How to Visit Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe in Switzerland (+Insider Tips, Map & Ticket Info)
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Jungfraujoch Top of Europe is one of the most iconic and most beautiful places in the Swiss Alps. But what exactly is there to see and do at Jungfraujoch and is it really worth the high price tag? Find out!
If you are traveling to Switzerland and wondering if Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe is worth a visit or you are looking for a Jungfraujoch tour and wondering what to expect, this article should answer all your questions.
In this guide, we share our experience with visiting Jungfraujoch Top of Europe, the best Jungfraujoch tours, and all the practical information you may want to know when planning a day trip to Jungfrau. We also included tips for cheaper tickets and the new fastest way to visit Jungfraujoch from Grindelwald. Find out!
Good to know: We have been to the Jungfrau Region multiple times, in summer and in winter. This article is based on our winter visit to Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe on one of the recent trips to the Jungfrau Region in winter. Since there’s always snow at Jungfraujoch, most of this information will apply to any visit and at any time of the year. In order to give you the most complete guide, we also included additional information in regard to summer-specific activities at Jungfraujoch. Read on!
With so many well-known mountain destinations in Switzerland, it might be difficult to choose where to go in the Swiss Alps. If you have time and money, you shouldn’t limit yourself to just one place.
However, if you visit just one or two places in the Swiss mountains, then I really think that Jungfraujoch Top of Europe should be one of them. It will be the highlight of your trip to Switzerland. Find out!
What is Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe
Jungfraujoch is a unique year-round mountain destination in Switzerland. It’s part of the UNESCO World Heritage site called Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch.
Jungfraujoch also referred to as Top of Europe, is a place where the highest railway station in Europe (3,454 m) is located.
With an elevation of 3,466 m, this is the lowest pass between two four-thousander mountains – Jungfrau and Mönch. It is therefore called the Jungfrau saddle (literal translation of the word Jungfraujoch).
Some people also call Jungfraujoch the Top of the World in Switzerland. And when you stand there, high above the highest peaks of the Swiss Alps, it sure feels like you are at the top of the world!
Jungfraujoch history
It’s hard to imagine that the idea to build a railway to a glacier at over 3,5km (over 11,600 ft) height dates from the 19th century. Even today, it would be a huge challenge!
A Swiss entrepreneur Adolf Guyer- Zeller came up with a crazy idea to build a tunnel and a railway line to the rocky summit of Sphinx (now an observation deck at Jungfraujoch). Construction started in 1896, took 16 years to complete, and due to various reasons stopped a bit lower. The man behind the project died before it was completed…
The Jungfrau railway line is a significant achievement and even now, more than 100 years later, it still holds the title of the highest railway station in Europe.
Where is Jungfraujoch, map & how to get there
It takes quite some time to reach Jungfraujoch. It’s a 2.5 hours train journey from Interlaken, 1.5 hours from Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, or 1 hour from Wengen.
The only way to get to Jungfraujoch is by train. The last place where you can leave your car is Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, from where you have to take a train to Kleine Scheidegg. You have to switch trains at Kleine Scheidegg, where you hop on the luxury Jungfraujoch Railway train for the last part of the journey.
You can visit Jungfraujoch on your own – just make sure to book a train ticket in advance, especially if visiting in the high season. Alternatively, you can join an organized excursion to Jungfrau from a variety of cities in Switzerland (see below).
Good to know: The Eiger Express tri-cable gondola from Grindelwald to the Eiger Glacier station is the fastest way to get to Jungfraujoch. Once in Eiger, you have to take the train for the last section to Jungfraujoch. This journey takes less time but is also less scenis than the train from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg and from there to Jungfraujoch.
You can also opt to take the gondola up and the train back down via Kleine Scheidegg, so you can enjoy different scenery on your way up and down. Keep in mind that the gondola can get closed in case of very strong winds; for that, the train remains the best year-round option.
TIP: If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, you can get a discount on Jungfraujoch tickets. Alternatively, for children from 6 and under 16, you can also get a Junior Travel Card at any major train station in Switzerland – it will save you a fortune when exploring the country.
Good to know: Because groups get big discounts, it might be cheaper to visit Jungfraujoch with a tour than on your own, especially if you are traveling here from one of the bigger cities and are not staying in the area. Here are the most popular options for organized Jungfraujoch tours:
- Jungfraujoch from Zurich.
- Jungfraujoch from Lucerne.
- Jungfraujoch from Interlaken.
For more helpful tips for your visit to Jungfraujoch, please check our practical information section at the end of the article.
What to do at Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch is so much more than the highest train station in Europe! In fact, it’s more than any other mountain destination we have visited so far. There is so much to see and do at Jungfraujoch that you can easily make a day trip of it, one of the best day trips in the Swiss Alps!
There is a wide range of activities at Jungfraujoch. Some activities like hiking or skiing and sledding at the Snow Fun park are seasonal (summer only), most others are available the whole year-round. Below is a short overview of everything that you can see and do at Jungfraujoch. Read on!
Things to do at Jungfraujoch:
1. Sphinx Observation Deck & Aletsch Glacier
The Sphinx Observatory is an astronomical observatory at Jungfraujoch, an international research station. Sphinx is one of the highest observatories in the world. It’s not accessible to the public, but you can visit the open viewing deck, called the Sphinx observation deck.
The view over the sea of snow of the Aletsch glacier from the Sphinx observatory is second to none. It is hard to imagine that this 22 km long glacier is almost a kilometer thick. Can you imagine that much ice?!
If you come here on a clear day (or if you find yourself above the clouds), seeing the Aletsch Glacier is one of the best experiences, a must do at Jungfraujoch.
To get to the Sphinx observation deck, you’ll need to take a really fast elevator. It ascends 108m in just 25 seconds.
You wouldn’t believe it, but even at this height, there are some birds living at Jungfraujoch. Yes, even in winter when temperatures of -20°C (-4F) aren’t uncommon, you are likely to run into some birds here. Unbelievable!
2. Ice Palace
If you want to get up close and personal with the glacier, then don’t miss the Ice Palace, probably the most impressive of all Jungfraujoch attractions.
Walking in an ice tunnel under a glacier is something that is always exciting. No matter how many times you’ve done it, it just takes your breath away.
There are all kinds of ice sculptures at the Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch. You never know what you’ll find, because they change exposition quite often. We saw eagles, bears, and the kids also found Scrat from Ice Age stuck inside the ice… They didn’t stop talking about it for days…
3. Alpine Sensation
Alpine Sensation is a 250m-long corridor that connects the Sphinx Hall with the Ice Palace. It’s a tribute to the miners who built the railway and the history of this unique place.
It’s a beautifully done, multimedia-staged trip back in time and a truly touching experience.
Our kids were fascinated by a giant snowball with a miniature world inside of it. They could have watched it for hours…
4. Jungfrau Panorama
Jungfrau Panorama film is a fascinating experience that shows you a 360° panorama of the surrounding area.
So even if you visit Jungfraujoch on a less beautiful day, when mountains are covered in clouds, this unique virtual experience lets you admire the magnificent panorama.
It takes just a few minutes and is included with any Jungfraujoch ticket.
5. Glacier Plateau
Glacier Plateau is an extremely popular photo stop at Jungfraujoch.
Not only do you have guaranteed snow and ice 365 days a year, but it also offers an amazing view over the nearby Jungfrau and Silberhorn mountain peaks.
Even if you visit Jungfraujoch in the summer, you’ll find snow here. So if you want to get outside and walk around on the snow, this is the place to be.
6. Snow Fun Park
Snow Fun Park at Jungfraujoch is only open outside the ski season (mid-May to mid-October). If you come to Jungfrau in winter, there are plenty of ski slopes and sledding runs in the area. But if you visit this beautiful region in summer, you can experience the snow at the Snow Fun Park at Jungfraujoch.
