Sledding in Grindelwald: Which Run for First-Timers?

Sledding in Grindelwald means six marked runs, from a 15-minute ride off the Männlichen to a 13 km descent that drops 1,377 m from the Eiger glacier. For a first time, take the short one. Pierre Vetsch, our head guide, skis in Grindelwald every Tuesday of the winter, and when we asked him where he would send a non-skier for a first sled ride there, he picked Männlichen to Holenstein.

He tells beginners to skip the famous Eiger Run. He also rates the Big Pintenfritz walk and the lit night run at CHF 29, and we timed the train that night sledders staying in Interlaken miss.

Where can you go sledding in Grindelwald?

Grindelwald has six sled runs on the Jungfrau Railways map, on three mountains: First, the Männlichen and the Kleine Scheidegg side under the Eiger. All start from a train or lift above the village, and the Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass covers the rides, from CHF 61, sold for 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027.

Here are the six, with the figures Jungfrau Railways publishes, read on 22 October 2026:

• Ritas Speedway, Männlichen to Holenstein: 2,229 m to 1,620 m, about 15 minutes.

• First-Schreckfeld-Bort: 2,166 m to 1,560 m, about 20 minutes.

• Fox Run, Wengernalp to Wengen: 2,062 m to 1,274 m, 4.5 km, about 25 minutes. It ends in Wengen, on the other side of the mountain.

• Eiger Run by Night, Alpiglen to Brandegg: 1,619 m to 1,337 m, 3.5 km, lit.

• Jungfrau Eiger Run, Eigergletscher to Grindelwald Grund: 2,320 m to 943 m, "a good 13 km", about 1 hour 10.

• Big Pintenfritz, Faulhorn to Bussalp: 2,552 m to 1,153 m, about 3 hours 30 with the walk up.

Getting there is quick. On 15 January 2027, the direct train from Interlaken Ost reaches Grindelwald in 36 minutes, and the Grindelwald Terminal for the Männlichen gondola in 29. For the wider picture, with Mürren and Isenfluh, our guide to the best sled runs near Interlaken compares nine runs.

Which Grindelwald sled run is best for a first time?

The Männlichen run to Holenstein. It starts right at the top station of the gondola, takes about 15 minutes and drops 609 m, so a first-timer learns to steer and brake without committing to an hour on the sled. If it goes well, you ride the gondola up and do it again.

Pierre Vetsch, founder and head guide, says: "Männlichen-Holenstein." That was his pick when we asked for one Grindelwald run for someone who has never sledded and does not ski.

Jungfrau Railways describes the run as fast, with many bends, fun "for young and old". So the run is short, but it is not gentle. Pierre's other advice for a first ride holds here too. When we asked which sled to rent as a beginner, he answered "Rodel", the sled you steer with your heels and your weight, and we explain the technique in how to steer a sled.

The view helps. From the Männlichen top station you face the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau before you even sit down.

Is the Eiger Run too steep for beginners?

Yes. The Jungfrau Eiger Run is the run Pierre names when we ask which one a beginner should not take. It is over 13 km long from Eigergletscher at 2,320 m to Grindelwald Grund at 943 m, and its steepest section, from Alpiglen to Brandegg, reaches 36 per cent.

Pierre says: "Eiger Run." That was his answer when we asked which run he would keep a first-timer away from.

The length is the real problem. An hour of steering on a run that changes with the snow is tiring for arms and legs, and Jungfrau Railways itself warns that the difficulty "may vary depending on snow and weather conditions". Do it once you have a few rides behind you.

It is also the run with the best view. What Pierre remembers from the slopes of Grindelwald is the Eiger in front of you, its north face filling the valley as you come down. Come back for it in your second winter, or on your second day.

Fun fact: You do not have to carry your sled up by train. When the Jungfrau Eiger Run is open, the Eiger Express gondola from the Grindelwald Terminal also carries sledges, according to Jungfrau Railways.

Is First to Bort an easy sled run?

Not for everyone. Online it is often called the easy option from First, but Jungfrau Railways calls the First-Schreckfeld-Bort run "a real challenge". It drops 606 m in about 20 minutes, from 2,166 m to 1,560 m, and it is marked with purple poles.

Two details matter on the way down. The run crosses a ski slope near the Oberjoch chairlift, where Jungfrau Railways writes "Attention". And when the snow is good, you can carry on from Bort to the village. That makes it a good second run after the Männlichen, in good snow and good light.

Insider tip: Check which runs are open on the Jungfrau Railways site on the morning you go, before you buy a ticket. Each run opens only when its snow allows, and the lower sections close first.

Is the Big Pintenfritz worth the 2.5-hour walk?

Yes, says Pierre, who has done it: "Yes, it's worth the walk." But the walk is the hard part. Asked what had been toughest on the Big Pintenfritz, he did not name the descent or the cold. He named "the 2 h 30 walk".

Jungfrau Railways times that footpath from the First top station to the Faulhorn at about 2 hours 30, past the Bachalpsee lake. Then you sled down towards Bussalp, or on to Lochsteinen in good snow, and a bus takes you back to Grindelwald. Count about 3 hours 30 for the whole outing. The run page lists CHF 55 for an adult, and CHF 29 with the Half Fare Card or for children aged 6 to 15.

Who should go: fit walkers with winter boots, on a clear day, with a full morning ahead. Who should not: a first-timer, or anyone who has only an afternoon. If you want the longest run with no climb, the Eiger Run is that run, once you have the skills.

