Grindelwald First is a popular place to visit in the Jungfrau Region, Switzerland. You can spend a few hours in Grindelwald by heading up to Mt. First (pronounced Feerst), which is a great way to enjoy all the adventures in the Swiss Alps. This guide will show you how to make the most of your time at Grindelwald First to have the best possible experience.
Where is Grindelwald First?
Grindelwald First is at 2167 meters (7109 feet) above sea level. It is approximately 92km (57 miles) from Zurich, and 74km (45 miles), from Bern. Grindelwald lies in the heart Swiss Alps. You’ll find many stunning peaks around this community, including the Mannlichen Mountain at 2,343 meters (7687 feet) and the Wetterhorn (3,692 m), 12112 feet.
Grindelwald is one of the most popular ski resorts in the Jungfrau Region. While Interlaken is a good option, we recommend that you stay directly in Grindelwald or up the mountain at Berggasthaus First.
From Grindelwald to the First
The Romantik Hotels Schweizerhof is a Grindelwald hotel next to the train station. This is a great spot to explore the area, and it’s also a great place for storing our bags as we travel up to Grindelwald First for the evening. After we checked out and had our bags stored for the night (we would return in one day to continue our Grindelwald adventures), we set off on the Grindelwald First Gondola carrying an overnight bag. It was time for a thrilling adventure on the mountain.
Grindelwald-First Gondola
We walked about 10 minutes from downtown Grindelwald to First Station, where we took the gondola to First Station. Riding the gondola takes about 25 minutes, which is an amazing adventure. The stunning views of the mountains are visible for 25 minutes. You should always have your camera with you!
You will reach Bort and Schreckfeld at the end of the route. But you don’t need to worry, as you will continue until Grindelwald First. There are many things to do once you reach the top. Tickets for Firstbahn start at 64 CHF and include a return trip (32CHF if you have a Swiss Travel Pass).
Hiking to Lake Bachalp (Bachalpsee).
We checked in at Berggasthaus First, where we stored our bags for a hike to Lake Bachelor. You will find many photos of Lake Bachalp when you travel around Switzerland. It is one of the most photographed and scenic spots in Switzerland.
It takes just over an hour to hike to Lake Bachelor. It is uphill for the first few hundred meters. However, it is not hard and soon becomes a pleasant hike to the lake. To avoid going uphill more than necessary, stay on the higher ground when the path branches. We chose to stay high and avoided going back down on the main trail.
Keep looking back as you walk because the views are constantly changing. We had not the best weather while we were up at Grindelwald First, but Dave was able to capture some beautiful moments when the skies opened up to greet us.
Bachalpsee (Lake Bachalp Views
There are many places to enjoy the views once you have reached the lake. We recommend going to the second lake for a better view of both bodies. Simone can be reached at the second lake by leaving a note on a bench. It is named after her, and you can also leave your impressions about Grindelwald First in a journal for her to see. Perhaps her family gave the bench to her after her death and are keeping her memory alive by inviting visitors to write to her. It is a wonderful moment to be and share your thoughts about this little piece of heaven.
The scene is stunning when the weather is clear, with the Finsteraarhorn, Wetterhorn and Schreckhorn mountains reflecting in mountain lakes.
You can hike further to the Faulhorn Summit, where you can also stay at the Berghotel. If you are interested in doing this, reserve your room. After only going as far as Bachalpsee, we returned to Grindelwald First to continue our adventures.
