How do I get to the Jungfraujoch, the roof of Europe?

Dernière mise à jour de cet article le 1 September 2024

In February, I spent a weekend in Interlaken, Switzerland. The weather was really uncertain, so it was difficult to envisage any outdoor activities. But then, as luck would have it, the fine weather returned. So it’s decided: today, we’re going to the Jungfraujoch, the roof of Europe!

Why the roof of Europe? Quite simply because the Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, is the highest railroad station in Europe. It rises to an altitude of 3,454 metres. It provides access to the Jungfrau peak.

Do you know the Jungfrau? It’s a mountain that’s well known to all Swiss and French mountain lovers. Well, I admit I didn’t know it before I went there. But I’d heard so much about it that I was eager (and intrigued) to discover it. And I have to say that I was not disappointed, I was even amazed by the beauty of this site.

A look back at this unique experience.

Where is the Jungfrau?

The Jungfrau region lies to the south of the Canton of Berne, 200 km east of Geneva, in German-speaking Switzerland. Interlaken is the ideal starting point for visiting this region (especially in terms of accommodation). The town’s name comes from its location between Lakes Brienz and Thun.

The Jungfrau is a peak in the Bernese Alps. It reaches an altitude of 4,158 metres.

How to get to the Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe?

There are two options for getting to the Jungfraujoch:

• Leave Lauterbrunnen and take a train to Kleine Scheidegg (via Wengen). Then take another train from Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch via Eigergletesher. By the way, check out our tips for visiting Lauterbrunnen.
• Leaving Grindelwald. This is the option we’ve chosen, and we’ll tell you more about it below.

To get to the Jungfraujoch, you have to leave from Grindelwald, a famous mountain village 20 km from Interlaken. There are many bus and train connections between the two towns.

The starting point for this tour is the Grindelwald Terminal. From there, it’s a 45-minute ride to the Jungfraujoch (excluding waiting time, of course).

Take the Eigerexpress cable car

From Grindelwald terminal, you have 2 options: either the train or a gondola lift to theEigergletscher (Eiger glacier). We thought we’d take the train on the outward journey and the gondola on the return. Except we missed the train. In short, we took the gondola both ways. The big advantage is that there’s no waiting time. What’s more, this means of transport saves you 45 minutes compared with the train. We didn’t regret not taking the train, as there are a lot of tunnels on the way up. This would not have allowed us to enjoy the view as much as we’d hoped.

A 15-minute gondola ride takes you from Grindelwald to the Eiger glacier station. What can I say? 15 minutes is a long time! Well, I don’t like gondolas, especially when they’re that long. I have to admit, though, that there were a few “wahoo” moments on the way!

Take the train to Eigergletscher (Eiger Glacier)

What a relief to arrive! Then, from the Eigergletscher station, to reach the Jungfraujoch, you have to take a cogwheel train. There’s one every hour.

While waiting for the train, you can enjoy the view of the mountains. I was totally impressed by the hundreds (thousands?) of skiers…

The train arrives…excitement is at its peak. In about 30 minutes, we’ll finally arrive at the Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railroad station at 3,454 meters above sea level.

But first, the train travels through a seven-kilometer-long tunnel from the Eigergletscher station, dug between 1896 and 1912.

It makes a 5-minute stop at the Eismeer station (3,160 meters above sea level). You can then get off the train and admire the magnificent scenery.

Don’t worry, you’ve got time to get off, take a few photos and get back on the train. On the way back, the train doesn’t stop at this station.

At last! We’ve arrived at the Jungfraujoch station, the highest in Europe! To make the most of the site, it’s possible to follow an itinerary.

So as not to follow the tourist groups, we don’t do them in order.

The Jungfraujoch tour

From the moment we got off the train to the first point, walking down this long corridor was impressive, even chilling.

Alpine sensation

Our first stop was theAlpine sensation. The magic happens.

A 250-metre-long corridor leads to the Jungfraujoch Ice Palace. Here you’ll discover the story of the miners who built the Jungfraujoch. Chills guaranteed (and not just because of the cold!).

Jungfraujoch Ice Palace

Mountain guides created the walkways and halls in the 1930s. Here, you can walk on ice, admire sculptures and even meet Scrat.

I’d never had an experience like it. I was impressed and just loved it. This day at the Jungfraujoch promised to be full of surprises and emotions.

Jungfraujoch Plateau

After a long walk, we finally reach the Jungfraujoch plateau. We’re outside, close to the Jungfrau. We’re surrounded by mountains, each more beautiful than the last. What a view of the Aletsch glacier! If it hadn’t been so cold, I think I could have stayed for hours admiring the scenery.

Completely chilled, we went to the next discover.

The Sphinx platform

It(3571 meters above sea level) provides access to the summit of the Jungfraujoch and the best view of the Mönch (Monk), another peak.

With that magical feeling of being above the clouds.

Then, to warm up, there’s nothing like a stop at the Lindt store (very clever!).

There was also a restaurant offering a takeaway. But the call of chocolate was stronger! Sadly, this was already the end of this absolutely brilliant excursion.

Tips for getting to the Jungfraujoch

In this final section, I’ll give you a few tips on how to make the most of your visit to the Jungfraujoch.

The first thing is to come early, given the crowds.

Parking

If you’re coming by car, the easiest solution is to park at the Grindelwald Terminal (3818 Grindelwald). What’s more, it’s not very expensive (6 Swiss francs for 5 hours).

Weather

The weather is a point not to be overlooked. Indeed, if you go to the Jungfraujoch on a day when the view isn’t clear, you’ll be disappointed, and I can understand why! Before you go, you can check the weather forecast on the Jungfrau website and view the official Jungfrau webcam .

And be careful what you wear. At the beginning of February, it was only -19 degrees with a light wind!

Price

Aie…The price to go to the Jungfrauoch is excessive for tourists. If you have a Swiss pass, you get half price. Otherwise, you’ll have to pay around 200 Swiss francs round trip per person… It’s quite a budget, I grant you. But it’s also an incredible experience, one you’ll never forget!

If you don’t want the hassle, you can book a ticket for the cogwheel train from Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch.

Once you’ve booked your ticket, check this site for train timetables.

To save money, you can also opt for the Jungfrau Travel Pass. This pass gives you unlimited access to trains, cable cars and funiculars in the Jungfrau region (Grindelwald, Mürren, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken, Unterseen and Wengen). You can choose a 3, 5 or 7-day pass. If you’re staying in the region for several days, your pass will quickly pay for itself, given the prices in Switzerland. You can buy your pass online here.

The final word on this trip to the Jungfraujoch

After spending hours at the Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe, it’s time to head back to the train and the gondola. I don’t like gondolas, but the thrill of this magnificent view is part of the trip. However, you have to admit that you feel really safe. The Ice Palace is also one of my fondest memories.

And why not round off the day with a delicious Swiss fondue?

More getaways in Switzerland

If you’re in the canton of Berne, you can take a trip to the Schilthorn and discover the Emmental region. Take the opportunity to visit Interlaken.

And if you’re in German-speaking Switzerland, here are some other suggestions:

• Explore St. Gallen
• Discover Zurich
• How to get to the Rhine Falls
• Solothurn
• Lucerne and surroundings
• Saint Moritz
• Visit Schaffhausen
• Stays in Appenzell

Finally, for more destination ideas in Switzerland, I recommend this article on the 18 most beautiful places in Switzerland.

Finally, if you’d like to find out more about the beautiful country of Switzerland, you can read the article I wrote about the 101 sometimes surprising things you need to know about Switzerland.