Are you looking to visit Switzerland’s Jungfrau Region in winter, but are not sure what to expect? Or maybe you’re thinking of traveling to Switzerland in winter and are overwhelmed with all the choices trying to decide where to go? This article is for you!
We just returned from yet another winter trip in the Jungfrau Region, one of our favorite places in Switzerland. I am more convinced than ever before that Jungfrau is a wonderful choice for a winter trip. Find out!
Disclosure: We visited Jungfrau in winter in collaboration with Jungfrau Region Tourism. However, this was not the first or the last time we traveled here. As I said, Jungfrau is one of our favorite places in Switzerland. On this winter trip, we explored the region with the locals and discovered some less touristy places. In this article, we share some of those experiences and amazing things that you can do in Jungfrau in winter.
Just a few reasons to visit Jungfrau in winter
1. Location. Jungfrau Region is located in the Berner Oberland region in central Switzerland and is very easy to get to. Whether you are coming by car or by train, it’s really simple to get here, also in winter. Jungfrau Region is about 1-hour drive from Bern or Lucerne and 2 hours from Zurich or Basel.
2. Scenery. Jungfrau Region is located in the most spectacular setting, in the heart of the Swiss Alps. The mountain scenery here is simply amazing!
3. Activities. One of the reasons why we love visiting the Jungfrau Region so much is the fact that there are so many different things one can do in this area. Also in winter, there are countless possibilities for all kinds of travelers. There are several ski areas and the main one is so big that you could ski 3-4 days without ever doing the same run twice. There is also winter hiking, ice skating, sledding (with dedicated sled runs), snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and even curling…
4. Top of Europe. Jungfrau region is probably best known for the highest railway line and train station in Europe, Jungfraujoch, aka Top of Europe. It attracts a large number of tourists from all over the world and is definitely one of the highlights of any visit to Switzerland.
5. Schilthorn: Piz Gloria & Bond World. One of the most impressive mountain peaks in Switzerland, Schilthorn is also a must-see for James Bond fans. Not only is it a filming location, but you can also follow in the footsteps of Secret Agent 007 in the interactive Bond World at Schilthorn. Summer or winter – a must-see.
6. Charming towns and car-free villages. The first time I visited the Jungfrau Region over 20 years ago, I was mostly intrigued by its car-free villages, Wengen and Mürren. Little towns, high in the mountains that can only be reached by train. How cool is that!!!
7. Sherlock Holmes, meringues, historic hotels, family focus, and so, so much more… Read on to discover these and many other great reasons to visit Jungfrau in winter!
Jungfrau Region – where to go
Jungfrau Region refers to the following places: Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Grindelwald, and Haslital. And then there is also Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe and Schilthorn…
Each of these places is unique and each – well worth a visit on its own. They all offer something different, so if you have the time, make sure to visit them all.
At one point or another, we have been to every town in the Jungfrau Region. However, most experiences date from the summertime or from so long ago that it would be difficult to give you the most relevant and up-to-date information about visiting all the towns of Jungfrau in winter.
Therefore, in this article, I mainly focus on the places that we visited in Jungfrau this winter – Wengen, Jungfraujoch, and Meiringen in Haslital.
Wengen in winter
Wengen is our absolute favorite of all Jungfrau towns. It’s just a perfect balance between the picture-perfect mountain village and a well-equipped vacation resort that has plenty to offer to all types of travelers.
In order to reach Wengen, you have to take a train in Lauterbrunnen, 400m lower in the valley. The moment you step on that train and watch the beautiful scenery passing by, you know you’re on holiday.
Wengen is a small mountain village with just over 1,000 local residents. But come winter time and the number of people in town can multiply several times… Still, Wengen never feels crowded or overly touristy – everyone is enjoying the mountains and the ski area is immense…
Skiing in Wengen
Jungfrau ski area connects Wengen, Grindelwald, Männlichen, Kleine Scheidegg and if you take a train you can also easily get to Mürren. With three mountain ranges, two valleys, and over 200 km of ski runs for all levels, Jungfrau ski region is a real paradise for all winter sports enthusiasts.
