Ascending the Jungfrau in Switzerland: All the info you need
If you are traveling to Switzerland, one of the legendary excursions is ascending the Jungfrau which, at 4,158 meters, is the highest peak of the Bernese Alps, surpassing its gigantic neighbors Eiger and Mönch. This mountain is so special that UNESCO decided to name it a World Heritage Site. As if its height weren’t enough, the Jungfrau also boasts being accompanied by Aletsch, the longest glacier in all of Europe, at 23 kilometers in length.
Another reason why this place is so visited is because it houses the highest train station in Europe, known as Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe, specifically at 3,454 meters above sea level. If you are thinking of ascending the Jungfrau but have a lot of doubts, you have come to the right place to clear them up.
In this article, I am going to explain the different routes to ascend the Jungfrau, how much it costs each of them, which passes can help you save some money, what you will find at the top and much more info of interest.
It took me four trips to this country to visit the Jungfrau, but now that I have finally done it, I can tell you all about one of Switzerland’s star excursions. Oh, in case you have doubts about the difference between Jungfrau and Jungfraujoch, I’ll tell you. Jungfrau is the name of the mountain itself, the highest peak in this region of the Bernese Oberland; while Jungfraujoch is the name of the glacier platform or plateau between the peaks of the Jungfrau and the Mönch, that is specifically where you can go up, not to the exact summit of the Jungfrau which is much higher. Jungfraujoch is also the name of the train station itself.
IMPORTANT 2025 UPDATE. From now on, if you are going to go up to Jungfrau between May 1 and August 31, it is mandatory to reserve a seat in advance by paying 10 francs per person. I will explain it in detail below in the section on how to buy tickets.
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What to see and do in Jungfrau?
Going up to Jungfraujoch, the highest train station in Europe, is quite an experience with several activities to try. You have to keep in mind that a large part of what you will see is an underground circular tour that begins as soon as you get off the train on the left. In other words, don’t worry about being in very cold temperatures continuously because it’s not like that. There are three points where you can go outside.
I’ll leave you a map so you can better understand at a glance everything you’re going to find when you go up:
-Sphinx Observatory Viewpoint:
This is one of the three areas where you will be outdoors and, moreover, the place at the highest altitude you can reach, specifically at 3,571 meters high. It is the panoramic terrace that surrounds the astronomical and meteorological observatory inaugurated in 1937 and which, to this day, remains active.
From here you have 360 views, on one side from that outdoor terrace overlooking the Aletsch Glacier, on the other walking along the metal walkway that continues along one side to the opposite side, and finally from the glassed-in indoor viewpoint that covers the other side.
To go up to this Jungfrau viewpoint, you will have to take an elevator that in just 25 seconds climbs the 108 meters to the Sphinx. Dress warmly before going out, don’t carry anything small and loose if you don’t want it to slip through the slits in the metal floor, and be patient if you want specific photos because there are usually a lot of people.
-Glacier Plateau:
Here, in addition to enjoying the views, you can also go out to step directly on the snow and take the traditional photo of the Jungfrau holding the Swiss flag. Go carefully as it is slippery and don’t forget that you are in the high mountains (I have seen ladies with flip-flops and short skirts).
-Aletsch Glacier:
In the middle of the underground tour (look closely at the map above) you have the exit to this third outdoor viewpoint where much more than spectacular views of the tongue of the Aletsch Glacier, the largest in the Alps, awaits you. The first time we passed this exit by and had to retrace our steps to find it again, so pay attention. Outside is the route to the mountain hut, the Snow Fun Park, and a small stall where you can buy drinks.
Snow Fun Park:
Here several activities await you, such as skiing, sledding, and a zip line from which to fly over the snow. Keep in mind that the Jungfraujoch Snow Fun Park is only open from early May to mid-October and subject to weather conditions.
