We visited the First Cliff Walk in Grindelwald in the late afternoon, taking the cable car up around 5:15 PM. The ride up was quite foggy, and we weren't sure if we'd be able to see anything at the top but thankfully, the clouds began to clear just enough to enjoy the views. The Cliff Walk itself is an exhilarating experience, with a secure metal walkway clinging to the edge of the mountain and a sky-high viewing platform that offers dramatic vistas (when the weather cooperates). Even in the fog, the atmosphere was magical, mystical, almost otherworldly, the dramatic drop-offs and the walkway clinging to the cliffside created an unforgettable experience. While on our way up and then at the summit, we could hear the soft clanging of cowbells echoing through the fog as it turns out, there were cows peacefully grazing high up in the alpine meadows, completely unbothered by the clouds or the altitude. It was surreal and strangely calming. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time to make it to the lake, but the walk alone was well worth the trip. Just a heads-up: if you're hoping to hike further, it's best to arrive earlier in the day to allow time for both the walk and the trail to the lake. Absolutely recommend it and event the faint of the heart can make the most out their visit on the top and at the cliff walk. read more

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It is a bit expensive unless you plan to spend the whole day at the top and do other activities such as hike to the lake once at the top - which is the only other free activity. If you want to parasail or do any of the bikes/carts they are an additional cost. We only did this because we has limited tim and were told it was a great view - which is true. One a clear, sunny day you can see for miles. It is another 50 minutes to hike to the alpine lake which we didn't realize we could do until we got up there but, we didn't have the time to do it. Get there as early as possible - like right as they open or you will be standing in line to get you photo on the edge. read more

Firstbahn - View from the Cliff Walk - Grindelwald, BE

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We came here while visiting Grindelwald. The views from the cable cars were stunning, and it took about 25 minutes to get from the bottom to the top. Once at the top, we did the cliff walk. There are railings on the side, and it was not scary at all. From there, there are a variety of adventure activities you can choose to do. We did the adventure package which came with two activities. We tried the First Flyer, which send you down from First to Schreckfeld station in speed of up to 50 miles per hour. Despite the long wait in line beforehand, it was still overall well worth it and we had a lot of fun. Afterwards, we did the mountain cart from Schreckfeld to Bort. This was probably my favorite activity. You can choose to go down the mountain as fast or slow as you are comfortable with. The whole experience lasted much longer compared to the Flyer and you get to enjoy beautiful views of the mountain along the way. Helmets are provided for this ride. Overall, despite how touristy it is, it's still worth a visit. We had a great time! Of note, please check the weather before coming as it can largely influence your experience here. Also, the activities tend to sell out quickly during peak season so be sure to book them in advance. read more

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If you're ever in Grindelwald, you have to visit Grindelwald First. There's just so much to do including a beautiful gondola ride, some fun activities for thrill-seekers, beautiful picture spots, and nice hikes to stroll through. You can buy your tickets ahead of time online, with discounts for Half Fare and Swiss Pass. We visited in the summer and I thought it would be cold because of the high altitude, but that was not the case. It was hot and barely any shade in the area so dress accordingly. But being in the mountain means that the weather can be very unpredictable. Because tickets aren't refundable, I highly recommend just monitoring the weather a couple of days before and leaving your plans very flexible. You want to aim for a clear, sunny day because if it's foggy or raining, the views obviously won't be as impressive and some of the attractions will close. If you plan on partaking in the high adrenaline activities, you can purchase package tickets that cover the gondola and either 1 or 2 activities. You can't pick which one you want and there aren't time slots so plan accordingly and get there as early as you can. Popular attractions like First Flyer and Glider can have up to 3 hour waits and if it's too busy, they'll turn you away. We arrived at the gondola right when it opened at 8AM and began our ascent to First Glider. The views going up the mountain were amazing and every now and then, you can hear the cow bells. You can fit up to 6 people in one gondola and I'd imagine during peak hours, the workers will try to fill it up as best as possible but since the line wasn't long, our group of 4 took one car. From Grindelwald to First, the journey should take about 20 minutes but we got off at Schreckfeld first to line up an hour before First Glider opened. After the First Glider, we took the Mountain Carts down to the Bort station. Between the two activities, I thought the Mountain Carts were way more fun. It's a little dangerous because you could spin off the road but everyone wears a helmet and if you follow the rules, you should be fine. The views on the carts were a bit better than the Glider because you get to see more but make sure you don't stop in the middle of the road and block all the other carters. From Bort, we had to split up and just fill any gondola cart to get to the First station. We walked through the First Cliff Walk, which is a free metal walkway that wraps around a cliff. It seems pretty daunting but it's very easy to go through and just offers a different perspective of the mountains. It ends at the restaurant and an observation point but the line for pictures were too long so we skipped it. I would actually love to come back and just stroll through the area and thoroughly enjoy the place. Because we had so much planned for the day, we had to rush through a couple of things. It would've been nice to grab a beer, some food, and just sat and picnicked on the grass. Alternatively, if you're an avid hiker and want to save money, you can also hike all the way up but that'll probably take a couple of hours. read more