The highest ski runs in Jungfrau ski area are at an altitude of over 2000 m, so you don’t have to fear a lack of snow or bad snow quality here.
Wengen town itself has several beginner’s slopes and ski schools – perfect for young children. It’s actually here in Wengen that our twins learned to ski when they were just 4 years old…
The main Jungfrau ski area is a mix of easy and medium runs (indicated as blue and red pistes), with just a few really steep sections (black runs). The majority of ski pistes are red, but they are so wide that even our young kids managed just fine. There is truly plenty of choice for skiers of all levels of experience.
LEARN MORE: Complete Guide to Skiing in Wengen
You may have heard of the famous Lauberhorn downhill ski race that takes part in Wengen every year in January. If you come here after the race, you can try this iconic slope for yourself.
Standing at the starting point, it is hard to even imagine that someone would complete this race in just over 2 minutes… We only did the first part and it took us longer than that… Of course, we stopped for the pictures and all – it was just too beautiful to race down the mountain and not enjoy the views…
Sledding in Wengen
One of our kids’ favorite winter activities in Jungfrau was sledding. The area has plenty of dedicated and well-maintained sled runs – they are indicated in purple on the map.
Last time we were in Wengen, we tried sledding from Männlichen to Grindelwald, but stopped somewhere halfway – that side is really quite steep and the sled run was too long for young kids (just 4 to 6 years old at that time).
This winter we opted for the Fox Run – a sled piste that pretty much follows the railway line between Kleine Scheidegg and Wengen. We tried just a small section between Wengernalp and Allmend first and everyone loved it so much that we decided to try a longer run. We then took the train back up for a second run from Wengernalp and all the way down to Wengen. The second time went so much better and easier – it’s really a matter of practice.
The Fox Run is just steep enough to be fun, but not too steep. Perfect for families with children! Still, sledding in the mountains is not as easy as it looks at first sight. It takes some practice to master the art of sledding and young kids definitely shouldn’t do this on their own. You have to use your legs in order to turn or brake.
Also, once in a while you might need to take a decision to tip the sled over to avoid going the wrong way… That’s something young kids aren’t able to estimate very well. So we took our 8-year-olds on a sled with us. The 10-year-old did it all by himself and had the time of his life…
Ice skating in Wengen
The ice skating rink is right in the center of Wengen town, next to the ski school. You’d expect it to be busy, but we were lucky to have practically the whole ice skating rink to ourselves. It was so much fun!
We haven’t enjoyed ice skating so much in years! I don’t know what it was – the ice, the quality of ice skates, the scenery, or maybe a combination of all of these factors. Whatever it was, ice skating in Wengen was the best we have ever done!
Curling in Wengen
Behind the Wengen Tourism Office, next to the ice skating rink, you can also find a covered curling rink. It has to be booked at least a few hours in advance, so ask at the tourist information for available times.
And don’t worry if you are a complete novice – there is a teacher who will help you with the basics so that you can try curling for yourselves.
We had never tried curling before and to say that the kids were excited is an understatement. All three of them absolutely loved curling. Not that we were good at it (not at all, actually), but I think we are all hooked now and can’t wait to try it again when we get the chance. It’s just so much fun!
Wengen in winter with kids
Wengen is a very family-friendly place. Also in winter, you have nothing to worry about. As I already mentioned, there are plenty of family-friendly winter activities in and around Wengen.
In addition, there are several ski schools: one in Wengen town and one at the Männlichen ski area. So you can find one that best suits your needs.
Furthermore, there is a daycare center, Playhouse, where you can safely leave the youngest members of your family (1 month to 8 years old).
The Playhouse is conveniently located just next to the Manlichen gondola and Wengen ski school. It is possible to ask ski instructors to drop your children off at the daycare after their ski lessons. They then get a warm lunch there and play till the parents come back after skiing. In the meantime, you can enjoy a break you really deserve, knowing that your kids are in good hands.
What to do in Wengen in winter for non-skiers
Winter holidays in Switzerland are so much more than alpine skiing! As already mentioned, the Jungfrau Region offers plenty of winter hiking trails, cross-country skiing, sledding, ice skating, and even curling… And of course, you shouldn’t miss the chance to visit Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe (more information further below).
