
Grindelwald-First is a must-visit for outdoor lovers heading to Switzerland! It was one of the highlights of our entire trip to the Swiss Alps, and we can’t recommend it enough. Still, there is a few things you should know before you go. Here’s our complete guide to the Grindelwald First Flyer, cable car, and even an exciting way to get back down from the mountain.
Our Day at Grindelwald-First Switzerland
For our last trip to this magical country, we based ourselves out of Interlaken. Our campsite was right on Lake Brienz next to the stunning town of Iseltwald Switzerland. This was the perfect spot to get to all the mountains, small towns, and hiking trails.
Grindelwald has been a place we wanted to visit for awhile, but we were overwhelmed with how much there was to see and do there! With its location also being about 30 minutes from Interlaken, we decided to dedicate an entire day to visiting Grindelwald-First.
We arrived bright and early on a sunny day in late August off one of the first trains. After a stunning walk through the village, we arrived at the Grindelwald-First cable car to head straight for the top.
Over the course of a full day, we got to experience the Grindelwald-First Flyer, hike to Lake Bachalapsee, and Grindelwald-First Cliff Walk. We even took Trottibikes to the bottom instead of the cable car!
Just something quick to note if it’s your first time in the area. “First” refers to the mountain peak above Grindelwald. The mountain is named “Grindelwald-First,” which is different then the actual Grindelwald town that sits below.
This was such an exciting and scenic day that we’ll never forget. Here’s our top 10 tips for Grindelwald-First to know before you go.
10 Tips For Grindelwald-First in Switzerland
1. How to Buy Your Tickets
There are a few different options when it comes to getting your tickets. If you’re just looking to ride the Grindelwald-First cable car up and do some hiking, then you’ll only need to pay for the that.
You can easily buy tickets at the tourist office or skip the line and book it in advance for the exact day you want. However, if you do this, know that you’d be sorely missing out on all the fun adventure activities!
Grindelwald-First has zip lines, mountain carts, and so much more. For this reason, you may want to consider the Adventure Package. This allows you to customize the amount of rides you’d like. We chose to get the Jungfrau Travel Pass, as we planned to visit multiple mountains in the region.
Not only did we have all our activities covered at Grindelwald-First, but it gave us access to all the boats, gondolas, and trains around Interlaken! Be sure to check out our 16 favorite things to do in Interlaken if you’re planning out your trip.
2. Arrive to Grindelwald-First Early
We can’t stress this one enough! If you’re going to ride the Grindelwald First Flyer or Glider, know that you’ll want to get to the cable car as soon as it opens.
Honestly, we thought we had arrived early enough boarding the cable car at 8:30am. Yet, when we got to the top at the Grindelwald-First Flyer, there was already a long line.
Don’t get us wrong… the 45 minute wait was more than worth it to fly through the sky above the mountains. Just know that by the time we got to the front of the line they were already quoting it as a 2 hour wait.
Lines are not the best way to spend your day in the great outdoors of Switzerland. Best to beat the crowds and get there super early in the morning!
3. Start at the Top
We highly recommend taking the Grindelwald-First Cable Car to the last stop to begin your day. This is because those activities we just mentioned all take off from here!
Starting at the peak will allow you to miss the initial crowds, and hopefully not wait too long in line. From there, you can work your way down the mountain by hiking or hopping back on the gondola.
Check out our itinerary from our own day below in the order we did things:
- Ride the Cable Car to the top
- Grindelwald-First Flyer
- Grindelwald-First Cliff Walk
- Lake Bachalapsee Hike
- Trottibikes to the Bottom
4. Soar on the Grindelwald-First Flyer & Glider
One of the highlights of our time in the Swiss Alps was taking the Grindelwald-First Flyer! Our anticipation was building in line, and we couldn’t contain our excitement as they strapped us into the popular zip line.
The ride may last less than a minute, but it’s the ultimate activity for thrill seekers in Grindelwald. An 800 meter long cable takes you cruising through the air for views of the surrounding mountains.
