Family and Kids
Family Travels: three days in Grindelwald
A great destination for the summer is the village of Grindelwald located in the mountainous region of Eiger/Mönch & Jungfrau in the Swiss canton of Bern.
Grindelwald by night
Just thirty minutes from the Ballenberg openair museum near Brienz and 15 minutes from Interlaken (between the two lakes of Thun & Brienz), Grindelwald has lots to offer to families with children of all ages. You can go hiking, climbing, swimming in and outdoors and of course go up to the Jungfraujoch.
Three days is ideal for a short stay. Here are a few suggestions of what you may want to do:
Day One:
After checking into your hotel, take the First cable in front of the Sunstar Hotel and stop at the station Bort (1570 meters). Children will enjoy the large outdoor alpine playground. It has a toboggan, a net, slides, a trampoline and a little stream. Parents can wait on the many benches. There are two restaurants up there. It is also a great place to have a pick-nick.
Bort alpine playground
From Bort, follow the easy path back down to Grindelwald First or train station. It will take you circa 1h15 minutes, depending how quickly you walk or how many pictures you take! You will enjoy the beautiful rolling hills, small chalets and cows roaming on the grass and the countless mountain flowers blooming at this time of the year.
Mountain path Bort-Grindelwald
In the evening I recommend the Pizzeria Italian Restaurant da Salvi on the Dorfstrasse just next to First station. It has great food and a quick and friendly service.
Cost: with half-fare card one way for two adults and a child under 6 is 16 CHF.
Day Two:
Use the bus card given to you at the reception of your hotel and take the bus to the Grund/Männlichen cable-station. There take the gondola to Männlichen located at 2227 meters. From up there you can do numerous hikes for instance to Kleine Scheidegg or down to Mürren or back to Grindelwald. There is a possibility to get out at the middle station at Holenstein and to walk from there or climb up!
Männlichen moutain views with alpine flowers
Something easy would be to hike to the top of Männlichen for the station. Depending on how quickly your children walk it can take round trip 1h05 minutes. The views are amazing and again you will a wide variety of alpine flowers.
There is a restaurant self service with great views of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau peaks. It offers a children menu for 7.50 CHF and it has delicious apricot tarts. Otherwise I can recommend a pick-nick on the grass.
The children will love the playground just outside the cable-station. There is much to do and even a large blow up mattress to jump on.
Cost for two ways: 54 CHF for 2 adults with 1 child under 6
View from Männlichen top
In the evening enjoy a fitness session at the Sunstar Hotel for 15 CHF or use the city sport center where you can use the sauna, swimming pool and much more.
Day Three:
Take the gondola First all away to the top at 2168 meters and hike to lake Bachalpsee. The hike will take you round trip 2 hours. The lake is located at 2265 meters and offers great views of the nearby mountains. If you hiking on a clear day, you will be able to see the reflections of the Schreckhorn peak into the lake.
Bachalpsee, Bernese mountains
Plan enough food and drinks as you won’t find anything on the way. The only restaurant is at the First cablecar station. The way to the lake is quite easy. On the way back to First if you are up to it you could decide to fly down to the next station Schrekfeld with the First Flyer at a speed of 80 km/per hour.
Cost Grindelwald to First for 2 adults and 1 child under 6 is 74.80 CHF with half fare card.
Have a great time in Grindelwald!
Grindelwald ! décor de rêves…l’air dans ces sommets doit être des meilleurs et quelles belles vues, c’est un régal des yeux !