Grindelwald-First - Top of Adventure — Attraction in Grindelwald

Grindelwald, a charming Swiss mountain village, is a paradise for tourists seeking adventure, natural beauty, and alpine experiences. Nestled amidst the majestic Swiss Alps, Grindelwald offers a plethora of activities that cater to all types of travelers. One of the highlights of visiting Grindelwald is the exhilarating mountain biking experience it provides.

The cable car ride in Grindelwald is a mesmerizing experience that transports you to the heights of the Swiss Alps, offering unparalleled views of the majestic peaks and valleys below. As you ascend in the cable car, you are treated to panoramic vistas of snow-capped mountains, lush green meadows, and crystal-clear lakes, creating a sense of awe and wonder at the beauty of nature.

Once you reach the top of Grindelwald, the real adventure begins as you prepare for an exhilarating mountain biking descent all the way down to the village. The descent offers a thrilling mix of adrenaline-pumping trails, scenic routes, and challenging terrain that will put your biking skills to the test. From winding forest paths to rocky descents and open meadows, the biking experience from the top of Grindelwald promises an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Swiss Alps.

Riding your bike all the way down without taking the cable car back not only adds an extra element of adventure and physical challenge but also allows you to fully immerse yourself in the natural surroundings and experience the mountain landscape up close. The sense of accomplishment and freedom as you navigate the trails and soak in the breathtaking views is unmatched, making the bike ride from the top of Grindelwald a truly unforgettable and rewarding experience for outdoor enthusiasts and thrill-seekers alike.

However, amidst the natural splendor and adventure that Grindelwald offers, one downside that tourists may encounter is the crowds. Especially during peak seasons, the village and its popular attractions can get quite crowded, detracting from the tranquility and serenity that one seeks in the mountains. Navigating through the bustling streets and waiting in line for activities can sometimes test your patience, but the beauty of Grindelwald makes it all worth it.

In conclusion, a visit to Grindelwald promises an unforgettable experience for tourists looking to immerse themselves in the beauty of the Swiss Alps. From thrilling mountain biking adventures to scenic cable car rides, Grindelwald offers a perfect blend of excitement and relaxation amidst stunning natural surroundings. Just be prepared for the crowds and embrace the vibrant energy of this popular tourist...

Unfortunately, Grindelwald First was one of the worst experiences we had in Switzerland. Everything else was incredible. But this was one that my wife and I were the most excited to see during our 2 week honeymoon in Switzerland. Ended up being the most disappointing.

We got to Grindelwald-First with our prepaid cable car tickets ($152 Swiss Francs / $253 Canadian dollars for 2 people). When we got there we realized that all 3 attractions were sold out for the day (first flyer, glider, and mountain cart). We were disappointed but understood that we didn’t buy those tickets ahead of time so it was our fault. Luckily, this info was provided at the ticket counter before taking the cable car so we knew we couldn’t do those attractions. But on a side note, the information stand also showed that even though it was sold out, those who had bought tickets to those attractions still had to wait between 90-150 minutes in line to even get on those attractions. That would not have worked for us even if we did have tickets.

So instead we thought we could cut our losses and go to the top of Grindelwald-First for the Cliff Walk, of which we were the most excited. We took the 25 minute cable car up to the top and once we get up there we see the Cliff Walk was closed for the day. It was so disappointing because there was nothing else to do except to wait in a very long line to take 1 picture at a viewpoint (which happened to still be open). We ended up having a quick bite to eat as we already spent time going up.

There was no indication of this closure before we took the cable car up and we would not have taken it if we knew there was nothing for us to do there. I would have asked for a refund right at the counter. We also had prepaid tickets to Jungfraujoch which were expensive on their own so we would not have also gotten the Grindelwald-First tickets for a view that we would already get from the highest point of Europe. The whole point was to do one of the attractions at least.

We left within an hour and when we got back down I went to speak with a ticket cashier and explained that the Cliff Walk was closed and we didn’t know that or we wouldn’t have wasted time going up for 25 minutes and down for another 25 minutes. She admitted that they also weren’t aware it was closed but couldn’t do anything for us such as a refund.

Huge waste a time and a really big tourist trap. There are other MUCH better areas where you can get similar views (Männlichen area) with less people and...

Very poor experience.

When we went up, it was super foggy and we can see nothing. Two (flyer and glider) out of four activities were closed. Another one (mountain cart) has ~90 minutes wait time.

We waited for 1.5 hours for the mountain cart. The requirement said that minimum height is 135cm and our daughter is 140cm so we thought she was good. A crew member checked her height at the middle of the line and told us that her height was ok. However when we were about to get on the carts, we were told that our daughter cannot reach the break of the cart so we cannot ride the carts. So we waited for 1.5 hours in cold wind for nothing and they could have told us earlier to avoid this but they didn’t.

When we were in line for the mountain carts, the fog started to go away so the glider was open. Our friends went to the line for the glider (60 minutes wait time for around 20-30 person in front). The screen on the entrance said that there were tickets available however after 1 hour wait time they were told that the tickets are sold out (people that haven’t come up to the top can purchase the tickets online or at the foot of the mountain) so only people with tickets can get it. A lot of people in front and behind them were rejected to get in too and they all waited for a long time in the line.

After this, we went to the only activity left that did not have a waiting time and was open which was the trottibike. The requirements only mentioned 125cm minimum height. While we were waiting in line to get tickets, a crew member called our friends’ son (8 years old) over to do a balance test. They asked him to try the trottibike and see if he can balance well. He was apparently a little bit nervous and not used to the trottibike yet so he failed the test. However he could ride a normal bike and we thought that he just needed a little time to get used to the trottibike however the crew member still insisted he can’t do this activity. Very weirdly that we didn’t see them check other kids.

In summary, we spent 2 hours to get to the mountain from Interlaken, paid expensive lift tickets to get on the “top of adventures”, saw nothing (due to heavy fog), and did nothing (all activities were either closed or refusing us to enter). They only mentioned height requirements on the website and in their information flyers so we thought we are all good but it turned out that we are qualified for none of them. What a...