Last Updated on March 28, 2026 by Adrienne
The biggest highlight of our family trip to Switzerland was the time we spent in the Swiss Alps and specifically the Jungfrau region of the Bernese Oberland. From our home base in Grindelwald, we explored this gorgeous corner of Switzerland, which not only has jaw-dropping scenery and many great hikes, but also has a lot of family friendly activities that will be a hit with everyone from toddlers to teens, including cable cars, mountain toboggan rides, elaborate playgrounds, wildlife and easy walks with rewarding views or treats (ice cream 😉 ) at the end. I’ve rounded up five of my family’s favorite (summertime) adventures that are easily accessible from Grindelwald.
All of the activities described below can be easily reached on public transit from the village of Grindelwald. If you’ll be spending more than a few days in the region, I recommend looking into obtaining a Jungfrau Travel Pass, which includes unlimited rides on most trains, cable cars and buses in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland. Separate fees apply for activities at the top of the mountain, such as the Pfinstegg mountain toboggan and the thrill rides on top of Grindelwald First, but this pass will cover your cable cars and train rides to get to all the attractions described in this blog post. The cable cars, in particular, are an attraction in and of themselves, with some incredible mountain views.
Even if you have a Swiss Travel Pass (for general rail travel within Switzerland), you’ll need to pay separately for the trains and cable cars in the Jungfrau region but you’ll entitled to a reduced rate on the Jungfrau pass. Passes are available for 3-8 days, with daily prices becoming cheaper the more days you buy. Do the math based on your planned activities, but the cable cars and trains in this part of Switzerland are expensive and if you’re spending at least three days in the Jungfrau region, there’s a good chance a pass makes financial sense. It’s especially likely to be a good deal if you have one or more kids between the ages of 6 and 15, since the kids passes are comparatively very cheap and will typically pay for themselves in a single use (for context, a child’s Jungfrau pass is currently 30 CHF for 3 days, and a child’s single use round-trip ticket to Grindelwald First is 45 CHF!)
Ride the Thrilling Mountain Toboggan at Pfingstegg
My 7 year old and I loved the fast mountain toboggan run at Pfingstegg, and rode it several times. It’s the best kind of sledding, because they have a lift to pull you up at the end — all of the fun, none of the work! The top of the mountain also has friendly cows, a small playground, and a small (free) bounce house, as well as a fly-line experience at an additional cost, but the toboggan run was the biggest hit for my family.
Cable cars to the top of Pfingstegg run from the Pfingsteggbahn cable car station, about a 15 minute walk (mostly downhill) from central Grindelwald. The Jungfrau Pass covers the cable car, and you’ll pay at the top for the toboggan and fly-line rides (the toboggan is currently 8 CHF for adults and 2 CHF for children 4-7 riding with an adult; children under 4 are not permitted to ride). The toboggan operates seasonally from May to October; exact opening dates vary.
Take in dramatic views and thrill sports from Grindelwald First
If you’re staying in or near Grindelwald, don’t miss a visit to the Grindelwald First cable car station, which at more than 7,000 feet is one of the highest points in the immediate area. The nearly half hour cable car ride is an experience in and of itself, with progressively more dramatic views of Grindelwald, the valley and the face of the Eiger mountain.
At the top of Grindelwald First, there are several free things you can do, including the slightly terrifying Cliff Walk, which takes you out over the canyon on a narrow platform. There are also a number of gentle hikes that are suitable for families. The most popular one is the walk to Lake Bachalpsee, which is especially scenic. There are also a number of adventure activities available at an additional cost, including the First Flyer and First Glider (height and weight limits apply) and mountain go-carts and “trotti bikes” that you can rent and ride all the way down to Grindelwald.
Cable cars to the top of Grindelwald First leave from the Firstbahn AG station on the edge of Grindelwald Village (I recommend catching a local bus if you have young kids – it’s a hilly ~20 minute walk from the central train station) and are included with the Jungfrau Pass. Most attractions at the top, except the Cliff Walk, carry an additional fee. Grindelwald First is open year round, but cable car schedules are more limited in the off-season and certain activities may not be available.
Play on the “Cow Playground” and Do an Easy Hike to Kleine-Scheidegg from Männlichen
I’ve never traveled anywhere with so many creative, interesting playgrounds, and our family’s favorite was the “cow playground” (officially the Alpine Herdsman’s playground) on top of Männlichen mountain, which can be reached by a cable car (included with the Jungfrau Pass) from Grindelwald or Wengen, another charming mountain town that many people use as a home base for exploring this region instead of Grindelwald. As the name suggests, it has a giant (almost 30 feet tall) cow that kids can explore and slide out. At over 7,600 feet elevation, the backdrop’s not so shabby either.
Männlichen is also the starting point for a number of hikes, including the Panorama Trail to Kleine-Scheidegg. This trail consistently came up when I searched for easy hikes with rewarding views in the area, and we were not disappointed. The views were among the best we had anywhere in Switzerland, and you hike mostly down, so it’s very doable with younger children.
In Kleine-Scheidegg, there’s a restaurant that’s a great place to stop for a meal or ice cream after your hike. From the Kleine-Scheidegg station you can catch the Wengernalpbahn, the world’s longest cog railway (also included with the Jungfrau Pass) back to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. You can of course do this in reverse too, and hike up to Männlichen from Kleine-Scheidegg, if you have older kids and want more of a challenge.
Explore charming Lauterbrunnen and see Staubbach Falls
I thought Lauterbrunnen was the cutest of the mountain towns we visited in the Bernese Oberland and is an easy train trip from Grindelwald. It’s also home to the impressive Staubbach Falls, the tallest free-falling waterfall in Switzerland. When we visited in June it was pretty dry (peak season is spring) but it was still fun to see, and the town is charming and easy to explore on foot from the train station.
Trains from Grindelwald to Lauterbrunnen connect in Interlaken, and if you have extra time, you can also explore that area, or even take a boat cruise on the lake, which is included with the longer Jungfrau passes.
Ride the Eiger Cable Car to the Eigergletscher, Gateway to the “Top of Europe”
While a separate ticket is needed to go all the way to the Jungfraujoch station known as the “top of Europe” (due to its status as the highest railway station on the continent), the regular Jungfrau travel pass covers travel as far as the Eigergletscher (Eiger glacier) station, and we thought this journey was well worth doing for the scenic views from the cable car, the up close views of the massive Eiger glacier and the fun hiking, which was more scramble-y than the hiking we’d done elsewhere but still very doable for kids. We were also lucky enough to spot an alpine ibex, which was a thrill for all of us.
By the time we got to the top, those blue skies had unfortunately turned into rain and clouds, which I think is pretty common at this elevation. But we still had fun exploring, and enjoyed the glacier views and wildlife sightings.
Catch the Eiger Cable Car from Grindelwald Terminal (the same place you go for the Männlichen cable car). Travel on this cable car is covered by the Jungfrau pass. A separate ticket (and seat reservation) are needed to continue from here to the Jungfraujoch.
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I’ve been fortunate enough to do a lot of family travel, and the Swiss Alps tops the list in terms of having something to appeal to all ages and personalities. Add in some very kid-friendly food (all things bread & cheese! everything dipped in chocolate!) and I think it’s really hard to beat as a family travel destination.
