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Grindelwald Ski Holidays
Skiing here spans the Jungfrau Ski Region, linking Grindelwald with Wengen, Mürren and Lauterbrunnen. You ride the Eiger Express from the modern Grindelwald Terminal and reach the Eigergletscher station in 15 minutes. That one lift transformed the resort. Long, rolling reds and blues drop back towards the valley floor, and the descent to Grund keeps going and going.
Who does it suit? Intermediates who like covering ground will love it. Families do well here too, thanks to the Bodmi Arena at the top of the village and a slow zone up on First. Bucket-list skiers come for the Eiger, the Lauberhorn and the train ride to the Jungfraujoch. Hardcore freeriders chasing the intensity of Engelberg or Andermatt might look elsewhere. Everyone else gets scenery that lives up to the photographs, plus a village with enough bars, fondue and late trains to keep the evenings interesting.
Eiger views and brilliant skiing means that Grindelwald is a firm favourite with so many skiers
Jane Bolton, Product Directror
Mountain Information on Grindelwald
Three linked areas make up the Jungfrau Ski Region: Grindelwald-First, Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen for Grindelwald-Wengen, and Schilthorn for Mürren and Lauterbrunnen, totalling around 204km of slopes. Grindelwald-Wengen takes the biggest share with 103km of pistes and 21 lifts, while First contributes another 49km of mostly easy-going terrain. The village sits at 1,034m. Skiing climbs to 2,320m at Eigergletscher, and the Schilthorn tops the region at 2,970m.
One pass covers the lot. Trains, cable cars and gondolas connect everything, so you can ski above Grindelwald in the morning and Mürren after lunch. Grindelwald Terminal runs a 10-passenger gondola to Männlichen and the Eiger Express tri-cable lift to the Eiger Glacier, with 26 heated seats in every cabin. Expect the season to run from mid-December to mid-April, with Kleine Scheidegg often holding on later.
Snow conditions in Grindelwald
Altitude matters, and the village sits low. The skiing does not. Most pistes run between 1,600m and 2,300m, and the north-facing slopes under the Eiger shelter the snow from afternoon sun. Lift-served terrain reaching 2,970m at the Schilthorn, backed by reliable snowmaking on key pistes, keeps conditions holding up through the season.
Snowmaking covers the main arteries, including the runs home to Grindelwald and Grund, which protects the descents when the valley warms. Up at First, the Oberjoch park sits at 2,500m, an altitude that guarantees an early start to the season. January and February bring the coldest, most dependable snow, while March trades some of that for long days and better light.
Off-piste? Plenty of it, with a guide. Wide bowls spill off Reeti and the Waldspitz descent, and the Schilthorn sector holds the steeper, longer lines. Watch the marked wildlife zones around Reeti, because straying into one costs you your lift pass and a few hundred francs.
Why should I ski in Grindelwald?
Variety is the real draw, because one pass opens three ski areas and a mountain range most people only ever see in photographs.
- The Bodmi Arena sits in the middle of the resort, a beginner area with a conveyor belt and platter lift, the Snowli village and a snow tubing zone. First, then steps you up with a wide range of easy slopes and a dedicated 30km/h zone.
- This is the sweet spot. Long reds and blues run from Kleine Scheidegg and Männlichen down towards Grindelwald or Wengen, and Männlichen opens up the longest runs in the region, finishing in Grund.
- Once the Lauberhorn race finishes each January, you can ski the original course yourself. The Black Rock piste, starting at the foot of the Eiger, will test your technique.
- Hire a guide and the Schilthorn side delivers committing lines. Backcountry kicker spots sit around Reeti on the descent via Waldspitz. Tourers head for the quieter ground towards Grosse Scheidegg.
Snowboarding in Grindelwald
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Freestyle runs deep in this valley, and the local snowboard club shaped the first halfpipe here by hand back in 1989.
- The White Elements Snowpark at Grindelwald-First splits into two parks, so beginners and advanced riders each get jumps, rails and boxes built for their level. The crew reshapes the setup through the season, which means you ride something slightly different in March to what you rode at Christmas. Contests such as the End of Season Jam pull in riders from across Switzerland.
- The Oberjoch beginner park sits beside the Oberjoch chairlift station, running small to medium kickers, rails and boxes. Its position at 2,500m holds snow early, so the park opens well before most others in the region. Creative obstacles keep the lines rideable whether you are landing your first box or warming up for something bigger.
- The Bärgelegg pro park stretches 850m and mixes kickers from 8m up to 20m. Builders lay it out so you can link kickers, boxes and rails in a single run rather than stopping and traversing. Bring a plan, because the bigger booters demand commitment.
- Shapers groom the halfpipe at Bärgelegg daily, and on some days they set up a bagjump alongside it. Grindelwald has run a permanent pipe since 1993, and that heritage shows in the shaping standards. Few resorts this size still maintain one.
- A Swiss-Ski recognised ski cross course starts at the Schilt lift, with rollers and banked turns that reward good line choice. Families use it as much as racers do, and nobody charges extra to ride it. Time your run against friends and the afternoon disappears
Accommodation in Grindelwald
What accommodation is available when I ski in Grindelwald?
