Grindelwald & Kleine Scheidegg Train Day Trip Small Group

The cogwheel train climbs 40 minutes to Kleine Scheidegg, where the Eiger's north face fills the view.

A small-group day trip from Interlaken that travels by train to Grindelwald, then ascends via cogwheel train to Kleine Scheidegg at 2,061 meters, with two hours free time there before descending through the car-free village of Wengen to Lauterbrunnen and its Staubbach waterfall. A live English-speaking Swiss guide leads the route. All train tickets and 2nd class travel are included. The tour runs seven hours total.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen

• Board train from Interlaken to Grindelwald
• Walk along Grindelwald main street
• Take cogwheel train to Kleine Scheidegg
• Explore and have lunch at Kleine Scheidegg
• Stop and walk in Wengen village
• Visit Lauterbrunnen and see Staubbach waterfall
• Return by train to Interlaken

The experience

The train leaves Interlaken for Grindelwald, where you walk the main street of this 19th-century alpinism hub before boarding the cogwheel train. That 40-minute climb to Kleine Scheidegg is the spine of the day: the track winds up the mountainside and the Eiger's north face emerges above you, framed between the Mönch and Jungfrau. At the pass itself (a mountain hotel and restaurant settlement at 2,061 meters). You have two hours to eat, rest or walk the ridgeline. Most travelers eat lunch here. The restaurants serve traditional Swiss dishes and the views across the valley do not change.

The descent follows a different route. The cogwheel train stops at Wengen, a village with no road access, where you walk through the streets for a short time before continuing down to Lauterbrunnen. That village sits below a near-vertical rock wall, and the Staubbach waterfall drops from the cliff face above it. You walk through Lauterbrunnen before the final train ride back to Interlaken. Your guide (a live Swiss speaker in English, French or German) travels the whole route with the group, which stays small enough that the stops do not feel crowded.

All train tickets are included, so there are no separate purchases at each station. The tour takes seven hours from start to finish. Groups are kept intentionally small, which means the pace at each stop is yours to set rather than driven by a large crowd moving through together.

What’s included

• English, French or German-speaking Swiss guide for the full day.
• all train tickets and 2nd class travel from Interlaken through Grindelwald, up the cogwheel train to Kleine Scheidegg, through Wengen and down to Lauterbrunnen, then back to Interlaken.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:15

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6)

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish, French and German

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 10 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by SwissTravelGuide.ch

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to move between Grindelwald, Kleine Scheidegg, Wengen, and Lauterbrunnen by train at your own pace rather than following a coach schedule that waits for larger groups.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, French and German.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How long do I spend at Kleine Scheidegg?

You have two hours free time at Kleine Scheidegg to explore the mountain pass, eat lunch at one of the restaurants there, or simply sit with the views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The cogwheel train departs on a fixed schedule, so you return to the station before the next departure.

What is Wengen and why do we stop there?

Wengen is a car-free mountain village you reach by cogwheel train on the descent from Kleine Scheidegg. The stop gives you time to walk through the village streets before continuing down to Lauterbrunnen. It sits between the high pass and the valley floor.

Are the train tickets included in the price?

Yes. All train tickets for the full route (from Interlaken to Grindelwald, the cogwheel train to Kleine Scheidegg, the descent through Wengen to Lauterbrunnen, and the return to Interlaken) are included. You travel 2nd class. 1st class is not available on the cogwheel sections.

What is the Staubbach waterfall?

The Staubbach waterfall drops from the nearly vertical rock wall that rises above Lauterbrunnen village. You see it during your stop in Lauterbrunnen at the end of the day, and it is one of the iconic views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley.

How many people are in the group?

The tour is limited to a small group, which keeps the stops and the pace more intimate than a large tour would. The exact group size varies by departure date.