Ski holidays in Grindelwald, Switzerland

Grindelwald is one of Europe's most iconic ski resorts, with the mighty Eiger massif and the three famous peaks, Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, as its backdrop. A ski holiday in Grindelwald combines skiing at the highest level with one of Europe's most dramatic and famous mountain landscapes.

The ski area in the Jungfrau region offers 213 kilometres of pistes and 45 lifts, with skiing up to 2 971 metres above sea level. The pistes stretch across three separate mountains, Grindelwald-First, Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg, linked together by an efficient lift and train system that makes it easy to explore the whole region.

Jungfraujoch, known as the Top of Europe at 3 454 metres, is one of Europe's most visited tourist destinations and is reached by a unique mountain railway that runs inside the Eiger massif itself. The view from here towards the Aletsch Glacier, Europe's longest glacier, and the surrounding Alpine peaks is among the most impressive on the whole continent.

The village of Grindelwald itself has a charm and authenticity that make it one of Switzerland's most beloved holiday destinations. The wooden houses, local restaurants and well-preserved Swiss alpine culture create an atmosphere that is unique among Europe's ski resorts. Prices are high, but the experience justifies the cost.

5 tips about Grindelwald

1. Jungfraujoch Visit the Jungfraujoch, the "Top of Europe" at 3,454 metres, reached by train through the heart of the mountain. An experience nowhere else in the world can match.
2. The V-Bahn Gondola The new V-Bahn gondola (opened in 2020) is the world's most modern gondola system and links Grindelwald directly with Männlichen.
3. The Eiger north face Stand before the fearsome Eiger north face and listen to the guides' tales of the heroic attempts to climb it.
4. Day Trip to Wengen Take the train down to Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, one of Europe's most beautiful valleys with 72 waterfalls.
5. First Cliff Walk Try the First Cliff Walk by Tissot, a thrilling suspension bridge and cliff-edge platform at the top of the First mountain with uninterrupted views.

Pistes and lifts in Grindelwald

Grindelwald's ski area in the Jungfrau region offers 213 km of pistes and 45 lifts spread across three mountain sectors: Grindelwald-First, Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg. The piste network stretches from the village at 1 034 metres above sea level up to 2 971 metres, with an impressive vertical drop of 1 937 metres providing some of Switzerland's longest continuous descents. The terrain varies from wide, sun-drenched beginner pistes at Männlichen to technically demanding black runs at Kleine Scheidegg, all set against the iconic backdrop of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks.

The new V-Bahn gondola, opened in 2020, is the world's most modern gondola system and connects Grindelwald directly with Männlichen in record time. The area around Kleine Scheidegg is reached by the famous Wengernalpbahn train, giving the ski holiday a truly special character. Skiing in Grindelwald combines alpine tradition with state-of-the-art infrastructure, a combination that suits this Swiss classic perfectly. Anyone planning a ski holiday in Grindelwald can look forward to exploring the whole Jungfrau region with ease, thanks to the efficient and interconnected transport and lift system.

Piste map for Grindelwald

Download the piste map See all piste maps

The map downloads as an image file. On your iPhone it lands in the Files app. Tap the icon at the bottom of the address bar to open the map straight away.On your iPad it lands in the Files app. Tap the icon at the top right of the address bar to open the map straight away.On your phone it lands in the Downloads folder. Tap the download notification that appears to open the map straight away.The file lands in the Downloads folder. You can also look for the icon at the top right of the screen and open the map from there.

Snow reliability in Grindelwald

Grindelwald's high peaks, reaching up to 2 971 metres, provide good snow reliability throughout the core season from December to March. The upper parts of Kleine Scheidegg and the First area retain natural snow well thanks to the altitude and north-facing exposures. Snow cannons supplement the natural snow on the busiest pistes in the lower sections. A ski holiday in Grindelwald in January and February offers the most reliable snow conditions, with cold daytime temperatures around minus 3 degrees ensuring the snow retains good quality. The unique proximity to the Aletsch Glacier and the high mountains of the Jungfrau region creates a microclimate favourable for snowfall in the area.

Best time to travel to Grindelwald

The best time for a ski holiday in Grindelwald is from mid-December to the end of March. January and February offer the most stable snow conditions, with daytime temperatures around minus 3 to minus 1 degrees and clear days providing spectacular views of the Eiger's north face. March brings longer days and milder weather, perfect for combining skiing with a visit to Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe at 3 454 metres. If you want to experience Grindelwald at a more relaxed pace, January after the New Year period is a golden window, with fewer visitors and full access to all 213 km of pistes and 45 lifts in one of Europe's most majestic landscapes.

Will there be lift queues in Grindelwald?

The Kleine Scheidegg and Männlichen sector at Grindelwald carries 30,901 people an hour across 23 lifts. 14 of the 23 lifts are gondolas, cable cars or high-speed chairlifts, the kind that clear a queue quickly. The fastest lifts carry up to 2,400 people an hour, for example Wixi-Lauberhornschulter. Per kilometre of piste there is less lift capacity than at an average resort on this site, so a busy week is felt more clearly here. The queue you actually notice is almost always down in the valley between eight and half past nine. If you are on the lift before eight you avoid it.

When is Grindelwald busiest?

How busy the slopes get is not decided by the English half term but by when the local families and the neighbouring countries are on holiday. These are the weeks that fill Grindelwald in the 2026/2027 season.

• Switzerland: The Swiss Sportferien vary from canton to canton, and sometimes between municipalities in the same canton. They are spread from late January to early March, which makes the pressure more even than in the neighbouring countries.
• Germany: Germans are the largest foreign group in the Alps and their winter holidays are spread across early February.
  1 to 6 February: Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia
  8 to 12 February: Bavaria and Saarland
  8 to 19 February: Saxony and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
• England: The English February half term is 15 to 19 February 2027 for most councils, with a few areas breaking up a week earlier. The Easter holidays run from 26 March to 9 April.
  8 to 12 February: half term in a few council areas, for example Hull
  15 to 19 February: half term in most of England, including London, the Midlands and the North
  26 March to 9 April: Easter holidays for most English schools
• Easter holidays: Easter 2027 is early, on 28 March. Austria and Germany take their holidays around the weekend, while the French holidays fall after Easter, in April.
  20 to 29 March: the whole of Austria, all states at the same time
  22 March to 3 April: most German states, including Bavaria, Hesse and North Rhine-Westphalia
  3 April to 3 May: the French zones, which fall after Easter 2027 and only affect the highest resorts
• Long weekends: Long weekends fill the slopes with day visitors from the nearest cities, even when no schools are on holiday.
  26 December to 3 January: Christmas and New Year, the most expensive period of the year
  6 January: Epiphany, a public holiday in Austria, Italy and parts of Switzerland
  27 to 29 March: the Easter weekend. Easter Monday is a public holiday across the Alps, but Good Friday is a working day in Austria, Italy and France
  1 to 2 May: May Day, a public holiday across the Alps

Because the cantons spread their holidays out, the pressure is more even here than in the neighbouring countries. Mid-January and March are still the quietest weeks.

Snow right now. There is no snow cover in the valley or at the top right now. The figures are modelled by Open-Meteo, not measured by the lift company, and were fetched 16 October 2026 at 20:24.

The lift pass included. The stay comes with the Jungfrau Ski Region lift pass, which covers 204 km of piste. The pass is worth around €607.

How to get to Grindelwald

Last-minute deals in Grindelwald

Last-minute offers, that is late dates the operator still wants to fill, appear from January onwards. Once the season is under way we will show them here on this page.

Grindelwald is suitable for

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Frequently asked questions about Grindelwald