We chose the sledding area, where you could also go down with a large inflatable tube (the sleds were more popular, to be honest), and it was a huge success. The kids had a great time—it’s what they remember most about going up to the Jungfrau—and the adults did too, honestly. Next to it was the ski and snowboard slope, but there were hardly any people there. In theory, the duration of the activity was 30 minutes, but no one was keeping track of the time except for us, who set an alarm so as not to overstay.
Here are the Snow Fun Park prices updated for 2025:
Zip line: adults 20 francs / children from 6 to 15 years old 15 francs.
Sledging: adults 20 francs / children from 6 to 15 years old 15 francs (to be honest, they didn’t ask for their age)
Ski & snowboard: adults 35 francs / children from 6 to 15 years old 25 francs.
Route to the Mönch hut:
If you are a big mountain fan, there is a hiking route that starts next to the Snow Fun Park and reaches the Mönch mountain hut. It is only open only between May and October and also subject to weather conditions. Keep in mind that it is done by walking on snow and, if you are going with children, depending on their age it can be a bit tiring for them, although it is simple. It is about 3 hours round trip, about 4.3 km in total. I’m leaving the link to the Wikiloc track
After telling you everything you can do outdoors, let’s look at what you will find in the indoor area of the Jungfrau.
-Ice Palace: A tunnel made entirely of ice with all kinds of ice-carved sculptures, from penguins to a piano. The kids loved it because they also found the squirrel from the Ice Age cartoon movie and its inseparable acorn. Be careful as the floor is a bit slippery and don’t forget to wrap up well.
-Alpine Sensation: An exhibition set up to commemorate the construction of the impressive Jungfrau railway. It was a great piece of engineering that began in 1896 and ended in 1912, the years it took to open a gigantic 7-kilometer-long underground tunnel through the Jungfrau mountain itself to allow the train to pass. During the process, 30 workers lost their lives, who are now honored in this area, as well as the rest who worked in extreme conditions and at very low temperatures.
The little ones especially liked the first part because it had a large moving crystal ball and large carved wooden figures, as well as the star-covered ceiling.
-360-degree cinema screen with immersive projections of the glacier
-Souvenir shop: A shop with a wide selection of souvenirs and local products.
-Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven: It is a Lindt chocolate shop located at Jungfraujoch, where you can find a wide variety of Lindt chocolates and products.
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How to get to the Jungfrau?
There are two main routes to get to Jungfraujoch, from the Grindelwald valley or from the Lauterbrunnen valley.
Whichever way you go up, in both you will have to do the final part the same way, which is the underground section on the cogwheel train to the top. This 7-kilometer tunnel, which I mentioned before, begins at the Eigergletscher station. In the middle of this underground journey, the train makes a quick 5-minute stop at the intermediate station of Eismeer so that you can look out of the panoramic windows for a moment. Don’t get distracted taking photos and hurry up as the train doesn’t wait.
Now, I’ll tell you about the different ways to go up to the Jungfrau.
How to go up to Jungfrau from Grindelwald
If your visit to the Jungfrau begins in the beautiful Grindelwald valley, you have two ways to go up: by train or by cable car.
On the Eiger Express cable car
In December 2020, this incredible cable car was inaugurated, allowing you to save time and enjoy the views when going up to the Jungfrau. But be careful, as I mentioned before, you won’t go directly by cable car to the top of Jungfraujoch, but rather you must change to the cogwheel train. I’ll give you details of both sections.
-First section: At the station Grindelwald Terminal take the Eiger Express cable car to the Eigergletscher station. Journey duration: 15-20 minutes.
–Second section: From Eigergletscher catch the cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch. Take advantage of this stop while the cogwheel train arrives (it has a frequency of 30 minutes) to enjoy the stunning views from this station. Travel time: 26 minutes.
–Total travel time: approximately 1 hour from Grindelwald Terminal. It is the fastest way to reach the Jungfrau.
On the train via Kleine Scheidegg
If you are someone who suffers from vertigo, don’t worry because you can go up to Jungfrau from Grindelwald without having a hard time on the cable car. It will take a bit longer, but the scenery, with the Eiger wall on one side, is more or less just as impressive (I did it a few years ago and loved it).
