Grindelwald First Mountain & Lauterbrunnen Day Trip from Lucerne

From Lucerne over the Brünig Pass to Interlaken

The coach leaves Lucerne in the morning and follows the shores of Lake Lucerne and Lake Sarnen before climbing past the turquoise Lake Lungern to the Brünig Pass at about 1,000 m, the gateway between central Switzerland and the Bernese Oberland. On the far side, the road descends toward Lake Brienz, whose milky blue-green water comes from glacial meltwater.

Your guide shares stories of Swiss traditions, alpine farming and the mountains ahead, and points out the best views from the window. The first stop is a short photo break in Interlaken, the town between two lakes, where the open meadow in the centre often gives a view of the snowy Jungfrau. If you are wondering how to get to Grindelwald from Lucerne without changing trains, this coach does it in about two hours.

Grindelwald and the cable car to First

Grindelwald is a mountain village at about 1,000 m beneath the north face of the Eiger, with the Wetterhorn and Schreckhorn rising beside it. From the village, the cable car to First, included in your tour, climbs in about 25 minutes over chalets, meadows and forests, stopping at Bort and Schreckfeld before reaching the top station at 2,168 m.

From the cabins you look across to the Eiger, the glaciers above the village and the long green valley. At First, a sunny terrace and a restaurant offer meals and refreshments at your own expense; halal food is limited in Grindelwald and at First, so we suggest bringing snacks. Grindelwald First opening hours follow the cable car, generally from morning to late afternoon, with timings that vary by season.

The First Cliff Walk and the First View platform

From the top station, a steel walkway hugs the sheer rock face of the mountain and leads to a viewing platform that juts out over the void, with the valley far below and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau across the way on clear days. The Cliff Walk is included, and walking it takes about 20 to 30 minutes at an easy pace, with handrails along the whole route.

An easy path then leads to the newer First View platform for another sweeping panorama of glaciers and peaks. Is Grindelwald First worth visiting? For many visitors it is the most rewarding viewpoint in the region, with real height and drama but no steep climb. If time allows, some guests stroll part of the trail toward the Bachalpsee lake, though the full walk takes about an hour each way.

Optional adventure rides at First

For those who want a thrill, First offers several rides at your own expense. The First Flyer is a zip line that carries you seated at high speed from First down to Schreckfeld, and the First Glider lets you fly lying face down in an eagle-shaped harness. In summer, mountain carts, small three-wheeled carts, roll down gravel roads from Schreckfeld to Bort, and trottibikes, large mountain scooters, continue down to Grindelwald.

These rides depend on the weather and availability, cannot be booked in advance and may involve long waits on busy days; the zip lines usually operate from late November to late October, while mountain carts and trottibikes run from about May to October. Your guide explains the options and the meeting time. Alternatively, simply relax on the cable car descent past alpine meadows and traditional chalets.

The Lauterbrunnen valley and Staubbach Falls

The coach then continues to the Lauterbrunnen valley, a deep glacial valley enclosed by near-vertical limestone cliffs with waterfalls tumbling over their edges. The village of Lauterbrunnen sits on the valley floor among meadows and chalets, with its white church framed by the cliffs in one of the most photographed scenes in Switzerland.

During your free time, walk a few minutes to Staubbach Falls, which drops almost 300 m from the cliff above the village and dissolves into fine spray. The best time to visit Lauterbrunnen is late spring and summer, when snowmelt makes the falls most powerful. In the afternoon you meet your guide again for the return drive to Lucerne. Note that the tour may run in reverse order, visiting Lauterbrunnen first.