The Jungfraujoch is one the most popular tourist destinations in Switzerland. From Grindelwald, a mountain railway brings you to the highest rail station in Europe at 3,454m (11,332 ft).
From the indoor and outdoor observation decks at the top, you can take in views of the immense Aletsch glacier, the longest in the alps, over 20 km long. You can also enjoy a variety of amusements, like exploring the “Ice Palace” cut into the glacier, walking on glacier snow, sledding at the snow fun park, and even hiking to a mountain hut. There are also restaurants and gift shops to round out your visit.
Although the Jungfraujoch is a special and spectacular place, the tickets are very expensive and usually crowded with tourists. So the big question is: should you visit the Jungfraujoch??? Of course, it depends on your preferences and budget.
Below I explain what to expect at the Jungfraujoch, tips for your visit, how to plan your day, ways to make it more affordable, and criteria for deciding if it’s for you.
NEW: Seat reservations for the Jungfraubahn are now required from May to August. Reserve here.
Contents
| Location: | Jungfrau Region, Switzerland |
| Car: | Grindelwald Terminal parking (Grundstrasse 54, 3818 Grindelwald) From Interlaken 30 mins, from Lucerne 1hr30+, from Zürich 2hr+ |
| Train: | Grindelwald Terminal train station From Interlaken 30 mins, from Zürich or Lucerne 2hr30 |
| Open: | year round |
| Price 2024: | Return trip from Grindelwald around CHF 227/adult Discounts for travel passes and children (details below) |
| Services: | restaurants, gear rental, gift shops, WC, partially stroller/wheelchair accessible |
| Hiking: | no hiking here except snow hike to mountain hut |
| More info: | www.jungfrau.ch • webcam |
Should you visit the Jungfraujoch?
Before you read about the all the logistics, let’s get this important question out of the way. The main reason to ask this question is the very high price. It’s about twice as much as visiting the next highest priced mountain in Switzerland. It’s also a tourist attraction, so it is often crowded with lots of big tour groups. As a local, it’s not my first choice.
But it is spectacular and for many tourists, this is their one and only experience in the Swiss alps and it delivers exactly what they were hoping for. The whole visitor center is very nicely done with lots of amusements. They make it relatively easy for non-outdoor people, non-hikers and those with mobility issues to also enjoy high mountain views. That’s exciting. I took my dad on his last visit and he thought it amazing and worth every penny.
In short, if you will stay in the Jungfrau region a few days, hiking and visiting a variety of mountains, it’s not necessarily a must see. But if you only have one day and you want to see the most famous thing and check this off your bucket list and impress all your Instagram friends, you should definitely go.
Overview of Jungfrau Region
Below is the Jungfrau Region summer hiking map showing where the Jungfraujoch is located. Most hotels are located in the valley villages Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, and Interlaken.
How to get there
The Jungfraujoch is located in the middle of Switzerland in the Berner Oberland (see on Google maps). To reach Jungfraujoch, you must drive or take a train to Grindelwald, then ride a cable car and mountain train to the top.
To reach the Jungfraujoch, it’s fastest to start in Grindelwald, where you can ride the Eiger Express cable car up the mountain. Then change to the cogwheel train that makes the remaining journey to Jungfraujoch.
By car: Drive to Grindelwald and park in the parking garage next to the Grindelwald Terminal parking (Grundstrasse 54, 3818 Grindelwald). It costs CHF 6 for up to 5 hours, CHF 12/day. Upstairs is the Eiger Express cable car.
By public transportation: From the Interlaken, Ost train station, ride the train to the Grindelwald Terminal stop. Upstairs is the Eiger Express cable car.
Day trip from major cities
If you want to visit Jungfraujoch from Zürich or other major cities, many companies offer tours that include travel to and from the Jungfrau Region. This can be more convenient way to do this day trip than booking all the elements separately. Book this tour from Zürich below.
Starting in Grindelwald
Riding up from Grindelwald Terminal
At Grindelwald Terminal, you can board the Eiger Express cable car. If you haven’t bought Jungfraujoch tickets yet, you can do this at the Eiger Express ticket counter (more about tickets below).
After a 15 minute ride, you will deboard at Eigergletscher and transfer to the cogwheel mountain train that will take you the rest of the way to Jungfraujoch. Retrace the same steps for your return journey.
Optional return trip:
If you want to see something different on your way back down, you can ride the mountain train down the Wengen side to Lauterbrunnen, instead of riding the Eiger Express back to Grindelwald. To do this, on your way back down, ride from Jungfraujoch to Kleine Scheidegg. Change to the yellow train going to Lauterbrunnen. Then change trains and ride back to Lauterbrunnen or wherever your final destination is.
