and glacier abd to get an impression of the swiss alps. It depends on what you're up to... Both trips on the same day can be stressful, if you want to do them on the same day, you should go first to First.

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A local bus service can get you to nearby destinations. The gondola lift to M?nnlichen 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.

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If you're planning a trip to Grindelwald, Switzerland, I recommend spending 1-2 days there. In 1-2 days, you can have fun at Grindelwald-First, enjoy the stunning Swiss Alps, take a scenic train ride and visit popular attractions such as the Jungfraujoch or the Eiger Trail.

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They both have good vantage points. Lauterbrunnen has a more vertical walled valley with all the waterfalls and the higher mountains overhead. Grindelwald is a more open valley with views to the mountains on both sides. If you stay in Lauterbrunnen it's only a short train ride to Grindelwald.

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