Which is a better base Interlaken or Grindelwald?

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.



The choice between Interlaken and Grindelwald as a base for your Swiss adventure in 2026 depends entirely on your travel priorities. Interlaken is the ultimate logistical hub; it sits between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz and offers two major train stations (Ost and West). It is "better" if you plan to explore the wider Bernese Oberland region, including Day trips to Bern, Lucerne, or Thun, as you won't have to navigate mountain trains every morning. It also has more "big city" amenities like large supermarkets and a wider variety of nightlife. However, Grindelwald is arguably "better" for a true Alpine experience. It is a "glacier village" located directly at the foot of the Eiger North Face. If your primary goal is hiking, skiing, or taking the Eiger Express to Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald saves you 30-40 minutes of transit time each way. While Grindelwald is more "touristy" and can feel crowded, waking up to the literal sight of 4,000-meter peaks is a sensation Interlaken cannot match. Ultimately, choose Interlaken for convenience and variety, but choose Grindelwald for breathtaking views and immediate mountain access.

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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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How many days do you need in Grindelwald? 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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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.

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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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Luzern is more comfortable, old money and beautiful setting on the lake. Interlaken is closer to the big mountains, hiking, etc. I prefer Interlaken, but Luzern is more comfortable for first time to Switzerland. I would not want to spend 4 hours on the train to commute from one to the other however.

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Interlaken really is the best location if you're looking to enjoy a variety of activities. It's a great base for excursions along the lakes (such as Giessbach Falls on Lake Brienz or the Castles on Lake Thun), or even further outside of the Jungfrau region to Bern or Lucerne.

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Surrounded by 13,000-foot peaks in the San Juan mountain range, Ouray, Colorado, is known as the “Switzerland of America.” This Victorian-era mining town is as authentic as it gets, so you'll only find locally-owned restaurants and boutiques.

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Swiss Travel Pass Benefits 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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Head out on this 4.4-mile point-to-point trail near Grindelwald, Bern. Generally considered a challenging route, it takes an average of 3 h 14 min to complete. This is a very popular area for birding and hiking, so you'll likely encounter other people while exploring.

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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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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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Swiss Travel Pass/GA travelcard: Your return ticket to the Grindelwald valley station is included in the price.

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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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