Riding up from Lauterbrunnen
If you are staying near Lauterbrunnen, you don’t have to go to Grindelwald first. From the Lauterbrunnen train station, ride the yellow mountain train up the mountain to Kleine Scheidegg. Then change trains to the red mountain train going up to Jungfraujoch.
Tickets
Note: Prices below are from 2024 and may change without notice. Check Jungfrau Region website for current prices.
NEW: Seat reservations for the Jungfraubahn are now required from May to August. Reserve here.
The Jungfraujoch ticket price depends on where you start your journey and the season. The most expensive prices are June through August. It is less expensive during spring, fall and winter.
If you start at Grindelwald Terminal (most common), a round trip ticket to Jungfraujoch costs CHF 227/adult (June-Aug) or CHF 201/adult (Sept-May). With the Swiss Travel Pass, this round trip costs
If you start in Interlaken, a return ticket from Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch is about CHF 235.80/adult (2024 summer prices)
Discounts with travel passes
There are a variety of travel passes that give discounts on travel in this region. I’ll be honest, it’s very confusing exactly what’s covered by each pass. So I’ve done my best here but you should confirm the actual price before booking.
Jungfrau Travel Pass.
This covers all public transportation in the Jungfrau region and most mountain transport, including the train to Kleine Scheidegg. In 2024, this pass costs CHF 210/adult for 3 days. If you have this pass, it costs an extra CHF 75 in summer season to cover the Jungfraubhan train on the last section to the top.
Berner Oberland Regional Pass.
This travel pass covers all public transportation and most mountain transport in the Berner Oberland, including the train to Kleine Scheidegg. With this pass, it costs an extra CHF 99 to ride the rest of the way to the Jungfraujoch.
Swiss Travel Pass
This pass covers train travel to Grindelwald or Wengen. From there, you get 25% off the remaining way to Jungfraujoch. Buy the Swiss Travel Pass.
GA annual pass or GA Day Pass with Half-fare card
With these passes, you ride ides free to Wengen or Grindelwald, then 50% off from Jungfraujoch = about CHF 95 in 2022. This does not apply to Saver Day Pass or other 1-day passes.
SBB Half-fare
Your whole journey is discounted 50%, no matter where you start. Sample return trip from Lauterbrunnen: CHF 95/adult
SBB RailAway sometimes has discount offers. For example, in winter 2016, SBB offered 20% off the journey from Zürich to Jungfraujoch, including a fondue lunch, which from Zurich worked out to CHF 165.20.
See current Jungfraujoch prices.
Traveling with children
Children under 6 ride free. For children aged 6 to 15, you need to buy a Junior card for CHF 30 from the train station. This allow the child to travel free when traveling with a parent with a valid ticket. You need to show an ID proving their age. You do not need to submit a passport picture to get the card.
If you are traveling on a pass like the Swiss Travel Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass, children 6-15 need the child version of the pass, which usually costs CHF 30. The regular junior card is not valid when the parent is using a pass.
Seat reservations
The Jungfraubahn from Kleine Scheidegg can get very crowded during peak tourist season, sometimes with entire train cars reserved for big tourist groups.
Starting in 2025, seat reservations are now required on the Jungfraubahn from May to August, optional the rest of the year. This is the red mountain train between Kleine Scheidegg / Eigergletscher and Jungfraujoch. Book seat reservations on Jungfrau.ch for CHF 10.
The seat reservation gives you a guaranteed seat on the selected train connection, but it does not assign a specific numbered seat. So the seat reservation does not ensure your group all sits altogether.
When you board the Jungfraubahn train, those with a seat reservation enter through the priority boarding line, getting on the train before those without a reservation.
How to make seat reservations
You can book seat reservations on Jungfrau.ch for CHF 10 per person. During the booking process, you choose your starting point and time of departure.
You also indicate how long you intend to stay at the top, so it can also reserve a spot for your departure. We find that 1.5 to 2 hours is usually plenty unless you plan to eat lunch up there.
Don’t stress if you miss your reservation on the way down. You can usually just get on the next train that has space.
The system will calculate which Jungfraubahn train to reserve for you and will display the schedule for review.
Planning your day
Sample timeline 2025
The Jungfrau trains are open all year round. Since this is a long trip, best to start out early. The sample schedule below was made using the May 2022 timeline. Check the current schedule as the timeline may change.
Via Grindelwald Terminal:
- Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald Terminal 8:04 to 8:33
- Eiger Express to Eigergletscher 8:40 to 9:00
- Mountain train to Jungfraujoch 9:15 to 9:41
- Visit Jungfraujoch 90 mins.
- Depart Jungfraujoch at 11:17.
- Arrive Eigergletscher 11:41.
