The Ultimate Guide to Jungfraujoch | How To Visit The Top of Europe

Welcome to Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe! Well, we’re not literally at the highest point in Europe, but we are currently standing in the highest train station in Europe and one of the most visited tourist destinations in Switzerland. There’s a lot to explore at Jungfraujoch, and we’re going to take you on a complete tour. And since this is now our 4th or 5th time here, we’ll sprinkle in helpful tips along the way like how to get here, how much it costs, mandatory seat reservations, what to wear, and some bonus FAQs. But we didn’t come all this way up here just to stay in the station — let’s go start the tour! Want to Watch instead of Read? 1 | Jungfrajoch Train Station This self-guided tour starts as soon as you step off the train at 3,454 meters/11,332 feet. The special light show on the glimmering curtains is a nice welcome to this year round snowy wonderland. 2 | Jungfraujoch Post Office and Jungfraujoch Passport Just inside the main doors is the highest post box in Europe with its own postal code! I like to plan ahead and mail a letter from here just because it’s fun. You can buy stamps at any Swiss Post Office or even up here at Jungfraujoch. And just next to this is the Jungfraujoch Passport Station. We have a feeling that a lot of people miss this like we did on our first visit, but it’s a quick and fun souvenir to snag while you’re up here. When you buy your tickets from a ticket office, you’ll get this little red booklet, or you can grab one when you reach Eigergletscher or Jungfraujoch. It’s loaded with facts for all of you bookworms, includes coupons for nearby destinations, and has a spot in the back for the official Jungfraujoch stamp. We’re going to pass by the other spots in the foyer at this moment, but we’ll come back to them later. For now, let’s follow the tour signs! 3 | 360° Cinema Keep walking down the long, rocky tunnel until you hear the music. That’s our next tour stop, the 360° Cinema. This immersive video explores the nooks and crannies of the Swiss Alps and glaciers, which were formed millions of years ago when the African and European continents collided. The first time we came here, this is where I first felt how cold it was. And the average temperature at Jungfraujoch is -7°C/20°F, so if you haven’t already put on your layers, now is a good time to do so! 4 | Elevator Next is an elevator unlike any you’ve taken before. It whizzes you up 108 meters in just 27 seconds. For comparison, it would take me about 10 minutes to hike that elevation gain…and this elevator does it in under 30 seconds. 5 | Sphinx Observatory and Terrace As the doors open, the moment you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. When your friends ask what you did today, you can tell them that you feasted your eyes on the longest glacier in Europe, looked at some of the highest peaks in Switzerland, and saw 3 countries (Germany, France, and Italy). No big deal, right? Full disclosure: Jana was a bit light-headed the first time we came to Jungfraujoch, but immediately felt better when we came outside in the fresh air. I’m not a medical professional, but if you feel like that too, grab a chocolate bar (because the sugar helps) and sit on the terrace for a bit. And we’re often asked if it’s safe to bring small children up here. That’s definitely a question for your actual pediatrician, but ours told us that it’s too high in altitude for our infant. Walk around the entire Sphinx Terrace to soak it all in. And if you’re curious why it’s called the Sphinx Terrace, it’s because the rocks under you resembled a lion before this was built. When your eyes need a break from the incomprehensible views…or from all of the selfie sticks, look up. The dome on the building has been a research station since 1922, studying things like weather, geology, astronomy, and physics. Coming up to Jungfraujoch was on my dad’s bucket list for a few years. I got the chance to bring him up here last year and this right here was his favorite part. We took the first train of the morning and came straight here so we literally had this entire terrace all to ourselves — and the glacier, which we’ll show you soon. It’s so humbling to be up here. I mean, the fact that we can ride a train up to see this glacier is just unreal. Regardless of how touristy or expensive it is, the Altetsch Glacier is truly spectacular. Aplins in the Alps We’re Jana and Brett, Aplins in the Alps, and we help you travel Switzerland with confidence, whether you're hitting the highlights like the Top of Europe or you’re looking to get off the beaten path. If you’re struggling to plan your Swiss vacation, our free youtube videos and comprehensive travel guides are