Whats available in Grindelwald
Après-ski in Grindelwald
- Avocado BarGood beer, a lively room and an Eiger-facing terrace, with live bands often on a Thursday evening. The least formal spot in the village.
- Espresso Bar, Hotel Spinne Central, easy to find, with a daily happy hour between 5pm and 7pm and live music most Sunday evenings from 10pm.
- Gepsi Bar, Hotel EigerComfortable sofas and live music in high season, and a calmer choice than the main street bars.
- Chuglä Bar A glass igloo dome on Eigerplatz in front of the tourist office, and a fine place to catch the sunset on the north face.
- C und M A café, bar and restaurant in a wooden chalet at the First end of town, handy on the way home.
- Kleine Scheidegg On-mountain bars including a teepee tent, with the long descent to Grindelwald or Wengen still to come.
- Mescalero, Hotel Spinne One of the two main clubs in the village, with late live acts on occasion.
Facilities in Grindelwald
Ski hire starts at the Terminal, where you can rent equipment before stepping onto the lifts, and shops along Dorfstrasse handle boards, boots, servicing and forgotten gloves. The Sportzentrum covers the wellness side with a swimming pool, a baby pool, a waterslide and a wellness area, plus an indoor rope park and an artificial ice rink open all winter. A hotel guest card earns you discounted entry. Shopping runs to watches, chocolate, delis and ski gear. Public buses and shuttles make getting around the Jungfrau Region straightforward, and trains link you to Wengen and Interlaken.
Facilities for children
Families get a lot out of this valley. The Swiss Ski School Grindelwald teaches children from three years old in small groups or privately, and its Kinderland at the Bodmi Arena covers everything from first steps to sledging and snow tubing. The Snowli Children's Club on Bodmi gives younger children a base at the centre of the nursery slopes, with afternoon or full-day care and meals. Higher up, the Männlichen children's paradise sits beside the mountain station at 2,232m, and Lily's Fun Slope at First plus two more Lily Slopes at Kleine Scheidegg add obstacles to play on. Off the snow, try the ice rink, the pool, and the 3.5km Jungfrau Eiger Run from Alpiglen to Brandegg, floodlit for night sledging.
Why Choose Grindelwald
Incredible value holidays: We’ll beat any competitor’s price, giving you the best value for money.
Huge choice of accommodation: Choose from bargain breaks, 5-star premium deals and so much more.
Customisable travel: We specialise in fully customisable ski holidays; offering a wide range of options to suit all tastes and budgets.
Fully protected bookings: We’re ABTOT and ATOL members and abide by their Code of Conduct.
5-star Trustpilot reviews: We pride ourselves on the service we provide, which is why out of 10 of our clients would recommend us.
FAQs
Is Grindelwald suitable for beginners?
Yes, and the setup works better than the low village altitude suggests. The Bodmi Arena covers 6,000m² in the middle of the village, with a conveyor belt, a platter lift, the Snowli village and a snow tubing zone. Ski school meets there, so children and nervous adults avoid chairlifts entirely. The wide blue runs of sunny First then build confidence, helped by a 30km/h slow zone. Kleine Scheidegg adds gentle cruising with huge views. One practical point: Bodmi sits apart from the main ski areas, so allow time for drop-off if you plan to ski First.
What does the Jungfrau Ski Region pass cover when I ski in Grindelwald?
One pass covers First-Grindelwald, Kleine Scheidegg/Männlichen and Schilthorn, adding up to around 204km of slopes. Grindelwald-Wengen alone offers 103km and 21 lifts, while First adds 49km of easier terrain. The Schilthorn side brings the steepest skiing. Trains, cable cars and gondolas join the areas together. The Eiger Express reaches the slopes in 15 minutes, and a 10-passenger gondola climbs to Männlichen from the same terminal. Your pass also includes the 800m First Flyer and the First Glider. Skiing all three areas in one day is possible, though two days treats them more fairly.
How reliable is the snow in Grindelwald?
The village sits at 1,034m, which sounds low, and it is. The skiing sits considerably higher. Most pistes run between 1,600m and 2,300m, with north-facing aspects beneath the Eiger holding snow through the afternoon. Terrain reaching 2,970m at the Schilthorn and snowmaking across key pistes keep conditions solid through the winter. Snowmaking also protects the valley runs home to Grindelwald and Grund. January and February deliver the coldest, most reliable cover, while March brings longer days and better light. Book deep winter for snow, March for sunshine.
How do I get to Grindelwald, and how long does the journey take?
Zurich suits most British skiers best. The road transfer takes around 2 hours 15 minutes, and rail runs a little longer with a change at Interlaken Ost. Both Zurich and Geneva airports have train stations with regular connections, and the final leg from Interlaken Ost takes 35 minutes. A direct service links Zurich Airport with Interlaken, saving roughly an hour. Geneva sits further west, so allow closer to three and a half hours. Trains run straight to Grindelwald Terminal, where two ski lifts wait for you. Erna Low arranges transfers and rail tickets alongside your accommodation.
The village has a lovely tradtional feel and the Eiger Express gets you up the mountain quickly and efficiently to get to the skiing
Rebecca Dodson, Sales Manager
