Wengen or Grindelwald for Christmas?

Wengen and Grindelwald side by side

WengenGrindelwald
CountrySwitzerlandSwitzerland
Village altitude1,274m1,034m
Top of the ski area2,394m2,500m
Christmases with 30cm+ of snow29 of 30 (Itramen, 2162 m)23 of 30 (Grindel, 1950 m)
Snow lying in the village23 of 30 Christmases20 of 27 Christmases
Christmas Snow Score60/10047/100
Christmas atmosphere (our rating)5/54/5
Families (our rating)5/54/5
Beginners (our rating)4/54/5
Chalets we list922
Typical Christmas week, 19 Dec – 26 Dec 2026Too few pricedToo few priced

Snow figures are Christmas-morning measurements by national and regional weather services, shown on the Christmas Snow Report. Ratings are our editorial view. Prices are Booking.com’s cheapest total for the week for each chalet’s full capacity, among chalets still available when we checked.

What Christmas is like in each

Christmas in Wengen

Very good. A car-free village of chalets and old hotels, snow on the roofs and the Jungfrau lit up across the valley make for a quiet, old-fashioned Christmas.

More about Christmas in Wengen · Chalets in Wengen

Christmas in Grindelwald

Good. A large village in a spectacular setting, with the Eiger above and snow on the chalets. The tourist office's 2026 programme has Santa Claus arriving in the village on 6 December and a New Year's Eve celebration on 31 December.

More about Christmas in Grindelwald · Chalets in Grindelwald

Questions about Wengen and Grindelwald at Christmas

Which has more snow at Christmas, Wengen or Grindelwald?

Wengen is the safer bet for snow: at least 30cm on Christmas morning in 29 of 30 years, against 23 of 30 for Grindelwald. Measured on Christmas morning at the nearest weather station to each resort since 1996; how often there has been snow, not a forecast.

Which is better for christmas atmosphere at Christmas, Wengen or Grindelwald?

Wengen is stronger on Christmas atmosphere (5 out of 5 against 4), in our editorial view.

Which is better for families at Christmas, Wengen or Grindelwald?

Wengen is stronger on families (5 out of 5 against 4), in our editorial view.

Which is better for beginners at Christmas, Wengen or Grindelwald?

On beginners we rate them the same (4 out of 5).