Bernese Oberland‘s Jungfrau Region is without a doubt one of Switzerland’s most beautiful areas. The region has been featured in numerous travel guidebooks and novels. It will remain in the minds of those who visit it for years and decades to come. Among the most popular spots in this region are the trio of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The entire Jungfrau region is served by cable cars and trains to help people move around.
It took 8 years to plan, overcome obstacles, and build. Finally, a new gondola lift opened to the public on December 5th, 2020 – Eiger Express.
Eiger Express has been added to the Jungfrau region’s long list of tourist attractions, along with what is known as the V-Cableway.
Overview: Eiger Express
| Length: | 6,483 meters |
| Valley Station: | Grindelwald Terminal (937 meters) |
| Mountain Station: | Eigergletscher, Grindelwald (2,328 meters) |
| Expected Travel Time: | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Capacity: | 26 seats per cabin, up to 4,000 guests per hour |
| Speed: | Up to 29 kilometers/hour |
| Operating Hours: | 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
What is the Eiger Express?
Eiger Express, an exciting new cableway, opened its doors on December 5, 2020. Essentially, the Eiger Express is a state-of-the-art tricable gondola lift. It is also known as a 3S gondola lift. 3S stands for the German word dreiseil, which can be translated to tricable (drei = three, Seil = rope or cable). The lift is one of the world’s most modern 3S gondolas. About 470 million Swiss Francs went into it.
Being a 3S gondola lift, the system can support great lengths and weights without having to erect many support towers. There are only 7 support towers along the entire 6.5 km length from Grindelwald to the Eiger Glacier. Using 3S technology, the carrier cable facilitates this process. The result is better preservation of the landscape because enormous towers are not required to support the structure. The Eiger Express has thus been designed with minimal impact on nature and thus blends in more with nature.
A 50-year lifespan is expected for the Eiger Express. It operates daily between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM. The operating hours differ depending on the season. Furthermore, they do undertake maintenance work and can be closed for several days.
For more accurate information regarding operating times, please refer to the website https://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/eiger-express/.
Where is the Eiger Express?
The Eiger Express runs between Grindelwald and the Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher in German). The terminal is located in the town of Grindelwald and can be accessed from there. From the gondola lift, guests can see the world-famous Eiger North Face.
From the mountain station, guests can take the Jungfrau Railway directly to the Jungfraujoch. As a result, you can reach Jungfraujoch within 40 to 50 minutes from Grindelwald.
V-Cableway: Eiger Express and Männlichenbahn
V-Cableway is basically an encompassing term describing the new public transport link in Grindelwald Terminal with two cable cars – one leading to Eiger Glacier (Eigergletscher) using Eiger Express and the other using a cable car going to Männlichen. They meet at the Grindelwald Terminal, offering seamless connections from one to the other as well as rail connections to Grindelwald village and down to Interlaken. While riding it, you can relax inside the comfortable cabins and take in the beautiful views all around.
TheV-Cableway has reduced the journey times to Jungfraujoch:
- From Interlaken to the Jungfraujoch, it takes 1 hour 30 minutes instead of 2 hours 17 minutes.
- From Grindelwald to Männlichen, it takes 19 minutes instead of 30 minutes.
Grindelwald Terminal
This Grindelwald Terminal also has the following features:
- multi-story car park
- catering offerings, a Coop supermarket
- a sports shop
- souvenir shop
- ski depots for rental
Furthermore, the Grindelwald Terminal is also connected to a train station. When using the trains, visitors are still ultimately connected to the historic Jungfrau Railway station built back from 1892 to 1912.
Highlights of Eiger Express
- Nature – Nature is the ultimate highlight of Eiger Express. Because of its huge windows and the minimal intervention from the towers, you really do feel close to nature. The Eiger North Face can be viewed very closely from the gondola. You will also get impressive views of the surrounding Swiss Alps and the Jungfrau region as you reach the mountain station.
- Eiger Glacier walks – You can go for walks even around Eiger glacier. In addition, there is a 6-kilometer Eiger Trail that connects the station with Alpiglen, 1,615 meters above sea level. Wear proper hiking gear since the hike spans steep alpine pastures for two hours. A rushing waterfall and the picturesque Eiger Face will greet you as you walk (until you reach Alpiglen and the railway). In addition, the views of the Eiger, Kleine Scheidegg, and Lauberhorn are breathtaking. If you are interested, you might also want to go down to Wengen.
- Jungfraujoch – Of course, a trip to Jungfraujoch is also a fantastic option. Located at 3,463 meters above sea level, Jungfraujoch is actually a saddle between Jungfrau (at 4,158 m above sea level) and Mönch (at 4,110 m above sea level). By riding the train to Jungfraujoch, you will have used the highest mountain railway in Europe at 3,454 meters above sea level. On Jungfraujoch, you can visit the Sphinx Observation Deck, the Eismeer, the Ice Palace, the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven, the Jungfrau Panorama, the Snow Fun Park, or hike across the glacier.
How to Get to Eiger Express
From Interlaken Ost
Connect with the Eiger Express by taking the half-hourly Interlaken Ost train to Grindelwald Terminal.
From Grindelwald Village
The Grindelwald Terminal is one stop on the train, one bus, or a stroll away from Grindelwald village.
From Wengen
It is possible to travel all the way from Wengen to Grindelwald on the new V-Cableway. Take the cable car from Wengen to Männlichen, then the cable car from Männlichen to Grindelwald Terminal, and then the Eiger Express from there. Alternatively, you can arrive at Zweilütschinen by train and change to the train for Grindelwald Terminal.
Eiger Express: Ticket Prices and Travel Duration
| Route | Travel Duration | Full Price (CHF) | Half Fare Price (CHF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grindelwald Terminal – Eigergletscher (Grindelwald) one-way | 15 to 20 minutes | 32 | 16 |
| Grindelwald Terminal – Eigergletscher (Grindelwald) return | 30 to 40 minutes | 64 | 32 |
Final Thoughts: Eiger Express
The Eiger Express is not a replacement for the historic cogwheel train from Lauterbrunnen and Wengen heading up to Eiger Glacier and the Jungfrau – Top of Europe station. It is, however, a faster, more modern way to get there. It complements the Jungfrau Region’s travel and tourism infrastructure.
Is it worth it to take Eiger Express? Absolutely. Its prices are really reasonable at the time this article was published. I hope prices will remain the same. When you add the cost of investing into it, as well as the care that they took to build the Grindelwald Terminal, the V-Cableway, and the Eiger Express, you can see that Eiger Glacier is definitely worth every single penny. You’re getting a great deal for the price. You might even be able to find discounted tickets if you’re lucky.
Even so, I recommend that you go. It’s been an absolutely fantastic experience and I can’t wait to return to this region.
Related Posts
- How to Get From Interlaken to Eiger Express
- How to Get From Interlaken to Jungfraujoch: Your Options
- Breathtaking Views in Männlichen, Switzerland
- Kleine Scheidegg and How to Get There
- Grosse Scheidegg and How to Get There
- Wengen, Switzerland: 8 Reasons To Love It
- Interlaken, Switzerland: An Excellent Base in Bernese Oberland
- Jungfraujoch – When is the Best Time to Visit?
- Jungfrau and Jungfraujoch: What Is the Difference?
Darla Uhl is the owner of TouringSwitzerland.com. Her home is in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. Having lived almost 20 years in Switzerland, she's traveled extensively all over the country.
Darla's favorite regions to visit in Switzerland include Engadin, Lake Geneva, Bernese Oberland, Ticino, and Valais. She loves spending time with her family, hiking, visiting museums, and reading books.