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A popular destination in the Bernese Oberland is Jungfraujoch, also known as the Top of Europe. A saddle between Jungfrau (4,158 meters above sea level) and Mönch (4,110 meters above sea level), Jungfraujoch sits at 3,463 meters above sea level. There are multiple ways to get to Jungfraujoch and back, so you might feel overwhelmed. The purpose of this article is to discuss the options that you have and what we think is the best way to get to Jungfraujoch.
Best Way to Get To Jungfraujoch
Most tourists start their journey from Jungfraujoch in Interlaken Ost. From Interlaken, you have four options.
- Option 1: Classic Train Route from Interlaken via Lauterbrunnen and Wengen
- Option 2: Modern Train Route from Interlaken via Grindelwald Terminal and the Eiger Express
- Option 3: Classic Train Route from Interlaken via Grindelwald
- Option 4: A guided tour that takes you from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch
Jungfraujoch can be reached in four ways, each with its own appeal. Here are four options. Let’s explore.
Option 1: Get to Jungfraujoch via Lauterbrunnen and Wengen
First, there is the classic train route. It is a slower scenic train ride through Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg on the way to the Eiger Glacier and Jungfraujoch from Lauterbrunnen.
Here is the route that you will have to take from Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch via Lauterbrunnen:
- Lauterbrunnen – First, by train, you will travel from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen village. As soon as you arrive at Lauterbrunnen train station, you will take the Wengernalpbahn (WAB). Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, and Grindelwald are connected to the Kleine Scheidegg by the Wengernalpbahn. The railway is also the world’s longest continuous rack railway with a length of 19,114 meters.
- Wengen – As you ascend the mountain from Lauterbrunnen, you will be able to see almost the entire Lauterbrunnen Valley before you arrive in the car-free village of Wengen. No need to change your train. The train will continue its journey all the way up to Kleine Scheidegg.
- Kleine Scheidegg – Following the stop in Wengen, it will ascend to Kleine Scheidegg. Located 2,061 meters above sea level, Kleine Scheidegg offers spectacular views of the famous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
- Eiger Glacier – You will need to change trains in Kleine Scheidegg to reach Eiger Gletscher. From there you will board the train ascending to Jungfraujoch.
| Route to Jungfraujoch via Lauterbrunnen and Wengen | Duration |
|---|---|
| Interlaken Ost – Lauterbrunnen | 20 minutes |
| Lauterbrunnen – Kleine Scheidegg via Wengen | 38 minutes |
| Kleine Scheidegg – Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher) | 5 minutes |
| Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher) – Jungfraujoch | 26 minutes |
| Total | 2 hours and 6 minutes |
Option 2: Get to Jungfraujoch via Grindelwald Terminal and Eiger Express
You can travel from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch via the modern Grindelwald Terminal. At the terminal, you can take the Eiger Express gondola to the Eiger Glacier. The Eiger Express is a state-of-the-art tri-cable gondola lift that supports heavy loads without the need to construct many support towers. After finishing the gondola ride, you can finally head over to Jungfraujoch.
Here is the route that you will have to take from Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch via Grindelwald Terminal:
- Grindelwald Terminal – From Interlaken, you will take the train to Grindelwald Terminal. Grindelwald Terminal is a new terminal that connects passengers to either Männlichen or Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher).
- Eiger Glacier via Eiger Express – From Grindelwald Terminal, you will take the Eiger Express cable car to Eiger Glacier. From there you will board the train ascending to Jungfraujoch.
| Route to Jungfraujoch via Grindelwald Terminal | Duration |
|---|---|
| Interlaken Ost – Grindelwald Terminal | 29 minutes |
| Grindelwald Terminal – Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher) | 20 minutes |
| Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher) – Jungfraujoch | 26 minutes |
| Total | 1 hour and 36 minutes |
Option 3: Get to Jungfraujoch via Grindelwald
You can travel from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch via Grindelwald train station.
