Grindelwald (Jungfrau) weather in January
January in Grindelwald: cold, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#12 of 12 months in Grindelwald · #1021 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 57/100 (tier D)
- Days
- 3°C
- Nights
- -5°C
- Wet days
- 14
- Sun
- 5.6 h
- Humidity
- 80%
- Daylight
- 9 h

Traveller notes on Grindelwald in January
Notes from nearby Interlaken (15 km away)
Grindelwald doesn't have its own notes for January yet — these are about Interlaken, close enough to share the season.
Interlaken-forum threads on a January visit describe the town as genuinely quiet this time of year, posters calling tourist numbers far lower than the summer peak while shops still run a normal schedule. Regulars call snow at Interlaken's own lower elevation inconsistent, some visitors reporting a proper covering while others find the valley floor bare and grey. Posters recommend the train up to Wengen or nearby mountain villages for a considerably more reliable shot at real winter scenery. Regulars describe January weather as capable of running either way, one visitor reporting sunshine daily, another calling the same month dark and overcast throughout. Posters call the town's train connections a genuine strength, day trips into the Jungfrau region easy from this base. Regulars recommend flexible plans given how unpredictable lowland weather runs. The record: 3.9C days feeling like 1C, -2.2C nights, an extraordinarily high 132.8mm across over 14 days and 81 percent humidity.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Grindelwald climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Grindelwald in January
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)
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.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Grindelwald in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
World Snow Festival
19–24 JanArts festivalTeams carve three-metre blocks of snow into sculptures in the village centre over a week in January, free to walk around, and they stand until the first warm spell takes them. Source ↗
- Season
Ski season
15 Dec – 15 Apr · usuallyOne 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 earlyThe 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 seasonAbout 89 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
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?
Grindelwald in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Grindelwald?
- January in Grindelwald: cold, rainy, with clean air — a fair time to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Grindelwald on SeasonMap's comfort score (57/100).
- What is the weather like in Grindelwald in January?
- In January, Grindelwald averages a daily high of 2.8°C and a low of -4.8°C, with about 142.5 mm of rain over roughly 14.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Grindelwald in January?
- Grindelwald has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 34 in January.
- Does it snow in Grindelwald in January?
- Grindelwald sees roughly 88.8 cm of snowfall in January.
Within 300 km: Interlaken's Harder Potschete on 2 Jan, and Bern's Munsterplatz bell-ringing on 31 Dec – 1 Jan.