What to Wear in Grindelwald and on the Jungfraujoch: Month-by-Month Clothing, Packing List and Shoes

By Ramon Stüdeli, who lives in Grindelwald and LucerneLast updated: 1 November 2026

Quick answer: Dress in layers and always take a warm jacket, hat, gloves, sunglasses and sturdy, non-slip shoes to the Jungfraujoch, even in midsummer. On the Jungfraujoch (weather station at 3571 m), the average daily high is only about 3 °C even in July and August according to MeteoSwiss, and −9.5 °C in January.

Key facts at a glance

Jungfraujoch: The Jungfrau Railways say: warm clothing, even in summer. Sturdy, non-slip shoes are a must. Do not forget sunglasses and sun protection.
Snow at the top: According to the Jungfrau Railways, snow and ice are guaranteed on the glacier plateau all year. The Ice Palace is at −3 °C.
Temperatures: According to MeteoSwiss (1991–2020 normals), the Jungfraujoch averages 3.4 °C by day and −2.1 °C at night in July, and −9.5 °C and −15.5 °C in January.
Grindelwald: MeteoSwiss publishes no temperature normals for Grindelwald. As a guide, we show Interlaken (577 m). Grindelwald is 457 m higher and usually cooler.
Rain: In Interlaken it rains on about 13 days per month in June, July and August (at least 1 mm, MeteoSwiss). A rain jacket belongs in every summer daypack.
Shoes: In the village, comfortable sneakers are fine in summer. For hiking trails, the Jungfraujoch and winter you need shoes with good tread.

Temperatures and clothing month by month

Month	Interlaken 577 m, average day / night	Jungfraujoch 3571 m, average day / night	Clothing in Grindelwald	Add for the Jungfraujoch
January	3.2 / −2.8 °C	−9.5 / −15.5 °C	winter jacket, hat, gloves, winter boots	ski pants or lined trousers, second warm layer
February	5.4 / −2.5 °C	−10.2 / −16.3 °C	winter jacket, hat, gloves, winter boots	ski pants or lined trousers, second warm layer
March	10.5 / 0.9 °C	−8.6 / −14.4 °C	winter jacket, winter boots, sunglasses	same as winter, sunscreen
April	14.7 / 4.1 °C	−6.3 / −12.0 °C	warm jacket, waterproof shoes	winter jacket, hat, gloves
May	18.7 / 8.3 °C	−2.1 / −7.8 °C	fleece, rain jacket, sturdy shoes	winter jacket, hat, gloves
June	22.4 / 12.1 °C	1.7 / −4.0 °C	T-shirt, fleece, rain jacket	warm jacket, hat, gloves
July	24.3 / 13.8 °C	3.4 / −2.1 °C	T-shirt, fleece, rain jacket	warm jacket, hat, light gloves
August	23.7 / 13.6 °C	3.5 / −1.7 °C	T-shirt, fleece, rain jacket	warm jacket, hat, light gloves
September	19.2 / 10.0 °C	0.5 / −4.7 °C	fleece, rain jacket, sturdy shoes	warm jacket, hat, gloves
October	14.1 / 6.0 °C	−2.2 / −7.4 °C	warm jacket, sturdy shoes	winter jacket, hat, gloves
November	7.8 / 1.2 °C	−6.5 / −11.8 °C	winter jacket, waterproof shoes	winter jacket, hat, gloves
December	3.7 / −1.8 °C	−8.7 / −14.5 °C	winter jacket, hat, gloves, winter boots	ski pants or lined trousers, second warm layer

Temperature source: MeteoSwiss, 1991–2020 climate normals for the Interlaken (577 m) and Jungfraujoch (3571 m) stations. Day = average daily high, night = average daily low. The clothing is our recommendation. Wind makes it feel colder at the top than the thermometer shows.

Packing list for the Jungfraujoch

Warm jacket, a winter jacket in winter
Hat and gloves, even in summer
Second layer, for example a fleece or a thin down sweater
Long trousers, no shorts
Sturdy, non-slip shoes with good tread
Sunglasses and sunscreen, the snow is bright
Water bottle, the Jungfrau Railways advise drinking enough
Lip balm, the air is dry

For altitude and what to do about a headache, read Jungfraujoch altitude sickness.

Packing list for Grindelwald

	Summer (June to September)	Winter (December to March)
Top	T-shirt, fleece, rain jacket	thermal underwear, fleece, winter jacket
Bottom	hiking trousers, shorts in the village	ski pants or lined trousers
Shoes	hiking shoes or sneakers with tread	winter boots with tread
Head and hands	sun hat, sunglasses	hat, gloves, sunglasses
Extras	daypack, water bottle, sunscreen	sunscreen, lip balm

This is our recommendation. For winter hiking, interlaken.swiss recommends sturdy, waterproof boots with good tread, warm clothing and sun protection.

Which shoes?

In the village in summer: comfortable sneakers.
On the Jungfraujoch: sturdy, non-slip shoes, a must according to the Jungfrau Railways. On the plateau, you walk on snow.
On mountain trails: hiking shoes with good tread. From June, there can still be snow higher up.
In winter: waterproof winter boots with tread. They are enough on groomed winter hiking trails, you only need snowshoes on snowshoe trails. More on Winter hiking in Grindelwald.

Clothing for First and Kleine Scheidegg

First is at 2166 m, Kleine Scheidegg at 2061 m. Up there it is cooler and windier than in the village, so take a fleece and a jacket even in summer. Sturdy shoes make sense for the First Flyer and the Cliff Walk, details on First Flyer & Cliff Walk. If you hike to the lake with a guide, the gear is listed on the Bachalpsee hike page.

Keep reading

FAQ

What should I wear to the Jungfraujoch in summer?

A warm jacket, hat, light gloves, long trousers, sturdy non-slip shoes and sunglasses. According to MeteoSwiss, the average daily high on the Jungfraujoch is 3.4 °C in July and 3.5 °C in August.

How cold is it on the Jungfraujoch?

According to MeteoSwiss (1991–2020 normals), in January it averages −9.5 °C by day and −15.5 °C at night, in July 3.4 °C and −2.1 °C. The Ice Palace is at −3 °C according to the Jungfrau Railways.

Can I wear sneakers to the Jungfraujoch?

On the plateau you walk on snow and ice. The Jungfrau Railways say sturdy, non-slip shoes are a must. Sneakers with smooth soles are not a good choice.

Do I need winter clothes for the Jungfraujoch in August?

You do not need a full winter outfit in August, but you do need a warm jacket, hat and gloves. The average daily low in August is −1.7 °C (MeteoSwiss).

What should I wear in Grindelwald in July?

A T-shirt, fleece and a rain jacket. Interlaken averages 24.3 °C by day and 13.8 °C at night in July, Grindelwald is higher and usually cooler. In July, it rains on about 13 days in Interlaken.

What should I wear in Grindelwald in December?

A winter jacket, hat, gloves, thermal underwear and waterproof winter boots with tread. If you go sledding, bring ski pants. Details on Sledding in Grindelwald.

Do I need sunglasses in the mountains?

Yes. The Jungfrau Railways recommend sunglasses and sun protection for the Jungfraujoch. The snow is bright all year.

Is there always snow on the Jungfraujoch?

According to the Jungfrau Railways, snow and ice are guaranteed on the glacier plateau all year. Expect snow under your feet even in midsummer.

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About the author

Ramon Stüdeli is the owner of Grindelwald Experiences. He lives in Grindelwald and Lucerne, brings broad experience from tourism and other industries and has traveled to more than 60 countries.