Rising like a sun-drenched terrace above the village of Grindelwald, First is equality parts panorama and pulse. At roughly 2,168 metres, this easy-to-reach alpine summit in the Bernese Oberland rewards visitors with sweeping views of the Eiger’s forbidding north face, the rounded masses of Mönch and Jungfrau, and a patchwork of green meadows and craggy ridgelines that write themselves across the horizon. First is less a single sightline than a catalogue of experiences — cliff-edge promenades, heart-rate-raising zips, gravity-friendly mountain carts and classic high-Alpine walks — all framed by air so clear it feels newly purchased.
Arriving at First is part of the ritual: a short, scenic gondola ride from Grindelwald snakes upward through larch and open alpine slopes, depositing you into an environment that feels deliberately constructed for delight. The First Cliff Walk is the flag-bearer attraction — a narrow, metal walkway and viewing platform that curls around a cliff face, offering vertiginous perspectives into the valley below and cinematic photo opportunities of the Eiger framed like a stage backdrop. It’s an accessible thrill: you don’t need climbing experience to feel the heady openness of the ridge.
For an adrenalin hit, the First Flyer zipline and the mountain cart runs transform the mountainside into a playground. The zipline lets you fly, almost level with the jagged skyline, while the downhill mountain carts (gravity-powered and easy to steer) let you pilot across hairpin bends with wild alpine scenery rushing past. Both feel like a grown-up escape into motion — joyful, a little reckless, and unforgettable.
The area’s hiking is where First shows its gentler, infinitely more meditative side. The hike to Bachalpsee is a staple for a reason: a relatively short, undulating trail leads to a mirror-still lake that often reflects the alpine amphitheatre like glass. Early morning light here can be transcendent — peaks doubled beneath your feet, a hush broken only by trickling streams and the occasional bell of a distant herd. From Bachalpsee, longer routes thread into high pastures and ridges for full-day treks, where wildflowers carpet slopes and marmots keep watch from rocky burrows.
Photography and landscape appreciation are built into every step at First. Sunrise paints the north faces in a molten palette; summer storms throw dramatic cloudscapes across the summits; winter strips the world down to monochrome, and the slopes dress in glittering powder. For families, First manages a rare balance: adventurous, safe attractions plus easy walks and picnic-ready viewpoints. For experienced hikers and skiers, the area acts as a