Skiing, snowboarding, sledding, and snow tubing are available. More adventurous can also try the Flying Fox. Ziplining above the glacier – how (literally) cool is that?!
Keep in mind that Snow Park requires a separate ticket and – unlike most other experiences at Jungfraujoch – is not included with the railway ticket.
Single tickets are quite expensive, so I recommend getting a day ticket that includes all activities and the hire of the necessary equipment (more info here). Make sure to come early and you can spend the whole fun day at Jungfraujoch!
7. Mönchsjochhütte
If you visit Jungfraujoch in summer, in addition to all of the above, you can also hike to Switzerland’s highest serviced mountain hut, Mönchsjochhütte (Mönchsjoch Hut).
It is accessible from the Jungfraujoch on a marked footpath through the glacier and takes about 45 minutes one way.
Make sure you wear good hiking boots if you plan to go hiking here. Oh, and make sure to always stay on the marked paths. Wandering onto a glacier without an experienced local guide is very dangerous!
Usually, Mönchsjochhütte is open from +- mid-March to mid-October.
8. Lindt Swiss chocolate experience
You can’t visit any place in Switzerland and not try some Swiss chocolate. Jungfraujoch is no exception.
Lindt Chocolate Heaven is much more than just a chocolate shop. Combining the old-fashioned chocolate-making process with interactive displays, it’s a really fun place to see when visiting Top of Europe.
Don’t forget to treat yourself to some delicious Lindt chocolate – it melts in your mouth!
9. Restaurants and shops
Since you will probably spend the whole day at Jungfraujoch, you’ll be glad to know that there are plenty of nice restaurants and shops on top. You can find everything from Swiss chocolate to traditional souvenirs, Swiss knives, and even clothes at one of the Jungfraujoch shops.
There is a self-service restaurant and also an a-la-carte restaurant with amazing glacier views. We had lunch at the Crystal Restaurant and found that the food was actually very reasonably priced for Swiss standards (and the portions were huge).
Dining high above the clouds and with a view like that is an unforgettable experience!
How expensive are Jungfraujoch tickets?
Jungfraujoch tickets are very expensive and prices depend on the season and on the train station from/to where you are traveling. In the high season, a regular ticket from a train station nearby will cost you around 230 CHF (about 240 EUR or 260 USD).
If you want to find out the exact price for your journey, you can check the price brochure here. Alternatively, you can easily see the most up-to-date prices in your own currency and book your tickets here.
This is the most popular ticket. It includes the train from Interlaken all the way to Jungfraujoch. During the booking process, you can choose whether you travel to the top via Lauterbrunnen or via Grindelwald.
Good to know. Kids under 6 and with Junior Travel Card travel free of charge and children under 16 pay half the price. As already mentioned, you also get discounts with the Swiss Pass.
TIP: Once you buy your ticket, for a small additional fee, you can also reserve a seat on the specific train to Jungfraujoch (for the last part of the journey from Kleine Scheidegg or Eiger Glacier to the top). This is not absolutely necessary, but in the high season, it’s highly recommended as it guarantees a spot at a desired time. You can make seat reservations on the official website.
Is Jungfraujoch worth the money?
Just like many people, you are probably also wondering if it’s worth the money to visit Jungfraujoch? Also because there are so many places to include in your Swiss trip itinerary and limited time to see everything you want… I was asking myself the same thing before we visited.
Visiting Jungfraujoch is expensive, very expensive, but you probably already know that nothing is cheap in Switzerland. Also, all the activities I mentioned above (except for Snow Fun Park) are included in the ticket price. Just try to imagine how much it costs to build and run a place like this…
We have visited many places in Switzerland over the years and to us, Jungfraujoch is one of the most unique places and experiences in the Swiss Alps. So my answer is YES – if you can afford it and have time, Jungfraujoch is absolutely worth the money.
If, however, you still have a long list of places to visit in Switzerland, or have a tighter budget, there are also so many other beautiful destinations to visit that don’t cost half as much. So it really depends on what you compare it to.
If you only have a day in the region and your budget is tight, head to Grindelwald-First instead. Other nice options are Schynige Platte, Mürren. Also Mount Titlis or Mt Pilatus near Lucerne are nice alternatives. All these are much cheaper than Jungfraujoch.
How to visit Jungfraujoch cheaper
Here are some ways to visit Jungfraujoch cheaper:
1. Get a regional pass. If you are staying in the area for a longer time and get the Jungfrau Region Winter Sportpass pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass (only available in summer) for at least 3 days, you can get a ticket to Jungfraujoch at a seriously reduced rate (about 1/3rd of the price). In addition, this pass also gives you a 10% discount at the shops at Jungfraujoch.
We visited Jungfraujoch when we were skiing in Wengen. Because we had a ski pass for the area, we only had to get an extra ticket for the last part of the journey – from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch, which was about 1/3rd the price of the regular ticket.
2. Go early in the morning. The ‘Good Morning’ ticket is quite a lot cheaper, but you have to take a train at 6.30-7.30 am and – more importantly – be back down by 1.17 pm (at the moment of the last update).
3. Go in a lower season. It is about 25 CHF cheaper to visit Jungfraujoch in the winter or in the shoulder season compared to summer. The peak season is from June to August.
4. Get a Swiss Pass. If you have the Swiss Travel Pass, you can travel for free to Grindelwald or Wengen and get a 25% discount for the journey from there to Jungfraujoch.
5. Go with a group of friends. If you travel with a group of 10 people, you can get a group discount which is about 30%.
6. Go with a tour. If you book an organized tour to Jungfraujoch from bigger cities, it’s often cheaper than going on your own. This is because they take advantage of group rates.
Practical information and tips for visiting Jungfraujoch
- Jungfraujoch Top of Europe can be visited the whole year round. It’s open 365 days a year.
- Count one full day for your visit to Jungfraujoch. If you have some time left, you can hop off the train in Wengen and visit this picturesque mountain village. Also Kleine Scheidegg is a beautiful place for a short walk.
- Leave your car in Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen and take the train from there.
- Book your Jungfraujoch railway tickets in advance. It’s a must if traveling in summer, but also in other seasons, it will save you lots of hassle. You can buy Jungfraujoch tickets here and reserve your seats here.
- If you rather travel with a local guide (we had one and learned so much from her), here you can find and book guided day tours to Jungfraujoch.
- Even in summer, you need warm clothes when visiting Jungfraujoch. Expect to find snow at the top.
- Don’t stress about the weather – there’s plenty to see and do at Jungfraujoch in any type of weather. Sometimes it can be cloudy in the valley, but once you get there, you’ll find yourself above the clouds. And sometimes you just have to wait 10 minutes and the weather changes.
READ ALSO: Jungfrau Region in Winter
Where to stay near Jungfraujoch
You can visit Jungfraujoch as a day trip from many major cities in Switzerland, so you don’t absolutely have to stay nearby. However, there is so much more to see and do in this region, that it’s definitely worth planning a few days here.
The closest hotel to Jungfraujoch is Hotel Bellevue des Alpes at Kleine Scheidegg. However, it’s located high on the mountain, is very expensive, and there’s not that much that you can do there…
We always stay in Wengen, which is a car-free village with direct train connections to Kleine Scheidegg, from where you take the train to Jungfraujoch. Alternatively, there are lots of accommodations in Grindelwald, just on the other side of the mountains, and also with a direct train connection to Kleine Scheidegg and cable car to Eiger Glacier.
Most international tourists who come to the region for Jungfraujoch and the Grindelwald-First area, stay in Grindelwald. Here are a few hotel recommendations in Grindelwald town center for different budgets:
$$$$$ Bergwelt Grindelwald – Alpine Design Resort
$$$$ Eiger Selfness Hotel
$$$ Sunstar Hotel & SPA
$$ Eiger Lodge Chic
TIP: Using the map below, you can compare hotels, B&Bs, and short-term rental accommodations in Grindelwald. Simply insert your travel dates and group size, and you’ll see what’s available for your stay. Check it out!
Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, is such a special place that I really think it deserves to be included in any Swiss itinerary. It’s not just the highlight of the Jungfrau Region, but also one of the most unique places you can visit in Switzerland.
As for us, we have been to the Jungfrau Region many times and have just booked another trip for the summer. It’s a place you’ll want to return to as well!
TIP: If you like places like Jungfraujoch, you’ll also love Mount Titlis. It’s another wonderful day-trip destination in central Switzerland.
READ ALSO: Mt Titlis or Jungfraujoch – Which Is Better & Why
Jungfraujoch FAQ
Jungfrau is a mountain (4,158 m) whereas Jungfraujoch is Europe’s highest train station (3,454 m). Jungfraujoch means the “Jungfrau saddle”, which is basically the connecting point between the peaks of Mt Jungfrau and Mt Mönch. You can easily visit Jungfraujoch from where you can admire – among others – the view of Jungfrau.
Visiting Jungfraujoch is very expensive and many people wonder if it’s worth going there. Jungfraujoch offers one of the most unique experiences in the Swiss Alps, so yes, if you can afford it, it is absolutely worth a visit. If, however, you are on a tight budget, there are many cheaper destinations like Grindelwald-First, Schynige Platte, or Mount Titlis (to name just a few) that are worth your time just as much.
Jungfraujoch is the highest train station in Europe. Building and maintaining a railway this high in the mountains (where there is always snow) is very costly. Furthermore, there are just that many trains that can drive to Jungfraujoch in a day, which limits the number of visitors. All this makes it a more expensive destination.
Jungfraujoch is a year-round destination and it’s open every day.
Jungfraujoch has something unique to offer in all seasons and since many attractions are inside, so you can visit at any time. There is always snow here, but if you visit in summer, you can hike to Mönchshütte or go snow tubing on the glacier. In addition, there are nice hiking possibilities in the area. So there’s more to see and do in Jungfraujoch in summer than in winter.
The Jungfrau Travel Pass is only worth it if you are staying in the Jungfrau Region for at least 3 days and are planning to take trains/ gondolas every day. In that case, it’s absolutely worth it! Not only will it save you money for transportation, but it also gives you complete flexibility – you can easily change your travel plans during the day because all the trains and gondolas in the region are included.
READ ALSO: Swiss Travel Pass: Complete Guide
More inspiration for your trip to Switzerland:
- How to plan your trip: Switzerland Itinerary for 10 Days
- Jungfrau Region: Interlaken – Schynige Platte – Grindelwald-First – Bachalpsee Lake
- Zermatt: Best Things to Do in Zermatt
- Geneva: Best Things to Do in Geneva
- Lucerne: Top Sights & Tourist Attractions in Lucerne and Best Day Trips from Lucerne
- Mt Pilatus: How to Visit Mount Pilatus from Lucerne and Mt Pilatus Golden Round Trip
- Summer: Hiking at Schynige Platte and Trümmelbach Falls and Stoos Ridge Hike
- Winter: Jungfrau Region in Winter and Skiing in Wengen
- Skiing: Skiing in Switzerland on a Budget and Skiing in Engelberg
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Hi Jurga, Thank you for providing very practical advices for multiple destinations.
We plan to visit Jungfraujoch as a day trip in January. What is your recommendation on taking a train to Kleine Scheidegg with more scenic view: from Lauterbrunnen, Bahnhof or from Grindelwald Grund, Bahnhof ?
Thank you
Hi Igor, it’s really hard to say – both sides are very scenic. My personal preference is likely coming from the Lauterbrunnen side. Otherwise, you can also take a train up from one side and down to the other – that way you see both.
Hi Jurga, I am so glad that I came across your blogs, they are very informative and detailed, and the best parts are how to reach different places (specially with a lot of information around STPs one definitely can get super confused when on their first time visit to Swiss) and the important tips are also one of the best parts of all the blogs as it gives the additional insights to first time travelers like us.
We are travelling to Swiss in Sept ’24 and we will be in Interlaken from 08th sept to 11th sept we were planning to visit the Grindelwald-first lookout point along with the cliff walk from Interlaken I just wanted to know by any chance we can combine the same with Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe on the same day (we will be staying in Interlaken only, as the reservations were already done before I came across your blog 🙁 ) Anyways can be do both The first look out point and the Top of Europe on the same day? if yes may I please request you to suggest us on how to plan it?
Thanks in advance appreciate your help and guidance. Please keep travelling and blogging :)<3
Regards,
Khushbu (from India)
Hi Khushbu, yes, it’s possible to visit Jungfraujoch and Grindelwald-First on the same day, but be sure to start very early. Start with Jungfraujoch (and take advantage of the ‘Good Morning Ticket’ – see our article for more info), and then in the early afternoon take a gondola to First.
Have a great trip.
Hi Jurga, I love to read your travel blogs! They are informative and very helpful on planning! I have a question for you. I will only stay one full day in Grindelwald and planning to use your itinerary: on one day – take a gondola, then a train to Jungfraujoch from Grindelwald, then take a train down to Kleine Scheidegg. If the weather is nice, hike the Panorama Route to Männlichen (quite an easy hike, but very nice), and from there a gondola down to Wengen. Afterwards, take a train from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen and when you are done there, you can take a train from there to Grindelwald. This would be a full day, but a nice way to do it. For this, just get a (multi-) day ticket that includes all the gondolas/trains in the area.
The Day Pass is only good for 3 days but we only stay there for one day. What is the best way to purchase a ticket to cover all of these? I am planning to get a Half fare Travelcard as well.
And if we buy a return ticket, can we stop in Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, then back to Grindelwald?
Very appreciate all your help!
Hi Monica, if you are planning on doing the Panorama Hike, it’s much easier if you start from Männlichen and hike to Kleine Scheidegg and not in the other direction (see the description here). So you could start your day with this hike (potentially add the short hike called the Royal Walk) and then go to Jungfraujoch afterward. But if you don’t mind a bit more steeper route, the other direction works too.
If you want to visit Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, you can take the train after you visit Jungfraujoch/Kleine Scheidegg or a gondola from Männlichen to Wengen and then a train further down. From Lauterbrunnen to get back to Grindelwald, you can take trains in the valley (faster and cheaper) or back via Kleine Scheidegg.
If you want to do all this in a day, it’s best to buy a 1-day pass if there is something like that this summer or you will spend a fortune on separate tickets. Otherwise, just stick to the Grindelwald side of the mountain and forget Wengen and Lauterbrunnen. A multi-day regional pass (starting from 3 days) is best but likely not the cheapest option if you are only there for one day. Keep in mind that Jungraujoch tickets are always extra.
If you are getting a half-fare card, then you can just buy the tickets you need for the day itself at any of the stations in the region. They will be able to advise you on the cheapest option for what you want to do. But if you buy a regional multi-day Jungfrau Pass then you don’t need the half-fare card since everything in the region (apart from the last train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch) is included.
Hi Jurga, I love your travel blogs and always look for them. One thing you might want to add to this Jungfrau page for another way to save money is purchasing the Good Morning Pass. There are restrictions…like you have to leave on the first three trains up in the morning and you have to be down by 13:00 ( I believe), but it saves you a lot of money. I haven’t researched it completely (I’m doing that next) so I haven’t given you exact details, but it might be looking into and adding to you blog. I think we’re going to do that for our family of 5 since we’l be paying full price with no discount passes. Thanks again for all your work!
