Pfingstegg

The Pfingstegg is a summer mountain with a high pleasure factor.

5 Highlights on the Pfingstegg

• In the evening, the gondolas of the Pfingstegg cable car are transformed into tiny moving restaurants for a sky dinner or a candlelight dinner.

• The 725 m long toboggan run (Toboggan) on the Pfingstegg has double seats and is very popular in summer. It reaches speeds of up to 45 km/h.
• Treasure hunt for the little ones is available near the adventure playground on the Pfingstegg.
• The 350 m long Fly Line allows speeds of 8 to 12 km/h over a tube system.
• You can reach the Grindelwald Glacier Gorge from the Pfingstegg mountain station in an easy hike.

The Pfingstegg is reached by a cable car from Grindelwald in less than five minutes. The cable car goes up to the alp every twenty minutes from May to October, and every 15 minutes in high summer.

Places of interest on the Pfingstegg

The Pfingstegg is considered a vantage point above Grindelwald. Its location is unique, as it is situated on a flat area at 1386 m above sea level. From here, the two Grindelwald glaciers can be easily hiked. The Upper Grindelwald Glacier was the eastern of the two glaciers that fed the valley of Grindelwald. The Lower Grindelwald Glacier was once one of the largest glaciers in Switzerland. Today, the glacier tongues have receded to the point where they no longer contain any ice. A visit to the Pfingstegg can also be well combined with a visit to the Grindelwald Gorge.

By Cable Car to Pfingstegg

The Pfingstegg cable car, known as Pfingsteggbahn, takes visitors to Pfingstegg. The valley station of the Pfingsteggbahn can be reached from Grindelwald station in four minutes by bus on line 122, two stops after the Firstbahn stop.

The gondola lift has two cabins, each accommodating 35+1 passengers. Completed in 1967, it was renewed in 1985 and underwent a major overhaul in 2013.

Facts:

• 1,027 m valley station
• 1,387 m mountain station
• 360 meters of elevation
• 1,035 m length
• 7 m/s speed
• Up to 450 passengers can be transported per hour.

Parking is available at Rybigässli (Parking Pfingstegg 4) and Grabenstrasse (Parking Pfingstegg 3).

Activities on the Pfingstegg

The activities on the Pfingstegg are primarily for families. Teenagers and young people especially love the Fly Line. Pfingstegg is totally car-free, it is reached exclusively by cable car or on foot.

The Pfingstegg is quickly reached in summer as the House Mountain of Grindelwald and is very popular because of the many possibilities for activities.

The following activities are announced here from May to October:

• fly through the forest with the Fly-Line
• Summer tobogganing on the toboggan run
• Mountain hiking
• Playing and climbing at the adventure playground
• Treasure hunt for the little ones
• Experience Sky Dinner or Candlelight Dinner on a ride

The Fly-Line on Pfingstegg

Since 2019, the Pfingstegg has a new attraction: the Fly-Line. For 350 meters, you fly at 8 to 12 km/h over a tube system.

From the Pfingstegg mountain station, guests glide through the forest in a free-hanging seat frame. The ride follows a pipe system suspended from trees in the forest via wooden collars. In the direction of the valley, about 60 meters of altitude are overcome on the route.

After about 2.5 minutes, visitors reach their destination and do not have to walk back. The fly line ends just a short distance below an existing zip line support in the clearing. There is a return carrier that comfortably takes guests back to the starting point by means of a specially designed elevator.

The Fly-Line already exists in a few places around the world. In Switzerland, the Grindelwald-Pfingstegg facility is the first of its kind. The Fly-Line is very suitable for families, as it can be used from the age of about 4 years. The Fly-Line may not be used under the influence of alcohol.

Open (like the cable car) from the second week of May until about mid-October daily from 11 am - 5 pm as well as during evening Sky Dinner, during the main season 10 am - 6 pm.

Summer tobogganing on the Pfingstegg toboggan run

The summer toboggan run on the Pfingstegg is also called Toboggan and here the ride accelerates up to 45 km/h.

The rapid ride starts behind the mountain station and behind the mountain restaurant of the Pfingstegg. It passes through beautiful alpine meadows and runs over 725 meters down the mountain. A toboggan lift takes visitors back to the starting point.

Sledding is allowed here alone or in pairs and the impressive mountain panorama ensures unforgettable experiences.

The toboggan run (like the cable car) is open daily from the second week of May until about mid-October from 11:00 -17:00 and during the high season from 10:00 -18:00.

Hiking around the Pfingstegg Alp

The hiking area around Pfingstegg also leads into the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the huge Jungfrau - Aletsch - Bietschhorn area.

