Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe: visitor guide

What to expect at Jungfraujoch

Jungfraujoch (3,454 metres) is the highest railway station in Europe and one of the most dramatic high-altitude experiences accessible to ordinary visitors anywhere in the world, reached by a 110-year-old rack railway that ascends from Grindelwald or Wengen through the interior of the Eiger and Mönch mountains in a 35-minute tunnel journey, emerging at the Sphinx Observatory to a panorama of permanent snowfields, the 23km Aletsch Glacier (the longest glacier in the Alps, a UNESCO World Heritage Site), and the peaks of the Bernese Oberland rising to over 4,000 metres above. Moreover, the Jungfrau Railway was completed in 1912 after 16 years of construction, an engineering achievement that required blasting through 7km of solid granite to build the tunnel section.

Aletsch Glacier

In addition, the Aletsch Glacier viewed from the Jungfraujoch terrace is the visual centrepiece of the experience, a river of ice 23km long and up to 900 metres deep flowing from the snowfields beneath the Jungfrau summit (4,158m) southward toward the Rhône valley in a curve visible in its entirety from the observation terraces. Generally, the glacier's surface reveals the characteristic medial moraines (dark stripes of rock debris running longitudinally down the ice) that form where tributary glaciers merge, and the crevasse fields and ice seracs of the upper section give an impression of the glacier's movement and the scale of the forces involved.

The Aletsch has retreated about 3.5km since 1870 and lost over 3 billion tonnes of ice volume, the contrast between historical photographs shown in the Jungfraujoch exhibition and the current glacier extent gives a stark visualisation of climate change at continental scale.

Activities

Besides, the activities at Jungfraujoch extend beyond viewing. Besides, the snow plateau at 3,454m is a working high-altitude environment. Husky sled rides (about CHF 20 for a short run), skiing and snowboarding on the permanent snow (equipment hire available), and the Ice Palace (a network of tunnels carved into the glacier with ice sculptures, lit in coloured lights, entry included in the Jungfraujoch ticket) extend the visit to a full half-day. Generally, the Sphinx Observatory's research rooms (with working weather and astronomical instrumentation) and the summit terrace (3,571m, reached by a short walk through the snow) give the highest accessible viewpoint without mountaineering equipment.

Journey

In general, the journey is as significant as the destination. In addition, the Bernese Oberland railway system that serves Jungfraujoch is a masterwork of rack-and-pinion engineering, the lower section from Interlaken or Grindelwald traverses the dramatic Lütschine gorge and ascends through the cliff faces above the Grindelwald valley. In addition, the Kleine Scheidegg connection crosses the high saddle between the Eiger's north face and the Wengen ridge with the Three Sisters (Eiger, Mönch, Jungfrau) in close proximity. And the final Jungfrau Railway section disappears into the Eiger's interior through windows cut in the north face (the Eigerwand and Eismeer stations allow brief views through the windows onto the north face and the glacier below).

Practical details

The practical details: The Jungfraujoch round trip from Interlaken Ost costs about CHF 185–220 depending on the route and discount cards (Swiss Travel Pass gives 25% discount. Eurail Pass gives 25% discount. In fact, the GA-Travelcard covers the journey to Kleine Scheidegg, requiring only the Jungfrau Railway surcharge above). Moreover, the journey from Interlaken Ost takes about 2–2.5 hours each way. Departures run from about 7 AM to 4 PM in summer. The last descent typically leaves Jungfraujoch at 5 PM. The Good Morning ticket (first departure, online booking required) is about 15–20% cheaper than standard fares and gives the summit before the main crowds arrive.

Altitude

The altitude affects some visitors, at 3,454m, the air contains about 35% less oxygen than at sea level, and symptoms of mild altitude sickness (headache, slight nausea, breathlessness on exertion) are possible particularly for visitors arriving directly from low altitudes. The total time at altitude is typically 2–3 hours, insufficient for serious altitude acclimatisation to occur but usually manageable with rest, water and slow movement. Children, pregnant women and people with cardiac or respiratory conditions should consult a physician before visiting.