so much more than your average guidebook. They give you step-by-step itineraries for where to go, how to get there, what to do, how long to stay, and what it will cost. So if you need even more detailed help planning your trip to Jungfraujoch, check out our 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region. Okay, let's see what's next on today’s tour! GET YOUR 1-WEEK GUIDE TO THE JUNGFRAU REGION HERE Jungfraujoch 6 | Snow Fun Park Follow the signs from the terrace down to the Snow Fun Park. Yep, you’re about to walk on the Aletsch Glacier, which is basically a half-marathon long and thicker than 3 Eiffel Towers stacked on top of each other. (20km long, 900m thick, and weighs approximately 10 billion tons) The snow activities include a zip line, sledding, snow tubing, skiing, or snowboarding. These cost extra, but it’s free to walk and play in the snow. Just stay inside the fences because you know…you’re on a glacier! Activity (2026 prices)AdultsKids (6-15 years old)Zipline, Sledding, Snow Tubing20 CHF15 CHFSkiing and Snowboarding35 CHF25 CHF By the way, Jungfraujoch is open 365 days a year and guarantees year round snow, but these activities are only open from early-May to mid-October, depending on the weather. And if you’re looking for even more glacial fun, there are guided mountain climbs, helicopter rides, and even guided glacier hikes. That last one is high on my bucket list! 7 | Mönchsjoch Hut You don’t need a guide to hike to the Mönchsjoch Hut, the highest manned hut in Switzerland. The hut is open mid-March to mid-October from 10:00am–3:00pm. It’s a 45-minute steep, uphill hike. And since we’re higher than 11,000 feet in elevation, it’s normal for this to feel like a healthy challenge, even for all of you fit and active hikers! You don’t need any special equipment or gear other than good shoes for the snow. I love my Altra trail runners and Jana loves her Salomon trail sneakers. But pro tip: bring an extra pair of socks because yours are likely to get wet! And how awesome is this hut! It’s literally perched on the side of the mountain. When you get inside, swap your hiking shoes for a pair of provided house shoes to help keep the floors clean. The cozy dining room is the perfect place to hang out for a drink or meal. On our first hike here, we got to watch a helicopter deliver supplies while we ate our alpine macaroni. Once you’re refueled, hike back along the same snow trail to Jungfraujoch. Jungfraubahn How to reach Jungfraujoch Before we head back inside to our next tour stops, let’s chat about how to reach Jungfraujoch. First of all, you cannot drive here, so if you’re coming by car, you’ll have to park in either Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald. Second, if you need help navigating Swiss transportation, our Ultimate Guide to Swiss Transportation walks you through everything you need to ride like a pro. GET YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SWISS TRANSPORTATION HERE And third, there are 3 possible ways to get up here with public transportation: From Lauterbrunnen by train via Wengen, Kleine Scheidegg, and Eigergletscher. From Grindelwald Station by train via Grindelwald Grund, Kleine Scheidegg, and Eigergletscher. Or the cable car from Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher, which is the fastest route. All 3 of these options bring you to Eigergletscher, where you’ll hop on board the Jungfraubahn and ride in a tunnel through the mountains. About half way, the train stops at Eismeer (3,160m) where you can get off and look through the windows at the sparkling glaciers below. Then finish your journey to the highest train station in Europe. And how much will all of that transportation cost you? Well, we’ll get to that in a minute so we don’t overwhelm you with too many details at once. 8 | Alpine Sensation I’m always looking at the trail signs and Jana always reads every plaque in sight. So she’s gonna give you a quick round up of the facts about this museum-like part of Jungfraujoch. Edelweiss is the national flower of Switzerland, and there are 220 of them growing here at the start of the Sphinx Hall. The giant snow globe depicts the specialities of the Jungfrau Region, like mountains and animals, and of course, the Jungfraubahn. You’re walking through the highest karstic cave that’s estimated to be 1.5 million years old. This part of the tour is dedicated to the Italian miners who spent 16 years constructing the train tunnel with simple axes and shovels and dynamite. And there’s even a tribute to the savvy entrepreneur who dreamed up Jungfraujoch and launched this project in 1896. Okay, that’s enough history, let’s have some fun in the Ice Palace! 