Skiing in Switzerland: The 12 Best Places to Go in 2023
Travelers heading to Grindelwald can ski in two areas. The first, Grindelwald-Wengen, is situated at the foot of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau and is home to the Lauberhorn World Cup downhill run, which runs from Lauberhorn down to Wengen over a distance of roughly 2.8 miles. Travelers looking for other outdoor activities can take advantage of Grindelwald-Wengen’s toboggan runs and world-famous hiking trails. The Eiger Express takes skiers from the Grindelwald Terminal to the Eiger Glacier in just 15 minutes. Travelers can also reach the skiing area from Grindelwald and Wengen by rack railway or by cable car. The second ski area, Grindelwald-First, is home to a snow park with a halfpipe, kickers, rails, and other features designed to send advanced skiers and snowboarders airborne. Guests can reach Grindelwald-First in about 25 minutes by taking the gondola cableway from Grindelwald.
Stats: Skiers will have 64 miles of ski runs to enjoy at Grindelwald-Wengen, and 35 at Grindelwald-First. For 75 CHF (a little less than $80 USD), adults can get a day pass that’s valid for the whole Jungfrau Region: Grindelwald-Wengen and Mürren-Schilthorn.
Where to eat and drink nearby: At Berggasthaus First, a mountain inn situated directly next to the Firstbahn gondola station roughly 7,200 feet above sea level, hungry skiers can satisfy an appetite for hearty fare and mountain views at the same time. Its casual, self-serve restaurant offers everything from Alsatian sausage salads to goulash soup, and, of course, rösti and raclette served with all types of trimmings. At the self-service restaurant Berghaus Männlichen, in picturesque Männlichen-Kleine Scheidegg, skiers and hikers can refuel with stick-to-your-bones dishes like grilled sausages, burgers, and chili-cheese hash browns. Traveling with a crew who can’t agree on a single style of cuisine? Head to the new Hotel Restaurant Fiescherblick, whose restaurant features Japanese-, Scandinavian-, and French-influenced dishes. Second only to the food are views of the Eiger North Face, the Fiescherlicka, Männlichen, and the village’s charming church. Located just above the town of Grindelwald, directly on ski run number three, cozy and rustic Jägerstübli serves burgers, bar bites, and cold beer—the perfect formula for an apres-ski feast. Travelers who don’t mind venturing a bit farther for a five-star dining experience will find it at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, in Interlaken.
Where to stay: Set in a formerly vacant building just behind Grindelwald’s white, steepled church, the new Hotel Restaurant Fiescherblick has just 19 Scandinavian-inspired rooms and is surrounded by jaw-dropping mountain views. At Hotel Eiger Selfness, staff take pride in getting to know guests on a first-name basis and helping them reconnect with both nature and themselves. Upon completion of a renovation spanning from fall into December, the hotel will unveil a refreshed entrance area.
