Grindelwald in Switzerland’s Bernese Oberland sits directly below the Eiger (3,970 m), Mönch (4,107 m) and Jungfrau (4,158 m) and offers the highest concentration of marked day hikes per square kilometre in the Alps. Interest in the region grew 60% year-over-year in 2025. The five classic routes described here range from a 5 km ridge walk to a 16 km traverse below the Eiger’s North Face.
Why Grindelwald Is the Alps’ Hottest Hiking Destination in 2026
Three factors converged to push Grindelwald to record visitor levels in 2025–2026. First, viral YouTube hiking content from outdoor creators brought global attention to the First Cliff Walk and Bachalpsee lake during 2024. Second, Jungfrau Railways completed a CHF 470 million expansion of the Eigerexpress gondola in 2023, cutting travel time to Eigergletscher station from 50 minutes to 15 minutes. Third, the region was named Best Mountain Destination at the 2025 World Travel Awards.
The result is a destination drawing hikers who previously would have gone to Chamonix, Zermatt or the Dolomites — with trail infrastructure to match. The 300 km network of maintained summer trails above Grindelwald carries over 1.2 million hikers per year, yet most routes above 2,000 m retain a sense of space that the famous valley paths have lost. For hikers who have also explored the alpine routes of Slovenia’s Triglav National Park, the scale of the Bernese Oberland walls delivers a significant step up in alpine drama.
The Five Best Hikes from Grindelwald: Distances and Details
| Route | Distance | Ascent | Difficulty | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachalpsee Lake loop | 10 km | 400 m | Easy | First gondola (CHF 55 return) |
| Eiger Trail (Eigerweg) | 13 km | 250 m up / 960 m down | Moderate | Eigergletscher station (Jungfraubahn) |
| Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg | 5 km | Net descent 150 m | Easy | Männlichen gondola (CHF 48 return) |
| First Cliff Walk by Tissot | 3.5 km | 180 m | Easy | First gondola, included in fare |
| Große Scheidegg circular | 18 km | 1,100 m | Strenuous | Grindelwald village (no lift needed) |
The Eiger Trail: Hiking Below the World’s Most Famous North Face
The Eiger Trail (Eigerweg) runs 13 km from Eigergletscher station (2,320 m) down to Alpiglen (1,615 m), tracing the base of the 1,800 m vertical North Face that saw its first ascent in 1938 after six lives were lost in earlier attempts. The trail passes within 200 m of the rock face at its closest point — close enough to hear rockfall from the upper couloirs on warm afternoons.
The route is non-technical, with well-maintained gravel paths and steel cable handrails on the steeper sections. Allow 3.5–4.5 hours. A Jungfrau Travel Pass (CHF 180 for 3 days, as of 2026) covers all mountain transport needed for a full multi-day hiking programme around the region.
Before departure, calculate your calorie needs for a sustained mountain day. Our guide to calories burned on a full hiking day provides the numbers you need — at altitude, energy expenditure rises approximately 10–15% above sea-level equivalents due to increased breathing rate and thermoregulation.
Practical Planning: Best Season, Costs and Getting There in 2026
Grindelwald trails above 2,000 m are typically snow-free from mid-June to mid-October. The 2025–26 winter had above-average snowfall across the Bernese Oberland — confirm trail opening dates for the Bachalpsee loop and upper Eiger Trail via the Jungfrau Region website before any June visit.
- Accommodation: Grindelwald village hotels range from CHF 85 (budget guesthouses) to CHF 280 (4-star mountain hotels) per person per night. Book 3–4 months ahead for July–August; May, June and September typically have same-month availability.
- Transport from Zurich: Direct Intercity trains take 2h 20min (CHF 68 one way, Swiss Half-Fare Card halves this). From Bern, the journey is 1h 45min via Interlaken Ost.
- Gondola passes: The 3-day Jungfrau Travel Pass (CHF 180) covers First, Männlichen, Eigergletscher and the cogwheel railway to Kleine Scheidegg.
A lightweight 18–22 L daypack is ideal for gondola-assisted hikes where you ride the lift up and walk down — full expedition loads are unnecessary and slow the technical descent sections.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do the Grindelwald hiking trails open in 2026?
Valley trails below 1,200 m are accessible year-round. Routes between 1,200 and 2,000 m typically open in April–May. High-altitude trails like the Bachalpsee loop (max 2,265 m) and the Eiger Trail usually become snow-free by mid-June. Following the above-average 2025–26 snowpack, check the Jungfrau Region trail status map before visiting before July 2026.
How fit do you need to be to hike around Grindelwald?
The Männlichen–Kleine Scheidegg route (5 km, easy) suits complete beginners. The Bachalpsee loop (10 km, 400 m ascent) is accessible to anyone who walks regularly. The Eiger Trail (13 km, 960 m descent) requires good fitness and care on the descent. The Große Scheidegg circular (18 km, 1,100 m) is a genuine mountain day requiring solid fitness and appropriate footwear.
Is Grindelwald better than Zermatt for hiking?
Grindelwald offers more variety at lower altitudes — the Bachalpsee and Eiger Trail are accessible to a wider range of fitness levels than Zermatt’s equivalent high-altitude routes. Both are comparable in cost. Grindelwald has better train access from Zurich; Zermatt requires a final leg on the car-free mountain railway from Täsch. Experienced mountain walkers typically rate Zermatt’s high-altitude routes above 2,500 m as more spectacular.
Can you hike in Grindelwald without the gondolas?
Yes. The Große Scheidegg circular (18 km, 1,100 m) starts and finishes in Grindelwald village with no lift required. The PostBus to Schwarzwaldalp (CHF 9) also accesses the Rosenlauigletscher area for a full alpine day at zero gondola cost. However, the Eiger Trail and Bachalpsee loop require gondola access to their start points and are best done point-to-point.
What is the First Cliff Walk by Tissot?
The First Cliff Walk is a 3.5 km path along the cliff edge at 2,167 m altitude, featuring a glass-floored suspension bridge that extends 45 m over the void and a 360-degree panoramic platform above Grindelwald valley. It is included with the First gondola ticket (CHF 55 return) and takes 1–1.5 hours. No technical difficulty; accessible to all fitness levels.