Jungfrau Region: 5 Day Itinerary with Kids

If you are planning a family vacation in the Jungfrau region, it can hard to pick activities that work for the whole family. Since our family lives in Switzerland and have hiked with our kids many times in the Jungfrau region, we have a good idea of what works well for children of all ages.

So here are our our favorite hikes and activities organized into a 5 day itinerary with optional add-ons so you can customize based on your energy and ability levels.

Overview of the Jungfrau Region

The Jungfrau Region is a mountainous area about 1hr south of Bern, the capital of Switzerland. It is one of the most popular tourist destinations here, with people coming to see the Eiger and visit the Jungfraujoch.

5 Day Jungfrau Region Itinerary Overview

Here’s a quick overview of our suggested itinerary. Below I broadly outline what to do on each day with links to more details to help complete your trip planning.

• Day 1: Männlichen playground & hike to Kleine Scheidegg (4km), optional Jungfraujoch visit
• Day 2: Schynige Platte ridge hike (6 km), optional kayak or evening lake cruise
• Day 3: Mürren Mountain View trail (5 km) & Flower Park playground, optional Schilthorn visit
• Day 4: Grindelwald First & Cliff Walk, hike to Bachalpsee (4 km round trip), alpine playground, optional mountain scooter/zip line, optional glacier gorge visit
• Day 5: Eiger Trail & Grindelwald Gorge

The hikes are marked on the map below. The purple areas indicate the main transportation hubs, which are accessible by train: Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald.

Feel free to mix and match. I’ve put the activities in order of priority. If you have less days in the region, I recommend starting with the top of the list. On some days, we’ve included easier and harder alternatives so you can customize based on your children’s ages and abilities. We also include suggested detours if you have extra time to fill. You’ll need to be flexible based on weather conditions, so I’ve included some rainy day options at the end.

Customizing your itinerary

Of course, this trip could be infinitely customized to fit your needs. If you need help planning your trip or have detailed questions, see my Itinerary Planning Services.

If you would like guided tours or help booking elements of your travel, we recommend our partner Traveli, a boutique tour company based in Luzern.

See also my full guide to the Jungfrau region for info on public transportation, travel passes, where to stay & rainy day options.

But what about the Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn???

The two main tourist attractions in this area are the panorama viewpoints: Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn. Both are spectacular but also very expensive and quite crowded in summer. So although I love both, they are not a “must-do” in my opinion, especially with children that are usually happier running around on a trail and/or playground. So I’ve included them in my itinerary below as optional add-ons to other activities. 

If you want to visit either of these, wait for perfectly clear weather and do them early in the day. Here are links to details for these: Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe and Schilthorn Observation Deck & Cliff Walk

Day 1: Männlichen playground & hike to Kleine Scheidegg

This is the classic family hike in the Jungfrau region. The views are unbeatable, the path is easy walking, kids will love the big play area, and there are restaurants on both ends, making your day as easy as possible. I would plan for about 4 hours for this outing, including the mountain transport.

You start by riding a gondola from Grindelwald to Männlichen (you can also get there from Lauterbrunnen), where you’ll find a playground and restaurant with a view. Plan for 30-60 mins just hanging around playing and enjoying the views and the short “Royal Walk” detour for another viewpoint. 

Then a 4 km hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, an easy walk possible with all-terrain strollers. We prefer walking this direction because you have the big mountain peaks in view the whole time, as shown in the pic below.

See details for the Männlichen – Kleine Scheidegg trail

At Kleine Scheidegg, you will find restaurants, a gift shop, WC and other services. We’ve eaten lunch at Restaurant Eigernordwand, which has hearty Swiss fare like rösti at typical Swiss prices and great mountain views if you get the right table. 

You’ll also find the train station here, where you can catch the mountain train back down to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. 

Optional day 1 activities: more hiking, Jungfraujoch, valley stroll

Keep hiking: If you still have some energy to burn after your hike, you can continue hiking down towards Lauterbrunnen and simply catch the mountain train when you get tired. The most straightforward option is the Wengernalp path to Wengen that parallels the train tracks, 6.75km. Or the shorter and quieter 4km Wengernalp to Biglenalp. Or the tougher Lauberhorn Trail to Wengen.

Jungfraujoch: If the weather is clear and it’s still early afternoon, you might consider a detour to Jungfraujoch, the highest point in Europe reachable by mountain train. From Kleine Scheidegg, the train to Jungfraujoch is 35 mins through a mountain tunnel to the top, where there are multiple observation decks so you can see the glacier and famous peaks. It’s the most popular tourist destination, so it can be quite crowded with tour groups and you may have trouble getting a seat on the train. But you never know. See details for Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe.

Afternoon/evening stroll: If you are staying in Lauterbrunnen, take an evening stroll down the valley and visit the Staubbach falls. See details for Lauterbrunnen Valley Path.

