There are places that live up to the photos and places that make the photos look inadequate. Grindelwald is the second kind.
Tucked into the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps, Grindelwald sits at the base of the Eiger, one of the prettiest peaks in Europe! It’s the kind of place that’s hard to believe when you see it with your eyes for the first time. And paired with a trip up to Jungfraujoch, the highest railway in Europe with mountain peaks to match, it gives you one of the most memorable travel experiences in the world.
Here’s what you need to know before you go.
Getting There
Because we paired this trip with Oktoberfest in Munich, we took a train from Munich to Zurich and then rented a car from the Zurich airport. What you might do instead, is fly directly into Zurich and then either rent a car or train through Europe. If you’re booking this trip on your own, you will need to run the numbers to see which makes sense for you.
The drive through the Alps is beautiful and might even be worth it to hire a private transfer. For Americans who are not used to train travel, sometimes it’s worth the extra price to hire the transfer or rent the car. Every situation is different.
How Long to Stay
We spent 3 days and 2 nights in Grindelwald and while that was enough to hit the highlights, I’ll be honest. I wanted more time. The surrounding region is full of small alpine villages and 3 days really just scratches the surface. If your schedule allows, 4 or 5 days gives you room to explore beyond just the basics and gives you flexibility if you experience bad weather since many of these activities are outside. Slow travel is becoming the new and improved trend for Europe and you won’t regret a few extra days here.
Jungfraujoch: The Top of Europe
This attraction is the centerpiece of your trip to the village of Grindelwald and it earned every bit of the hype.
Jungfraujoch sits at 3,454 meters above sea level and is reached by train, gondola, elevator, and a railway that climbs through the mountain. The journey itself is part of the experience and you’re essentially paying for a timed train ticket when you book. When you arrive at the top, you’re greeted with mountain peaks, an ice palace, an a chill in the air that you didn’t have at the bottom.
We went in the first week of October and got genuinely lucky with the weather. It was periodically cloudy throughout the day, but still had clear views of the surrounding peaks. This trip is popular, so the viewing platform gets crowded but the rest of the complex has plenty of space to spread out without being shoulder to shoulder with strangers.
During the busy season you will absolutely want to book your tickets in advance as they will sell out and you have specific time slots.
Expensive, yes. Worth it, especially yes.
When To Go – The Honest Breakdown
October (shoulder season) – This is when we went, and it worked out beautifully. Fewer crowds, lower prices. The tradeoff is real though… October in the Alps can be cold, cloudy and rainy. We got lucky. You might not. And there are no refunds for bad weather.
July and August (high season) – If hiking is a priority, this is your window. The trails are fully accessible, the weather is more reliable, and there’s wildflowers in the valley. You will pay more and share the experience with many more people, but the conditions for outdoor exploration are at their best.
The bottom line: go in shoulder season if you want value and don’t mind a little weather gamble. Every way, Jungfraujoch is worth it in almost any condition.
In Grindelwald Town – Where to Eat and Drink
Grindelwald’s town center is walkable and charming without being overly touristy. We had dinner at Barry’s and it was excellent. Good food, warm atmosphere, exactly where you’d want to eat after a day in the mountain. I would go back without hesitation.
We found a few hole in the wall bars that gave the evening a completely different energy. Unpretentious, local and fun. Don’t skip the nightlife just because you’re in an alpine village. Grindelwald has more personality than the postcard suggests.
We stayed at Hotel Belvedere, which deserves its own post entirely. Short version: it was great. Locally owned, good facilities, and the BEST VIEWS of the Eiger. Full review coming soon.
Grindelwald and Jungfraujoch are not overhyped. They are the rare kind of destination that actually delivers, and for couples especially, this region has a romance to it that is hard to manufacture anywhere else. The combination of alpine scenery, cozy restaurants, charming towns and one of the most dramatic excursions in Europe, makes it a trio that stays with you. Has Grindelwald or Jungfraujoch ever been on your list?? Let me know!
Because your next trip deserved to be remembered forever
Sydney Nieveen is the owner of Sojourney Travel with Sydney, and an independent contractor with Sojourney Travel, a boutique travel agency based in Georgia specializing in honeymoons, couples travel, cruises, and European adventures.
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