Why go
The mountain's north face gives the Grindelwald side of the range its dramatic scale. Seeing it from the Jungfrau Eiger Walk makes the wall itself the focus; Kleine Scheidegg also puts the Eiger in relation to the Mönch and Jungfrau. The summit and climbing routes call for specialist skills and should never be confused with these viewing experiences.
What to look for
- The Eiger's north face rises above the Kleine Scheidegg area.
- The peak forms the eastern end of the ridge shared with Mönch and Jungfrau.
The full story
The Eiger stands between the Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen valleys. Its north face, a wall of rock and ice, has shaped the mountain's reputation far more than its height alone. Christian Almer, Peter Bohren and Charles Barrington made the first recorded summit ascent by the west flank in 1858. The north face remained a much harder climbing problem and was first climbed in 1938. Those histories belong to mountaineering, while a visitor on the paths near Kleine Scheidegg can study the face from below. The Jungfrau Railway passes through a tunnel inside the mountain on its way towards Jungfraujoch, another reminder that the accessible rail journey and the exposed summit are separate places. Looking along the ridge also shows how the Eiger connects visually to the Mönch and Jungfrau.
Your next visit
Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.
Outdoor visit · 30–45 min
World planning estimate; admission, opening, visit duration and access need checking.