- Eiger Express down to Grindelwald Terminal, arrive 12:11
Check the weather
Before buying your ticket, check the Jungfrau webcams. There is no reason to go up unless you have a clear view. We were advised to go early in the day, as clouds often move it after noon. But check the weather forecast, particularly the cloud and precipitation weather animations on Search.ch.
Weather can change quickly in the mountains and you don’t want the clouds settling in during the 2 hours it takes you to get from Lauterbrunnen to the Jungfraujoch.
The morning we wanted to go up, the clouds were obscuring the Jungfrau. So instead we did a hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg instead. When we got to Kleine Scheidegg, we checked the webcams again and the clouds had cleared. So we bought ticket to ride the rest of the way up to the Jungfraujoch and it all worked out. Be flexible.
What to bring
Even though you won’t be hiking, bring winter jackets, sturdy shoes and sunglasses. Even in summer, it can be cold at the top. You will be walking on snow and ice (inside the ice palace), which can be slippery and wet. Little kids will need assistance walking.
Bring sunglasses, for kids too, as the reflection off the snow and ice can be blinding at the top. We were not prepared and our poor two year old couldn’t bear to open his eyes outside unless he borrowed my sunglasses.
I’d leave stroller at home or at the station as there are stairs, snow and ice to navigate. I suggest you just carry little kids as necessary. If you have a baby backpack, take extra care walking on the ice so you don’t slip.
Where to stay near Jungfraujoch
If you want to stay overnight near the Jungfraujoch, it’s most convenient to stay in Grindelwald where the Eiger Express cable car starts. I would also suggest Lauterbrunnen or Interlaken.
Photo story
The train up the mountain
Once you get on the mountain train in Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, grab at window seat and settle in for a long journey. This can be difficult for little kids, so bring snacks and perhaps a few travel sized activities to keep the occupied on the train.
At Kleine Scheidegg, you deboard the train and switch to the red Jungfraujochbahn, which will take you the rest of the way. This red train will stop briefly at Eigergletscher before entering the tunnel. Don’t get off. Once in the tunnel, it’s about 25 mins with no views. This part can be boring for many passengers, but especially kids.
What to see and do
When you arrive at the top, you are still inside the mountain, which can be a little disorienting. But don’t worry, the views are just a few steps away.
When you exit the tunnel, you’ll see a lot of windows overlooking the glacier. To your right, you’ll see a Kiosk and stairs leading up to the restaurants. There is a gift shop that rents winter jackets and boots in case you need some extra layers.
To follow the tour, turn to your left and follow the big blue signs with arrows label “TOUR”. There is a recommended path through the complex as shown on this map that you’ll see on the wall. See the little arrows on the little blue line.
You’ll first walk through a long tunnel, then take a lift up to the Sphinx Observatory to the outdoor viewing platform. Then back down the lift.
In summer season, you can optionally exit the complex and visit the snow park area and do a snow hike out to a hut (this area is closed in winter). Otherwise, continue walking through the tunnel through the Alpine Sensation multimedia tour, then ice cave, then the Plateau outdoor viewing area and exit through the gift shop.
Let’s see this tour in pictures…
1. Start in tunnel
You start by walking through a long non-descript tunnel. At the start, there are lockers if you need to store some stuff during your visit.
2. Sphinx Observatory
At the end of the tunnel, there is a lift on your left up to the Sphinx Observatory. Start here. You’ll come back down later and continue the tunnel walk. The lift takes you up to this viewing platform shown here. I don’t have a drone so thanks to Julius Silver & Wikimedia Commens for this image.
You can walk out on this small outdoor viewing platform (with a Christmas tree since I was there in December). You can’t reach the snow from here.
Lots of people are taking selfies up here, but the railings make this a little hard to get a nice view. I prefer portraits on the plateau, which I talk about later in this post.
There are also lots of indoor areas with benches where you can enjoy the view and stay warm. It was -11C when I was there, so absolutely freezing!!!
There is a walkway around the building so you can enjoy views from the outside. I was there in winter so some of the walkway was closed due to snow.
3. Snow Fun Park
In summer season (May through October), you can exit the complex and visit the “Snow Fun Park” on the glacier. It has sledding, a little ski hill and zipline. You can rent the equipment including snow clothes there. The website says the rental equipment is included in the ticket prices. See the Snow Park page for more details.
The snow activities are primarily a novelty for people who haven’t seen snow before, the case for many tourists visiting here.
image from Jungfrau website
You can also hike out to the Mönchjoch hut, about 45 mins each way. You could each lunch there and even stay overnight, reservations a must. It’s open from late March through October. See website for details.
image from Jungfrau website
4. Alpine Sensation
Back in the complex, you continue the tour through the tunnels, entering the Alpine Sensation area, , which tells the history of the Jungfraujoch tunnel, train and complex through a multimedia tour.
