Grindelwald First — Alpine Panorama

The Grindelwald tour from Zurich takes you to one of the most iconic villages in the Swiss Alps. Nestled in a glacial valley of the Bernese Oberland, dominated by the Eiger (3,967 m), the Mönch (4,107 m) and the Jungfrau (4,158 m), Grindelwald is a legendary hub of world mountaineering. This Swiss Alps excursion from Zurich combines breathtaking panoramas with adventure activities in an exceptional natural setting. The Grindelwald tour from Lucerne is also possible via Interlaken.

The gondola ride from Grindelwald to First takes approximately 25 minutes and is itself a visual spectacle. As the cabin ascends above the valley, the landscape unfolds in all its grandeur: Alpine meadows dotted with traditional chalets gradually give way to high-altitude pastures, then rocky crests crowned with snow. At the summit, at 2,168 metres, the view is breathtaking — the Eiger, Wetterhorn, Schreckhorn and the entire Jungfrau massif form a natural amphitheatre of rock and ice.

The First Cliff Walk and High-Altitude Thrills

The First Cliff Walk is the highlight for many visitors. This metal walkway, anchored into the cliff face and suspended above the void, leads to a panoramic viewing platform shaped like an arm reaching out towards the peaks. The sensation of walking literally through the sky, with the abyss below your feet and the Alpine giants within arm's reach, is both vertiginous and exhilarating.

For thrill-seekers, the First Flyer is unmissable: this 800-metre zip line sends you soaring over the Alpine pastures at 84 km/h, wind in your face, nothing but air below. The First Glider, a tandem hang-glider platform, offers a unique sensation of gliding flight above the Alpine landscape. And the Mountain Cart, an all-terrain tricycle, provides a fun 4-kilometre descent through the meadows — an activity that delights children and adults alike.

Lake Bachalp — An Alpine Jewel at the Foot of the Jungfrau

Hikers have access to an exceptional network of marked trails. The most popular leads to Lake Bachalp (Bachalpsee), an Alpine jewel nestled at 2,265 metres. This mountain lake, whose crystal-clear waters perfectly reflect the surrounding peaks, is one of the most iconic images of Switzerland. The return hike takes approximately two hours on an accessible and well-maintained trail, with breathtaking panoramas at every turn.

Grindelwald, the 'Glacier Village', sits at 1,034 metres at the foot of the Eiger's north face, one of the most famous and most feared walls in the history of mountaineering. This authentic Bernese Oberland village is the gateway to a region offering an unmatched density of Alpine experiences in Switzerland.

The First Adventure Park — Guaranteed Thrills

Grindelwald First (2,168 m) is far more than a simple viewpoint. The First Adventure Park offers four adrenaline-pumping attractions: the First Cliff Walk, a cantilevered metal walkway with a glass floor suspended above the void; the First Flyer, an 800-metre zip line soaring over the pastures at 80 km/h; the First Glider, a flying platform that simulates the flight of an eagle; and the First Mountain Cart, a go-kart descent on a 3 km course. The hike to Bachalpsee (45 minutes), a high-altitude lake where snow-capped peaks are perfectly reflected in crystalline waters, is one of the classics of Swiss hiking.

The Eiger North Face, this 1,800-metre wall of rock and ice towering above Grindelwald, is a monument of world mountaineering. Its first ascent in 1938, by an Austrian-German rope team after several tragic attempts (the Eiger was nicknamed 'the killer mountain'), remains one of the most remarkable exploits in the history of mountaineering. The Eiger Trail, a 2-hour path at the base of the wall between Eigergletscher and Alpiglen, allows you to appreciate the terrifying verticality of this face from below — an experience that leaves a lasting impression.

The Eiger North Face — A Monument of World Mountaineering

The Eiger Express, a tri-cable gondola inaugurated in 2020, links the Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher in just 15 minutes, making access to Jungfraujoch faster than ever. The floor-to-ceiling glass cabins offer a spectacular view of the seracs and crevasses of the Eiger Glacier during the ascent. The Grindelwald Terminal itself, a contemporary architecture of wood and glass, has become a modern tourism hub with restaurants and shops.

Mürren, a car-free village perched on a terrace at 1,638 m above the Lauterbrunnen Valley, is one of the most magical places in the region. Accessible only by funicular from Stechelberg or by train from Lauterbrunnen, this preserved village offers a frontal view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The Piz Gloria, a revolving restaurant at the summit of the Schilthorn (2,970 m) accessible from Mürren, is famous for serving as the setting for the James Bond film 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' (1969). The Bond World 007 interactive exhibition at the summit will delight fans of the franchise.

Mürren, the Schilthorn and James Bond

The Lauterbrunnen Valley below is a natural gem that Tolkien visited in 1911 and which inspired the valley of Rivendell. Its 300-metre vertical cliffs harbour 72 waterfalls. The Trümmelbach Falls, inside the mountain, are the only underground waterfalls in Europe accessible by lift — ten glacial cascades surge through the rock at flows reaching 20,000 litres per second.

Wengen, another car-free village accessible by cogwheel train, is perched facing the panorama of the Jungfrau. Its Belle Époque atmosphere, historic hotels and panoramic trails make it a charming alternative to the dynamism of Grindelwald. It is also the finishing point of the famous Lauberhorn downhill, the longest Alpine ski race in the world (4.5 km).

The Lauterbrunnen Valley and Its Waterfalls

Interlaken, between Lakes Thun and Brienz, is the natural gateway to the entire region. The Höheweg, the central promenade lined with gardens and Belle Époque hotels, offers a frontal view of the Jungfrau. Thrill-seekers will find paragliding, bungee jumping, canyoning and rafting. The Harder Kulm (1,322 m), accessible by funicular, offers the finest viewpoint over both lakes and the surrounding peaks.

On the gastronomic side, the region is famous for its meringues with Gruyère cream, a speciality of the Bernese Oberland. Alpine dairies produce hard cheeses with pronounced flavours, and mountain restaurants like the Bergrestaurant First or the Piz Gloria combine mountain cuisine with exceptional panoramas.

Interlaken — Capital of Adventure Sports

Interlaken, between Lakes Thun and Brienz, is Switzerland's capital of adventure sports and the natural gateway to the Bernese Oberland. The Höheweg, the central promenade lined with gardens and Belle Époque hotels, offers a frontal view of the Jungfrau. Thrill-seekers will find paragliding, bungee jumping, canyoning and rafting. The Harder Kulm (1,322 m), accessible by funicular, offers the finest viewpoint over both lakes and surrounding peaks.