Wengen Tourist Office also organizes all kinds of free events, so make sure to stop by and ask for their weekly program.
We joined a free culinary village walk in Wengen and it was fun for the whole family. Not only do you get to know a little bit of history and fun facts, but you can also taste some local specialties. Kids absolutely loved it!
There are also lots of nice restaurants in Wengen town and plenty of mountain huts where you can go for a nice lunch or dinner…
Where to stay in Wengen
Wengen has a big range of accommodations, from chalet rentals to luxury hotels. What we love about Wengen (and Switzerland in general) is that there are so many beautiful historic hotels. We love staying in historic hotels! There is so much charm and history…
This time we stayed at Hotel Belvedere. If you love historic places, you’ll absolutely love it! One disadvantage is that the hotel is a bit far from the ski school and gondola, so not easy if you have to carry skis every day, especially with kids. We solved it by leaving our skis at the lockers, but if your kids are older, you could definitely carry them – nothing is far in Wengen.
On our previous winter trip to Wengen, we stayed at Hotel Silberhorn, which is located right next to the gondola and the train station and is, therefore, more convenient for families with kids. They have a beautiful spa area with an outdoor jacuzzi that we loved.
Victoria Hotel is also great for families – the location is excellent and there is also a swimming pool.
These are just a few examples. Here you can find more options for Wengen accommodation. Just remember to book well in advance – Jungfrau Region is extremely popular in winter and also in summer.
Visiting Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe
Without any doubt, the main highlight of visiting the Jungfrau Region is a trip to the highest railway station in Europe, Jungfraujoch. It’s also called the Top of Europe.
It’s hard to imagine that this steep railway was built to reach the glacier at 3,454m height and that at the end of the 19th century. The construction of the tunnel and the railway line took 16 years to complete. The man behind this crazy idea, Adolf Guyer-Zeller, died before he could see the result. And what a result it is indeed!
It takes quite some time to get to Jungfraujoch – about 2hrs if coming from Interlaken, 1,5hrs if coming from Lauterbrunnen, or 1 hour from Wengen. You have to change trains at Kleine Scheidegg, where you hop on the luxury Jungfraujoch train for the last part of the journey.
Once you arrive, the place looks a bit like a labyrinth, but if you follow the signs for the visit, you really can’t miss any of the main attractions. There is so much more to see and do at Jungfraujoch than I imagined…
First, there are the magnificent views – over the Aletsch glacier on one side and over the Jungfrau mountain on the other. In addition, there is all the history of the construction of this unique place… Last but not least, there is a whole range of unique activities like 360°Jungfrau Panorama movie, Ice Palace – a man-made ice tunnel deep under the glacier, and even a Swiss chocolate experience.
If you visit Jungfraujoch in summer, in addition to all of the above, you could also hike to Switzerland’s highest serviced mountain hut (The Mönchsjoch Hut) or spend hours skiing or tobogganing at the Snow Fun park on the glacier.
Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, is such a unique place, not just the highlight of the Jungfrau Region, but one of the most unique places to see in Switzerland. No matter what time of the year you visit Switzerland, you really should include Jungfraujoch in your Swiss itinerary. It will be the highlight of your whole trip!
Below, you can read more about all the amazing things you can see and do at Jungfraujoch Top of Europe.
LEARN MORE: Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe
Haslital Region – a hidden gem of Berner Oberland
I have to be honest with you, in all those years and so many trips in Switzerland, we had never even heard of the Haslital region or the Meiringen – Hasliberg ski area. We passed Meiringen quite a few times, on our way to the famous Three Passes but never even stopped here…
When the kind people from the Jungfrau Region Tourism told us that Haslital is an amazing Swiss mountain destination for families, we were intrigued and curious to see what we’d find there.
We spent just a very short time in Haslital but absolutely loved it. This area has such a great local feel. Beautiful scenery, amazing food, and super friendly people – real Switzerland, not overrun by tourists (yet). It’s also, indeed, one of the most family-oriented ski regions we had seen in Switzerland. Read on!