Hi Robyn, thanks for letting me know. This is new indeed and the price looks very good. However, whether it’s worth it, I’m not so sure. Taking the train at 6.30-7.30am to get there is one thing, but having to finish the entire journey by 1.17pm including all train connections e.g. to Grindelwald or Interlaken (if I understand it correctly) means that you wouldn’t be able to explore the area deeper. So while it’s a good option for someone who just wants to quickly visit Jungfraujoch, it would mean that you would miss all the other amazing places/hikes that you could do at Kleine Scheidegg, Männlichen, Wengen, etc.
Another option would be to book a regular ticket to Kleine Scheidegg and the ‘Good Morning’ ticket from there to Jungfraujoch. I’m not sure how much money that option would save, but it would in any case give you much more flexibility to enjoy the rest of the day in that area without having to rush. But yes, if you are traveling with a big family and Jungfraujoch is your main goal for that day, this morning ticket can save you guys a lot of money. Switzerland isn’t cheap and Jungfraujoch is right at the top of the list of the most expensive mountain destinations in the country.
Hi there, I just talked with customer service to clarify because you had me worried. I agree, it would not be worth it to if you had to be completely down by 1:17. But you just have to be on the last train (for the GM pass only) leaving Jungfrau by 1:17. This was the response I got for reference….”Holding a Good Morning Ticket, the last departure from Jungfraujoch back down has to be at 13:17h! You only have to leave the top by then, by coming down you then can stop anywhere you like. With a Good Morning Ticket valid from Wengen to the top and back, you travel up and return the same way” She also said you can stop anywhere along the way back and get off and back on. So if you wanted to explore at one of the stops on the way down you can. That gives you anywhere from 4 to 5 hours to explore Jungfrau!
My trouble is trying to figure out train routes lol. If we make it through our whole trip without one mess up, it will be a miracle! I’m a complete novice on so many levels.
That’s good to know because the wording on their website is anything but clear on this. As for stopping where you want along the way, it’s always included with all tickets. So you can also e.g. hop on at one station, hike down to another one, and then hop on the train again.
However, since these tickets only include the journey on one specific route (as you say, for example, from Wengen, then you can’t take trains that go e.g. from Kleine Scheidegg in the direction of Grindelwald and the gondola from Männlichen to Wengen won’t be included either). So basically you have to plan your activities along the train route that you’ll be taking.
And don’t worry about it too much – it’s all much clearer when you get there. Be sure to pick up a paper map at any of the stations (or take a photo of a map with your smartphone) and you’ll be fine.
Good luck and enjoy your trip!
Hi there, we just got back from our trip so I thought I’d tell you what we were able to do with the time we had. You were right…it was easy to figure out the trains once we were there; it all made sense. We HAD to take the 7:45 train from Wengen and got up to the top a little after 9. And we ended up leaving to come down at 12:17 (an hour early) because we had seen everything we wanted to see. We were able to do the Ice Palace, Alpine sensation, Sphinx obv deck, JF Panorama, and the Glacier Plateau. We also did a half hour of snow tubing at the Snow Fun Park and we got a snack at the cafe. (note: if the snow park is too crowded, it wouldn’t be worth the cost because it gets backed up going up the moving platform that takes you to the top). We did not do the Lindt exhibit other than walk through the shop and buy some chocolates because we had just done a guided tour of the Lindt factory when we were in Zurich. I would have liked to have done the hike to Münchsjochhütte, but my kids didn’t feel they had the right shoes. We definitely had time for it had we stayed the extra hour and not sat down at the cafe for the snack and coffee. The Snow Park was fun, but I’m sure it’s not for everyone so that’s another activity one could take or leave when factoring in what they wanted to do. Also worth noting, the trip from Wengen gets you up the latest of all the stations. There are other stations (starting points) where you can get up at least 30 minutes earlier to give yourself a full 5 hours. For us, we were able to do everything we wanted (except I would have loved to do the hike…sad I got vetoed lol). There were quite a few people who did the morning ticket. Here are the Pro’s and Con’s:
Pros: Less expensive, less crowded, less waiting in lines (i.e. the express elevator both up and down, snow park moving lift and the train line to get back to the base). We passed several large tours just arriving as we were leaving.
Cons: You have to get up early and you have to watch your time.
One last thing, make sure you give yourself enough time to put your ticket through the exit gate ticket scanner by 1:17. I wouldn’t wait until 1:15 to walk there. We got there 10 minutes early and there were already a bunch of people waiting for the train. They had two gates…one for people with seat reservations and one for people without. I thought they would open the “With reservations” train doors first and let us get a seat and then the “No reservation” doors second, but they ended up opening all the doors at the same time. It was a little frustrating and made me wonder why I bought seat reservations, but maybe that comes into play later in the day as it gets busier. I’d love to know…
Hopefully all this helps!!
Thanks for sharing your first-hand experience, Robyn. Glad to hear that it all worked out well for you.
Happy travels!
Hello,
I’m going to be staying in Wengen for 4 nights in late June, and I think I’m going to be getting the local Jungfrau pass so that I can travel around with ease and get discounts to the top and elsewhere.
But I’m a little confused about how the pass works in practice… I pick the days and buy it, and then when I get on a train, I have something to show on my phone when I try to use it, right?
Well I’ve heard from multiple places that you should book tickets in advance to Jungfrau, and also have reserved seats in advance to that (and on other journeys in the area too, possibly?) I’ve heard it is super busy in the summer.
Do you buy the pass, and then you go and buy your specific tickets to Jungfrau with reserved seats after that (so you are now locked into a specific journey)? (I assume that when you buy the pass, you get a Pass # or something that you then can enter on the other website to get the Jungfrau discount?)
Do you think I can do the rest of my travels around the valley without advance seat reservations, and just showing my pass when I want to get on a train? I guess that would allow for the flexibility that I keep reading you get with that pass.
I wouldn’t want to buy a pass, and then show up for the 4 days and be told all the trains are full all day and I can’t get on them because all the seats are “reserved,” and have people ask me what was I thinking.
Thanks!
Hi Geoff, when you buy the pass, you get the instructions on how it works. Normally, you’ll have to pick up a scannable card first, but it also depends on the pass you get.
And no, you cannot pre-book any of the trains or gondolas, you just arrive and get on the next available train/gondola. With gondolas, it’s sometimes quite busy and you may have to wait a bit (up to maybe 5 minutes, maybe a bit more at peak times). With trains, you can usually just take the next train, but you may have to wait a bit longer if it’s exceptionally busy on lines with limited options, like e.g. to Schynige Platte).
The only one train journey that has to be booked in advance is the trip to Jungfraujoch, more precisely the last section of the journey by train to the very top. If you have a regional pass, you’ll be able to indicate this when buying the ticket and you’ll get a discount. You may be asked to show your regional pass together with the ticket once you get on the train to Jungfraujoch.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
Hello! Love this page! I have seen where you can go up to the top of Europe but then hike back down from the Eiger Trail. Is this possible? We will be there in September. I am also wondering if this would be a different ticket because I am only seeing round trip? Have you done this?
Hi Allison, yes, if you start your day early, you could do the Eiger hike after visiting Jungfraujoch. It should be ok in September, but it’s not uncommon to get snow at higher elevations toward the end of the month. Normally, it should be fine.
Most people walk from the Eiger Glacier Station to Alpiglen and then take a train down to Grindelwald (or up to Kleine Scheidegg if you have other plans that same day). In that case, it’s likely not worth the trouble getting any special ticket since you will still need the train. If you decide to hike all the way down to Grindelwald, then it might be worth looking into one-way tickets, but the most expensive part is going up to Jungfraujoch from Kleine Scheidegg, so I don’t think you would save much.
Just a note on Eiger Trail. It’s a downhill walk, but not a walk in the park and you need at least 2.5 hours to do it. It took us about 3 hours including a short picnic and some photo stops. The signs say it takes 2 hours, but the official website says 2h50 and that is much closer to reality.
