Grindelwald-First · 2,166 m · 2026First Cliff Walk

Is the First Cliff Walk free?

Yes. Switzerland Tourism lists the First Cliff Walk and the First View platform explicitly as free of charge. Jungfrau Railways, which runs the gondola, shows no separate price for either, and there is no turnstile and no extra ticket. You only pay to get up to 2,166 m – by gondola from Grindelwald. On foot it would be a good 1,100 metres of climb from the valley station at 1,034 m. All prices here are in Swiss francs (CHF), not euros or dollars.

The walkway starts at the terrace of the mountain restaurant next to the top station. It runs along the rock face on the west side of the First summit, past ledges and niches where alpine choughs take off and land, and ends on a platform that juts 45 metres out into the open. Ahead of you glaciers and peaks, below you the Grindelwald valley.

Rule of thumb: Anyone selling you a “ticket including the Cliff Walk” is selling you the gondola. Compare the price with the operator's CHF 76 – not with an admission fee that does not exist.

How much is the gondola to the Cliff Walk?

The Firstbahn runs six-seater gondolas from the village via Bort and Schreckfeld to First in 25 minutes. Which pass you carry makes the biggest difference to the price:

From 27 November to 10 December 2026 the calculator shows CHF 72. All fares by travel date, the local bus from the station and the Adventure Package are on the Grindelwald First page. If you are riding several mountain railways anyway, look at the Swiss Half Fare Card: it halves the gondola from the first ride.

How do you get to the First Cliff Walk?

1. To Grindelwald

By Berner Oberland Railway from Interlaken Ost, every 30 minutes; CHF 23.60 return.

2. To the Firstbahn valley station

8 minutes on foot from Grindelwald railway station, in the middle of the village.

3. Gondola to First

25 minutes via Bort (1,600 m) and Schreckfeld (1,956 m).

4. To the walkway

From the terrace of the mountain restaurant next to the top station.

From Zurich HB you are on First in 3:16 hours according to the SBB timetable, with three changes. If you come by car, the operator names the Eiger+, Graben and Pfingstegg car parks in Grindelwald.

How long does the Cliff Walk take?

The operator allows about 20 minutes for the walkway and another 20 minutes for the First View platform at 2,194 m. Add 25 minutes of gondola each way. If you only do the Cliff Walk, you are done in a good hour and a half from the valley station – on a busy summer day add the queue at the gondola.

Rule of thumb: For the Cliff Walk alone the trip is short. Plan half a day and add the Bachalpsee – only then have you got your CHF 76 worth.

Is the Cliff Walk scary – and is it OK for children?

The walkway hangs on the rock face, and at the end you stand on a platform that sticks out 45 metres over the slope. There is air beneath you. If you are afraid of heights you will feel it; if you do not like it, stay on the restaurant terrace and you see the same peaks. The operator names no minimum age or height for the Cliff Walk – unlike the Flyer, Glider and Mountain Cart.

Still open is whether the walkway works with a pushchair or wheelchair: Jungfrau Railways list the question about step-free access to First in their FAQ, but the answer could not be read when we checked. Ask at the valley station before you take a pushchair up.

When is the Cliff Walk open?

Season

According to Switzerland Tourism the Firstbahn runs from December to October.

Maintenance, autumn 2026

26 October to 26 November 2026 – the calculator shows no price for these days; the gondola is not running.

Operation on a September day

In the timetable for 29 September 2026: first ascent 08:00, last descent from First 18:00. Check the times on the day at jungfrau.ch.

In winter

From 27 November 2026 the calculator shows prices again, so the gondola runs again. Whether the walkway is always open in snow and ice, the operator does not say – ask at the valley station.

Flyer, Glider, Mountain Cart – and the Bachalpsee

At the top four rides cost extra: First Flyer and First Glider CHF 35 each, Mountain Cart and Trottibike CHF 25 each. The Adventure Package from CHF 90 already includes the gondola. Prices, minimum heights and when the package pays off are on the Grindelwald First page.

The best combination costs nothing: from the Cliff Walk a well-made path leads to the Bachalpsee at 2,265 m in less than an hour. For there and back the operator reckons on about two hours. Walkway, platform and lake together turn the gondola ride into half a day.

Buy the gondola ticket in advance?

At the Jungfrau Railways ticket office and webshop the gondola costs CHF 76, CHF 38 with a Half Fare Card. If you want the ticket paid in euros before you travel, GetYourGuide has it:

“I want the gondola ticket to the Cliff Walk sorted before I travel.”

Grindelwald: Gondola Ride to Mount First

Gondola Grindelwald–First · ★ 4.8 from 907 reviews

from, per person€77.06

Check availability on GetYourGuide

Honestly: This is the same gondola you get at the ticket office for CHF 76. The only advantage is paying in euros. With a Half Fare Card, Swiss Travel Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass, buy from the operator – you pay CHF 38 or nothing. And offers that advertise “including Cliff Walk” and cost a lot more are selling you an admission that is free. If First is in cloud, skip the trip altogether: from the walkway you will only see grey.