Geneva to Grindelwald Train: All You Need To Know

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Grindelwald is a famous mountain village located in the Bernese Oberland at the foot of the Eiger (3,970 meters) and Wetterhorn (3,701 meters). Grindelwald is one of the top tourist spots in Bernese Oberland.

Image of Grindelwald First by TouringSwitzerland.com

Overview: Grindelwald

There’s a lot to do in and around Grindelwald. A few highlights of the region include the following sights:

Image of Grindelwald by TouringSwitzerland.com

From Grindelwald, you can take the Eiger Express to Eiger Glacier. You can go to Jungfraujoch from Eiger Glacier. 

Logistical concerns come up inevitably. Particularly for those who want to travel by rail in Switzerland, there are several specifics concerning train travel.

In this article, we will discuss the train journey from Geneva to Grindelwald. How do you get from Geneva to Grindelwald? Can you drive in your car to GrindelwaldFind out more.


How To Get From Geneva to Grindelwald

sbb.ch Website

As a first step, you should know about this website: www.sbb.ch. If you wish to install the app on your phone, they have one as well. Using the website, you can simply type in your arrival and departure destinations. After that, it will guide you to where you need to be and when. 

How To Get From Geneva to Grindelwald

Image of Geneva’s Train Station by TouringSwitzerland.com

In order to get to Grindelwald from Geneva, you’ll have to take the following trains:

  1. First, take the Intercity train from Geneva or Geneva Airport to Bern
  2. In Bern, take the Intercity train to Interlaken Ost
  3. In Interlaken Ost, take the regional train to Grindelwald

How To Get From Geneva to Grindelwald Terminal

Image of Grindelwald Terminal with Eiger Express behind by TouringSwitzerland.com

In order to get from Geneva to Grindelwald Terminal, you’ll have to take the following trains:

  1. First, take the Intercity train from Geneva or Geneva Airport to Bern
  2. In Bern, take the Intercity train to Interlaken Ost
  3. In Interlaken Ost, take the regional train to Grindelwald Terminal.

Note: Grindelwald Terminal is one stop before Grindelwald itself. Please make sure to exit at the correct stop.


How do I get from Grindelwald to Geneva Airport?

To go from Grindelwald or Grindelwald Terminal to the Geneva Airport, you will have to take the following trains:

  1. From Grindelwald or Grindelwald Terminal, take the regional train to Interlaken Ost
  2. In Interlaken Ost, take the Intercity train to Bern
  3. In Bern, take the Intercity train to Geneva Airport (Genève-Aéroport)

How long does the train from Geneva to Grindelwald take?

Despite the numerous train changes, it takes less than 4 hours to travel by train from Geneva to Grindelwald. Here are estimated travel times by train between Geneva and Grindelwald (updated December 2022):

RouteEstimated Travel Time (Fastest Connection)
Geneva Train Station (Genève) – Grindelwald3 hours and 27 minutes
Geneva Train Station (Genève) – Grindelwald Terminal3 hours and 22 minutes
Geneva Airport (Genève-Aéroport) – Grindelwald3 hours and 37 minutes
Geneva Airport (Genève-Aéroport) – Grindelwald Terminal3 hours and 32 minutes

Is there a direct train from Geneva to Grindelwald?

No. There are no direct trains from Geneva to Grindelwald. You’ll have to change in Bern and Interlaken Ost before you get to Grindelwald.


Is the Train From Geneva to Grindelwald Scenic?

No, not really. The trains from Geneva and Bern are fast, commuter trains that want you to get from one place to another as quickly as possible.

Other Scenic Trains

In case you would like to check out other scenic trains, then there are more scenic trains recommended below. These are the Golden Pass Line, the Glacier Expressand the Bernina Express. Another interesting train is the Historical Train that goes from Davos to Filisur.

Image of Bernina Pass and Bernina Express by Erich Westendarp from Pixabay

Your other options in detail are the following:

  • Golden Pass – The Golden Pass departs from Lucerne. You would take a train from Geneva to Lucerne, then change to Interlaken. This is sometimes referred to as the east end of this route. The Golden Pass has panorama coaches and is scenic.
  • Glacier Express – Glacier Express is a long journey that starts from Zermatt, home of Matterhorn. It then traverses 291 bridges and 91 tunnels before stopping in St. Moritz. Both Zermatt and St. Moritz are beautiful mountain resorts worthy of a longer stay. The Glacier Express passes by several idyllic mountain villages.
  • Bernina Express – Bernina Express is another train route that begins in Chur. Chur is the oldest alpine city in Switzerland and definitely worth visiting. This train route spans 196 bridges. It goes through 55 tunnels and passes 20 beautiful villages in Switzerland. 
  • Historical Train Davos to Filisur – May through October, vintage carriages are pulled by the century-old crocodile locomotive from Davos Platz to Filisur. The train line covers a total length of 4,200 meters through 14 tunnels and 28 bridges. Its scenic highlights include the Wiesen Viaduct and the Zügen Gorge.

How Much Will the Train Ticket From Geneva to Grindelwald Cost?

A single journey ticket from Geneva to Grindelwald costs the following (updated December 2022):

RouteFull Fare (CHF)Half Fare (CHF)
Geneva Train Station (Genève) – Grindelwald83.2041.60
Geneva Train Station (Genève) – Grindelwald Terminal82.4041.20
Geneva Airport (Genève-Aéroport) – Grindelwald85.2042.60
Geneva Airport (Genève-Aéroport) – Grindelwald Terminal84.4042.20

As you can see, if you avail of the Half Fare Travel Card, you can definitely save on your fare for long train journeys. So this is definitely something to consider during your travel to Switzerland. You can do simple calculations and decide from there if it will be worth it for you.


Do You Need a Seat Reservation on the Train?

No, there is no need to reserve a spot on the train. But you can always add this option if that is your wish.


Am I allowed to travel from Geneva to Grindelwald?

Yes, there are currently no restrictions for traveling from Geneva to Grindelwald.


Does Grindelwald have a train station?

Yes, there is a train station in Grindelwald. From Grindelwald, there are connections to Kleine Scheidegg, Grindelwald Grund, and Interlaken Ost.

Grindelwald Train Station

The Grindelwald Train Station has the following services:

  • Luggage retrieval: daily from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
  • Ticket office: daily from 7:40 AM to 6:20 PM

For more details and relevant information, check out the official website www.sbb.ch.

Grindelwald Terminal Station

There’s also a new Grindelwald Terminal, which connects the train to the Eiger Express and the Männlichen cable cars.

The Grindelwald Terminal has some shops such as Top of Europe Shop, Lindt, Coop, Kirchhofer Switzerland, Intersport, and Dr. Portmann.


Is Grindelwald car-free?

Image of Grindelwald by TouringSwitzerland.com

No, Grindelwald is not car-free. You can park your car at the Grindelwald Terminal or Grindelwald Grund. There are numerous other parking spaces within Grindelwald.

There are charging stations on the fourth level of Grindelwald Terminal for electric cars.

If you would like to find the best car rental deals in Switzerland, check out Rentalcars.com. Reviews and comments help you find the right car in the right place for the right price. Also, it’s the world’s leading car rental app. You can compare cars and get the best deal by going to Rentalcars.com.

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