As for tickets, we usually stay in the area longer and get a multi-day regional card, Jungfrau Travel Pass. But it’s only available from 3 days and more. Otherwise, if you are not staying in the Jungfrau Region that long but are staying in Berner Oberland longer (the bigger region that includes Jungfrau), then it’s worth looking into Berner Oberland Pass. Please note that none of the passes include the last train journey to Jungfraujoch so if you want to go all the way up, you will have to pay extra for that last part (you get a 50% discount with passes). If you only go to Eiger Glacier Station, it’s included.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga
I will be staying in Lauterbrunnen at the end of May. Is it possible to buy a ticket which gives you a choice of how to get up and down the Jungfraujoch i.e Eiger Express/train for the ascent and just the train for the descent to Kleine Scheidegg and then on to Wengen so that I can walk back to Lauterbrunnen?
Is there also a gondola from Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald?
Hi, a few things: Lauterbrunnen doesn’t have any gondolas to that side of the mountain, only toward Mürren.
If you want to go to Jungfraujoch from Lauterbrunnen, you’ll have to take a train to Kleine Scheidegg and from there switch to another train to the Top of Europe.
If you want to go to Grindelwald from Lauterbrunnen, the fastest way is by train via Zweilütschinen. Otherwise, via Kleine Scheidegg which is more scenic but also a lot more expensive.
Eiger Gondola runs from Grindelwald, so if you want to take it either way, you will have to travel via Grindelwald at least one way.
Just to be clear – if you just want to visit Jungfraujoch from Lauterbrunnen, the easiest way is to simply take a train via Kleine Scheidegg and forget Grindelwald altogether. Unless you absolutely want to see the scenery there. Or you can simply visit Grindelwald separately, on another day if you are in the area longer.
You can find all ticket options on the website of the Jungfrau Region but I can imagine that it can be very overwhelming. If you want to take many different trains in this area in a short time, it’s often better to get a (multi-)day pass. If you just want a very specific ticket excluding some parts of the journey, simply ask at the ticket desk, but often, skipping one short part of the journey and doing it on foot will not be cheaper than paying for a round-trip ticket. You can still hike as much as you like though ;).
Hope this helps a bit. In reality, it’s not as complicated as it looks, but you need to decide which way you travel – the shortest route which is just up and down the same way, or the ‘see everything’ route which is basically a round trip via Grindelwald, going up to the mountain one way and coming back via the other side.
Have a great trip!
We plan to stay at Grindelwald for three nights. Of course, we want to visit Jungfraujoch. Is the Berner Oberland Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass better in price?
We’ll be there in the end of May.
Hi Julia, which pass or ticket is best for you depends on your travel plans – which trains/gondolas/boats you take, which mountain destinations you visit, etc. So I really can’t compare it for you.
Keep in mind that the last part of the journey to the top of Jungfraujoch (from Schynige Platte or Eiger gondola) is normally not included in any of the passes, but some passes give you a discount on it.
Good day Jurga, happy to meet you and thanks for sharing your thoughts here.
I and my husband will be arriving in Switzerland in beginning of Dec as per itinerary below, still thinking what category of Swiss Pass (SP) should I purchase. I am not going for skiing but would spend more time at scenic places and enjoy the views.
Day1: Frankfurt (Eurail ticket to Lucerne?)
Day2: Lucerne : city sightseeing & Mt Rigi
Day3-6: Grindelwald Town (stay here on day 3-6), Jungfraudjoch (1 day), Interlaken, Lauterbrunen, Murren, Wengen …have more time to explore any more places?
Day 6-8: Zermatt
Day 9: Glacier Express (reservation seat paid), from Zermatt to Chur
Day 10: Black Forest
Day 11: Frankfurt
Would like to know which category of SP covers Jungfraudjoch and Glacier Express seat tickets.
Appreciate your advice.
Regards
Janice
Hi Janice, you may want to read our guide on Swiss Travel Pass for more information on what’s included and what’s not. In any case, the last leg of the train journey to Jungfraujoch is never included and gondolas/trains to most other mountain peaks (e.g. Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt or Grindelwald-First) are not included either, but you get a discount. Glacier Express is included, but you have to reserve the seats at an extra cost (which you seem to have done).
Also, there is no difference in what’s included with whatever Swiss Travel Pass you get – the main difference is the travel class and flexibility in terms or travel dates. Once again, please check the article I linked to for more information.
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga, i’m so glad i came across your post, very informative and interesting.
I will be traveling with family to Switzerland in December 2023, sadly to say we will have a very short stay in the country for this trip. Our itinerary are as follows:
Day 1 Arrival Zurich
Day 2 Zurich to Grindelwald (overnight at Grindelwald)
Day 3 From Grindelwald to Geneva
Day 4 Geneva to Milan
Our main purpose to Grindelwald is to visit Jungfraujoh and plan to go up Top Of Europe on day 3 before leaving for Geneva.
Please advise:
1) Is it worth to buy Swiss Travel Pass ? should the pass be for 3 or 4 days?
or a half price pass is a better option?
2) Does the STP covers train from Zurich–>Grindelwald–>Geneva–>Milan?
Hi Evelyn, please take a look at our guide to Swiss Pass for more information about what’s covered or not. Whether it’s worth it, it depends on so many factors. With such a short trip it may not always be the case, but if you want to be 100% sure, the only way to check is to calculate the prices of everything you plan to do and then compare. If you have no time for this calculation, just get the pass for 3 days – normally, it should be worth it.
And no, Swiss Pass will normally only cover train journeys within Switzerland so not all the way to Milan.
Have a great trip!
Hi! I will be staying near Interlaken ost, I’m wondering if it’s possible to go to Grindelwald and enjoy some activities before going up to Jungfrau, or the whole trip up and down to Jungfrau would pretty much take up the whole day and it’s best to just go up again to Grindelwald on another day?
Hi Camille, it depends on what you want to do in Grindelwald. If it’s just visiting the town and the sights in the valley, then you can easily combine it with Jungfraujoch. If you also want to visit Gridelwald-First, then it will be rushed and you’ll need two separate tickets for each mountain peak, but won’t be able to make the most of any of them.
@Jurga,
Thank you for taking time to answer. I appreciate your blogs, big help for new and old travellers alike. Keep it up and more power to your page. 😉
Hi, i am still a little confuse on which travel pass to get.
I will mainly be in Grindelwald and will be visiting the Jungfraujoch for 1 day. Thought of getting the Berner Oberland Pass. Is this pass enough?
What other pass do i need to purchase?
Hi Catherine, if you are only visiting Jungfraujoch, you don’t need any special pass. Just get day tickets all the way to Jungfraujoch. You can find some of the best options here or all the possible options on the official Jungfrau.ch site.
It only makes sense to get a pass if you are staying in the region for a few days and are doing lots of mountain excursions. But judging from the other comment you left, you’ll be visiting at the end of November when most other places in the region will be closed, so a 1-day ticket is likely all you need.
Have a great trip.
So much info!! I really appreciate all your details.
Question regarding the price brochure for Jungfraujoch tickets which you have linked. We will be after Season 3 (September 24 or25) but looking at the price from Interlaken (we will be staying in Bern) is this price just for the transportation or does this include admittance? So many moving parts to figure out 🙂 We will be getting a STP when we arrive in Zurich. TIA!!
Hi Victoria, if you get tickets all the way to Jungfraujoch, they include all the free activities at the top.
Please note that Swiss Travel Pass doesn’t include mountain excursions like Jungfraujoch, but you usually get a big discount.
Have a great trip!