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Crowded and touristy, fabulous views but there are plenty of other lifts for that purpose if you're not going up to partake in one of the activities. When we were there the waits (always available online to see) were 1-2 hours or sold out so we completed the Cliff Walk (also packed, but why we went up) and headed down. We jumped off at Bort halfway down for lunch at the Alpinhotel Bort (highly recommend) and then hiked down to Grindelwald from there...steep but fun. read more

Firstbahn - Firstbahn - Cliff Walk - Grindelwald, BE

One of the first activities we chose to do when arriving to the Grindelwald area. Unfortunately we didn't look at the weather too carefully and the fog rolled in FAST on us, just after we got off the gondola. My three star review has nothing to do with the weather though. This was one of the more expensive days for us in this region. We chose to do four activities (the trotti bikes, mountain carts, glider and flyer). You can take the gondola straight to the top and do all of the activities in order to avoid backtracking. We were waiting on line for the flyer but it closed as soon as the fog came. We decided to check out the First Cliff Walk before heading down to the glider. The Cliff walk is cool and not a paid attraction. If you choose to hike from the bottom you can see this completely free. Obviously this is much cooler when you can actually see the views (unlike me). Next we headed to the glider. The line was ridiculously long and took probably 40 minutes. The ride is brief but a lot of fun. Just be prepared to freeze on a cooler day. After that we headed to the mountain carts. Again, huge line, close to an hour wait. As we were waiting people were cutting the line. Families had one family member holding spots and then ten other family members would join them. Staff was too busy trying to get the carts to come down from the lift (which was stuck for a good 20 minutes...no carts coming for anyone waiting) to say anything. When we finally got our carts we were all excited. The first half of the trip down was so bumpy it wasn't even enjoyable. If you have any kind of back issues or any issues where your body being banged around for ten minutes, skip this one. When we got to the pavement it was actually really fun but the carts weren't in the best shape. The brakes were pretty questionable when you really picked up speed. Last we did the trotti bikes. These aren't actually bikes but scooters with big tires. These were a blast! No lines to get them, just grab one and go. The employees warned us that the trail was open to bikers and hikers. However, they failed to mention the trail takes you on the road with cars. The trotti bike trail takes you to the very bottom of the mountain where you first get on the gondola. You walk your bike back up a slight hill from the end. These were by far my entire families favorite activity. Overall, we had a great time. I would suggest not pre-booking any activity since the weather can change quickly but you cannot change your tickets for another day. You are however able to buy tickets for the activities on the spot. Also, go early! Like as soon as they open early. The lines for the mountain carts and glider completely ruined the fun. Our unlimited "adventure package" tickets were a waste since we couldn't go on anything more than once with all the waiting we did on lines. read more

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We booked this adventure, more than three months in advance and purchased the adventure "insurance". We paid in full in advance for the ride up and three sections to enjoy on the way down, which included the glider, the carts and the trottibikes. When we arrived, we were informed that the top two sections backed down the mountain were closed due to weather. At the suggestion of the employee, we walked around Grindelwald and had lunch and then checked back in to see if they had opened. They did not. When I asked about our refund, the employee told me I had to request it via email, but there were no guarantees. Obviously, that took time to hear back, and we decided because we had invested in the insurance that we would be good to leave and wait for a response. We were told that we would only get a refund for portion. We had invested over $600 upfront and only received a fraction back. I attempted several times to explain why my understanding of the insurance would cover our refund. This morning, I heard back that they considered this case closed and that we would not get a full refund. I'm sure, if the weather is great and everything is indeed open, it is well worth the money. But I would not consider this company's suggestion to buy the tickets in advance since they do not honor the additional cost of insurance. A complete and utter waste of money on a once in a lifetime vacation. read more

Purchased two tickets for the first glider/first flyer. When we arrived at 11am both were closed due to fog. Asked the person working the window when they expect it to open and she shrugged and said "who knows". Line for mountain cart was at least 2 hours. Bike was open but we didn't feel comfortable with that. I emailed customer service for a refund and they stated the first glider was open (it opened 3 hours after we arrived) and that they could not issue a refund for this reason. Luckily I snapped a photo right when we arrived showing both the glider and flyer were closed. I sent this photo to customer service. I anticipate they'll come up with some other BS excuse not to refund my money so I'll dispute the charge on my credit card. Avoid this place, it's a dishonest tourist trap read more