Grindelwald (Jungfrau) weather in December

December in Grindelwald: cold, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Grindelwald🇨🇭 Switzerland · Alps · Trekking60
  1. 57Jan
  2. 69Feb
  3. 73Mar
  4. 81Apr
  5. 79May
  6. 78Jun
  7. 75Jul
  8. 77Aug
  9. 84Sep
  10. 79Oct
  11. 67Nov
  12. 60Dec

#11 of 12 months in Grindelwald · #977 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 60/100 (tier C)

Days
4°C
Nights
-3°C
Wet days
14
Sun
5 h
Humidity
81%
Daylight
9 h
Grindelwald, Switzerland
Photo: allPhoto Bangkok · Pexels

Traveller notes on Grindelwald in December

Notes from nearby Engelberg (35 km away)

Grindelwald doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Engelberg, close enough to share the season.

December at Engelberg is an altitude story with a wide spread. The forum's own figures put Titlis in a -20C to 0C range and the village at -10C to +10C, which is why a late-December day can mean no snow in Engelberg, sleet at the mid-station and snow only at the top. Above about 2,000m - the Trubsee area and up - there is a fair chance of enough for winter sports, and in November the skiing is usually confined to Klein Titlis at the summit. The other advice is to pick a clear day, because there is little to do up there in heavy snow, and the light goes early: sunrise about 08:10, sunset 16:41. The record: 3.8C days that feel like 1C, -2.9C nights, 48cm of snow and 5 hours of sun.
NoSnowSleetThenSnow · December · 1 month ago · about Engelberg · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Grindelwald

Grindelwald-forum threads on May weather describe conditions as genuinely variable, posters calling both wetter stretches and beautiful sunny days entirely plausible within the same week and impossible to predict. Regulars call higher-elevation trails still generally closed, most not opening until mid-June given how much snow remains up top. Posters recommend staying below roughly fourteen hundred meters for reliable hiking in early May, routes like the lower Faulhorn flanks or toward Grosse Scheidegg staying accessible. Regulars call May genuinely uncrowded compared with peak summer, a real upside for the trail limitations. Posters recommend real waterproof layers regardless of the morning forecast, conditions shifting fast. Regulars call the lower valley walks between Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald a reliable option regardless of the higher routes. The record: 14.2C days feeling like 14C, 6C nights, an extraordinarily high 201.1mm across 20 days and 83 percent humidity.
GrindelwaldMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Grindelwald-forum threads on early February describe this as genuinely peak ski season, posters calling hotels booked out well in advance and snow conditions reliably strong this deep into winter. Regulars call the village's relatively low elevation a real factor, less chance of a proper snow-covered village than at a higher resort like Zermatt even with strong cover on the mountain. Posters recommend booking accommodation months ahead for February specifically, March named repeatedly as a considerably easier month for last-minute availability. Regulars describe snowmaking as a real backup regardless of natural conditions, keeping the main runs reliably open through the season. Posters call the Eiger north face view from the village worth the trip on any clear day, ski conditions aside. Regulars recommend checking current snow reports rather than trusting a reputation. The record: 5.7C days feeling like 3C, -2.5C nights, 104.8mm across nearly 12 days and 78 percent humidity.
GrindelwaldFebruaryRegular · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Grindelwald-forum threads asking about an early-June Eiger Trail attempt are direct this route typically doesn't open until later in the month, snow still covering sections through early June and posters calling an unofficial attempt genuinely inadvisable. Regulars describe June overall as an unstable month by nature, capable of delivering warm, lovely stretches or a sudden cold turn higher up. Posters call mid-June the more realistic target for the Eiger Trail, most listed opening dates running July through October depending on conditions. Regulars recommend early June or September for thinner crowds over guaranteed high-trail access, valley routes staying open regardless. Posters recommend checking current official trail status first. Regulars call the Jungfrau region views worth the trip while waiting on higher trails to clear. The record: 20.8C days feeling like 23C, 11C nights, an extraordinarily high 251.8mm across nearly 20 days and 82 percent humidity.
GrindelwaldJuneRegular · June · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Grindelwald-forum threads on July weather describe conditions as genuinely comfortable overall, though posters are direct this can range widely, from a bright, warm afternoon in the low 20s Celsius to a considerably cooler, showery day within the same week. Regulars call mountain weather notoriously unreliable, capable of shifting within minutes even on an otherwise promising morning, and recommend packing for a full range of conditions regardless of forecast. Mid-July through mid-October is the genuine core of the hiking season, most higher huts opening by early July as routes clear for the year. A proper rain shell rather than an umbrella is standing advice given how exposed many classic ridge routes run. Regulars call the Jungfrau region views worth the unpredictability, clear stretches delivering some of the best alpine scenery in Switzerland. The record: 22.5C days feeling like 22C, 13C nights, an extraordinarily high 187mm across nearly 20 days and 81 percent humidity.
GrindelwaldJulyRegular · July · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Grindelwald's card on the map.

Grindelwald climate normals — December

Daytime high4°C / 40°F🧥 cold
Nighttime low-3°C / 27°F
Feels like (high)2°C / 36°F
Rainfall148 mm / 5.8 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days14 days
Humidity81%💦 very humid
Dew point-3°C / 27°F
Sunshine5 h/day
Daylight8.6 h
Wind8 km/h / 5 mph
Snowfall75.3 cm / 29.6 in
Air quality (US AQI)36🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Grindelwald in December

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Peak crowdsChristmas and New Year ski peak, Christmas holidays in Switzerland, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Grindelwald's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Toughest weatherGrindelwald's best weather comes in April, May and September — separate windows, not one continuous season.

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Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Grindelwald in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Closure

    Autumn lift maintenance

    20 Oct – 10 Dec · usually

    Most of the mountain railways stop for their annual overhaul between the walking and skiing seasons, so November is the one month the village has little to offer either way. Source ↗

  • Season

    Ski season

    15 Dec – 15 Apr · usually

    One pass over Grindelwald, Wengen and Muerren, with the Eiger Express putting you at 2,300 metres twenty minutes from the village. Low altitude at the bottom, so spring snow goes fast.

  • Holiday

    Christmas and New Year ski peak

    20 Dec – 6 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

    The fortnight from Christmas to early January is the busiest of the ski winter. Hotels and chalets book out months ahead, often with minimum stays, rates are at their highest and lift queues at their longest. Source ↗

  • Season

    Snow season

    Ski season

    About 75 cm of snow falls in the month.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Grindelwald — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Grindelwald?

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Grindelwald in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Grindelwald?
December in Grindelwald: cold, rainy, with clean air — a good time to visit. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Grindelwald on SeasonMap's comfort score (60/100).
What is the weather like in Grindelwald in December?
In December, Grindelwald averages a daily high of 4.4°C and a low of -2.8°C, with about 147.7 mm of rain over roughly 14.4 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Grindelwald in December?
Grindelwald has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 36 in December.
Does it snow in Grindelwald in December?
Grindelwald sees roughly 75.3 cm of snowfall in December.

Within 300 km: Bern's Munsterplatz bell-ringing on 31 Dec – 1 Jan, and Gstaad's Glacier 3000 autumn skiing around 1 Nov – 10 Dec.