Grindelwald First is a fantastic destination in the Swiss Alps, offering so many things to do from hiking to biking.
It provides a diverse and unforgettable experience for travelers of all ages and interests.
In this guide, I’ll share the top 10 things that you can enjoy in Grindelwald First, making it a must-visit destination.
Enjoy outdoor adventures.
Table of Contents
Grindelwald First Gondola
The first thing to do in Grindelwald First is riding the gondola. This is about a 25-minute ride to the top.
Your journey will begin in the heart of the village of Grindelwald at the Grindelwald First Gondola station. This is a 10-minute walking distance from the train station.
You’ll cross the beautiful village and already have amazing views of mountains like the Eiger.
The gondola ride is really great and I always enjoy it. You will have so much time to enjoy the views of the Eiger and the Mittelhorn.
Also, you’ll see some rolling hills and people enjoying adventure activities which will get you ready to experience them yourself.
I recommend getting all the way up first, so stay inside the gondola at the multiple Gondola stations and enjoy the ride.
Enjoy the scenic gondola ride to the top, climbing to an altitude of 2,184 m (7,165 ft.)
A round-trip ticket costs CHF 68
Check the current timetable here
First Cliff Walk
Get your adrenaline pumping and walk on air at the Tissot Cliff Walk. The First Cliff Walk is quite a scary but pretty fun walk around the Cliff of the Grindelwald First.
Right off the gondola, you’ll see signs to go to the Tissot Cliff Walk and the Bachalpsee. Follow the signs to go to the Cliff Walk and experience your first thrilling activity, and it’s totally free.
It is open to anyone who is not afraid of heights or is ready to confront those fears. You can take strollers there, and as it’s flat, all visitors will be okay getting there too.
You will walk on the path with great views of the valley, but above all, you’ll walk along the cliff and will even cross a hanging bridge, which can be scary for some.
After this, you’ll arrive at the elevated viewing platform which will offer an amazing place for pictures and views in general.
As the spot is great, of course, it’s often crowded.
First View
The First View gives you some other views of the whole valley.
After the Cliff Walk, you’ll arrive back at the gondola station and the Berggasthaus First restaurant and see the famous picture spot with views of mountains.
There is typically a 30-minute line. But I would recommend going to the new First View spot just a few meters away from the restaurant.
They have built a cool platform with lots of triangles, which allows many people to take pictures at the same time. It’s never busy and probably a better use of your time given all the activities that are coming up.
Keep in mind, if you are there early, the main platform will be less crowded, and you will be able to take some great pictures too. So, take advantage of the new photo op at the First View.
Berggasthaus First
The Berggasthaus First is a panorama restaurant where you can eat lunch and enjoy a beautiful view.
After all the views, you can have lunch at the mountain restaurant Berggasthaus First, which has a great terrace with amazing views of the mountains.
From there, you can have part of the group waiting for the other part to take pictures on the elevated platform.
There is also a shop with lots of souvenirs from watches to cowbells to the famous Trauffer wooden cows. If you have more time, sit in the table service section.
If you are alone or want to grab something quickly, go for the self-service section. They provide both. So, enjoy a meal or grab a beer at the 360° panorama restaurant.
Bachalpsee Hike
After taking in all the views from the gondola, First Cliff Walk, First View, and Berggasthaus First, I highly recommend the Bachalpsee hike.
This hike is about 6 km (4 miles) round trip and takes approximately 3 hours for the round trip.
It’s open to almost everyone. It starts a little steep, but after this, it gets much better. The hike is also open in the winter.
You can walk on the snow, and there is a path that is traced for people who want to go to the lake during the winter.
The views from the lake are just stunning. The lake looks like an infinity pool with views of mountains in the background.
I would recommend going around the lake and even a bit further up to get different views of the lake and the mountains.
You can picnic by the lake too before heading back to Grindelwald First for more adventure.
First Flyer
The First Flyer is an adventure activity you can experience at Grindelwald First.
This is a zip line that will make you fly until the intermediary station Schreckfeld with incredible views of the mountains along the way. You can do this riding with friends next to you.
The ride starts from the gondola station and ends in Schreckfeld, from where you can do other activities.
The First Flyer is open both in summer and winter with short seasonal closures in November and April.
Price: CHF 31
For ticket click here
First Glider
With First Glider, you are going to go all the way up and down on the zip line.
From Schreckfeld, you can experience the First Glider. In this activity, you will be with four people riding a giant eagle.
You’ll go up very fast all the way to the Grindelwald First gondola station and then back down to Schreckfeld.
I prefer the First Glider over the First Flyer because you can experience two different directions and have much less wait time.
If you have a short time then definitely pick this activity over the First Flyer. To do this activity, you need to take a gondola from the top to Schreckfeld.
Fly through the Alps like an eagle (or Superman or Homelander).
Price: CHF 31
For ticket click here
Mountain Cart
After the two zip line activities, you can do the mountain cart from the intermediary station Schreckfeld.
The mountain carts simply use gravity to get down with breaks at your disposal. You will enjoy a very scenic ride from Schreckfeld to Bort, the next intermediary station.
You can go at your own pace but can get some speed if you want. One thing to note about the mountain cart is that you have some pretty long wait lines in the afternoon.
I would recommend it for younger teenagers to enjoy the activity.
Price: CHF 21
For ticket click here
Trotti Bike
The last adventure activity you can experience in the Grindelwald First is the Trotti Bike.
Hop on a Trotti Bike at Bort and ride all the way back to Grindelwald Valley.
Many people overlook this activity as the rest of the activities might have taken too long by then, but trust me, you will love it.
You will have less wait time for Trotti Bike compared to other activities. It is also known as a scooter bike or downhill bike.
Like the mountain cart, you will let gravity get you down the mountain all the way to Grindelwald First gondola station where you’ll bring the Trotti Bike back.
You can go much faster than the mountain cart. I also prefer the scenery of the Trotti Bike part.
Price: CHF 21
For ticket click here
Bort
If you have family, you will love Bort and its huge playground.
Children can enjoy activities like sliding, mini trampoline, and swing at the alpine playground at the Bort station. Also, the playground is free to use.
It is an intermediary station that is really worth going to either by walking up from Grindelwald or going down from the First.
The views are great from Bort, and you will see fewer people here usually.
The views of the Mittelhron and the green hills above Grindelwald from Bort are stunning.