Meiringen
Apart from being a charming little town surrounded by magnificent mountains, Meiringen is world-known for meringues and Sherlock Holmes. The two are not related, I think, but I’m sure that even the most famous detective of all times wouldn’t have said no to some delicious meringues…
Meringues
Meiringen is the birthplace of meringues – light crispy cookies made with egg whites and sugar. It’s believed that an Italian chef named Gasparini invented meringues somewhere in the 16-17th century and gave them the name of the town. Later on, the name has been adapted a bit by French bourgeoisie to the more refined ‘meringue’.
Meringues in Meiringen are like nothing else I have ever tried – they melt in your mouth. Absolutely divine! One of the best places to try original meringues is Frutal Versandbäckerei in Meiringen. They have a shop in town and the bakery itself is nearby as well.
The bakery can organize guided visits and even meringue baking workshops (at the moment only in German though). Unfortunately for us, the oven was broken just the day we visited, so we couldn’t bake meringues, but it was a very interesting and yummy bakery visit. We all loved it! Two weeks later we are still enjoying meringues that we brought home with us.
Sherlock Holmes
Meiringen is well-known to all the Sherlock Holmes fans as a place where Arthur Conan Doyle ‘killed’ the famous detective at the nearby Reichenbach Falls. It’s almost a pilgrimage site, attracting Sherlock Holmes’ fans from all over the world.
The Sherlock Holmes Society in London even organizes trips to Meiringen, where participants wearing 19th-century clothing play the final scenes of their hero’s life…
If you have half an hour to spare, you can visit the tiny Sherlock Holmes museum in Meiringen. It contains a model of Sherlock Holmes’ living room of 221b Baker Street and various items related to the stories. In town, you can also follow the Sherlock Holmes trail, with information boards about the famous detective.
The hotel we stayed at in Meiringen – Parkhotel du Sauvage – was featured by Arthur Conan Doyle as ‘Englischer Hof’. It was the last place where Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson stayed the night before the fatal encounter with Prof. Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls…
Meiringen – Hasliberg ski area
With 60km of ski slopes, the Meiringen – Hasliberg ski area isn’t huge for Swiss standards, but it’s simply amazing and quite diverse. Part of the slopes are quite high in the mountains (1800-2400m), offering lots of sunshine and amazing views. The other part is somewhat lower, surrounded by trees. It gives protection from wind or mist and is therefore perfect for the days when the weather is not as good.
We absolutely loved skiing between the snow-covered trees – it’s so beautiful! The big selection of blue and red ski slopes around Hasliberg is perfect for families with children. From what I saw, this area has just two black slopes and is, therefore, a bit less popular with the adrenaline-seeking youth; it’s really more a family place. Which doesn’t mean that skiing here is boring. On the contrary…
We found the ski slopes in Meiringen – Hasliberg ski area very varied and fun for the whole family. At one moment we stumbled upon a more adventurous ski slope near Balisalp, where we could try all kinds of new ski tricks in a safe environment. Think of small jumps and similar – the kids just couldn’t get enough of it, so we went back again and again.
In Bidmi (right in the middle of the ski area) you’ll find a ski school and a few exercise slopes for beginners. There is even a little farm with some ponies right next to the ski school… We’d never seen that before next to a ski slope.
Winter hiking and Swiss fondue in Haslital
On our last day in the Jungfrau Region, we set for a winter hike. There are 25km of winter hiking trails and also sledding trails, so you can always find one that suits you best.
We walked from Reuti to a little Swiss mountain chalet Winterlücke. It’s not a long hike and if you are lucky to come here when there is snow, you could afterwards sled back down to Reuti. We were there in March and the snow there was almost gone, so no sledding for us. On the other hand, the hike was so much easier without the snow…
What a wonderful way to end a day in the Swiss mountains – with a traditional cheese fondue served in a cozy mountain hut watching the sunset over the mountains. Winter evenings don’t get any better than that! The lady of the house taught our kids some card games and my husband didn’t want to leave the place.
Where to stay in Haslital
We stayed at Parkhotel du Sauvage in Meiringen. From there it was just 5 minutes walking to the gondola that took us to Reuti and from there another gondola to Bidmi ski area.