Here you will also have to transfer, so I will detail the entire route again. But first, I warn you that the departure point from Grindelwald is different from the previous one, so in each case I have linked the exact location of each station so you don’t get confused.
-First section: At the Grindelwald station, catch the mountain train to Kleine Scheidegg. Travel time: 32 minutes.
–Second section: At Kleine Scheidegg catch the cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch. Travel time: 26 minutes.
–Total travel time: approximately 1:26h from Grindelwald, including the waiting time between trains.
How to get up to Jungfrau from Lauterbrunnen
Here there is only one option, so it is much simpler. From Lauterbrunnen to Jungfraujoch you can only get there by train, but it’s not direct either.
-First section: From the Lauterbrunnen train station catch the mountain train to Kleine Scheidegg via Wengen (you don’t have to change trains, so don’t move from your seat). That said, make the most of this first part by sitting on the right to enjoy the valley scenery with the Staubbachfall waterfall in the background.
If you have plenty of time, it might be a good idea to stop in Wengen to take a stroll through this beautiful pedestrian alpine village. Travel time: 38 minutes.
–Second section: Cogwheel train from Kleine Scheidegg to the final stop Jungfraujoch. Duration: 41 min.
Total travel time: approximately 1:41 hours from Lauterbrunnen including waiting time between trains.
How to get to Jungfrau from Interlaken
If your excursion to the Jungfrau starts in Interlaken, you just have to take the train, either at Interlaken Ost or Interlaken West station, heading towards either Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, depending on the route you chose from those I explained above. From Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen it only takes 22 minutes and you will get off directly at the same train station where you take the train towards Kleine Scheidegg. If you travel with the Swiss Travel Pass, this journey is already included and you don’t have to pay anything extra, just like the next section from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen.
If you didn’t do it in Interlaken, at the Lauterbrunnen train station itself you can buy tickets to go up to the Jungfrau, both at the machines on the platform and at the ticket offices. You can also do it online from the official website (remember that if you are going up in August, it is now mandatory to reserve a seat in advance).
If you are going up to the Jungfrau from Interlaken via Grindelwald, look carefully at which final station you need because, as I explained before, it’s not the same if you’re going up via the Eiger Express cable car or by train.
If you don’t want to complicate things by going on your own and prefer to be taken, take a look at this Jungfrau excursion from Interlaken. The good thing about this option, besides being accompanied by a Spanish-speaking guide, is that you will go up through the Grindelwald valley in the cable car and come down through the Lauterbrunnen valley by train, enjoying the views from both sides.
If you have few days and your route doesn’t include staying in the Interlaken area, don’t worry, you can still enjoy the Jungfrau by booking excursions from other Swiss cities. I’ll leave them here below:
–Jungfrau excursion from Zurich. Take a look at this guided tour in Spanish because it also includes a panoramic visit to Interlaken. Additionally, you will go up in the Eiger Express cable car and come down by train via Lauterbrunnen.
–Jungfrau excursion from Lucerne. From this medieval city, it will take you a bit less time to reach the Jungfrau and they also have daily departures.
–Jungfrau excursion from Geneva. Here you’ll have to wake up earlier because it’s the city that’s furthest away. Even so, it’s possible to go and return on the same day with this guided tour in Spanish.
My unsolicited advice: don’t miss out on spending a few nights in this Interlaken area because it is spectacular and very complete).
How much it costs to go up the Jungfrau
Indeed, visiting the Jungfrau is one of the most expensive excursions you can take if you are traveling to Switzerland. I’ll give you the details of all the updated rates and the passes you can use to save money to answer the question of how much it costs to go up to Jungfraujoch.