Day 2: Schynige Platte – Ridge Trail

This is our favorite hike in the region because we love ridge trails and it’s typically less crowded than other trails in this region. You start with a 1hr cogwheel train ride up the mountain to Schyniqe Platte, where you’ll find a restaurant with a panorama terrace and small playground. The 6km trail starts here and loops back around to your starting place.

Plan for about 5-6 hrs for this outing,which includes 1 hour each way on the mountain train and 2-3 hours on the trail. Add more time if you eat at the restaurant.

See details for Schynige Platte Ridge Trail

Optional day 2 afternoon activity: Kayak

If you have extra time in the afternoon, we recommend kayaking on the lake near Interlaken. This is a wonderful way to see the mountains from a different perspective and great way to cool off if you have a hot day. We have rented kayaks from Hightide Kayak School in Bönigen, a couple minutes east of Interlaken on the lake shore. You can take a tour or just paddle around the lake on your own, which is what we did. They rent one or two person sit-on-top kayaks, which are easy for beginners and suitable for small children. Rental includes life vests.

See details for Kayaking on Lake Brienz

Day 3: Mürren Mountain View Trail & Flower Park Playground

We love this trail because the views are spectacular, it’s usually less crowded than other trails, and it’s very affordable if you don’t have a discount travel pass. You start by riding a cable car up from Lauterbrunnen to Grütschalp. Then you hike about 5 km to Allmendhubel, where you’ll find a huge playground and restaurant with mountain views. After some playtime, you can hike down to Mürren (or ride a short funicular) and catch the cable car back down to the valley.

See full details for Mürren Mountain View trail

Alternative for strollers: If you want to walk, but you need to bring a stroller or the kids need an easier path, from Grütschalp instead follow the panorama trail along the mountain train tracks all the way to Mürren. This is a smooth path, about 2km, but much easy to manage than the mountain trail. When you reach Mürren, find the Allmendhubel funicular, which will take you up to the Flower park playground.

Skip the hike: If your children can’t do the hike, ride the mountain train from Grütschalp to Mürren instead. Then ride the short funicular up to the Allmendhubel playground. If you want to walk a bit, there is a short Flower themed path just above the playground.

Lunch: if you didn’t bring a picnic, have lunch at the Panorama Restaurant Allmendhubel adjacent to the Flower Park playground. See their menu here. They have a big terrace so you can enjoy mountain views while you eat. I saw one comment that they only take cash, so come prepared.

Optional day 3 activities: Schilthorn and/or Trummelbach Falls

Schlithorn detour: If you have lots of extra time, you could ride up the cable cars from Mürren to Schilthorn, which has a panorama observation deck at 2790m. Make sure to stop at the Birg middle station to do the free cliff walk. This part of the journey is not covered by your Jungfrau Travel Pass. It costs CHF 86.50/adult extra round trip. Kids ride free with a Junior card.

See details for Schilthorn Observation Deck & Cliff Walk.

Waterfalls: On your way back on the bus from Stechelberg to Lauterbrunnen, I highly recommend stopping at Trummelbach falls to tour the gorge and see the super impressive waterfalls. A visit here takes about an hour, closes around 17:00 and charges an entrance fee, worth it in my opinion. We always take guests here and everyone loves it. If you don’t have time this day, add it on to another day. Also a good choice for cloudy days.

See details for Trummelbach Falls

Day 4: Grindelwald First Cliff Walk & Alpine Lake

This relatively easy trail takes you to a beautiful alpine lake with mountain views. You start by riding a gondola from Grindelwald up to First (2167m). Before hiking, do the short, slightly scary, but totally safe cliff walk, a metal walkway attached to the side a cliff. Then a 1 hr hike up to the lake, where you should have a picnic.

See details for Grindelwald First to Bachalpsee lake hike

After visiting the lake, we recommend stopping at the Bort middle station where you’ll find a great playground and restaurant. To get there, you can hike back the way you came to First and ride the gondola down to Bort or you can hike down the mountain. After some play time, you can take the gondola back to Grindelwald. 

I would plan about 5-6 hours for this outing, depending on how fast you hike and how much time you spend at the lake and playground.

Optional day 4 activities: Scooters & Zip Lines

Grindelwald First offers a variety of action adventure activities. You can:

• ride a mountain go cart 2.8 km from Schreckfeld to the Bort middle station.
• ride a “trottibike” mountain scooter about 3.5 km from the Bort middle station down to Grindelwald village.
• ride an 800 zip line at the top of First, either in a traditional harness or a head-first 4-person glider

These activities can be booked on site when you buy your gondola tickets or at the respective gondola station where these activities are located.

Day 5: Eiger Trail & Grindelwald Gorge

This trail goes directly under the Eiger mountain peak so you can get a close-up look at the imposing rock walls attempted by many brave climbers. The trail is not a particularly difficult, but it is a narrow mountain path that requires sure footing.