If you come to Haslital mostly for skiing then a better option might be to stay in Reuti and save yourself two gondola rides a day. The following hotels are located very close to Reuti-Bidmi gondola and are therefore ideal for a family ski trip in Hasliberg-Meiringen area: Hotel Reuti and Das Hotel Panorama. Also here you really should book well in advance.
So, this was our guide for a family winter vacation in the Jungfrau Region in the heart of the Swiss Alps. I hope that this will inspire you to visit this wonderful Swiss mountain destination in winter and to explore it a bit deeper.
More travel inspiration for Switzerland:
- Skiing in Engelberg
- Mount Titlis
- Cheap Skiing in Switzerland
- Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe
- Jungfraujoch vs Mt Titlis
- Mt Pilatus
- Grindelwald-First
- What to See & Do in Zermatt
- Best Things to Do in Bern
- Best Things to Do in Lucerne
- Best Things to Do in Geneva
READ ALSO: Swiss Travel Pass: What’s Included & Is It Worth It & Swiss Half-Fare Card (& When It Makes Sense)
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Meena Mehta
Sunday 8th of September 2024
Hi Jurga Thank you so much for a brilliantly written and informative blog on Jungfraujoch . Just loved the accompanying photographs. You have mentioned that the train/ cablecar journey from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg and from there to Jungfraujoch is more scenic. But how can I book this journey from wengen on the SBB app becz it only lets me book wengen to Klein Scheidegg to Jungfrau. Thanks
Best regards Meena Mehta
Meena Mehta
Wednesday 11th of September 2024
@Jurga, Thanks for your prompt reply. When I check on the SBB app, the cable car takes me to Grindelwald Station and then from there I need to get to Grindelwald Bahnhof to catch the gondola to First or Jungfraujoch. The walk is for almost 25 mins or I can take a bus. My question : how frequent is the bus service and how long is the walk from the Grinderwald terminal to Grinderwald Bahnhof
Jurga
Monday 9th of September 2024
Hi Meena, if you are staying in Wengen, just take the train from there to Kleine Scheidegg and on to Jungfraujoch. There is no need to go via Grindelwald (it would be a serious and unnecessarily expensive detour) and the scenery is amazing on that side too. Have a great trip!
Marcie
Thursday 15th of August 2024
We are coming to the area for 4 nights around 18-22 DEC. Trying to decide between Wengen or Grindelwald to be based. We will have 3 full days there, not looking to ski but will be looking to do sledging, Grindelwald First, go up to Jungfrau, Lauterbrunnen, some nice walks etc. Will the towns be fully open at that time (ie restaurants, shops etc) or is it kind of in between season? Is there likely to be snow already in the villages? We are looking at air bnbs so aiming to be self contained and will need easy access to both a supermarket and some dining options
Also will be in Montreux for the 3 nights prior to here. If we are planning on going up Jungfrau, would going up to Glacier 3000 from Montreux be doubling up on the same sort of experience?
Lastly, struggling a bit with the rail options and what pass to get - our rail itinerary will be Geneva - Montreux (3 nts) - Grindelwald/Wengen (4 nts) - Zurich (1 nt) - Zurich airport. Whilst in Jungfrau area we want access to the trains and gondolas plus going up Jungfrau. We are a family of 5 (the kids will be 16/14/11).
Would the Berner Oberland Pass be the best option for us (if so would we need it for all 8 days?), then just point to point fares from Geneva to Montreux, and Lucerne to Zurich? Can you get the Family Card with the BO Pass, or only with the Swiss Travel Pass? Should we be getting the Swiss Half Fare Card?
Also - what hiking trails will be open for walking in mid December if we are based at either Wengen or Grindelwald please? Thank you!
Thank you!
