In Grindelwald, Switzerland, the regal Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau mountains loom large — sentries guarding verdant green or snowy winter slopes, picture-perfect wooden chalets and locals and visitors alike.
After years of hoping to visit this region, which is known for its outdoor adventure options, my family and I made it happen this summer. We purchased Eurail passes and rode trains from southern France, eventually boarding the Bernese Oberland Railway and connecting to Grindelwald via Interlaken. Upon arrival, we discovered that, while the views from below these famous peaks are grand, the real fun is found higher up. Here are a few places for (literally) elevated play.
First, Go to Firstbahn
What better way to arrive mid-mountain than via a swiftly moving aerial gondola? Six-seater cabins whisk visitors to Grindelwald’s Firstbahn summit for all kinds of adventures, from hikes of all levels (don’t miss the four-mile trek to Bachalpsee Lake) to incredible playgrounds, mountain cart rides and ziplines. Queues for the latter can be 45 minutes to an hour long during peak summer season, but this is arguably the prettiest place to wait, with incredible vistas all around.
The writer’s kids at Bort Alpine Playground
Credit: 2025 Chelsee Lowe
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Our family disembarked the cable car twice. At the lower station, my youngest daughter climbed and swung like a monkey on an array of wooden structures at Bort Alpine Playground. Arranged on a gentle slope facing the aforementioned mountains, this park even has a downhill stream that invites kids to experiment, stacking rocks and building dams to their hearts’ content.
Happy cows graze on slopes
Credit: 2025 Gridelwald Tourism
Back on the gondola, we rode to 7,100 feet with two plans in mind: to observe what have to be the world’s happiest cows, and for my oldest daughter and husband to ride First Flyer, a zipline experience that carries riders as fast as 50 miles per hour. While they reached top speeds, my youngest and I fawned over brown-and-white Swiss cows feasting on grass and wildflowers. Giant bells affixed to their necks dinged as they grazed, creating an enchanting alpine symphony.
A massive wooden cow draws families to Alpine Herdsman’s Playground.
Credit: 2025 Grindelwald TourismRide to Mannlichen
Every parent I chatted with in town recommended riding the Mannlichen gondola to Alpine Herdsman’s Playground, famous for its nearly 28-foot-high wooden cow structure, complete with a pink slide that is the animal’s tongue. My youngest’s jaw dropped at the sight of it, and off she went, into its belly and out its mouth, on repeat.
Balancing platforms, a rock-climbing wall, oversized hammocks, a bowling lane, wooden teeter totters, a merry-go-round and a twirling swing carousel make for hours of fun here. And at about 7,600 feet in elevation, I couldn’t get enough of the dramatic scenery. Peaks on all sides of us played peek-a-boo with moving clouds, and we had a birds-eye view of the Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys below.
Jungfraujoch is home to Europe's highest railway station.
Credit: 2025 Grindelwald TourismExplore the Top of Europe
Jungfraujoch is the name for the saddle that connects the peaks of Monch and Jungfrau. We rose with the sun one day to visit the site — which sits at 11,332 feet in elevation and boasts the highest rail station in Europe — via the Eiger Express cable system and Eiger Glacier station, where we hopped onboard the Jungfrau Railway. The heights were so incredible that my husband abandoned ship at our midpoint (we learned the word acrophobia on this trip), but my daughters and I made it to the winter wonderland up top, which is covered in snow year-round. We took in glacier views, tossed snowballs, strolled through an ice palace and, of course, sampled chocolates from the world’s highest Lindt shop — a sweet ending to an epic morning.
The Jungfrau Travel Pass
To ensure an easy visit to the peaks and playgrounds of the Jungfrau region, recommend clients buy a Jungfrau Travel Pass, which gives them unlimited access to mountain railways, cable cars, trains and more. We used the pass to access each of the sites described above. Note that activities such as First Flyer are not included and require additional tickets.