Here is the route that you will have to take from Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch via Grindelwald:
- Grindelwald – From Interlaken, you will take the train to Grindelwald. It is the stop after Grindelwald Terminal.
- Kleine Scheidegg – From Grindelwald, the train will ascend to Kleine Scheidegg. On the way, it stops at Grindelwald Grund, Brandegg, and Alpiglen. From Kleine Scheidegg, you will have spectacular views of the famous trio – Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau.
- Eiger Glacier – You will need to change trains in Kleine Scheidegg to reach Eiger Gletscher. From there you will board the train ascending to Jungfraujoch.
| Route to Jungfraujoch via Grindelwald | Duration |
|---|---|
| Interlaken Ost – Grindelwald | 29 minutes |
| Grindelwald – Kleine Scheidegg | 32 minutes |
| Kleine Scheidegg – Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher) | 5 minutes |
| Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher) – Jungfraujoch | 26 minutes |
| Total | 2 hours and 6 minutes |
Option 4: Guided Tour via GetYourGuide
A fourth option would be to join a 7-hour guided tour to Jungfraujoch from Interlaken. On this tour, you can enjoy a panoramic cable car ride, see the Eiger north face, visit the Sphinx Observation terrace, and explore the tunnels of the Ice palace.
From Interlaken, you can take a guided tour going to Jungfraujoch. You’ll travel from Interlaken to Grindelwald by coach. Then, you will ride the Eiger Express cable car from the Grindelwald terminal to the Eiger Glacier. After you change to a cogwheel train, you will arrive in Jungfraujoch.
At the top, you will see the Great Aletsch Glacier, snow-capped peaks, and Switzerland’s neighboring countries. You can also see the Sphinx Observation Terrace and tunnels at the Ice Palace. Refreshments and meals can be purchased at the restaurant.
During the descent, you’ll pass Wengen and stop at Lauterbrunnen, where your coach waits for you to head back to Interlaken.
If you would like to embark on a highly-rated guided tour from Interlaken to Jungfraujoch, you may book it via GetYourGuide – From Interlaken: Day Trip to Jungfraujoch Mountain. In my opinion, a seamless experience to Jungfraujoch and comprehensive information about the region make the guide worth booking.
What is the Best Way to Get To Jungfraujoch?
The best route really depends on what you want to see or what mode of transportation you prefer. All these routes are equally beautiful, and I’m not going to preach that one is better than the other.
The tour guides (via GetYourGuide) cost a bit more, but they will take you seamlessly through everything and provide some additional information. In my opinion, it is well worth the price.
Take the first option if you wish to take in the scenery, and get a glimpse of Wengen and its surroundings. As an alternative route, going via Grindelwald is also a beautiful experience. Other views include Schreckhorn and the village of Grindelwald itself.
If you can’t decide, why not do both? Take the train to Jungfraujoch via Lauterbrunnen and Wengen and take the Eiger Express down. Or you could go up via the Eiger Express and go down by the Wengeralpbahn via Lauterbrunnen. The views from both Grindelwald and Wengen are incredibly picturesque. In any case, I recommend exploring both mountain resorts after if you have time.
So which route is better really depends on what you want to see. To make it easier for you, I have listed the highlights of choosing one over the other.
Highlights of Interlaken to Jungfraujoch via Lauterbrunnen – Wengen
- Lauterbrunnen – Village with 72 waterfalls
- Staubbach Waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen
- Car-free village of Wengen
- Kleine Scheidegg Mountain Pass
- Lauberhorn
Highlights of Interlaken to Jungfraujoch via Grindelwald
- Eiger Express
- Grindelwald Terminal – practical terminal that allows you to reach either Eiger Glacier or Männlichen mountain.
- Grindelwald First, Bachalpsee, and Pfingstegg – Although you will not see these on the way to Jungfraujoch, you can visit these places in Grindelwald after.
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