Nestled in the midst of Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region sits Grindelwald, a cheerful town with an old-world feel and absolutely heaps to do off the piste.
It is one of three ski villages in the Jungfrau Region, and shares its pistes with nearby Wengen, while the higher-up, more challenging pistes of Murren are worth a daytrip. Grindelwald has some of the most stunning mountain scenery in all the Alps; the Eiger’s world-famous vertical north wall looms over the town, and the area’s prestigious mountaineering history is ever-present.
Grindelwald regulars love the lively après ski, good restaurants, and range of adventurous things to do when not skiing. This includes zip-wires, winter hiking to accessible mountain huts, a rope park, a sports centre, and the longest sledging run in the world. A trip to Jungfraujoch is a must too. It’s the highest railway station in Europe, at 3450m, and the train runs through 100-year-old tunnels right across the Eiger’s north face to get there. At the top are restaurants and an ice palace, and views of the largest glacier in the Alps.
The skiing is somewhat marred by slow lifts and long queues, although lift developments are on the way. Getting from one side of the Jungfrau region to the other can easily take half a day. The terrain is perfect for intermediates – long cruisy reds and blues. There’s not so much for experts, unless good snow opens up the nearby off-piste.