9 | Ice Palace Once you enter, you’re walking 20 meters (66 feet) below the surface of the glacier where the temperature is a constant -3°C//27°F. You can touch the icy walls, hang out by the ice bar (where you’ll be waiting a while for a drink since it’s only open for special events), admire the sculptures, and sneak through the blue tunnels. Sometimes you can even see the whiskey, wines, or balsamic vinegar aging up here! And if you’re like Brett, the icy tunnels bring out your inner child. He can’t resist “skating” every time we visit! Did you find this helpful? Join our weekly newsletter! We share insider tips every Saturday in our weekly email. Sign up below and get ready to plan your next Swiss vacation! Tickets to Jungfraujoch We thought it was appropriate to at least share with you our favorite spots — hiking to the Mönchsjochhutte for Brett and the Ice Palace for Jana — before talking about money. Because unfortunately, tickets to Jungfraujoch are not cheap. Depending on which of the routes you take to get up or down, full price roundtrip tickets cost between 200-262 CHF depending on the season. But thankfully, kids 6-15 years old cost just 20 CHF and kids under 6 are completely free. Seat reservations (10 CHF per reservation) are now mandatory from May through October, and highly encouraged outside of that time. However, if you take one of the early morning trains outside of peak season, then you might not need seat reservations. For example, Brett went with his Dad in March on the first train of the day and it was pretty empty. But 10 CHF is quite an affordable insurance policy to make sure you get on your desired departure. As we’ve said before, not buying a Swiss train pass is like throwing your money in the garbage. Because a train pass can save you loads of money on Jungfraujoch tickets. For example, the Swiss Half Fare Card gives you a 50% discount, and the Jungfrau Travel Pass offers the best deal of all, covering your rides all the way up to Eigergletscher or Kleine Scheidegg. And kids 6-15 are completely covered by the Swiss Family Card, which you can request for free when buying a Swiss Travel Pass or Half Fare Card. Just don’t forget that they would still need a seat reservation if necessary. But if you’re really intent on throwing your money away and do not plan to travel with a train pass, at least get the Good Morning Ticket to enjoy a 20% discount. It’s available from the beginning of May until early-November for the first 2 or 3 departures of the day. You’ll just have to leave Jungfraujoch before 1:15 in the afternoon to be eligible for this discount. If you need help picking train passes for your trip, our Swiss Train Pass Checklist will give you our best recommendations for your specific itinerary. So you can snag that for free after you finish this post. By the way, Jungfraujoch is open 365 days a year and your ticket includes all transportation and tour activities, except the Snow Fun activities, restaurants, and shopping. But keep in mind that the various trains and cable cars to reach Jungfraujoch do sometimes shut down for periods of seasonal maintenance. So while you can always get to Jungfraujoch somehow, perhaps not all methods of reaching it will be open during your trip. If you have our 1-Week Guide to the Jungfrau Region, you can find updated opening and closing information for each of these modes of transportation in the spreadsheet included in your bundle. GET YOUR 1-WEEK GUIDE TO THE JUNGFRAU REGION HERE So when and where can you buy tickets and seat reservations? Seat reservations can only be purchased on the Jungfrau website for a designated arrival and departure time. That means you need to decide how long you will stay up at Jungfraujoch. If you want to leave Jungfraujoch earlier or later than your planned departure, you’ll need to ask the staff if there are any open seats available. For context, in our guide we recommend 3 hours at Jungfraujoch if you will NOT hike to the Mönchsjochhütte, and 5.5 hours if you do plan to visit the hut. We suggest buying your seat reservation in advance when necessary, but not purchasing your ticket until the day of travel, so you know you’ll have good weather or can look at the webcams. Because if the weather turns poor, it’s better to lose 10 CHF than the cost of the entire ticket. You can buy tickets at any train station, on the SBB website, on the Jungfrau website, or on the SBB Mobile app. The app is our favorite way to buy tickets, and we think it’s the best way unless you’re traveling with one of the passes that only discounts your journey by 25%. In that case, buying on the Jungfrau website is probably the best bet. One more note: You’ll need to pay close attention to which part of the route is covered by your train pass and which part of the route you’ll need to buy a ticket for. Tickets are already pricey enough and you don’t want to overpay. If you’re not sure, just pop into a nearby train station, tell them which passes you have and where you’re headed, and they can help you out. So is Jungfraujoch worth it? Well, there are a few more stops on our tour that might sway you one way or the other. 