Hotels near Grindelwald and First (2,168 m)

Grindelwald sits at 1,034 metres in the shadow of the Eiger's north face, and it's the launchpad for First - a summit ridge at 2,168 metres reached by a 25-minute gondola from the village centre. Up top you have the First Cliff Walk (a metal walkway bolted onto the cliff face, free with your lift ticket), the First Flyer zipline (800 metres at up to 84 km/h, about CHF 32 extra), and the trailhead for the classic hike to Bachalpsee lake (an easy 1-hour walk each way, arguably the most photographed lake in the Alps). Return gondola from Grindelwald in 2026 is about CHF 38 with a Half Fare Card. In winter, First becomes a ski area linked with Wengen and Männlichen via the Jungfrau Ski Region pass.

Pro Tip: If the sky is clear, hike from First to Bachalpsee (55 minutes flat) and continue to Faulhorn (another 90 minutes uphill) for a summit-restaurant lunch, then descend to Bussalp and catch the bus back to Grindelwald. It's the best day-hike within a short train ride of Interlaken.