Grindelwald First
Grindelwald First is one of the best things to do in the Swiss Alps. In a single day, you can walk along a cliff edge, race down a mountain in a mountain cart, fly over a valley on the first glider, and take in Eiger views while cowbells ring across the meadows. If you're planning a trip to Grindelwald, this guide covers everything I did, plus practical tips to help you plan your own visit.
What Is Grindelwald First?
Grindelwald First is a mountain above the village of Grindelwald in the Bernese Oberland, in the Jungfrau Region of Switzerland. It sits 2,168 metres above sea level and is known as a hotspot for adventure in summer and for skiing and snowboarding in winter.
You reach it by cable car from Grindelwald village. On the way up, the gondola stops at Bort and Schreckfeld before reaching the top station at First. Most importantly, make sure you know what you want to do or plan your activities, as queues tend to be long if too late, and each stop has different attractions. We went straight to the first cliff to avoid big crowds, and we highly recommend going here first before going for the activities like the cart and glider.
How to Get to Grindelwald First
Grindelwald is easy to reach from Interlaken by train, which makes it a great day trip if you're based in the area. From Grindelwald train station, the first cable car valley station is about a 12-minute walk. Follow the signs through the village, buy your ticket, and ride the gondola up.
Which stop to get off at:
First (top station): First Cliff Walk, mountain restaurant, Bachalpsee hike
Schreckfeld (middle station): First Glider, First Flyer, Mountain Cart
Bort: Trottibike and Mountain Views at Grindelwald First
The views are the main reason to come up here. From the top station, the Grindelwald valley falls away beneath you with peaks on every side. The mountain restaurant has a panoramic terrace overlooking the Eiger North Face, so it's a great spot to grab a coffee and rest between activities. For even better scenery, hike to Bachalpsee, a lake about an hour's walk from First. On a clear day, the snow-covered peaks reflect in the water, making it one of the region's most photographed spots.
Cowbells in the Swiss Alps
One of my favourite things about Grindelwald First was seeing the cowbells wandering around. Across the Alpine pastures, you'll hear cowbells drifting over the hillsides, a slow, uneven clang that captures the feel of rural Switzerland better than any attraction. Straight from a Bollywood movie.
If you're hiking, make sure to enjoy the moment, as these memories last a long way.
First Cliff Walk
The First Cliff Walk is the most popular thing to do at Grindelwald First, and it's free. It's a metal walkway and suspension bridge along the rock face, ending at a viewing platform that hangs out over the valley. As you walk on the metal walkway, you get a stunning view of the mountain. As long as it's clear skies, I have seen people when it's cloudy, and you can't see anything. Therefore, pick a day when it's guaranteed to be clear skies to get the best sights.
As mentioned above, I'd recommend doing the Cliff Walk first, when you're fresh and the crowds are thinner. Looking down through the walkway at the valley far below is a stomach-flip moment, even if you're comfortable with heights. If you're brave enough to walk, you can hike for an hour towards Lake Bachalpsee for spectacular lake views. Although I did not hike towards it, as we wanted to do the activities, we just walked around the cliff before heading down towards the activities.
Grindelwald Mountain Cart
The Mountain Cart is one of the most fun things to do in Grindelwald if you want speed without needing any skill. You take the first cable car to the starting point, put on a helmet, and ride down quiet, paved roads, steering and braking yourself. You do need to purchase a separate ticket for this, but the queue usually is fast, so I wouldn't rush for this until the very end.
First Glider: The Best Thing to Do in Grindelwald
For me, the First Glider was the highlight of the whole trip. This eagle-shaped ride takes four guests through the mountain scenery, and you lie flat on your stomach, so it feels like real flight. The glider is first pulled backwards up the slope at 72 km/h, then released for the swoop back down over the valley. I managed to get great views from my GoPro, which you can view here on my YouTube channel.
You have to purchase a ticket for this too, either you can do so on the spot or online. Bags will need to be placed on the sides as you get harnessed. The ride lasts roughly 5-10 minutes. As you go up looking down like an eagle, you get a stunning view overlooking the mountains, cows and carts.
If you can only do one of the flying rides, I'd choose the glider over the first flyer. Lying face-down gives you a true bird's-eye view of the valley. Whilst the other is a zipline sitting down, but glider offers much better views.
Best Time to Visit Grindelwald First
I recommend it during the summer, as everything is open, including the Mountain Cart and Trottibike. This is the best time for hiking and stunning views you get to capture. In winter, it's cold, and there are more chances of clouds being foggy, although The Glider, Flyer and Cliff Walk usually still run. You do have the addition of skiing and snowboarding.
Always check the official Jungfrau Region website for current opening times, as attractions depend on the weather.
Tips for Visiting Grindelwald First
- Plan your order. Go up to First for the Cliff Walk and Bachalpsee, then ride back down to Schreckfeld for the Glider and Mountain Cart.
- Book tickets in advance if you can. The Glider and Mountain Cart each need their own ticket but can be purchased on the spot
- Dress in layers. It can be warm in the village but cold and windy at 2,000 metres.
- Wear sturdy shoes for the Cliff Walk and any hiking.
- Check the weather before booking your visit. Clear days give the best views of the Eiger.
- Visit first thing in the morning to avoid queues and crowds, especially in peak summer.
- Take snacks with you, as stores there are generally expensive
- A water fountain can be found near the cafe, which you can fill up for free
- Take a DSLR or GoPro for activities and mountain shots if you have one
Grindelwald First offers the best of both worlds. Truly peaceful Alpine scenery with cowbells and Eiger views, and real adrenaline from the Cliff Walk, Mountain Cart and First Glider. If you're visiting the Jungfrau Region, this place deserves a full day on your itinerary. Seeing the stunning Swiss mountains was unreal, it felt like AI. The adrenaline I got from the first glider and driving down the mountain with the mountain cart was amazing. Each moment was memorable and worth it!
Have you been to Grindelwald First, or is it on your travel list? Let me know in the comments.
Check out my other blog post from Switzerland, or head over to my YouTube channel to catch the experiences.
https://adilmusa.com/a-first-timers-guide-to-geneva-switzerland/
