From Grindelwald Terminal, the Eiger Express takes 15 minutes to the foot of the Eiger glacier, and the gondola next to it reaches the top of the Männlichen in 19. On the other side of the village, a third gondola climbs to First. Each lift starts a different walk, so give each one its own day.
Day one: First and the Bachalpsee
Take bus 121 or 123 from the station to the First gondola (3 minutes), then ride up to First, at 2,168 m (7,113 ft); the whole trip takes about half an hour. The trail to the Bachalpsee is route 50 of the regional network: 3.3 km (2.1 mi) and about an hour, with 152 m (499 ft) of ascent. The listed round trip back to First is 5.9 km (3.7 mi), about 1 hour 50 minutes.
To make it a full day, carry on past the lake to the Faulhorn. Route 2 runs First – Bachalpsee – Faulhorn – Bussalp: 10 km (6.2 mi), 3 hours 50 minutes, 548 m (1,798 ft) up and 909 m (2,982 ft) down, with its high point at 2,666 m (8,747 ft). From Bussalp a bus takes you back to Grindelwald. The Bussalp bus runs seasonally, so check the timetable before you set off; if it isn't running, walk back to First the way you came.
Day two: Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg
This is the easy day. From the top of the Männlichen gondola, the panorama trail (route 33) runs 4.3 km (2.7 mi) to Kleine Scheidegg in about 1 hour 10 minutes. It's all downhill or level, 151 m (495 ft) of descent, and graded T1, the easiest hiking grade. From Kleine Scheidegg, the train takes 32 minutes back down to Grindelwald.
If you want the summit as well, stay on at Kleine Scheidegg: the train up to the Jungfraujoch, at 3,454 m (11,332 ft), takes 43 minutes. Above the station, the Sphinx observation deck looks down on the Aletsch Glacier, 22 km (14 mi) long and the longest in the Alps. Our Jungfraujoch guide covers it.
Day three: the Eiger Express and the Eiger Trail
Ride the Eiger Express to Eigergletscher and walk the Eiger Trail down to Alpiglen: 6 km (3.7 mi), 100 m (330 ft) up and 820 m (2,690 ft) down, signposted at 1 hour 55 minutes. It runs along the foot of the North Face, close enough to make out the climbing routes. Its season is July to October. From Alpiglen, the train takes 25 minutes down to Grindelwald. Our Eiger Trail guide has the details.
If you'd rather walk out of the valley than ride, Via Alpina stage 11 leaves Grindelwald for Kleine Scheidegg, Wengen and Lauterbrunnen. See our Via Alpina guide.
Getting there
The train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald takes 36 minutes and runs every half hour. For the Eiger Express and the Männlichen gondola, get off one stop early at Grindelwald Terminal. For First, stay on to Grindelwald station and take the bus.
Both gondolas pause for maintenance between the summer and winter seasons. Check the operating times on the First and Männlichen pages before you go.
What three lift days add up to
Each of these is a separate lift ticket, and three in a row add up. With a Swiss Half Fare Card you pay up to 50% less on most mountain railways, so buy it before the first ride, not after.
Last checked: October 2026