Here you have in francs the 2025 prices to go up to the Jungfrau in high season, in second class, round trip, from both Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. Yes, indeed the cost is the same if you choose to take the Eiger Express cable car, as if you opt for the cogwheel train from either of the two valleys.
|
Ticket/Pass |
Adult |
Child (6-15 years) |
|
Regular rate |
239 CHF |
106.50 CHF |
|
167.40 CHF |
Free |
|
|
119.80 CHF |
Free |
|
|
150 CHF |
Free |
|
|
189 CHF |
Free |
In case you are departing from Interlaken, the price increases slightly, but very little. If you are traveling in low season, such as winter, or on specific dates, you can pay up to 20 francs less. You can check the prices here if you like for the days you have in mind.
As you can see, you can save quite a bit of money if you have a transport pass like the Swiss Travel Pass. If you don’t know how it works, here I’ll leave linked here a very comprehensive article about the Swiss Travel Pass. However, the pass that offers the best price to go up to the Jungfrau is the Swiss Half Fare Card which gives you a 50% discount (this pass is worth it if you are going to travel around the country by car, van, or motorhome)
On the other hand, bear in mind that, despite its name, the Jungfrau region pass, the Jungfrau Travel Pass, does not include the trip to Jungfraujoch for free as many think; it only gives you the discount you see in the table.
How to buy tickets for the Jungfraujoch
Whichever option you choose, as I was saying before, in 2025 they have included an important novelty for going up to the Jungfraujoch. If you are traveling in high season, from May 1st to August 31st, 2025, it is mandatory to book seats in advance both for the section from Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch, and for the section Kleine Scheidegg – Jungfraujoch.
This mandatory reservation costs 10 francs per person and ensures you a spot on the train that goes up to the summit in the chosen time slot. However, you are not assigned a specific seat as they are not numbered, but you will have the peace of mind of knowing that you will have your spot guaranteed.
This measure seeks to avoid overcrowding and waiting times during train changes during the months when more people want to go up to the Jungfraujoch. This mandatory seat reservation is made from this official website and, of course, it also requires purchasing the ticket for the Jungfrau summit whether directly at the train station that same day, at the machines, or if you have purchased a excursion to Jungfrau
The cheapest way to go up to the Jungfrau: Good Morning Ticket
If you don’t mind getting up early, the most economical way to go up to the Jungfrau is with this special ticket for the first trains of the morning that go up to the summit starting at 6:30 AM. In addition to saving money, there will be much fewer people. However, you must come back down before 1:17 PM at the latest.
–Validity period: From May 1st to November 1st. Note that there is a specific date range, from May 1st to August 31st, in which it is mandatory to make a prior seat reservation.
-Price: From 95 CHF round trip from Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen.
–Check all the detailed and updated info here, as well as the timetables for these first trains.
Save money with the Swiss Travel Pass
This Swiss transport pass is perfect for getting around by train. It also includes buses, trams, metro, discounts on cable cars and mountain trains, and free access to museums and attractions.
Tips for visiting the Jungfrau
- The ideal way for the most complete mountain excursion would be to do, for example, the train climb through Lauterbrunnen and the cable car descent through Grindelwald to see both valleys.
- Check the exact schedules here in advance by entering your desired departure station. The first ascent of the cogwheel train is around 7 in the morning and the last descent around 6 p.m., but it depends on the season. Frequency: Departures every 30 minutes from Kleine Scheidegg and downhill from Jungfraujoch.
- Honestly, I don’t recommend buying the ticket in advance because you will depend on the weather (except in August when it’s mandatory). Check the weather forecast.
- Take a look at the summit webcam before going up to see the visibility at the top. You’re going to spend a lot of money to see nothing.
- In Kleine Scheidegg the views are very beautiful and there are several restaurants to eat at, in addition to the famous Hotel Bellevue des Alpes. Between arriving on one train and the next one leaving, you will have time for a walk. But if the weather is good and you are in no hurry, I recommend skipping this first train (they leave every 30 minutes) and enjoying the place, taking photos, and relaxing and even walking among cows to the nearby lake Fallbodensee. It’s an easy route to do with children; in total it’s about 2.59 km and will take you about 1 hour. I’ll leave you the Wikiloc track. If you really like hiking, there are several routes starting from there, like the famous Eiger Trail; you can ask me and I’ll find the most suitable one for you.
