Jungfraujoch Top of Europe: A Must-See Swiss Excursion
Jungfraujoch is a mountaintop destination in the Swiss Alps known for its breathtaking views of mountains and glaciers. It’s been one of our favorite excursions and the best part of our Switzerland family vacation.
About Jungfraujoch
The name Jungfraujocjh means maiden saddle, and Jungfraujoch is a saddle connecting the two 12,000 ft mountain peaks of Jungfrau and Monch in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland.
Jungfraujoch is home to various attractions, including the Ice Palace, the Sphinx Observatory, and the highest post office in Europe.
At 11,300 ft above sea level, Jungfraujoch is also the highest railway station in Europe.
Getting to Jungfraujoch
We took a summer day trip to Jungfraujoch, the best part of our summer Switzerland trip.
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jungfraujoch is accessible by cogwheel train, and the journey itself is a great experience.
Jungfraujoch Tickets
Jungfraujoch train tickets are available in various forms or by purchasing tours. The most convenient way to purchase a train ticket is from the official Swiss
The cogwheel train ride begins on the valley floor in Lauterbrunnen and winds up the mountain through the town of Wengen, where we stayed for our Oberland visit.
Ticket prices from Lauterbrunnen start at 84 Swiss Franc round trip (about USD 89). Jungfraujoch is one of several railways not included in the Swiss Rail or Oberland unlimited
If you have a Swiss Pass or Oberland unlimited rail pass, you can use it to purchase tickets at a discounted rate. Cheaper tickets can also be purchased with a Swiss Half Fare Card, which offers a 50% discount on rail
Tours
Suppose you’re interested in visiting Jungfraujoch for the day from one of Switzerland’s larger cities. In that case, you can also book tours that include tickets from cities such as Geneva, Zurich, or Lucerne.
Train Journey
The scenery from the train is one of the best parts of this day trip!
Starting from Lauterbrunnen gives you some fantastic views of the Instagram-famous waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen before stopping in the town free car of Wengen.
You continue the journey after your first stop at Kleine Scheidegg station, a small village on the way up the mountain. This rail trip offers spectacular views of some of the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps. The last part of the journey is through the long tunnel to Jungfraujoch Station, the highest train station in Europe.
If you’re starting your journey from Interlaken (or beyond), a separate train connection is needed from Interlaken Ost station to Lauterbrunnen for 3 trains. Train schedules are easy to find with apps like Google Maps, and train time with easy to make connections. The total journey time from Lauterbrunnen is about 90 minutes.
You can also shorten the journey to Jungfraujoch (depending on where you’re staying) by taking the Eiger Express cable car for part of the journey, connecting through Grindelwald Terminal to Eiger Glacier / station Eigergletscher before continuing on the train.
Best Time To Go
Any time of year is a good time to visit Jungfraujoch as there is snow year-round, but our favorite time to visit has been in the summer. Summer gives you a break from the heat, and hotel and vacation rentals are much cheaper than winter’s high season. Take the first train for a better chance at good weather, and you’ll also beat the crowds.
Things To Do
Jungfraujoch is one of the best places to visit with kids in the Bernese Alps. During the summer months, visitors can enjoy the Swiss Alps’ spectacular views and participate in various activities such as skiing, snowboarding, and snow tubing. It is one of the most popular day trips in the Oberland area.
If you’re looking for a truly breathtaking view, take a trip up to the observation deck. Here on a clear day, you can take in the stunning panoramic views of the Alps that stretch out before you.
A good place to start your day at Jungfraujoch is outside at the open viewing deck. We followed that up with sledding, tobogganing, and exploring the ice palace’s long corridors and then headed inside to warm up and pick up some chocolates at the Lindt Swiss Chocolate store.
View From Observation Deck
Open-air observation deck view from one of the highest points. Below freezing with light snow at the start of June.
Snow Tubing and Tobbogan Rentals
For a fee, you can enjoy snow tubing and tobogganing at Junfraujoch. A moving walkway takes you back to the top of the hill. This was our kid’s favorite part of Jungfraujoch!
Ice Palace Walk-Through
Food and Shops
There are several restaurants on Jungfrajoch, with more options at Kleine Scheidegg for lunch on the return trip. Be sure to pick up some chocolate from the Lindt store.
After a day exploring Jungfrajoch at a high elevation, our kids showed signs of high altitude sickness, and we started the scenic route via Jungfrau Railway journey back to Wengen.
On the return train trip, we stopped in Kleine Scheidegg for lunch, where heavy snow was coming down at the start of June. Kleine Scheidegg has several restaurants, including one in the station.
Where to Stay Near Jungfraujoch
If you’re looking for a place to stay near Jungfraujoch in Switzerland, you have many options; here are some of our favorites.
Wengen
Wengen is where we stayed on our most recent trip. It’s one of the closest places to Jungfraujoch, right on the train line.
A smaller resort town in the mountains, Wengen has fantastic views as it sits above Lauterbrunnen. Wengen is a quiet, car-free village, so it may not be the best choice if you’re looking for excitement. The train from Lauterbrunnen passes through Wengen on the way to Jungfraujoch.
Interlaken
Interlaken is the closest larger city. However, it is more of a commercial/transportation hub than a mountain village. We recommend staying in one of the following small towns nearby that will give you more of a Swiss mountain village vacation.
Lauterbrunnen
Lauterbrunnen is another excellent option for a slightly smaller town in the valley below Wengen. Here, you’ll find more hotels, vacation rentals, and various shops and restaurants. Lauterbrunnen will also give you some great views of the giant Lauterbrunnen waterfalls.
Grindelwald
Grindelwald is another good choice for a scenic town and one of the most popular. Grindelwald is connected to Jungfraujoch by the Eiger Express cable car.
These towns offer stunning views of the surrounding mountains, making them ideal bases for exploring the Jungfrau region. Whether you are looking for a luxurious hotel or a cozy vacation rental, you’ll indeed find the perfect place to stay near Jungfrajoch.
On our most recent trip, we stayed in Wengen. For a friendly resort and our kid’s favorite, check out Swiss Holiday Park Morschach, several hours east of Jungfraujoch.
Recap
Jungfrau is one of the best things to see in Switzerland and was the best part of our recent family Switzerland trip.
