Picturesque Swiss Village of Grindelwald

Grindelwald

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Attraction | "A Swiss Village with a View"

fog rolling in Photo - Grindelwald, Switzerland

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During a two week trip with family from Germany to Italy, we took a couple days to stop through Switzerland. We drove from the German border to the lovely picturesque town of Grindelwald. Located in the district of Interlaken, this small village is popular with hikers as it sits at an elevation of 3,390 ft and next to the highest mountain in Europe - the Junggrau at 13,641 ft.The Jungfrau is part of hte Bernese Oberland mountain range and the iconic symbol of Swiss Alps. Many people come to Grindelwald as their home base for the challenging hikes around the mountain. There is easy access by car, train, and cable car in and around the area. We didn't visit to do much hiking, but instead to ...Read More

During a two week trip with family from Germany to Italy, we took a couple days to stop through Switzerland. We drove from the German border to the lovely picturesque town of Grindelwald. Located in the district of Interlaken, this small village is popular with hikers as it sits at an elevation of 3,390 ft and next to the highest mountain in Europe - the Junggrau at 13,641 ft.

The Jungfrau is part of hte Bernese Oberland mountain range and the iconic symbol of Swiss Alps. Many people come to Grindelwald as their home base for the challenging hikes around the mountain. There is easy access by car, train, and cable car in and around the area. We didn't visit to do much hiking, but instead to admire the landscape. Unfortunately during the two and a half days we were there, the fog never lifted except for the last hour when we finally saw the mountain top.

We visited there in the summer, and the hikers and bikers were out in full force, although the winter months is just as busy with skiers coming from world wide. As a village, Grindelwald couldn't be anymore like a postcard. Perfectly manicured with lush green hillsides, cute wooden homes dotting the landscape, and not much traffic. There is a main square in town with a train station, many shops and restaurants, and a park. Lodges and hotels are abundant, so even if you don't have a reservation, it's probably fine as you should be able to find something open.

As is the stereotype, Swiss trains are always on time, and we found this to be true as we took the cable car up to the Männlichen summit and then as we took the train to Italy on our way out. The people here are quite friendly and we struck up a few random conversations with locals on the streets. Only less than 4,000 people are residents of this small town, and tourism accounts for most of the economy. If you're staying for an extended time, the larger city of Interlaken isn't too far away.

• http://www.grindelwald.travel/de/welcome.cfm Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 17, 2009

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Grindelwald-MÃ¤nnlichen Gondelbahn

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Attraction | "Riding the Longest Aerial Tramway in the World"

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During our 2 day stay in the quaint Swiss village of Grindelwald, unfortunately the weather wasn't too accommodating. We battled drizzling rain and heavy fog the entire time. The wonderful view of the Jungfrau mountain top which was one of the reasons we chose this town, wasn't seen until the last hours of our stay. One afternoon we did decide to at least try and get up a mountain, but since it wasn't great weather for leisurely hiking, we took the cable car instead. There are a couple different cable car stations in Grindelwald with varied routes. We took the "Grindelwald-Männlichen Gondelbahn" (gondola cable car) from Grindelwald to Männlichen. One of the interesting draws to this one wa...Read More

During our 2 day stay in the quaint Swiss village of Grindelwald, unfortunately the weather wasn't too accommodating. We battled drizzling rain and heavy fog the entire time. The wonderful view of the Jungfrau mountain top which was one of the reasons we chose this town, wasn't seen until the last hours of our stay.

One afternoon we did decide to at least try and get up a mountain, but since it wasn't great weather for leisurely hiking, we took the cable car instead. There are a couple different cable car stations in Grindelwald with varied routes. We took the "Grindelwald-Männlichen Gondelbahn" (gondola cable car) from Grindelwald to Männlichen. One of the interesting draws to this one was that it's currently the longest passenger-carrying cable car in the world.

Opened in 1978 this aerial tramway is a popular transportation option year round for hikers. We paid our roundtrip ticket at the Grindlewald station and started the 30 minute ride upwards. In the middle, there's a small station for interim hikers at Holenstein. We just stayed aboard all the way to the top.

The view is quite amazing, and even with the fog we were able to see the green mountain side changing to a more rocky plain. Swiss cows with the iconic bell collars dotted the hillsides and the slow, smooth ride was a nice change from dealing with the bad weather outside.

When we finally reached the station at the top of the tram course at Männlichen we exited and checked out the area. Männlichen is a mountain standing at over 2,300 meters. Just outside the station, there are shops to buy and rent hiking gear, as this is an important point along the many hiking and mountain climbing trails in the area.

The Männlichen Mountain Guest House is just next door and was a welcomed refuge from the cold and rainy air. We stepped inside and took a table at the cozy restaurant. The service was very friendly, and we ordered thick hot chocolate and a lovely cheese plate to enjoy while we warmed up. For a quick trip to the Grindelwald area, this was a great experience with wonderful views. I'm glad we were able to experience a small bit of a mountain since the weather put a damper on any hiking.

• http://www.maennlichen.ch/?lang=en Read Less

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 18, 2009

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Restaurant Francais

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Restaurant | "International Meal in this Swiss Village"

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Restaurant Français is by many guidebooks said as one of the best restaurants in the small town of Grindelwald, Switzerland. We were only visiting the area for a couple of days and wanted to meet with some German friends for a nice dinner one evening. Aesthetically and cuisine-wise, it was a lovely place. Located in the upscale Hotel Belvedere, the dining room is nicely laid out and elegantly decorated. We decided to have an earlier dinner as we didn't have reservations. We were sat right away, although it filled up quickly after we got settled in. For a hikers town, it's probably one of the most upscale restaurants there.There are nice linens and china at the place settings and you ...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 18, 2009

Restaurant Francais

Grindewald, Switzerland
+41 (0)33 888 99 99

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Tea Room Ringgenberg

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Restaurant | "Cozy Tea Room and Bakery"

Tea Room Ringgenberg Photo - Tea Room Ringgenberg, Grindelwald, Switzerland

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One cafe we stopped at more than once during our quick stay in the Swiss village of Grindelwald was that of the Tea Room Ringgenberg. First attracted by the attached bakery, we stopped in to grab a pastry and something to drink the first visit as we explored the main street, and second to sit down for a light lunch.Located on the main street in the small town center, this bakery and cutely decorated adjoining tea room is a nice stop. The prices are quite moderate for the normally expensive Switzerland, and the people were very friendly. The counter at the bakery is quite inviting with the large glass display case of freshly baked pastries. There is a full range of hot drinks to warm you up...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on December 18, 2009

Tea Room Ringgenberg

Grindewald, Switzerland
+41 33 853 10 59

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Alpenhof Hotel

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Hotel | "Swiss Lodge to Ourselves"

view from Hotel Alpenhof Photo - Alpenhof Hotel, Grindelwald, Switzerland

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We stayed just a couple of nights at the Hotel Alpenhof when we visited the small village of Grindelwald, Switzerland. Located a short walk from the town center, it was a bit better priced and looked like it had what we needed so we booked online.When we arrived, they'd told us that our check-in papers and key would just be waiting for us at the front desk, so if no one was there to just grab them. We arrived mid-day and there was plenty of parking out front. The views were stunning, and no one was to be found inside at all. No workers. No guests. But just as they said, our key was sitting on the counter with instructions. We found our room through the empty corridors and settled into a la...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on December 19, 2009

Alpenhof Hotel
Fam. Chr. Kaufmann-Seematter
Grindewald, Switzerland 3818
+41 (33) 853 52 70

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