Travel to Grindelwald with ski insurance from Essential Travel

Grindelwald boasts excellent facilities and an array of shops along its bustling thoroughfare. The village lies at 1,033m above sea level and has the backdrop of the north face of the Eiger, as well as the equally impressive Wetterhorn, Jungfrau and the Mönch.

Grindelwald ski resort has access to 150kms of well-groomed slopes, the longest of which is an impressive 15kms. Intermediate skiers and snowboarders are very well catered for with 50 per cent of the terrain, while beginners and advanced level skiers share the rest. There are 22 lifts, including eight funiculars and three cable cars, with a capacity for 20,000 skiers per hour.

Other winter activities and facilities include: Europes longest sledge run, seven kilometres of skating tracks, 80kms of hiking trails, heli-skiing, mountaineering, snow rafting, snowshoeing and curling. There is also a well-equipped sports centre. Additionally, the après-ski scene is a lively affair.

The Grindelwald ski season runs from December to April, with summer skiing on the Jungfraujoch Glacier. The cheapest rates are offered before the Christmas holidays. The most convenient means for getting to Grindelwald is to fly to Zürich and take a train.

Skiing in Grindelwald

Grindelwald is the largest ski resort in the Jungfrau ski region, which lies to the south of the Swiss capital, Bern, and enjoys the wonderful views of the Eiger, Wetterhorn, Jungfrau and Monch peaks. There are 150kms of great ski and snowboard slopes for novices up to an advanced level.

The longest run at Grindelwald ski resort is 15kms and the 150kms of slopes are divided into 30 per cent for beginners; 50 per cent for intermediates and 20 per cent for advanced skiers. Twenty-two lifts have an hourly uplift capacity in excess of 20,000 people and serve all pistes. In addition to the groomed slopes, there are 34kms of cross-country trails.

Lying at over 1,000m above sea level, Grindelwald is a great place to stay and has commendable facilities and shopping. There are cafés and restaurants galore and accommodation is extensive, with 11,500 beds available in luxury hotel/resorts, chalets and apartments. An excellent ski kindergarten is on hand.

The best snow conditions are generally in February, and the December to April season offers its best rates pre-Christmas holidays. The quickest way to Grindelwald ski resort is to take a flight to Zürich and hire a car. A more practical and convenient option is to take a train from Zürich Airport, via Interlaken, to the resort.

Après-ski in Grindelwald

Lodgings are in hotels, chalets, apartments and dormitories, and there are over 11,000 beds available. Snowshoeing and ice-skating are among the other activities offered at Grindelwald; while the après-ski is vibrant, but not excessive, with numerous restaurants, bars and discos, as well as hotel-based entertainment.

Away from the slopes, a drive around the area will reveal some quaint little villages and wonderful landscapes. Trekking on the Eiger is an enjoyable experience, while Europe’s highest cog railway takes skiers and sightseers through the Eiger to a view point at 2,200m, with breathtaking panoramas. Alternatively, Sion, to the southwest, makes an ideal daytrip from Grindelwald.

Transportation in Grindelwald

Located 75kms southeast of Bern, in the canton of Bern, Grindelwald ski resort is straightforward to get to, with access provided by both road and rail. Flying to Zürich and taking the train is the most popular travel option; frequent trains run from London to Zurich, with onward connections. Alternatively self-drive is also popular.

By car from the UK, the quickest route uses autoroutes and autobahns and goes via the cities of Reims, Metz, Strasbourg, Basel and Lucerne, from where the A8 goes to Interlaken and routes 9 and 44 go to Grindelwald (935kms; ten hours). If you fly to Zürich International Airport and hire a car, head for Interlaken along the A20/A4 and A8 autobahns, and then take routes 9 and 44.

Travelling by train involves several changes from the UK. Eurostar trains connect with Paris, gare du Nord, several times a day. Take the metro to gare de Lyon, from where a high-speed TGV goes to Lausanne, an intercity heads to Bern and a regional goes to Interlaken. You can complete the journey to Grindelwald by regional train.

Bern-Belp is the nearest airport, but Zürich International Airport is the best airport to fly to, with regard flight and transfer options. There is a rail terminal at the airport with two trains an hour, going via Interlaken, and taking three to four hours.

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