Is the Eiger Run by Night worth CHF 29?

Pierre thinks so: "It's worth it." The lit run goes from Alpiglen to Brandegg, 3.5 km on the steepest part of the Eiger Run, with fondue chalets beside the track. On the 2026-27 calendar it runs every night from 28 December to 2 January, then on Fridays and Saturdays from 8 January to 13 March 2027.

The evening ticket costs CHF 29 for an adult and CHF 19 for children aged 6 to 15 or with a reduced fare. The sled is not included. Trains leave Grindelwald for Alpiglen at 18:45, 19:15 and 22:20, and the last trains back leave Alpiglen at 21:45 and 23:00.

Insider tip: The 23:00 train from Alpiglen reaches Grindelwald at 23:29. On the Friday we checked, 15 January 2027, the last direct train to Interlaken Ost left Grindelwald at 23:22. Staying in Interlaken? Plan on the 21:45, or check the next connection, at 01:07 that night.

If you have never sledded in the dark, read our answer to is night sledding dangerous before you book.

Where should you rent a sled in Grindelwald, and what should you wear?

Rent in the village, before you go up. That is Pierre's answer, and it keeps your choice of run open: you can change mountain without carrying the wrong sled. Intersport Rent has five shops in Grindelwald, on the Männlichen and at First, renting sleds and Velogemel snow bikes.

Then look at your feet. When we asked Pierre for the mistake visitors make when they sled alone in Grindelwald, he picked shoes. Wear winter boots with grip: on a Rodel you brake with your heels. Our list for the evening, gloves and layers included, is in what to wear sledding in Switzerland.

The people who work there say the same thing about speed. A lift attendant and a sled rental worker in Grindelwald both told Pierre that some guests take the wrong run or get caught out: follow the signs, and watch out, it goes faster than you think. It matches what Pierre named in his earlier interview as the mistake of people who sled without a guide: missing the last lift.

Your Questions About Sledding in Grindelwald

How much does sledding in Grindelwald cost?

The rides up are the main cost. The Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass starts at CHF 61 and covers the lifts to the sled runs, from one to seven days, between 21 November 2026 and 25 April 2027. The Big Pintenfritz has its own ticket on its run page, CHF 55 for an adult and CHF 29 for children aged 6 to 15 or with the Half Fare Card. The Eiger Run by Night costs CHF 29 for an adult and CHF 19 for a child, sled not included. Sled rental is extra, and Intersport does not publish its prices online: ask in the shop. All prices were read on the Jungfrau Railways pages on 22 October 2026 and can change before the season.

When is sledding season in Grindelwald?

The pass is sold for 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027, but each run opens only when its snow allows. Jungfrau Railways publishes no fixed opening dates for the day runs, and the lower parts, like Bort to the village or Brandegg to Grund, are the first to close. The lit Eiger Run by Night has dates: every evening from 28 December 2026 to 2 January 2027, then Fridays and Saturdays until 13 March 2027. January and February are the safest months for snow. Check the live run status on the morning you go, and compare the light by month in our sunset or night sledding guide.

What is a Velogemel?

A Velogemel is a wooden snow bike from Grindelwald: you sit on it, steer with a handlebar and slide down on runners. The village still races them. Jungfrau Region Tourism's photo archive shows the Velogemel world championship held on the Bussalp, above Grindelwald, in February 2024. Intersport Rent lists Velogemels next to sleds in its Grindelwald, Männlichen and First shops, so you can try one on the same runs. We have not timed or rated a Velogemel ride ourselves, so for a very first descent we stick to Pierre's Rodel. If you are based near Lauterbrunnen, Isenfluh rents them too, at CHF 8 when we checked on 28 September 2026.

Can you sled in Grindelwald with children?

Yes, with the right run. Jungfrau Railways sells children's tickets for ages 6 to 15, and the Männlichen run is described as fun for young and old. Keep small children off the Eiger Run, the Big Pintenfritz walk and the night run, which is the steepest section and ends late. For runs sorted by age, and the families' favourites around Interlaken, see our guide to sledding with kids near Interlaken. Grindelwald is not the only base either: Mürren or Grindelwald in winter helps you pick the village.

Grindelwald or Isenfluh for your first sled ride?

Isenfluh. When we asked Pierre to choose between the two for a very first sled ride, he chose Isenfluh, the quiet village above Lauterbrunnen where our tours run. Grindelwald has more runs and the Eiger. Isenfluh is the quiet one: a forest run above the Lauterbrunnen valley, reached by a small cable car.

The real worry behind this whole question is speed: the run that is faster than you think, on the wrong mountain, with the last train leaving. A first ride with a guide removes that. On our Sunset Sledding and Cheese Fondue evening, Pierre picks the run on the day according to the snow, the sled and headlamp are provided, and the fondue comes at the end. We take 8 guests at most.

Then you can come back to Grindelwald for the Eiger Run, knowing how to stop. If that sounds right, book the Sunset Sledding and Cheese Fondue evening. CHF 139 per person, CHF 129 from 6, departure at 15:30. More on the run in our Isenfluh and Sulwald sledding guide.

How we made this: based on Pierre's interview of 22 October 2026 and his interviews of 30 September and 4 October 2026, facts, prices and timetables checked at the official sources on 22 October 2026, written with AI assistance.

Source: Jungfrau Railways, sledging runs, Jungfrau Eiger Run by Night, and our Tuesdays in Grindelwald, winter 2025-26.

*Written by Pierre Vetsch, founder and head guide at Swiss Local Adventures