Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe

A trip to the Jungfraujoch is one of the most popular activities in the Bernese Oberland. It’s a place where you can stand on one of the highest peaks in the Swiss Alps, explore an ice cave, play in the snow, enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of the Alps, and hike to the Mönchsjoch Hut. Freiburg Kultour GmbH has been offering day trips to the Bernese Oberland and the Jungfraujoch for several years.

Is a visit to the Jungfraujoch worth the time, cost, and effort?

The Jungfrau region in Switzerland is known for its three famous peaks: the Eiger, the Jungfrau, and the Mönch. The name “Jungfraujoch” translates to “Jungfrau Saddle.” When you visit this part of the mountain range, you’ll be connecting the peaks of the Jungfrau and the Mönch, but you won’t actually be standing on the summit of the Jungfrau.

The Jungfraujoch train station is the highest train station in Europe. Construction began in 1896 and was carried out exclusively with pickaxes, shovels, and hard manual labor. Construction took 16 years, and the station was officially opened in 1912. The Jungfraujoch earned the name “Top of Europe” because it had become an Alpine tourist destination that could be easily reached by train.

However, the name “Top of Europe” is somewhat misleading. The Jungfraujoch is only 3,454 meters high. If you also travel to Zermatt and visit Glacier Paradise, you’ll be at an elevation of 3,883 meters, which is 429 meters higher than the Jungfraujoch.

The Jungfraujoch is home to the highest post office in Europe. It’s worth a visit to send a postcard or letter with a very special postmark and enjoy a one-of-a-kind experience.

Getting to the Jungfraujoch

The only way to get to the Jungfraujoch is by train. Depending on your starting point, the trip can take several hours and requires you to take several trains or gondolas.

First, you’ll need to get to Kleine Scheidegg or the Eiger Glacier. A new gondola, the Eiger Express, connects Grindelwald (station: Grindelwald Terminal) with the Eiger Glacier. The Eiger Glacier is located just above Kleine Scheidegg.

If you start in Wengen, the trail goes via Kleine Scheidegg. If you start in Grindelwald, you can drive directly to the Eiger Glacier without passing through Kleine Scheidegg. If you start in Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, or Gimmelwald, you can either drive via Kleine Scheidegg or Grindelwald. If you’re coming from Interlaken, Zurich, or Lucerne, the fastest route is via Grindelwald, rather than taking the train to Lauterbrunnen and continuing on to Kleine Scheidegg.

Once you reach Kleine Scheidegg, board the train bound for the Jungfraujoch (known as the Jungfrau Railway). The first train of the day bound for the Jungfraujoch departs from Kleine Scheidegg at 8:00 a.m.

In just 35 minutes, you can travel the breathtaking route from Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch. For most of the journey, you’ll be traveling through a tunnel, but this in no way detracts from the impressive experience of the ride. On the train, it gets noticeably cooler with every meter you climb, even during the summer months.

Shortly before arriving at the Jungfraujoch, the train makes a five-minute stop, giving you your first glimpse of the majestic mountain peaks in all their snow-capped splendor. Get off the train and visit a lookout point from which you can see the Aletsch Glacier. While this view is already fantastic, an even more spectacular view of the glacier awaits you at the Jungfraujoch. You’ve now reached your destination. You’ll quickly notice that the air up here is not only colder but also thinner.

What are the best activities at the Jungfraujoch?

Our most unforgettable experience on the Jungfraujoch was a hike to the Mönchsjoch Hut. A walk through the snow and the breathtaking view of the Aletsch Glacier make this an unmissable experience. Other highlights include the view from the Sphinx Terrace, taking photos on the glacier plateau, and exploring the Ice Palace.

How much time should you set aside for a visit to the Jungfraujoch?

A visit usually takes 2 to 4 hours. You can complete the Blue Tour through the main complex in 2 hours. If you’d like to tour the main complex and hike to the Mönchsjochhütte, you should plan on 4 hours. If you’d like to try additional activities such as snow tubing or zip-lining, you should plan for an additional 1 to 2 hours.

When is the best time to visit the Jungfraujoch?

The best time to visit the Jungfraujoch is in the morning. At that time of day, the weather is usually clearer and there are fewer crowds than at noon and in the afternoon. Therefore, you should ideally book the first train of the day on the clearest day of your stay in the Jungfrau region.

You can also find ideas for your time in the Bernese Oberland here. An article by Rhein Kultour & Touristik UG.