Hi, thank you for sharing so much information on Jungfraujoch above. I have a Swiss Travel Pass and I am planning to go on my own. As advised in your blog above, its better to book a train ticket in advance. I have therefore booked a round trip by train and eiger express gondola from getyourguide using the link you have attached. As there are too many details on how to get to Junfraujoch and also, I have a STP, can you kindly advise if I book the right one i.e. train, plus gondola? Do I still need to book any trains on my own using my STP? Thank you so much for your advice in advance. Cheers
Hi Margaret, if you booked this ticket and chose the option ‘for Swiss Travel Pass holders’ (and you have the Swiss Travel Pass), then it depends which option you chose. If you chose the ticket from Grindelwald, then you will need to take a train to Grindelwald first. If you chose Lauterbrunnen, then you’ll need to take a train there, etc. Those trains are normally included in your Swiss Travel Pass and you also don’t have to book any tickets for them. Just check the train schedule and make sure to get there on time. Also, foresee some time to walk from the train station in Grindelwald to the gondola if that’s the option you chose.
The Swiss Travel Pass normally covers all public transport, so all ‘regular’ trains. The ones going to Jungfraujoch are mountain trains operated by a separate company. That’s why you need a separate ticket for Jungfraujoch.
Update: We received so many questions about what’s included or not that we published a detailed guide about the Swiss Travel Pass. It should answer all your questions.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
@Jurga, I understand from your blog above that there’s no need to be stress over weather. Based on weather forecast, it might rain on the day that I am planning to go Jungfrau. I am not sure how it will affect my trip & whether it’s still worthwhile for me to go. Fyi, I have a Swiss travel pass & I have reserved the round trip tour by train & eiger express gondola via GetYourGuide.com. Thks
Hi Margaret, I know how you feel and I really don’t know what to say. The weather in the mountains is not easy to predict, especially a week or even a few days in advance. Plus, sometimes at the top you are above the clouds while it’s raining in the valley… If you absolutely want to see Jungfraujoch no matter what, then just go and make the most of it. There are lots of activities inside.
If you rather save the money and do something else, well, decide based on the weather forecast but make sure to check a few apps/websites with an hourly forecast and see how it looks like. We use yr.no app and look for the precise location we’re visiting. It’s usually more precise than any other app, but I’ve experienced that it was totally wrong too. So you really never know unless all apps and all sites show either sun or rain all day long, in which case, it’s probably correct.
Good luck with your decision. Have a great trip!
Thank you so much for this site and the information on Switzerland. I’ve been overwhelmed trying to plan out a 10-day trip to Switzerland. Since I see you travel all over, do you think 10 days is too much for Switzerland and should I plan a couple days in a different nearby country as well? My itinerary thus far is for travel in mid-June and fly to Zurich. Then:
Zurich 3 nights – one day to see Zurich, a day trip to Bern, and a day trip to Liechtenstein.
Lucerne 3 nights – one day to see Lucerne, a day trip to Basel, and a day trip to Mt. Pilatus.
Interlaken 2 nights – one day to see Interlaken and one day to visit Jungfraujoch
Geneva – one day to see Geneva and a day to see Montreux or a Annecy, France, or Lausanne
I haven’t purchased tickets or anything and I am traveling everywhere with the Swiss Pass as I wouldn’t feel comfortable driving. Also, I’m traveling with two young adults (20 and 22) who do not like “tours” although I do and we might take one or two. I’m also wondering if I should change a couple of nights around so as to go to to the other side of Switzerland (St. Moritz) or Lake Como. It does feel like we are going to spend quite a bit of time just getting back and forth to places but we also don’t want to move hotels every night or two. Any suggestions would be appreciated. I love all of the suggestions on your site as to each place when we are there. Thank you so much.
PS Would it be too hard to add in something to see the Matterhorn and do you recommend the Glacier Express. Thank you again.
Hi Kathleen, 10 days is definitely not too much for Switzerland and your plan seems very good to me. I would probably spend less time in Zurich unless you absolutely want to see Liechtenstein. I think I’d rather go to the Rhine Falls, but that’s just a half-day trip as well.
Also, you can visit Basel and Bern from Lucerne, so I think I’d stay in Lucerne longer and make day trips from there (rather than from Zurich). But that’s just my personal preference.
I don’t think I would add much more or – as you say yourself – you will be spending all your time on trains rather than exploring.
If you also add Lake Como/Lugano to the mix or Zermatt or Glacier Express to the St Moritz, you’ll definitely have to skip a few cities. All these places are worth a visit, but with just 10 days, I really wouldn’t try to ‘see’ it all. Sometimes less is more. So pick the areas that interest you the most and enjoy it!
Hi Jurga,
I have gone through your blog, its really interesting and informative.
we are a couple, and would be staying in Switzerland from 1st November to 5th November,2022.
out itinerary is
Day1- arrive Zurich airport, dump luggage and visit Rhine falls. Then collect luggage and travel to the hotel at Wilderswill by train.
Day2 – jungfraujoch
Day 3- Zermatt day trip
Day 4- Montreux & Chillon castle by golden pass line
Day 5 Departure for Paris
our base is in Interlaken (wilderswill).
1.Which ticket is to be purchased for the Jungfraujoch trip, we are having a swiss travel pass (4days) and certainly, we would like to take the cable car (the fastest route).
2. How to decide a better weather one night before travelling to jungfrau?
3. from where to purchase tickets as we are having swiss travel pass and we would be purchasing the tickets on the day of travel. Any official links for purchasing tickets at lowest possible price.
4. how cold it would be on November 1st week? is it like we require thermal wear, sweatshirt, and a jacket?
5. Do we need to make any changes to the itinerary? we had decided on this itinerary based on our stay at the hotel in Wilderswill.
Hi, your itinerary looks ok if the weather is good. Also, keep in mind that visiting Zermatt for a day from the Interlaken area will mean that you’ll spend more time traveling than sightseeing. So I’d only do this if the weather is really good AND be sure to start your day very early because it gets dark early too. Maybe make an alternative plan in case of bad weather (such as visiting Lucerne or Bern), for example.
For the passes, if you have a Swiss Pass, you can travel on the regular trains with it, but you’ll need additional tickets for trains/gondolas to the mountain peaks. You can get those on the spot, on the official regional websites, and for some places also on websites like GetYourGuide, etc. Just keep in mind that the official sites usually do not offer free cancelation, so if you purchase your tickets in advance and decide not to go for whatever reason, you won’t get a refund. But you can’t really use your Swiss Pass discount on sites like GetYourGuide (usually), so I think I’d just wait and get the tickets once you get there. It’s not high season, so I don’t expect it should be an issue, even at Jungfraujoch. And if you absolutely want to be sure, get a ticket a day or two in advance. Each site/region has its own website and you can easily find it via any Internet search (e.g. jungfrau.ch or zermatt.ch, etc.).
The weather is really impossible to predict, so check the forecast before you go. In general, you won’t yet need winter clothing in the cities, but it can be very useful in the mountains. But yes, a sweater and a jacket are definitely a must, also gloves, etc.
Have a great trip!
@Jurga, Thank you for your reply. As we are keeping two mountains in our itinerary Jungfrau and Zermatt, so can you suggest any alternative plans incase of bad weather on one or both days? Does mount titlis visit also require good weather conditions?
i hop there must not be any concern regarding monteux and chillon castle visit.
Hi, the mountains are always nicer when the weather is good, but it really depends and you never know in advance exactly what you get. The worst is when the clouds cover all the views, but sometimes you are above the clouds and it’s magical.
At all these places – Titlis, Jungfraujoch, Zermatt – you can still see/do a lot when the weather isn’t great as well. So it all depends on your preferences. It’s just that it will take you a long time to get to Zermatt, for example, and if you arrive there and can’t see any views, then you might feel like it wasn’t worth it. But if you are ok with that and just take it as it is and make the most of the weather that you get, then don’t worry about it and just go with your plan.