10 | Glacier Plateau The Glacier Plateau might be the most underrated spot at Jungfraujoch. I have so many memories of wrangling my hair in the wind while snapping a photo by the whipping Swiss flag or playing eye spy with hikers on the glacier and mountaineers on the mountains. Plus, it seems like there are always fewer tourists out here compared to the Sphinx Terrace — maybe because you have to climb a small hill to get here! 11 | Jungfraujoch Restaurants and Shopping Gulp down a bit more of that alpine air before going back inside. There are a variety of spots to eat, from a casual lounge to self-service restaurant to a sit-down restaurant. As you’d expect, they all deliver big windows with panoramic views and typical Swiss food. We usually prefer to pack our own snacks for the tour and then eat a meal on the amazing terrace at Eigergletscher Restaurant instead, but it’s helpful to know there are food and drinks available at Jungfraujoch if you need them. As for souvenirs, head to the highest Lindt Chocolate shop in the world or browse the Top of Europe Shop. In fact, if you have a Jungfrau Travel Pass, you get a 10% discount on your purchase from any Top of Europe Shop! What else you need to know before visiting Jungfraujoch Here’s a quick hit list of the top FAQs you’ve asked us about Jungfraujoch: Definitely wear layers because the average temperature at Jungfraujoch is below freezing — year round! But in the summer, you might be stripping off those layers in the hot sun! If you need them, there are paid luggage lockers available at the start of the tour, between the station and the 360° Cinema. There are free bathrooms at Jungfraujoch, and at the major train stations along the way like Grindelwald Terminal and Lauterbrunnen. You can check the webcams online to see a live view before heading up the mountain. Sometimes the station is even above the clouds! You may feel some impact of the elevation since we’re at more than 11,000 feet. It’s normal to be a bit short of breath or easily winded, so take your time. And you’re likely to be more tired after you descend too. But we are not medical professionals, so please consult your doctor or pediatrician before visiting Jungfraujoch. The best way to beat the crowds is to take one of the first trains up in the morning. Like Brett said earlier, he and his dad went straight to the Sphinx Terrace first and were the only ones up there, and then finished the Tour afterwards. Jungfraujoch is wheelchair and stroller accessible. If you need any assistance, you can always ask the staff. There are lots of selfie spots up here, so make room on your camera roll! And if you’re short on time, the Sphinx Terrace, Ice Palace, and Glacier Plateau are our favorite stops. But really, don’t rush this. You paid good money to come up here, so take your time and enjoy it! But is Jungfraujoch worth it? Trust your gut to decide if it should be included in your itinerary. We’ve observed that it’s popular for people who like the tourist highlights, families with older kids, train enthusiasts, and anyone who thinks it’s awesome to walk on a glacier. But there are so many other amazing things to do and see in the Jungfrau Region, so don’t force a trip here if you have other sightseeing priorities. Where to go after you visit Jungfraujoch Okay, so you’ve spent a few hours up at Jungfraujoch. Where else can you go afterwards to fill a full day in your itinerary? Personally, we like to travel up via Grindelwald Terminal because it’s the fastest route and the giant gondola windows provide some killer views of Grindelwald’s broad hills below. And on the way down, we like to stop at Restaurant Eigergletscher for lunch, and then enjoy the slow train to Alpiglen for drinks or dessert with a view before ending back in Grindelwald. But a morning at Jungfraujoch does pair nicely with an afternoon exploring the alpine villages of Wengen or Mürren or Gimmelwald. Or enjoying the high cliffs and waterfalls of Lauterbrunnen. Or even hiking from Kleine Scheidegg to Männlichen, which is one of our favorite viewpoints in the region. So how do you choose what to do next? Our Swiss Travel Guides take out the guesswork and tell you the best places to visit, how to get there, what to do, and more. Or check out this round-up of our absolute favorite places in the Jungfrau Region, and we’ll see you in Switzerland — maybe even at the Top of Europe! SHOP OUR SWISS TRAVEL GUIDES HERE READ THIS NEXT