There are a lot of silly photo opps, do all of them! I loved this life-styled snow globe with music and moving parts, very fun to watch.
There are moving sidewalks carrying you through the tunnel with murals and educational info.
This section is a tribute to workers who died building the tunnel and Jungfraujoch station.
5. Ice Palace
At the end of the Alpine Sensation tour, you enter the Ice Palace, a series of tunnels carved into the glacier with lots of ice sculptures. There are stairs but they have also added wheelchair access down to the ice.
It’s very slippery, so walk slowly and use your hand rails. It’s cold inside, you’ll definitely need your jackets.
This area changes as the glacial ice moves and sculptures melt. Here are some pics from our visit in 2006 and more recently in Dec 2019.
6. Plateau
After exiting the ice palace, you climb some stairs (or take a lift) to access the Plateau, a viewing area on the snow, from which you can see the impressive Aletsch glacier and surrounding mountain peaks. The area is roped off as shown below, but it’s not much a barrier. There wasn’t an immediate drop-off on the other side of the ropes, but I was a little nervous that my toddler would duck under the ropes and run off.
The Aletsch glacier.
It’s just a big snowy area where you can walk around. You can see the door on the far right that leads back into the complex. Top right is the Sphinx Observatory.
Lots of mountain views up here. Since I was there in winter, the peaks were fully covered with snow. This can change depending on the season.
Where to eat
On my last visit, I was on a press trip and tried Restaurant Crystal. I loved that is has lots of big windows so you can enjoy the view while you eat. Best to make a reservation +41338287888 E-Mail
I had the hearty fall special with venison, mushroom sauce, chestnuts, berry sauce, spatzel, etc. So delicious! Dessert was even better with creme catalan, pear sorbet, figs and berry compote.
Swiss restaurant prices are always high, but I was delighted that these prices were the same as I’d see at any mountain restaurant, not extra because we were at this tourist hub.
There is a kiosk for drinks and snacks right near where you exit and board the train.
On our first visit, we ate at the self-service buffet, which has Swiss food and Indian food dishes. At peak hours, it can be very crowded and hard to find a seat. Also this restaurant is often partially or fully reserved for large tour groups.
I didn’t see any picnic areas, but there are plenty of benches inside where you could sit and eat a sandwich.
I hope you have fun!
Jungfraujoch tours
Video of Jungfraujoch
Video from our visit in Dec 2019.
8 Responses
Hi Tanya,
I intend to take this tour (see below) with my wife but I can’t find reviews for it, do you think it’s a good idea?
https://www.zuerich.com/en/visit/tours-excursions/jungfraujoch-8-30-am
Thanks a lot,
Cosmin
That webpage does not show which partner company is running the tour. My guess would be Best of Switzerland tours which runs bus tours from Zurich city. I don’t know anything about them but the reviews seem good. They take you on a bus instead of a train ride, which some travelers prefer. This is an easy way to do this excursion without worrying about the logistics.
Thanks a lot for the information. We plan to go to Jungfraujoch this month and we wonder how much time we should allocate on the top so that we can do a seat reservation for the way back. We do not want to go to the snow park, but have lunch in the restaurant. Do you have any recommendation?
I usually find 90 mins is plenty. Perhaps an additional hour for lunch. Have fun!
Hi Tanya,
Thanks for providing so much wonderful info on your site. We’re headed to Switzerland with our kids (8 and 10) in August and I’ve been gathering lots of info from your page. I’m a bit confused though about the Junfgraujoch and Grindelwald First…is it possible to do both on one pass to the top of the mountain? I can’t quite figure out if you’re able to get off at the different stops and explore. I love the adventures (the glider things) at Grindelwald and the cliff walk, but trying to figure out if these need to happen on separate days. Thanks.
Hi Ella, I would recommend doing these on separate days because they are on different mountains and it would take quite awhile to switch from one to the other. Grindelwald First is accessed by the First gondola from the Grindelwald village. To reach Jungfraujoch, you take the Grindelwald Express gondola from the Grindelwald Terminal station. Then a cogwheel train through the mountain. Hypothetically, you could do both in the same day, but it would be a tight schedule. These are both part of the Jungfrau Region Pass, but you have to pay an extra fee to travel to the Jungfraujoch. Hope this helps.
We took a trip from Grindelwald to Jungfrau with our 5 months old, and had a great time! We brought a stroller with us, and were very happy with his choice as all the places where stroller-friendly. Make sure you book your seats for the train from Kleine S to Jungfrau – you will want to board first.
Thanks for the tips!