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Christmas week in mountains for non skiers

My partner and I are planning on spending a week in Switzerland after 3 weeks in Italy. We will be coming from Como on Dec 22nd. We don't ski but I want a winter wonderland Christmas. I'm from Australia so something very different to my normal.

Plan is for 2 nights in Lucerne, 3 nights in Grindelwald, and 2 nights in Zurich, where we fly out from.

Have accommodation booked in Grindelwald but can change. I chose there as I just want to see beautiful scenery, and experience something different.

Open to any comments or suggestions... is there anything I might not be aware of?

Can we get the train to Jungfraujoch that week?

Which gondola trips should we do?

Any suggestions for a nice Grindelwald dinner venue for Christmas?

Posted by
6894 posts

If you really want a winter wonderland, I would suggest Wengen (or Mürren) instead of Grindelwald.
Grindelwald is at about 900 metres of elevation so there isn't always snow on the ground, especially at Christmas which is early in the season.
Wengen is 300-400 metres higher, and is car-free.
Mürren is 300 metres above that, and also car-free, but smaller and less convenient.
In both locations (and in Grindelwald), you will have hiking paths and tobogganing trails available for non-skiers. Mid-top snow boots (i.e., just above the ankle) are highly recommended even just for walking around, and if you do go tobogganing, check that your insurance covers you - injuries are frequent.
If you are "stuck" with Grindelwald in the end, do not despair: it is a lovely place, it is livelier than the other two I mention, and you can take trains and gondolas to head into the mountains anyway.

Also, I would suggest 4 nights there and just 1 in Zürich. Zürich is nice, but a quick visit will do.

Posted by
4697 posts

The Zurich train station hosts the largest indoor Xmas market in Europe ( pre- COVID.) Check the dates, and if it
runs past Xmas, you'll have one last holiday experience.
Safe travels,

Posted by
485 posts

You never know exactly what the weather will do. Last year we had a white Christmas here in Thun (about 50km from Grindelwald, 560 m. elevation). If it does snow, Grindelwald will definitely give you the beautiful scenery you are looking for and an awesome Swiss Christmas experience.

Posted by
4402 posts

you're not staying very long in any one place, perhaps drop one destination?

Posted by
10 posts

Am now rethinking the 2 nights in Zurich. I was hesitant to try and go from Grindelwald straight to the airport in case there were train issues, but maybe we can have just 1 night, or even do a shuffle of all dates and do Lucerne last and go from there.

Posted by
6894 posts

Train issues are very, very rare in Switzerland. You can definitely go to Grindelwald upon arrival.
And if your flight out of Zürich is later than 10 AM or so, you can reach the airport by train from Luzern that same morning.

Posted by
10 posts

Thanks for the suggestions everyone. If I decide to to stay in Wengen or Murren for 2 days, will it be difficult dealing with our luggage (big suitcases from a 4-6 week trip) on the trip up there.

Posted by
6894 posts

No, not particularly difficult. People on ski trips have big luggage, and at least in Wengen, I remember hotels offering shuttle services for luggage, or you could stay at one of the hotels right by the train station there (including Silberhorn and Victoria, they're nice hotels). In any case, the walk will typically be shorter than from Grindelwald station to a Grindelwald hotel.