It reaches a top speed of 84km per hour, so you’re really going to get going! We didn’t have a chance to go on the Grindelwald-First Glider, but that will be at the top of our list for next visit.
On the glider you’ll be hanging headfirst so you can fly like an eagle. In comparison with the First Flyer, you’re actually lifted to the top first backwards. After that, you’ll fly down head first back to the bottom!
5. Take the Grindelwald-First Cliff Walk
This is a viewpoint that you’ve likely seen in pictures before your trip. The Grindelwald-First Cliff Walk wraps around the side of the mountain for epic shots of the Alps.
This is a great introduction to the area and something we highly recommend for those that aren’t interested in the zip lines. Just know that the steel walkway is not for the faint of heart!
You’ll also want to check out the Grindelwald-First view vantage platform. This is an amazing photo spot to remember your trip with.
6. Hike to Lake Bachalapsee
Although the entire day was fun, our absolute favorite part was the hike to Lake Bachalapsee. From the top of the cable car, head to the right to start the trail.
This 5.4 km round trip loop takes you to the lake on a scenic pathway. The beginning is uphill, but we found it to be pretty easy compared to other hikes we did in Switzerland.
We also saw plenty of families with younger kids on the path. In total, it took us about 2.5 hours to complete with stops.
Once we arrived at Lake Bachalapsee we couldn’t believe how beautiful it was. This view is what Swiss dreams are made of!
We had packed some sandwiches so we stopped here for a bit and relaxed next to the water. It’s also common to see people swimming there on a hot summer day. Check out our complete guide to the Lake Bachalapsee hike before your visit.
7. Grab a Bite at Berggasthaus First
If you’re not planning to bring your lunch, you could always stop in for a meal at Berggasthaus First. This restaurant has stunning mountain views and a great menu of traditional Swiss dishes.
The views also make the outdoor area a great spot for a drink to cap off your day. It’s located at the top station of the Grindelwald-First cable car.
8. Grindelwald-First Trottibikes & Mountain Carts
Don’t feel like taking the Grindelwald-First Cable Car both ways? Then we have a surprise for you!
For a real adventure, you can rent trottibikes or mountain carts to ride it all the way back to the bottom. We went with the trottibikes, which are kind of like a mix between a bicycle and scooter.
The paved pathway takes you on winding turns down the mountainside back to Grindelwald village. They also provide helmets for both activities. As with the First Flyer and Glider, you will want to get your rentals as early as possible in the summer to avoid missing your chance.
The other option would be to hike down instead. If you’re planning on doing this, we recommend getting an early start from the top so you have time for everything.
9. Stay Overnight in Grindelwald Switzerland
After a fun day at Grindelwald-First, we headed back to our campsite on Lake Brienz. Yet, we were kind of bummed we didn’t choose to spend a couple nights in Grindelwald after seeing the town.
Little did we know, you can actually spend the night at the top of the mountain, too! The rooms are basic, but you will experience the mountain like few others do. Just know it’s literally at the top, so the only way to get here is with the cable car.
We’ve listed more of the most highly-rated accommodations below. The other advantage of this is you can wake up and be first in line to get on the Grindelwald-First Cable Car.
10. Explore More Mountains of Jungfrau
After Grindelwald-First, know there are so many other amazing mountains to discover in the Jungfrau region. Be sure to check out the magic of Jungfraujoch, Harder Kulm, and Schynige Platte on your own visit.
Harder Klum is located right in Interlaken and the best way to get a view of the main town. We took a scenic trail from there that looped around the mountain.
Jungfraujoch is the most popular attraction in the area and home to the highest railway in Europe. You’ll need to take both a gondola up then train through the mountain to get here.
Schynige Platte is another historic train ride you won’t want to miss. We took the Panorama Ridge Trail at the top and it ended up being one of our favorite hikes!
For an extremely unique experience, you’ll want to grab a Schilthorn brunch at the top of Plz Gloria. This was the filming location for the James Bond movie “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service” and offers truly one of a kind views above the Alps. Make sure to read all our top Switzerland travel tips before planning your trip.
Have any questions on this article or want to share your own experience at Grindelwald-First Switzerland? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake