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Geneva to Grindelwald Train: All You Need To Know

(Last Updated On: October 18, 2023)

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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. This article has got you covered with everything you need to know to get from Geneva to Grindelwald.

Image of Grindelwald First by TouringSwitzerland.com

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

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.


Overview: Navigating Swiss Trains

You can start by visiting the SBB website: www.sbb.ch. Using the website, you can type in your departure and arrival destinations. It will then guide you to where and when you need to be. An app is also available for iOS and Android devices.

If you wish to pay half the fare for all your train rides in Switzerland, a Half Fare Discount Card (1-month validity) is available on www.sbb.ch. This allows you to travel for half the price on all SBB routes and most other railways during the duration of your discount card.

Using the Swiss Pass, you get unlimited travel by train, bus, and boat in Switzerland. Over 500 museums are also free or discounted, and there are free or discounted excursions to mountain summits.

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Getting tickets from RailEurope is a convenient option if you’re traveling within Europe and/or visiting multiple countries. Having been in operation since the 1930s, RailEurope‘s extensive history, user-friendly website and mobile apps, flexible currency payment options, commitment to customer satisfaction, and strategic partnerships with leading rail operators, collectively establish it as a reliable and trustworthy platform for booking European train travel.

You can obtain from RailEurope the following travel passes:

  • Swiss Travel Pass – choose between continuous or flexible Swiss train passes for 3, 4, 8, or 15 days. The perks? unlimited use in over 90 Swiss cities, free admission to more than 500 museums, and discounts on mountain railways and cable cars. You also get discounts on high-speed Lyria trains between France and Switzerland as well as Nightjet trains that go through Switzerland. See RailEurope for more information.
  • Eurail Global Pass – unlimited train travel to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for non-EU residents
  • Interrail Global Pass – access to 40,000 destinations in 33 European countries for citizens and permanent residents of the EU

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 Express by TouringSwitzerland.com
Image of Bernina Express by TouringSwitzerland.com

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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Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. Her home is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.

Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.

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