Grindelwald vs Interlaken: Where to Stay in the Jungfrau Region
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If you’re planning a trip to the Swiss Alps, you’ve probably hit the same wall I did: should you stay in Grindelwald or Interlaken? Almost every itinerary points you to Interlaken — but after ten days based in the Jungfrau region, I’d send most planners somewhere else. Here’s my honest take, based on actually living out of one of these towns and visiting the other more times than I can count.
Grindelwald vs Interlaken: the short answer
- Stay in Grindelwald if the mountains are the trip — you want to wake up under the Eiger, step out your door onto a gondola, and be closest to the best hikes. This is what I did, and I’d do it again.
- Stay in Interlaken if you’re watching your budget, traveling with small kids and want a flat, easy town, want more restaurants and nightlife, or you’re zipping in lots of directions on a short trip.
First, what’s the actual difference?
People throw these two names around like they’re interchangeable. They’re not. Interlaken sits in the valley between two lakes (Thun and Brienz). It’s the transport hub of the region — trains fan out from here in every direction — which is why it’s packed with hotels, restaurants, and adventure-sport outfitters. But here’s the thing nobody says out loud: Interlaken isn’t actually in the high Alps. You can see the mountains from town; you’re not in them.
Grindelwald is about 30 minutes further up by train — and it’s a real alpine village, tucked right under the north face of the Eiger, with gondolas climbing out of the town itself. This is the postcard. This is where the trails start.
The case for Grindelwald
Pros: you’re in the mountains, not looking at them; gondolas (Grindelwald First, Männlichen, the Eiger Express) leave from the village itself; it’s the closest base to the region’s best day hikes; and it still feels like a village, not a resort strip.
Cons: it’s pricier with fewer budget rooms, it’s smaller (fewer restaurants, earlier evenings), and the logistics are real — please read the next section before you book. Best for: hikers, mountain lovers, couples, anyone whose main goal is the alpine experience.
The case for Interlaken
Pros: cheaper, with far more hotels, hostels and apartments; flat and easy (a real plus with little kids or heavy luggage); more restaurants, shops and nightlife; and central, with easy day trips in every direction. Cons: you’re not in the high mountains (expect a ~30–40 minute trip up each way, daily), and the center can feel touristy. Best for: budget travelers, families with young kids, first-timers who want maximum convenience, or anyone on a short trip hopping everywhere.
⭐ Things nobody tells you about staying in Grindelwald
- The last bus within Grindelwald ran at 6:45 PM. Miss it and you’re hiking home in the dark or hunting for a rare, pricey taxi. We missed it once after dinner and walked 25 minutes uphill. Check your village bus times the day you arrive.
- Check the last train from Interlaken up to Grindelwald if you’re ever out late in the valley — the mountain trains stop earlier than you’d expect.
- Many Grindelwald stays are uphill from the station. Ours was a lovely 25-minute climb — gorgeous, but not with suitcases or tired kids. If you’re not up for hills, book near the station.
- Ask your host about pickup and drop-off. Loads of them offer it — our wonderful hosts (a couple in their 80s!) drove us to and from the station, which made the uphill location a non-issue. Ask before you book.
- Mountain weather flips fast, even in summer — pack a light layer and check the forecast each morning. And wear sunscreen: the sun is brutal at altitude (I learned that by getting sunburned during a nap at a mountain lake).
Where I stayed (and where to book)
I based myself in Grindelwald for the whole trip, and the place I stayed — this cosy little Airbnb hosted by a couple in their 80s — genuinely made the trip. It sat up the hill from the station (the one real catch of a Grindelwald stay), but our host happily drove us to and from the train, so that downside simply disappeared. The hosts made the stay — proof that in a mountain town, who you book with matters as much as where.
If you’d rather have everything in one place, browse stays in Grindelwald or Interlaken [Booking.com affiliate links coming once programs are joined]. Whichever town you choose, one tip: book early — the best-located places in this region go fast in summer, and prices climb the longer you wait.
A third option most people skip: the Lauterbrunnen valley
On the other side of the region is the Lauterbrunnen valley — the famous waterfall valley — and a string of car-free villages perched above it. If Grindelwald is “the mountain town” and Interlaken is “the convenient hub,” these are “the quiet, dreamy alternative.”
- Lauterbrunnen — the valley floor, walled by waterfalls; central and beautifully connected.
- Wengen — a car-free village on a sunny terrace, reached only by cog train. Quieter than Grindelwald but with plenty of hotels and restaurants, and superbly linked to Männlichen, Kleine Scheidegg and Jungfraujoch.
- Mürren & Gimmelwald — higher and quieter still. Mürren is a charming car-free village (gateway to the Schilthorn); tiny Gimmelwald just below it is about as authentic as the Alps get — around 150 people, working farms, honesty shops, no tour buses.
Honestly? Next time, I’m staying up in the valley myself — Wengen if I want quiet-but-easy, Gimmelwald if I want to disappear completely. Grindelwald was the perfect first base; these are where I’m headed next.
Getting there & the pass question
Most people fly into Zurich. From the airport it’s roughly a 2-hour train to Interlaken (one change — the fast route runs via Bern), or you can take the slower, gorgeous route via Lucerne. From Interlaken, trains to Grindelwald leave from Interlaken Ost station and take only about 30 minutes, running roughly every half hour — which is exactly the daily “commute up” you’d be doing if you based yourself down in Interlaken. On passes — this trips a lot of people up. Because we stayed in one region, a regional pass made more sense for us than the all-Switzerland Swiss Travel Pass. If you’re not crisscrossing the whole country, you may be paying for coverage you’ll never use. (Full breakdown coming in my Swiss Travel Pass guide.)
My honest verdict: who should stay where
| If you are… | Stay in… |
|---|---|
| Here mainly to hike / be in the Alps | Grindelwald |
| On a budget, or want lots of dining & nightlife | Interlaken |
| Traveling with little kids / lots of luggage | Interlaken (flat & easy) |
| After quiet, dreamy, car-free views | Wengen, Mürren or Gimmelwald |
| Short on time, day-tripping everywhere | Interlaken (central hub) |
For me? Grindelwald, every time — at least for a first trip. Visiting Interlaken for dinner was lovely, but going home to the mountains was the whole point.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grindelwald better than Interlaken?
For mountain immersion and hiking, yes — Grindelwald puts you right in the Alps. For budget, convenience and dining variety, Interlaken wins. It comes down to what you want from your days.
How many days should I spend in the Jungfrau region?
Plan at least 3–4 full days to enjoy it without rushing — there’s easily a week’s worth of hikes and gondola trips from a single base.
Can I do the Jungfrau region without a car?
Absolutely — it’s one of the best public-transport regions in the world. We never needed a car; trains, gondolas and buses cover everything.
Is Grindelwald expensive?
It’s pricier than Interlaken for accommodation and dining. A money-saver we used: grocery stores like Coop for breakfasts and packed hiking lunches, since options up the mountain are limited and costly.
Grindelwald or Interlaken: start planning your trip
So, Grindelwald vs Interlaken? If you take one thing from this: don’t just default to Interlaken because it’s the name you know. Decide what kind of trip you want first, then pick your base. Ready to go deeper? My guides to the Bachalpsee hike, the Männlichen-to-Wengen trail, Grindelwald First, and how to plan a full Switzerland trip are on the way — and I’ll link them here as they publish.
— Monali
