Travel Highlights - Jungfraujoch

Jungfraujoch

Jungfraujoch, also known as the Top of Europe, is home to Europe's highest railway station (3,545 meters). It sits at an altitude of 3,466 meters, on the lowest pass between the two 4,000-foot peaks of Jungfrau and Mönch. Travel to the Jungfrau, known as the "Top of Europe," is quite expensive, depending on your departure point and whether you have a travel pass or discount. A full-fare round-trip ticket from Grindelwald Airport costs approximately 227 Swiss francs (approximately US$250). However, discounts are available with passes such as the Swiss Travel Pass or the Jungfrau Travel Pass.

With the opening of the Eiger Express on December 5, 2020, the Jungfrau Railway's V-Bahn project is officially complete, allowing travelers from Interlaken to reach the Jungfraujoch in just one and a half hours. From the terminus in Grindelwald, take the 3S cable car directly to the Eiger Glacier Station in 15 minutes. Once at the summit, you'll have more time to admire the stunning panorama.

The total journey time for the Eiger Express is 2 hours and 10 minutes (train via Grindelwald/Lauterbrunnen – Kleine Scheidegg), while the journey time for the aerial cable car via Grindelwald – Eigergletscher is 1 hour and 30 minutes.

A must-see destination in Switzerland is the renowned Jungfraujoch, but reaching it isn't easy! The mountain is incredibly high, reaching nearly 3,500 meters. This height prompted Switzerland Tourism to overcome numerous obstacles, including the development of Europe's highest cog railway. They recently completed an aerial cable car, allowing ordinary tourists to easily travel from the ground to the summit in just an hour and a half. This remarkable feat is why a trip to the Jungfraujoch is expensive, but it's definitely worth it.

If you've never been to the Jungfraujoch, you'll be as confused as I was because it's so complex, with so many routes and place names to puzzle you. But once you've been, everything becomes much simpler. First, it's important to distinguish between Grindelwald Station and Grindelwald Terminal. If you'd like to take the traditional train to the Jungfraujoch (approximately 1.5 hours), you can depart from Grindelwald Station to Kleine Scheidegg and continue up the mountain. If you'd rather take the cable car (approximately 47 minutes), you can go from Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher Station to Jungfraujoch Station. Of course, you can also do both, as we did. We took the faster cable car up the mountain and returned on the classic train down the mountain to admire the Jungfraujoch. (The following simple diagram is for those interested.)

rack railway train

1. Sphinx Observation Deck and Aletsch Glacier

To reach the Sphinx Observation Deck, you need to take a very fast elevator. It ascends 108 meters in just 25 seconds. The Aletsch Glacier as seen from the Sphinx Observation Deck.

2. Ice Palace

If you want to get up close and personal with the glaciers, don't miss the Ice Palace, perhaps the most impressive of all the Jungfrau attractions.

3. Alpine Sensation

Alpine Sensation is a 250-meter-long corridor connecting the Sphinx Pavilion to the Ice Palace. It pays tribute to the miners who built the railway and the history of this unique place. It's a beautiful, multimedia journey back in time and a truly moving experience.

4. Plateau Observatory

As soon as you step out of the Plateau Observatory, you'll be greeted by a vast expanse of silvery white. The renowned Jungfraujoch towers before your eyes. A must-see photo at the Plateau Observatory is the Swiss flag with a white cross on a red background. Many people take photos of the Jungfraujoch with the Swiss flag, making it a popular photo spot at the Jungfraujoch.

The Jungfrau is so pure, white, elegant, graceful, and majestic—I'm at a loss for words to describe it. After visiting the Jungfrau, we skipped the cable car and took a train, experiencing a different route. As expected, it was another eye-opener. It was truly heavenly. The clear weather made the scenery even more breathtaking. We reached Kleine Scheidegg, a watershed, from which we could return to Grindelwald or continue to the waterfall town of Lauterbrunnen.

We disembarked at this stop and had our meal. We ordered a Swiss pork knuckle, which was a perfect dish. Enjoying it amidst such stunning alpine scenery was truly heaven on earth.

Because the weather is so sunny, the scenery is so beautiful, and the trails are so convenient, it would be a shame not to take a trail trip at this time. Therefore, we were very happy to take pictures, walk, and enjoy the scenery.

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