- There are many feasible hiking trails to do ending or starting at Kleine Scheidegg besides the one you just read. One of the most famous is the Eiger Trail, but there is also the Panorama Trail coming from Männlichen or the Jungfrau Eiger Walk that descends from the Eigergletscher station, where the Eiger Express cable car stops, to Kleine Scheidegg, among many others.
Where to eat in Jungfrau
If you want to eat at the top, Jungfraujoch has several restaurants for all tastes. We brought a picnic and ate it sitting on an indoor bench in front of the panoramic views. We weren’t the only ones carrying sandwiches and snacks. Later, at the outdoor stall next to the Snow Fun Park, we had a hot chocolate with whipped cream for 5 CHF (be aware that in Switzerland, hot chocolate is basically Nesquik).
- Crystal Restaurant: Offers international cuisine with panoramic views. It is the most exclusive of all, à la carte, and it is recommended to make a reservation in advance. From 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM.
- Aletsch Restaurant: Serves international and also some Swiss dishes in a self-service format. From 10:15 AM to 3:30 PM.
- Bollywood Self-service Restaurant: Ideal for a quick and slightly less expensive Indian meal. Only open from 04.01.2025 to 10.31.2025.
- Sphinx Bar: Enjoy a drink or a snack with views of the Alps.
As I mentioned before, you can also eat in Kleine Scheidegg, where there are at least three restaurants with terraces looking at the Jungfrau.
How long does the visit to Jungfraujoch take
Calculating how much time it takes to visit Jungfrau is one of the most common questions, and the answer is ‘it depends’. It depends on whether you are going to eat in one of the restaurants, whether you are going to go sledding at the Snow Fun Park, whether the weather is good or bad, whether you want to walk to the Mönch refuge…
To give you an idea, we spent at least 3 hours at the top considering that we did the entire circular route, ate snacks sitting on a bench, and went out to the Snow Fun Park to play with the sleds. We had booked our return for a certain time and had to take the next train because we didn’t make it on time.
Those 3 hours don’t include the ascent and descent, which as you’ve seen is between 1 hour if you go on the Eiger cable car through Grindelwald and 1:40 if you go by train via Lauterbrunnen. Obviously, add to that the travel time from your accommodation to reach both places. In short, being realistic and going with children, we spent practically the whole day. For the money it costs, it’s ideal to make the most of it.
Obviously, you can do it in much less time. If you arrive very early, don’t spend too much time taking photos, and aren’t going to be at the Snow Fun Park (remember it’s not open all year), you might have time to return before lunch and continue visiting places afterwards, especially if you go without children.
Going up Jungfrau with children
In my case, we made the ascent to Jungfrau with three children aged 3, 5, and 7. One of the most common questions is whether you can visit Jungfrau with babies. Although there is no minimum age to go up, and there is no prohibition (on other Swiss peaks like Glacier 3.000 they do not allow babies under 18 months), considering the altitude of over 3,000 meters, it is not recommended to take small babies. Still, nevertheless, I recommend consulting with your pediatrician beforehand because altitude sickness is no joke.
For both adults and children, don’t forget to bring warm clothing, even in summer, as the temperature at Jungfraujoch can be quite low; keep in mind that you are at high altitude and next to a glacier. The key is in the layers. Remember that a large part of the itinerary is indoors. If you go during good weather and plan to go sledding, I recommend bringing waterproof clothes for the children or, at least, a change of clothes in case they get wet with the snow.
Make sure the children wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking in the snow. At least not a thin fabric that gets soaked. Please, don’t even think about taking them in flip-flops; I’ve seen everything.
Apply sunscreen and wear sunglasses, even on cloudy days, as solar radiation is more intense at that altitude and the snow also reflects it.
Bring enough water and snacks, as prices at Jungfraujoch are quite high.
If you are traveling with small children, consider bringing a baby carrier backpack, as access to some areas can be difficult with a stroller. In any case, apart from going out onto the snow, the rest of the tour can be done with a stroller.
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