You start by riding the mountain train from either Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg, then switch to the Jungfrau train for one stop, getting off at Eigergletscher. Then join the Eiger trail and hike towards Grindelwald. You can hike about 6km to a train stop mid-mountain and ride the rest of the way down to Grindelwald or hike all the way down.

See details for Eiger Trail

Optional day 5 activity: Grindwald Glacier Gorge

After your hike, you can visit the nearby Grindelwald Glacier Gorge, which has a raised walkway built on the cliff walls and through tunnels so you can safely explore the gorge. In one part of the gorge, there is a big net stretched across the river that you can walk around on. If you need a thrill, you can try the canyon swing, where you free fall and swing into the canyon (advance reservations required).

See details for Grindelwald Glacier Gorge

How to travel around the Jungfrau region

One advantage of spending 5 days in the same region is that you can benefit from the Jungfrau Travel Pass, which covers public transportation and most mountain transport in this region for a specific number of days. This is the most affordable way for tourists to see this region. The pass is available for 3 to 8 days. In 2019, a 3 day pass costs CHF 190/adult. To visit the Jungfraujoch, it’s an extra CHF 74 (or CHF 61 in low season).

For children 6-15, make sure to buy a Junior travel card for CHF 30 that lets them also ride for free. Children under 6 are always free.

If you live in Switzerland, you should have a SBB Half-fare card, which will pay for itself after 3 mountain excursions. If you already have a car, it’s most time and cost efficient to drive to each activity, but remember to budget for gas and parking fees.

See more budget travel tips here.

Special experiences

Glacier walk. We did a beginner’s 1-day glacier tour with Swiss Alpine Guides and can highly recommend it. Their van picks you up in Interlaken and drives you 1 hour to the base on the glacier, usually the Stein glacier on the Susten pass. They provide all equipment including hiking shoes, harness, ice pick, even warm jackets. You need bring a picnic lunch and sunglasses. We hiked to the glacier, learning how to use our equipment and spent a couple hours exploring on the ice. It was a unique experience that made a deep impression. It cost CHF 170/person including transport and equipment.

Paragliding. I haven’t done this but many of my friends have. Many people consider this a “must-do” while in the Swiss alps and this region is a great place to do it. My friends really liked their flight with Skywings. Flights start at CHF 170/person for 10-20 mins, including transport to the take-off point from Interlaken.

Rainy Day in the Jungfrau Region

St. Beatus caves

This impressive cave system is just a 15 min bus ride from Interlaken, making it an easy choice for a bad weather day. I’d plan about 1 hour for a self-guided tour of the caves. Details here.

Visit Thun village & castle

If clouds are obscuring the peaks but it’s not raining too hard, it’s nice to wander around a charming town and Thun is one of the nicest near Interlaken. See details here.

Thermal baths

We love an excuse to swim in warm indoor pools with fun extras. The closest to Interlaken is Bernaqua, about an hour drive.

Museums in Bern

There are lots of interesting and fun museums in Bern. Here’s a full list. One we particularly liked with kids was Zentrum Paul Klee.

Nearby day trips 

These mountain excursions are just outside the Jungfrau region, but not covered by the Jungfrau Region travel pass. But they are some of my favorite hikes so if you have extra days, you might consider adding one of these to your itinerary. See also all Berner Oberland activities.

Ballenberg Open-air Living Museum

This open-air living museum in the beautiful Bernese alps lets you experience traditional Swiss rural life, with authentic buildings, trades and dress from the old days.

Learn more about Ballenberg

Oeschinensee

Ride a gondola up the mountain, then a short hike to this beautiful alpine lake where you’ll find picnic areas, restaurants and rowboats. You can optionally do a longer hike above the lake, for a spectacular overview of the lake and many waterfalls. Near the gondola, there is a fun summer toboggan that you can save for a treat after the hike.

Learn more about Oeschinensee

Giessbach Falls

From Interlaken, ride a ferry boat across the Brienzersee lake to reach the base of these falls. Then ride a vintage funicular to the Grand Hotel Giessbach, where you have a lovely view of the main falls.

You can optionally hike up the falls to higher viewpoints and even walk under the flowing water. We suggest lunch on the hotel’s outdoor terrace.

Learn more about Giessbach Falls

Niederhorn Ridge Hike

Near Interlaken, you can ride the Niederhorn funicular train and gondola up the mountain to this beautiful viewpoint over the cliffs and down to Lake Thun. There is a safely enclosed observation area and restauarant near the gondola station. 

You can optionally wander along the cliffs on a moderate trail, enjoying panorama views across the Jungfrau Region. The hike can be adjusted from 2 to 10 kms depending on your skills and abilities.

Learn more about Niederhorn