Located in the Bern region, 75kms southeast of the capital and southwest of Zürich, Grindelwald ski resort is one of the major ski areas of Europe, sitting at the base of the famous and imposing Mount Eiger. Family-friendly Grindelwald offers skiing for all ages and various skill levels and is a perfect base for skiing in the Jungfrau ski region.
The glacier village of Grindelwald, at 1,033m above sea level, is set against a backdrop of the Wetterhorn and the towering north face of the Eiger. Both a winter and summer resort, facilities at Grindelwald are excellent and it is well known for its shopping prowess, with many sporting goods stores lining the crowded edges of the main thoroughfare.
Grindelwald boasts a large range of accommodation, offering 11,500 beds in hotels, chalets, apartments, and lodges/dormitories. After sundown, Grindelwald transforms itself into one of the liveliest towns in the Bernese Oberland, but the après-ski is still laid-back enough to enjoy without excess. Much of the nightly entertainment is hotel-based and there are a few reasonable bars and clubs.
Grindelwald ski resort has 22 lifts, eight funiculars and a trio of cable cars. It shares more than 150kms of downhill runs in or near the resort and the longest run is 15kms. There are some world class runs, with terrain mostly suited to intermediate skiers. The lift capacity is over 20,000 skiers per hour (40,000 in the Jungfrau region).
Grindelwald is surrounded by folkloric hamlets, swift streams, and much Alpine beauty. Take a glacier tour, or trek with ropes and pitons along the north face of the Eiger. Europe's highest cog railway takes skiers and sightseers through the Eiger and the Mönch and up to a view point at 2,200m, offering breathtaking panoramas.
The ski season runs from December through to April and there is summer skiing on the Jungfraujoch Glacier. Special rates are offered before the Christmas holidays, in mid-January, and in mid-March. The best way to get here is to fly to Zürich and take a train, via Interlaken, to Grindelwald ski resort.
