Baskett

Note to those who knock Grindelwald:
I think you may be steering people away from an interesting place to visit, and from where there are many interesting and beautiful hikes. Both sides of Grindelwald offer various nice hikes. One the best, especially for a novice hiker who wants only a rather easy hike lasting about an hour or a little more, is the hike from First to the lake Bachsee. Take the cable car from a location a short walk from the train station on the main road way up to the station at First. From there are many nice hikes including the one with spectacular views from First to the the two small lakes. Take a back pack with your lunch and sit on the hillside behind the Bachsee and look at the magnificent view!! You will never want to go back to Florida!!! For us, we will be there in about two weeks and we plan to spend 3 days in Grindelwald and 3 days in Murren. We are crossing our fingers for the weather that Edwardss must have had last week.

cod

I agree, Baskett. We spent a wonderful two weeks there last August, with 7 children aged 17-9 and every day was a great day. We rented an apartment just outside of town, and heard/saw no tour buses etc - just cows in the field beside!, and the Eiger above (we were directly down from the Mittellegi hut, and could see the light at night. We did some wonderful easy hikes (the loveliest being Mannelichen to Kleine scheidegg. Though the hike you mentioned defeated us, and we never made it to the Bachalpsee. One of our party is less than fit, and that hike is a gentle uphill for a long way - we just turned back before the halfway hut! We did the walk from First to Grosse Scheidegg, though (but it nearly wrecked us!) In between, we were up on Pfingsted, and Jungfrau and Schilthorn, and spent a day at Ballenberg, and walked from Lauterbrunnen to Stechelberg. We enjoyed Grindelwald so much we are going back in January for the Snow festival, to get a different perspective. And we never saw a rainy day.

kopp

My DH and I have spent at least a week in Grindelwald for the past 10 or so years. You would think each trip was our first because we get that excited! This year is especially grand as my parents have finally agreed to join us.

The hiking is terrific and the town is very charming. The access to the entire B.O. area is very easy, and the views -- well, they're spectacular!

This summer for the first time we're staying in a 3-room chalet just a ways up the hill from town. Can't wait!

bob_brown

I usually stay in Lauterbrunnen, but I visit Grindelwald at least once on every trip. The shops there are decidely upscale and I can find presents there a little easier. The bakeries and grocery stores are a little better as well.

And there is a hardware store on the south side of the street about halfway between the train station and the First Gondola that has the best collection of Swiss Army Knives you will find.
It also has some of the real cow bells.
Get a big one and bring it home with you.

sunstar

I'm a Grindlewald person also. I get tired of those who run Grindlewald down.

I pointed out in another thread that quickly fell off the Fodors map, that there were tons of wonderful walks and excursions that range from easy family oriented hikes to more advanced hikes.

Too bad that post is now floating somewhere over Howard Dean's 2004 election campaing because that post was a good un.

I have done the long hikes and the short hikes and the in between ones. Grindlewald is great!!!

It is a great place to rest your head after a nice day of walking and taking in good views.

Edward2005

For the record, I like Grindlewald just fine. But that region screams "back to nature" to me, so I prefer some place quiet and out of the way.

jmw44

And I confess, as well, that I know places are different after the daytrippers leave, and I should not be so harsh in my evaluation. In the case of Grindelwald, I visited during the day from my week's stay in Leissigen on Thun's lake, and I didn't really walk very far from the main part of town. I must remind myself that what I find appealing in a place to stay is very likely not what others prefer. I usually choose places off the beaten track, and I'm not much of a shopper. "Things to do" is not necessarily high on my list of priorities. So don't pay any attention to me, unless you feel the same. J.

swandav2000

Hi All,

I've really enjoyed my three visits to Grindelwald -- two skiing and one with my Mom.

I love Grindelwald's position for skiing -- close to the very easy intermediate slopes near the First station. I also picked Grindelwald for my Mom's visit because it has a good mix of infrastructure (transportation, restaurants, & shops) and scenery/atmosphere. While I LOVE seeing cows and fields, I do want to have a few restaurants around me as well as easier/quicker transportation around the area.

Having said that, I think I'll go back to Wengen on my next visit!!

I also want to point out that the Berner Oberland isn't the only mountainous or quaint or beautiful area in Switzerland; as Cicerone says, it only has the best PR team! For example, there are lots of great reports from the Engadin and the Appenzell; I'm beginning to discover the city of Basel; and some friends have scolded me for overlooking the Jura. And of course my heart lies at the foot of Lake Geneva --

I think, basically, it's ALL good!

s

mr_go

I, too, love G-wald. And I think it offers the best combination of attributes in the region for the first-time visitor: accessibility, beautiful vistas, and plenty of quality accomodations and places to eat. And I could not agree more with the recommended hike from First to the Bachalpsee...just fabulous!

If you stay at one of the places just up the valley a few blocks away from the main "traffic jam" area, it definitely helps with the overall charm perception (IMO).

sunstar

I know that many people get turned off by the huge horders of tourists that use Grindlewald as one day "day trip" deal. I know the lines can get long and the trains can get packed coming and going to and from Grindlewald, but there are apartments and hotels "off the main drag" yanno!!!! Several blocls over, you are hardly know the big crowds are even there.

Another poster wanted to go back to Wengen and I can certainly understand that also. I like Wengen as well, but after the sun goes down, they roll the sidewalks in. I have stayed several hiking trips in Wengen.

If you want peace and quiet, Wengen, Muerren and Gimmelwald are the vilages.

I also found that the walks I like to do are easiest accessed
by a Grindlewald base.

I can get to neighboring areas easily from Grindlewald. I ride the post bus over to Meirrigen easily enough.

Grindlewald or Wengen??? Hmmnnn???:-?

Grindlewald 4 me!!!!

PalQ

Grindelwald is a wonderful, wonderful place with what to me is the finest view in the Alps - may be more chic to stay in quiet Wengen, which though also marvellous views, can't top Grindelwald amphitheatre of jagged ice-bound peaks.

stillhouse

Visited this area in May. We stayed in Wengen for 4 nights, but drove up to Grindelwald twice. Grindelwald had great access to several mountains, good choice of restaurants and shopping. However, we were glad we stayed in Wengen, which was a quieter location. Loved Hotel Alpenrose in Wengen (great dinners!(