Pfingstegg - Bäregg

The hike from the top station of the Pfingstegg cable car to the Bäregg is very popular and also educational. Information about the landscape and climate change is given at seven locations. The cause of the huge rock fall on the Eiger, the danger posed by the resulting glacial lake and the mountain hut on the precipice as a symbol of climate change in Europe are some examples.

The well-built path is secured with a wire mesh fence on the valley side in particularly dangerous places. With a duration of about 90 minutes, it is rather short, but has 340 meters of ascent that must be mastered. Therefore, it is classified as a moderately difficult tour. You can stop off at the Berghaus Bäregg.

Pfingstegg - Glacier Gorge

This easy hike starts at the Pfingstegg mountain station and first leads to a particularly beautiful viewpoint down to Grindelwald. Back down into the valley, this trail passes the Marmorbruch. The Marmorbruch mountain inn is open daily except Mondays until the first week of October and has a large panoramic terrace. You can stay overnight in five double rooms. Today, marble is no longer mined in the Marmorbruch.

The further way leads to the Glacier Gorge. The footbridge through the gorge is passable in summer and the visit is worthwhile. Between huge rock walls the water masses of the Lütschine roar. There is a bus stop at the entrance to the glacier gorge, but the half-hour hike to Grindelwald does not take much longer than the bus ride on lines 121 or 123.

Grindelwald - Pfingstegg

From Grindelwald the ascent to Pfingstegg is described as an easy to medium tour (410 hm ascent). From the Mättenberg bridge continue on the Haltenweg and at the next junction turn right onto the hiking trail. The ascent takes about forty minutes if you are in good shape. You can return by cable car.

Grindelwald - Pfingstegg - Bäregg - Schreckhorn hut

A very demanding and difficult hike that requires good physical condition is the approximately 4.5-hour hike with a proud 1,266 meters in altitude. The tour starts with the train ride to the Pfingstegg. The path is well signposted. Along the way, you will encounter three mountain restaurants: the Pfingstegg mountain restaurant, the Berghaus Bäregg and the Schreckhornhütte. The last part is in high alpine terrain on narrow paths. It goes over streams, past waterfalls, secured sections and ladders.

Pfingstegg - Milchbach - Hotel Wetterhorn

The beautiful high-altitude trail starts at the Pfingstegg mountain station and continues with a slight incline to Chalet Milchbach (permanently closed) and kept left past the Wetterhorn lift to Hotel Wetterhorn. The tour is an easy and pleasant mountain hike with 66 meters of altitude difference on 3.4 km length. From the hotel, bus line 121 takes about twelve minutes to Grindelwald train station.

Children's playground and treasure hunt on Pfingstegg

Directly at the top station of the Pfingstegg cable car is an elaborately designed adventure children's playground. In addition to climbing frames, there is a bouncy castle and slides on which children can romp around.

A ride on the little Tyrolienne is prepared for the brave little adventurers. The Tyrolienne cable car is 130 meters long. Even big adventurers can whiz through the air with it. originally built in 2013 to bridge the repair time of the toboggan run after an avalanche, it has since become a permanent fixture.

Parents have the option of stopping off at the top station's restaurant while the little ones are busy on the playground. An outdoor terrace also lets them keep an eye on everything. Here at the playground, there is also a treasure hunt for kids and a fire pit for families to roast cervelats on the fire themselves. For the next family trip, the Pfingstegg is a good tip.

Flying Dinner at the Pfingstegg

Special occasions for two can be celebrated in a romantically decorated ambience in the gondola of the aerial cableway at Pfingstegg. With the candlelight dinner in the gondola, the aerial cableway offers unique moments with special delicacies.

Candlelight dinner

At the candlelight dinner, a fine aperitif is served. Afterwards, the cable car floats alone with the couple through the night to the top station of Alp Pfingstegg and back again. Once at the bottom, the main course is served and the gondola moves up again. About thirty minutes later, the gondola moves down to the valley again. This time there is dessert, coffee and a digestif. Once again the ride goes up.

Examples of dishes

• Aperitif plate with dried meat and Hobelkäse from Grindelwald, garnished with fruit,
• Fillet of beef from local production, served on a hot stone, served with french fries and various sauces

A flower arrangement, romantic music and the romantic decoration of the gondola are included.

Sky Dinner

With up to eight guests, there is a similar experience at Sky Dinner. With Sky Dinner, too, the ride up the mountain begins after an aperitif in the valley. The main meal is eaten on the mountain and back in the valley there are desserts before the second ascent.

Examples of dishes

• Garnished aperitif platter with Grindelwald Hobelkäse and dried meat
• Beef entrecôte or chicken breast served on a hot stone with rösti croquettes, various sauces and a colorful leaf salad
• For children, robber plates or Wienerli are served.

