Grindelwald Ski Resort Review
Grindelwald, set against the backdrop of the Bernese Oberland Mountains, is a small mountain village famous for the Eiger. Grindelwald is stunning and has access to its own slopes via a scenic train ride from the village. Forming part of the wider Jungfrau ski region, Grindelwald is a fantastic snowboard destination for epic Swiss Alps scenery, a traditional mountain village and more than enough terrain to keep you occupied.
Photo @dilolwa
GRINDELWALD FIRST IMPRESSIONS
My journey to Grindelwald took me to the resort by train from Geneva. Arriving in Grindelwald by train is an incredible way to get to a ski resort. The Swiss rail system is efficient and easy to navigate and offers some of the most scenic rail journeys in the world. As the train wound its way up towards the village of Grindelwald it is impossible to not be impressed by the surrounding mountains.
The village and ski area of Grindelwald sit under the impressive north face of the Eiger, however equally impressive are the peaks on Jungfrau and Mönch which are visible from the Grindelwald Wengen ski area. Grindelwald offers extensive terrain with a mix of trails for various abilities, some impressive off-piste and a beautiful setting that will be sure to make any ski trip special. When you consider that the Jungfrau ski area combines with Adelboden-Lenk, Gstaad, and Meiringen-Hasliberg to form the Top 4 Ski Pass, there are plenty of options here.
GRINDELWALD SKI AREA
Grindelwald ski area and the wider Jungfrau region, encompass 211km of pistes across three mountain ranges, Grindelwald-Wengen, Grindelwald-First and Mürren-Schilthorn . Not many ski areas can claim such a fantastic backdrop with the peaks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau all overlooking the slopes.
Locally Grindelwald-Wengen has 155km of pistes with a good amount of intermediate terrain serviced by 33 chairlifts. The 14% of advanced terrain is supplemented with some exceptional off-piste. Some areas are designated as non-ski zones to protect the local wildlife that resides in the region so be sure to look out for signs. There is around 1400m of vertical drop at Grindelwald-Wengen and this can lead to quite drastic changes in conditions. The higher reaches of the resort maintain a good quality of snow throughout the season however lower pistes can suffer.
GRINDELWALD TERRAIN
There are a number of mellow runs around the resort so beginners will feel they are able to explore. If you are looking to learn for the first time the Bodmi nursery slope could be a good location to start. Intermediates will love the longer blue and red runs that are perfect for cruising around the resort. Kleine Scheidegg is particularly good for this with number 21 piste making an excellent run back down to the Grindelwald terminal if the snow is good. On piste terrain is limited for advanced skiers and snowboarders with the majority of challenging terrain reliant on good snowfall off-piste.
GRINDELWALD SEASON DATES
Grindelwald normally opens in late November and closes in mid-April. For up to date opening and closing dates check here.
GRINDELWALD PISTE MAP
GRINDELWALD PROS
Grindelwald is a great base for intermediate skiers or boarders with a good choice of long reds and blue pistes
Grindelwald has some amazing scenery that is quite literally jaw-dropping.
Getting the train to the ski resort of Grindelwald is a unique and very cool experience.
Grindelwald has a large vertical drop of nearly 1400m.
Ability to come Grindelwald with a trip to other Top 4 ski areas Adelboden-Lenk, Gstaad, and Meiringen-Hasliberg
Grindelwald could be the perfect eco-ski trip. Travel from the UK by train all the way to the mountains.
GRINDELWALD CONS
Grindelwald is quite literally overshadowed by the Eiger, beautiful to look at but wouldn't mind more sunshine!
The village and trains can be overcrowded with tourists at peak times.
Runs lower down towards the village can suffer in the late and early season due to low altitude.
GRINDELWALD GALLERY
GRINDELWALD LIFT PASSS
Depending on the length of your stay and your adventure level there are a few different lift pass choices in Grindelwald. Most people visiting for a one week trip will be more then happy with the local area pass covering Grindelwald-Wengen. This pass gives you access to the local 155km area and costs around 300CHF for 6days.
If you are looking to explore wider afield and want to take advantage of the larger Jungfrau ski region then a Jungfrau pass is around 370CHF.
Skiers and snowboarders looking for a longer trip or multiple trips throughout the season should consider buying the season pass which is available at early bird prices for under 700CHF. This pass includes the area of Grindelwald-Wengen the wider Jungfrau and the resorts of Mürren, Gstaad, Adelboden and Meiringen.
TRAVEL TO GRINDELWALD
The ski resort of Grindelwald is located in central Switzerland near the town of Interlaken. Interlaken will be the major transit point for most visitors heading to Grindelwald by train with the town only 40 minutes away from the station of Interlaken Ost. From Interlaken, you can connect with all major cities and therefore the major international airports in Geneva, Zurich and Basel. Taking the train to the resort is a great option with the scenery on the journey from Geneva to Grindelwald ensuring the journey isn’t tedious.
If you fancy the drive, the transfer times from major airports are similar times to the train journeys. One advantage with driving is not needing to change vehicle along the route which will happen a couple of times on the train journey.
GRINDELWALD ACCOMMODATION
On my trip to Grindelwald, I was staying lower than the village itself along the train route from Interlaken to Grindelwald. The setting was a perfect Swiss chalet-style apartment with views across the valley in all directions. The novelty of getting the train to the resort was great and I would recommend this as an option.
The village of Grindelwald itself has plenty of variety of accommodation options as it is a year-round tourist destination.