Essentials
- City
- Grindelwald, Canton of Bern, Switzerland
- Population
- 4,200
- Internet Speed
- 95 Mbps avg via Swisscom Fiber; high availability in chalets
- Currency & Banking
- Swiss Franc (CHF). 1 CHF ≈ 1.13 USD, 1 USD ≈ 0.88 CHF
- Tap Water
- Drinkable, high-quality Alpine spring water
- Power
- 230V, 50Hz, 🔌 Type J (unique to Switzerland) and Type C
- SIM Card
- Swisscom (best coverage), Salt, or Sunrise (available at Post office)
- Banking for Expats
- UBS, Raiffeisen, Revolut (widely accepted), Neon (local digital bank)
- Accommodation
- Luxury chalets, seasonal rentals via GriwaRent, and Airbnb
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, cards and TWINT (Swiss payment app) accepted everywhere
- Short Term Rentals
- Interhome Grindelwald, Eiger Selfness Hotel apartments from 250 CHF/night
- Budget Accommodation
- Grindelwald Youth Hostel (approx. 55 CHF/night for dorm)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Dorfstrasse (Center) for proximity to First Cable Car and restaurants
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Grund or Burglauenen for quieter surroundings and lower seasonal prices
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Impact Hub Bern (1 hour by train); Local: Eiger+ Hub (60 CHF/day)
- Best Cafe for Work
- C_Coffee & Snack (Dorfstrasse) - quiet corners and reliable Wi-Fi
- Networking Events
- Jungfrau Region Tourism networking nights; annual Ski & Tech meetups
- Social Events for Expats
- Interlaken Expats Facebook Group (nearby hub for social gatherings)
Other Services and Amenities
- Language Classes
- Inlingua Interlaken (German and Swiss German courses)
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Gemeindebibliothek Grindelwald (Small but quiet for reading)
- Community Centers
- Eiger+ Nordwandzentrum (Event space and community hub)
- Gaming Lounges
- None; nearest high-end gaming setups are in Bern
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casino Interlaken (Strandbadstrasse 44, Interlaken)
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Die Post (Swiss Post branch on Dorfstrasse)
- Tech Repair Services
- Mobilezone Interlaken (20 mins by train)
- Table Tennis Spots
- Indoor tables at Sportzentrum Grindelwald
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 16,500 CHF per m² (40 m² ≈ 660,000 CHF)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 13,000 CHF per m² (40 m² ≈ 520,000 CHF)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 15,800 CHF per m² (60 m² ≈ 948,000 CHF)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 12,500 CHF per m² (60 m² ≈ 750,000 CHF)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 15,000 CHF per m² (80 m² ≈ 1,200,000 CHF)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 11,800 CHF per m² (80 m² ≈ 944,000 CHF)
- Corporate Tax
- Approx. 21% (Federal + Cantonal Bern rate)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 35% (Refundable for residents under certain conditions)
- Tax System
- Progressive system (Federal, Cantonal, and Municipal levels)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- Approx. 41% (including all tax levels in Bern)
- VAT
- 8.1% (Standard); 2.6% (Food/Books)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- No specific CFC rules, but anti-abuse provisions apply
- Property Tax
- Yes, Cantonal property tax (usually 0.1% to 0.15% of value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- Handänderungssteuer (approx. 1.8% of purchase price)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific nomad visa; check 'L' permit for short stays
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Grindelwald Taxi (Tel: +41 33 853 04 04); Uber is not available
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Intersport Rent-Network Grindelwald (E-bikes approx. 65 CHF/day)
- Best Beach Nearby
- Lido Interlaken (Lake Brienz/Lake Thun), 25 mins away by train
- Top Regional Airline
- Swiss International Air Lines (via Zurich/Geneva)
- Top International Airline
- Lufthansa, Emirates, United (via Zurich Airport)
- Highway Access
- A8 Highway via Interlaken; access to Grindelwald via Route 6
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Grindelwald Station (Connects to Interlaken Ost and Jungfraujoch)
- Public Transport Passes
- Half-Fare Travelcard (185 CHF/year), Berner Oberland Pass
- Regional Travel
- Wengernalpbahn (WAB) to Wengen; Berner Oberland Bahn (BOB) to Interlaken
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- fmi-Spital Interlaken (20km away); local Arztpraxis Grindelwald for GP
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Eiger Selfness Yoga Studio (Sessions approx. 30 CHF)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Sportzentrum Grindelwald (20 CHF day pass, includes pool)
- Laundry Services
- Wash & Dry at Sportzentrum or local service at Hotel Spinne
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- Very limited; most hotels offer local takeaway. Just-Eat.ch limited in mountains
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Eiger-Gletscher Fondue or Rösti with local Alpkäse
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Memory Bistro (Vegan burgers); Barry's Restaurant (Vegetarian platters)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Backerei Ringgenberg (Try the 'Eigerspitz' chocolate)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Coop Supermarket (Dorfstrasse) - best value for daily needs
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Digitec.ch (Electronics), Galaxus (General), Amazon.de (with customs)
- Grocery Delivery
- Coop.ch online delivery to most chalet addresses
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Avocado Bar (Live music and apres-ski atmosphere)
- Local Brewery
- Rugenbräu (Brewed in Interlaken, served at all local bars)
- Wine Bars
- Eiger Lounge - massive selection of Swiss and international wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Grill-Kurve (Sausages and quick bites near the station)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Onkel Tom’s Hütte (Italian Pizza/Pasta), Golden India (Interlaken)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe (3,454m elevation)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Heimatmuseum Grindelwald (History of Alpinism)
- Historical Sites
- First Cliff Walk by Tissot; historic Wetterhorn Lift remains
- Religious Sites
- Reformierte Kirche Grindelwald (Beautiful mountain church)
- Annual Events
- World Snow Festival (January); Eiger Ultra Trail (July)
- Cultural Districts
- Grindelwald Dorf - traditional chalet architecture district
- Theater Venues
- Aula des Schulhauses (Local community plays and concerts)
- Local Markets
- Grindelwald Street Market (Monthly during summer)
- Music Scene
- SnowpenAir (Annual mountain-top music festival in March/April)
- Street Art
- Wood carvings throughout the village trails
- Cooking Classes
- Fondue cooking workshops at local mountain huts
- Art Galleries
- Galerie im Sportzentrum (Rotating local Alpine photography)
- Historic Buildings
- Hotel Adler (One of the oldest established lodging sites)
- Local Heritage
- Käseherstellung (Traditional cheese making in the Alps)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Bachalpsee Lake (45-min hike from First station)
- National Parks Nearby
- Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Eiger Trail (6km path directly under the Eiger North Face)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Männlichen Summit (Panoramas of Eiger, Mönch, and Frau)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Alpine Chough sightings at First and Schilthorn
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Gletscherschlucht (Glacier Canyon) designated BBQ pits