If you want to get a better idea of what to expect at each of these places, take a look at our detailed guides and explanations (for Jungfraujoch, in this guide above). Here you can find more info about visiting Mt Titlis and here about Gornergrat and Klein Matterhorn in Zermatt. In Zermatt, you can also find some nice things to do in the village – see our guide to the best things to do in Zermatt for more info.
And if the weather is really bad and you decide not to go to the mountains, I highly recommend visiting Lucerne. Bern is also very nice.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga,
All your blogs on Switzerland are very nice. We are planning to go to Switzerland from 20 to 25th October and have planned an itinerary as below –
Day 1- Afternoon landing in Zurich then visiting Bern and staying at Bern.
Day 2 – Bern to Mt Titlis
Day 3 – Bern to Geneva
Day 4 – Bern to Jungfrau & Lauterbrunnen
Day 5 – Bern to Interlaken, then back to Bern and going to Zurich to visit and stay overnight
Day 6- Zurich to Rhine falls and flying out.
I see most of the day trips are from Zurich but we are taking Swiss Travel Pass and want to explore it on our own, so any tips on the above and also what is better to stay at Bern or Zurich? As we think changing hotels and carrying luggage is a hassle we prefer to stay at the same place.
Hi Ria, if you want to visit all the places mentioned in your itinerary above on your own, then yes, staying in Bern is better than staying in Zurich. If you wouldn’t go to Geneva, then it would probably make more sense to stay in Lucerne. You can’t really go wrong with Bern or Lucerne since they are all next to each other and the train connections are excellent, but for Geneva – Bern is easier. And it’s a good idea to stay in Zurich on the last day.
Just try to find a hotel close to the train station (e.g. Hotel Schweizerhof in Bern or AMERON Luzern Hotel Flora in Lucerne) so that you don’t have to waste time on the commute before/after you get to the train.
Enjoy your trip!
Hello there, I really appreciated your blog. I would like to ask about the Top of Europe Pass, do you have any idea about it? We will be going there on July 17-20. We would like to visit the Jungfraujoch. Is the Top of Europe Pass is also a return train ticket back to Grindelwald? Or just one way ticket to Jungfraujoch? Thank you and God bless
Hi Crish, this pass seems to be new from this year and I’m not familiar with it yet. But from what I see, it includes everything – so all the trains and gondolas in the Jungfrau Region, plus the train to the Jungfraujoch itself. You can find all the details about it including the map of all the areas/ transport it covers on the official website.
To me, it seems like a great value pass, especially if you stay in the region longer.
Visiting in late June with a bus tour that will take us there. Don’t want t pack extra clothes as this is a very long trip through 4 other warmer countries. What are packing non negotiables— to stay warm— for our day there…..not doing any hiking, just want to see it.
Hi Sophie, at Jungfraujoch itself, you can do quite a lot inside, and there, a sweater, light long pants, and closed shoes/ sneakers will be sufficient. If you go outside just for the views on the Sphinx Observation Terrace, you may want to wear a light windproof jacket too. On the other side, you can walk in the snow a bit. If it’s just a quick photo stop, I guess you’ll be fine in sneakers as well.
The rest really depends on the weather. I assume you’ll also want to get off the train at Kleine Scheidegg and walk around a bit to enjoy the views. It’s possible that you’ll be fine in shorts and t-shirts, but if it’s a colder day, you may need a sweater and a rain jacket as well.
All in all, since you never can foresee everything in advance, the best is to simply layer up. Light long pants or jeans will probably be better than shorts, plus a sweater and a light rain jacket. Closed shoes with some grip (e.g. sneakers or light hiking shoes) should be fine too. I’d also always take a small buff or a shawl with me, just in case. Oh, and if you get really cold, there are plenty of souvenir shops where you can buy pretty much anything you need.
Have a great trip!
Hi there. It is great reading your blogs and thank you for the travel tips. Where do you personally recommend to go for a day trip with a 9 months old baby? Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald or just Lucerne? Thank you!
Hi Zaza, you can visit any of these places with a baby – each is different and worth it. One thing to keep in mind is that Jungfraujoch is really high and such a big change in altitude could be painful for the baby’s ears (you never really know, like on the plane)…
Anyway, if you have to pick just one of these three and want to use the stroller, then Lucerne is by far the best option. The city is walkable and there’s also a beautiful waterfront promenade. You can also take a boat and enjoy the lake views.
Take a look at our guide to Lucerne for some ideas of things to do.
Hi ..jurga
Coming soon it June I will be Grindelwald 4day
May I ask some ..
I haven’t to buy SBB tickets, if from Grindelwald to jungfraujoch need to buy ticket cost around CHF how much ? And I bring me child 23month need purchase ticket?
Hi Tracy, you can find all this info here. Kids 5 and younger travel on Jungfrau railways for free.
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga,
Thanks for your blog! We are planning to visit Interlaken at the end of May and would like to day trip to Jungfrau. How much snow will there be? Will we have to pack our snow boots to hike the Panorama Trail or visit Top of Europe? Thank you!
Hi Julie, there will certainly be snow at Jungfraujoch – there’s always snow there, even in summer.
As for the Panorama Trail, I think the chances are high that there will be snow there as well. There was lots of snow in the Alps around Easter still, and I don’t think it will be quickly gone at that altitude. On the other hand, it’s getting much warmer everywhere in Europe now and next week, so who knows. Just see how the situation is when you get there.
You don’t need snow boots, but good waterproof hiking boots will be very useful. We wear these hiking shoes in Switzerland, and also in places like Norway and Iceland, and they are great and keep your feet dry. So if you have something similar, pack that.
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga,
Your blog is very informative! My husband, my 8 year old son and I are planning a trip to Switzerland in July. We will arrive in Geneva, going to Chamonix for 2 nights then maybe Geneva to get a train to Jungfrau. Where would you suggest we stay? Grindelward or Wengen? Would you recommend the Swiss Travel Pass? Your blog said we could get discount to Jungfraujoch with it. We would also like to visit Lauterbrunnen and maybe Interlaken. We will fly back to US via Geneva. Thank you.
Hi Cherry, both are good choices – Grindelwald and Wengen, the latter being our personal favorite for a longer vacation. But if you are only coming for a short stay, I think I’d opt for Grindelwald since it’s easier/simpler to get to, and you can easily get to Jungfraujoch from there partially using the new Eiger gondola. You can also visit Grindelwald-First if you have more than a day there. I personally think it’s worth it more than Lauterbrunnen, but you can also see Lauterbrunnen – potentially after visiting Jungfraujoch.
So – on one day – take a gondola, then a train to Jungfraujoch from Grindelwald, then take a train down to Kleine Scheidegg. If the weather is nice, hike the Panorama Route to Männlichen (quite an easy hike, but very nice), and from there a gondola down to Wengen. Afterwards, take a train from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen and when you are done there, you can take a train from there to Grindelwald. This would be a full day, but a nice way to do it. For this, just get a (multi-) day ticket that includes all the gondolas/trains in the area.
Another day, you could visit the Grindelwald-First area and maybe explore Grindelwald and the Glacier Canyon too.
For Interlaken, you’d need a separate day or visit it when you travel to/from Grindelwald. See our guide on all the possibilities on how to spend 1 day in Interlaken.
For the Swiss Pass, you would have to research how much it costs and then compare it to the train tickets and other things you are planning to do. For your son, get a Junior Travel Card. You can get it at any major train station in Switzerland, it costs just 30 CHF and is valid for a year. It offers free travel on most trains and public transport, and also many other discounts – it’s a bargain and is absolutely worth it. We now always get it for our kids when we go to Switzerland – it’s small trouble to go to a station when you first arrive and takes just a few minutes to arrange (also for foreigners).
We personally never buy Swiss Pass for our travels but it’s because we travel by car and just for the discounts it’s not worth it. But if you are planning on taking many trains, it could be worth it – it really depends on your specific travel plans. Keep in mind that Swiss Pass doesn’t offer free travel on most gondolas and regional activities – only a discount.