Jurga
Friday 16th of August 2024
Hi Marcie, I'm really short on time so I'll keep this quick. Yes, the towns will be 'open' - they always are. Grindelwald will likely be a lot livelier than Wengen (it always is). Also, Christmas school break is starting that weekend so I expect it to get increasingly busy. There are supermarkets and restaurants in both. Snow - unlikely, but you really never know. More chance in Wengen since it's higher. All the mountain peak destinations have something different to offer, but yes, some types of experiences will be similar. For rail options, since you are traveling by public transport and are visiting multiple regions, I recommend the Swiss Travel Pass. Walking trails - yes, there are plenty, but whether they will be open and how they will look, will depend on the weather and snowfall. There are winter trails and sled trails too if you are lucky to have enough snow. You can't really go wrong with either - Grindelwald or Wengen. The main difference is that Wengen is a small, car-free village only reachable by train, so it's very quiet in the evenings. Whereas Grindelwald is a bigger and busier town reachable by car and tour buses as well. Have a great trip! PS If you are looking for self-catering accommodations, check on Booking - you can usually find all the same listings as on Airbnb (and more) but at better prices and better cancelation conditions. And book asap because - as I said - that weekend, many people will start their year-end holidays.
tim
Monday 5th of June 2023
planning a December trip with family leaving from London go to masstricht,strasbourg,lucerne with 3 days in lucerne hoping to do day trips than onto basel, paris back to London looking at a europass does swiss offer discounts during christmas holidays??
Jurga
Wednesday 7th of June 2023
Hi Tim, normally, these passes offer exactly same discounts no matter the season when you travel.
Laura
Saturday 27th of August 2022
Great articles here, thx so much for sharing! We are planning to be in this area Grindelwald Dec 28th 5 days and I learned several things from your experiences that I now must do. What is best train pass to get if travel from Zurich- do I need a travel pass if no car or point to point better? Will I be using buses to get to gondolas. Primary is skiing so can you also recommend the best ski pass or do we just buy daily when there for only that area. I don't want to double pay for things that may be included with trains/gondolas. We also visit Zermatt same trip for 4 days to ski and sightsee. Thx
Jurga
Tuesday 30th of August 2022
Hi Laura, if you are just traveling by train from Zurich to Grindelwald and then to Zermatt, it's normally better to just get single tickets rather than a pass. The Swiss Pass only makes sense if you use a lot of trains daily. Once you are at your destination, get a regional ski pass only for the days when you'll be skiing. It's then valid on all gondolas/trains in that specific area. You can find all the info and prices for ski passes for the Jungfrau Region (Grindelwald) here and for Zermatt - here. You don't have to book these passes in advance. They don't offer any online discounts anymore and I don't think the purchases are refundable, so it's best to just buy the ski passes once you get there. Have a great trip!
Yog Hari
Wednesday 20th of July 2022
Thanks for this great writeup! We are going to Zurich - arriving Dec 26. Based on reading this - I think we would like to stay in the Jungfrau region from Dec 27 - 29th (2-3 nights). We want to see the tallest Train station and associated activities as well as the Bond Attraction. We also want to try Curling and skiing. We are beginners so we will literally probably only ski for 3-4 hours max and maybe Curling for an hour or so. We are a family of 4 and prefer either 2 rooms or at least 3 beds. Any thoughts on where you would recommend we stay? From the article Wengen seems good - because it is easier to get to these attractions but accommodations are really limited. If it is still the best I won't settle and will keep looking but just wanted to know our options. We will be traveling 100% by train with rolling luggage.
Yog Har
Saturday 23rd of July 2022
@Jurga, thanks for the advice - I see availability in Wengen at Arenas Victoria hotel - is that the same one you mention in your article?
Jurga
Thursday 21st of July 2022
Hello, yes, indeed, trying to find a nice place to stay in the mountains between Christmas and New Year can be challenging at this point. I don't see any availability in Wengen at all (probably also because many accommodations might have a 7-day minimum stay requirement in the peak season). Anyway, there's still a nice hotel - Silberhorn available in Lauterbrunnen, which could work very well for both Jungfraujoch/ Wengen as well as Mürren/ Schilthorn. And otherwise, you could stay in Grindelwald which is great for visiting Jungfraujoch and is quite ok for getting to Schilthorn or Wengen. There are quite a few nice hotels still available in Grindelwald for your travel dates. We ourselves are staying at Sunstar hotel in Grindelwald next winter - we chose it based on its central location and the pool to keep the kids busy after skiing/sightseeing :). PS Both - Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen are easy to reach by train. Whatever you decide, book asap. The end of December is really the busiest travel period in the Alps!