In total, a candlelight dinner as well as a sky dinner lasts about 2.5 hours. It starts at 7 p.m. in the low season and at 8 p.m. in the high season. Candlelight dinners and sky dinners are not held in parallel. Each evening is reserved for one dinner only.

Mountain restaurants, huts and inns

The mountain restaurants and inns are generally open between May and October. Nevertheless, there are days of rest that should be observed before an intended hike.

Pfingstegg mountain restaurant

The Pfingstegg mountain restaurant is located at 1,387 m near the top station of the Pfingstegg cable car. It has a rustic ambience and a large panoramic terrace. The view is of Grindelwald and out of the valley, as well as the Eiger and Wetterhorn. The regional cuisine also includes cheese specialties from the region. The mountain restaurant can be booked for evening trips and in combination with the toboggan run.

The restaurant is reached from Grindelwald directly by cable car or in a walk of about 1.5 hours.

Opening hours: May to October from 9:00 to 18:00 or by booking

Berghaus Bäregg

Berghaus Bäregg is situated at 1,775 m at the eastern end of the Grindelwald Valley. Thus, it is located in the middle of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage area. The house is a popular destination for day hikes. Surrounded by high peaks, green alpine meadows and the imposing glacier area, the large panoramic terrace is very popular. Inside, the hut has a restaurant with a cozy stove and panoramic windows.

The regional cuisine is prepared with fresh ingredients. The mountain hut can be reached by hikers in 1.5 hours from the Pfingstegg cable car. For overnight stays there are 28 beds in shared rooms with shower available.

Opening hours: May to October, heated winter room available

Schreckhorn Hut

The Schreckhornhütte stands at 2,530 meters above sea level in the middle of the UNESCO World Heritage area and is a refuge of the Swiss Alpine Club of the Basel Section. The glaciers appear close enough to touch, and the whole area around is high alpine. The Obere Ischmeer (sea of ice) is located above. The ascent to the hut is from Pfingstegg in about 4.5 hours over partly very narrow paths, secured spots and ladders. The hut is often used as a starting point for summit ascents to peaks such as the Schreckhorn (4,078 m) or the Lauteraarhorn (4,042 m).

The hut is open from the end of June to the beginning of September (65 beds). The shelter is open all year round (20 sleeping places).

Marmorbruch mountain inn

The Marmorbruch mountain inn is located at 1,107 meters above sea level. It offers regional cuisine in a restaurant and on a large terrace. In addition to cheese fondue, there are bratwurst with rösti, cold fitness plates or the Töffsattel, a meaty specialty. Five double rooms with showers on the floor are available.

Opening hours: June through first week of October except Mondays, open daily 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sundays until 6 p.m.; hot food 11:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Hotel and Restaurant Wetterhorn

The Wetterhorn Hotel and Restaurant stands at 1,228 m above sea level. It can be reached from Pfingstegg or Grindelwald on foot and from Grindelwald by bus line 121 in about 12 minutes. The restaurant seats 100, the Gletscherstübli 60 and the terrace 140. The hotel has 10 rooms.

Opening hours: Year-round restaurant daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., hot food 11 a.m.-6 p.m

open daily from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., warm cuisine 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m

Hotel and Restaurant Gletschergarten

The Gletschergarten Hotel and Restaurant is located in Grindelwald not far from the Grindelwald-Pfingstegg cable car valley station. The Restaurant Gletschergarten serves the food and drinks at the Sky- and Candlelight-Dinner of the cable car.

Opening hours: Early June to early October and mid-December to early April.

Climate and weather at Pfingstegg

In the period from May to September the temperatures 1386 m above sea level reach over 25 °C in high summer

Precipitation rarely exceeds 50 mm/m2. For hikes at the Pfingstegg it is nevertheless very important to carry rain protection with you.

Pfingstegg: location and approach

Together with Wetterhorn and Eiger, the Mättenberg forms the steep southern edge of the Grindelwald basin. This is characterized by high rock faces.

At the northern foot of the 3,104-meter-high Mättenberg lies the Pfingstegg as a viewing terrace at an altitude of 1,386 meters. It can be reached by mountain railroad from Grindelwald.

Arrival by car

From Basel or Geneva, the fastest route for those arriving is via Berne. If you are coming from Zurich, it is best to take the roads in the direction of Lucerne and the Brünig Pass. This pass is open all year round.

If you are coming from the south, you can reach this region in summer via the Grimsel or Susten Pass.

Arrival by public transport (ÖV)

From Interlaken Ost, the regional train of the Bernese Oberland Railways arrives in Grindelwald in just over half an hour. The Grindelwald bus is line 122 and operates from May to December.