What we often do is get regional passes if we stay in one area for a few days – those are usually well worth it if you plan to take many trains/gondolas in one specific area. But this also depends on the area, and mostly on how long you stay.
Hope this helps. Have a great trip!
Hello Jurga, I’ll have 9 days in Switzerland before embarking Viking Rhone river cruise in Basel. We plan to stay at Lucerne, we gel and montreux (or any suggestions to visit Geneva and bern). Our trip is from ap19-28, 2022. I read your blog on jungfraujoch and would like to stay in the region for 3 nights. Thank you.
Hi Huong, I really have no time to help you plan an entire itinerary. Here are just some suggestions, but you’ll have to puzzle it all based on where you decide to stay:
– Jungfraujoch is ok because there’s snow there the whole year round anyway, so you’ll be able to see/do everything that’s applicable to the winter season there in April.
But the other places in the mountains will likely have snow. So if you stay in Wengen, you won’t be able to do much hiking or so. You can probably enjoy a nice walk in the Lauterbrunnen valley and take a train to Mürren for a day. Maybe even visit Schilthorn from there if it interests you. So you’ll be able to fill 3 nights/2 days in the Jungfrau Region without any problems.
– You could also visit Interlaken and some boats there run in all seasons. So you could probably take a boat tour for a day. See our Interlaken guide with all the info.
– As for the other places, Lucerne – one day is enough for the city. You can visit Mt Titlis if you have a day extra. And you can take a boat on the lake and maybe even visit Mt Pilatus on yet another day. But I’m not sure if it’s possible in April. The tours to Mt Pilatus that I see all start running mid-May this year. But this might also be specific to this year, I’m not sure. You’d have to research this yourself.
– Geneva is nice and you can easily spend at least 2 days there, even longer if you visit museums and take excursions. Bern – half a day to a day should be enough there.
– I’m not sure about what you mean by ‘we gel’.
– Montreux, I see that there are day tours from Geneva in all seasons, so that should also be fine.
Good luck with the planning!
Hi Jurga!
About how much time do we need to see and do everything at the Top? I would also like to hike around Kleine Scheidegg. Can this all be done in one day? Or would you suggest we get the multi day train ticket?
thanks!
Hi Juliana, a lot depends on where you start your day. If you are staying in Wengen or Grindelwald, it’s just a short train trip from there to Kleine Scheidegg, where you change the train to Jungfraujoch. So if you start early in the morning and book one of the first trips to the top, you’ll have plenty of time to hike afterwards. Whereas if you are coming from Interlaken or even further away, it will probably be noon by the time you even get to Jungfraujoch.
At Jungfraujoch, I’d count about 2 hours, but that also depends on what you do. If you aslo decide to hike to Mönchsjoch Hut (summer only), you’ll need 2 hours extra. If you also go to a restaurant for lunch, you’ll need at least an hour extra.
If you have the time to hike at Kleine Scheidegg (summer only), there are several really nice options:
1. Eiger trail. This is a moderate hike of about 2 hrs from Eigergletscher train station (between Jungfraujoch and Kleine Scheidegg) down to Alpiglen. From there, you can take the train to where you need to be.
2. Panorama trail. This is a rather easy hike between Kleine Scheidegg and Mannlichen. It takes about 2 hrs and the views are incredible. In Mannlichen, you can continue just a bit further, the so-called Royal Walk. It’s a bit uphill and takes maybe 15 min each way, but the views are worth it. From Mannlichen, you can easily get to either Wengen or Grindelwald.
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga,
Thanks for the article. It gave a good insight of the place. However, what would you suggest doing out of the two-Jungfraujoch or Matterhorn glacier? Which one is better??
Thanks
Hi Snhea, that’s a really tough question – Jungfraujoch vs Matterhorn. I suppose it also depends on when you go and also on where you are staying (Zermatt is quite far away from most main towns whereas Jungfraujoch is very centrally located). You could also just wait till you are in Switzerland and decide based on the weather forecast.
We might be a bit biased, but the Jungfrau Region is one of our favorite places that we return to again and again. Whereas our trip to Zermatt is over 10 years ago and we haven’t been back since then. It was nice, but I really wouldn’t say that I liked it more than Jungfrau.
There is a lot to do at Jungfraujoch itself, but also after visiting there, you can disembark from the train at Eigergletscher or at Kleine Scheidegg and do a few amazing hikes. Panorama hike from Kleine Scheidegg to Männlichen is a very nice easy hike. Alternatively, the Eiger north face trail is somewhat more challenging, but also easily doable downhill from Eigergletscher train station (that you pass on the way from Jungfraujoch) down to Alpiglen in the direction of Grindelwald, from where you can take the train again. But even if you just walk around at Kleine Scheidegg, the views are absolutely stunning.
You can also visit either Wengen or Grindelwald towns when you go to Jungfraujoch. We love Wengen!
Another thing is that at Jungfraujoch you can do a lot even if the weather isn’t great. Furthermore, Jungfraujoch is so high that you are often above the clouds and have amazing sunshine even if it rains in the valley. It’s less the case in Zermatt. There, you are really going for the Matterhorn, so ideally, it’s open and visible.
If you like hiking and are looking to stay longer, I think both areas are really worth it. Matterhorn has a real wow effect when the weather is great, but if it’s not the case, I think I’d choose Jungfraujoch in combination with other nice things to do in that area.
Hope this helps a bit instead of confusing you more 🙂 You really can’t go wrong with any of these – both are among the very best places to see in Switzerland!
Hi,
First of all thank you very much for taking your time out to reply.
I totally understand both places must be worth it. We do plan to visit either Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen but since we are thinking to go to Matterhorn glacier in zermatt, what I am confused about is, should we also do the trip to top of Junfraujoch i.e. sphinx observation terrace etc. or just spend a day in Grindelwald and area around.
Hi Snhea, it’s really your choice depending on your time, interests, and budget. From what I understand now, you’re going to both areas (Zermatt and Jungfrau Region) anyway, so your question is not as much if you should visit Jungfraujoch or Matterhorn, but rather Jungfrau vs. Grindelwald/Wengen/Lauterbrunnen?
Is Jungfraujoch worth it? If you don’t mind the price tag, absolutely, yes!
Is Grindelwald worth it? The town itself, in my view, not really (unless you have a week in the area and have seen everything else), but for example Grindelwald-First area is definitely worth it! You can visit the Cliff walk there and do some fun activities. If you hike, you can go to Bachalpsee (easy short hike) and either Flower Trail down or Faulhorn trail up (more difficult, longer walk) – more info here: Bachalpsee hike.
So if you only have a day and just want to see beautiful scenery, you don’t absolutely have to go to Jungfraujoch. You’ll enjoy the rest of the area just as much and it will be much cheaper and less ‘touristy’ (although still very busy).
But those are incomparable experiences. What you see at Jungfraujoch, is something you won’t easily see in many other places in the world. If you go in summer, you can hike to the Mönchsjochhütte – it’s not something you can compare with any of the hikes lower in the mountains.
If you have the time, I’d say stay in the Jungfrau Region at least 2-3 full days. Visit Jungfraujoch and Kleine Scheidegg area (maybe hike the Eiger north face trail) on one day and Grindelwald/ Grindelwald-First on the other day. If you have one more day, go to Lauterbrunnen, take a walk past Staubbach Waterfall and all the way to Trümmelbach Falls and visit Wengen. From there, you can take a gondola to Männlichen and hike the Panorama Trail to Kleine Scheidegg, from where you can take the train back to Grindelwald.
Thank you. Your Inputs are of great help ..;)
That cleared a lot of my doubts..Looking forward to my visit to this beautiful place.