The Jungfraujoch is a high saddle between the Mönch and Jungfrau peaks in the Bernese Alps, and its station at 3,454 m is the highest railway station in Europe. From the top you look over the Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps, inside the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site. The trip starts at Interlaken Ost, takes about 1 hour 30 minutes each way on the fastest route, and the operator lists return tickets from CHF 129.60.
Know before you go
- Altitude: 3,454 m at the station; the Sphinx Terrace is at 3,571 m.
- Start point: Interlaken Ost, via Grindelwald Terminal or Lauterbrunnen.
- Fastest route: Interlaken Ost to the top in about 1 hour 30 minutes via the Eiger Express gondola.
- Return ticket: from CHF 129.60. The price depends on your starting station, the date and any rail pass.
- Seat reservation: CHF 10, strongly recommended by the operator in good weather.
- Good Morning Ticket: a discount on the first two trains up, from 1 May to 31 October in 2026.
- Food at the top: several restaurants, including Bollywood, a self-service Indian restaurant.
- Last checked: 27 October 2026 on jungfrau.ch (links under Official resources below).
In this Article
What the Jungfraujoch is
The Jungfraujoch is run by the Jungfrau Railways, who sell it as the “Top of Europe”. The Jungfrau Railway has run through the Eiger and the Mönch since 1912 to reach the station, which is built into the rock below the saddle. Walkways, a lift and tunnels connect it to the viewing areas and attractions.
The main draw is the view. On one side you see the Aletsch Glacier, which the operator describes as 22 km long, up to 900 m thick and holding about 12 billion tonnes of ice, lined by peaks over 4,000 m. On the other side, on a clear day, the view reaches north across the Swiss Plateau to the Black Forest in Germany and the Vosges in France.
For Indian travellers, Switzerland is part of the Schengen area, so the Jungfraujoch trip is covered by a Schengen visa. See our Schengen visa guide for Indians for the fee, documents and which consulate to apply to.
How to get to the Jungfraujoch from Interlaken
Every route starts on the Bernese Oberland Railway at Interlaken Ost, which runs to Grindelwald Terminal or to Lauterbrunnen. Interlaken itself is reached by train from Zurich, Basel, Geneva and Bern. The operator notes train connections from those airports and Bern every half hour.
Via Grindelwald Terminal and the Eiger Express
This is the fastest route.
- Train from Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald Terminal (937 m).
- Eiger Express tricable gondola from Grindelwald Terminal to Eigergletscher (2,320 m). The ride takes 15 minutes and passes close to the Eiger North Face.
- Jungfrau Railway from Eigergletscher to the Jungfraujoch, a 26-minute run mostly inside the mountain.
The operator says the section from Grindelwald Terminal to the top takes 45 minutes, and the whole trip from Interlaken Ost about 1 hour 30 minutes. On the way up, the train makes a 5-minute stop at around 3,160 m, where windows in the rock look out over the ice.
Via Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg
The slower route is the classic one: train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen, the Wengernalp Railway up through Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, then the Jungfrau Railway onward via Eigergletscher. It takes longer, with views of the Lauterbrunnen valley and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau from the pass at Kleine Scheidegg.
A common plan is to go up one way and come down the other, so you see both valleys. Your return ticket can be configured for this when you book.
Jungfraujoch tickets and prices
The Jungfrau Railways sell tickets on jungfrau.ch, where you choose your starting station, date and discount card. The website lists:
| Ticket or pass | From |
|---|---|
| Return ticket to the Jungfraujoch | CHF 129.60 |
| Seat reservation (guaranteed seat) | CHF 10 |
| Jungfrau Travel Pass, 3 to 8 days, including boats | CHF 165 |
| Unlimited Jungfrau Summer Pass, 3 April to 29 November 2026 | CHF 449 |
| Unlimited Jungfrau Winter Pass, 1 December 2026 to 30 April 2027 | CHF 399 |
These are starting prices. A full-price return from Interlaken Ost costs more, and the fare differs between summer and the rest of the year. Use the operator’s price calculator to see your exact fare before you pay.
Swiss Travel Pass, Half Fare Card and other discounts
The price calculator on jungfrau.ch accepts the Swiss Half Fare Card, the GA Travelcard, the Swiss Travel Pass, the Jungfrau Travel Pass, Eurail and Interrail passes and some regional passes. A Swiss Travel Pass does not cover the full trip to the top; it gives a discount on the mountain section. If you already hold one of these cards, enter it in the calculator to see the reduced fare.
Seat reservations
The operator strongly recommends a paid seat reservation for the trip up on good-weather days, to avoid waiting for a later train. It costs CHF 10.
Good Morning Ticket
The Good Morning Ticket gives a discount for travelling on one of the first two connections to the Jungfraujoch. The offer page states a 20% discount, while the overview page shows 15%, so check the price at booking. In 2026 it runs from 1 May to 31 October. Its conditions:
- It cannot be combined with other discounts, including the Half Fare Card, GA, Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail or Interrail.
- You must leave the Jungfraujoch by 13:17 at the latest. Your onward trip from Eigergletscher or Kleine Scheidegg can be at any time.
The operator’s 2026 timetable for the first two connections from Interlaken Ost via Grindelwald Terminal:
| Connection 1 | Connection 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Depart Interlaken Ost | 07:04 | 07:34 |
| Arrive Grindelwald Terminal | 07:33 | 08:03 |
| Depart Grindelwald Terminal (Eiger Express) | 07:45 | 08:10 |
| Arrive Eigergletscher | 08:05 | 08:30 |
| Depart Eigergletscher (Jungfrau Railway) | 08:15 | 08:45 |
Check the current timetable before travelling, since times change by season.
What to see at the top
The operator gives a rough time for each stop, which helps you plan. Allow a few hours at the top in total.
- Sphinx Terrace (3,571 m, about 15 minutes): the viewing deck next to the Sphinx Observatory, reached by lift, with the best view of the Aletsch Glacier.
- Plateau (3,454 m, about 15 minutes): an outdoor area on the glacier with snow and ice all year.
- Ice Palace (about 15 minutes): tunnels cut into the glacier with ice sculptures of animals such as an eagle, a penguin and a bear.
- Alpine Sensation (about 15 minutes): a multimedia walk through the history of the Jungfrau Railway.
- 360 degree cinema (5 minutes): a panoramic film of the region, useful on cloudy days.
- Snow Fun Park (about 45 minutes): snow activities, including a zipline ride above the glacier.
- Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven (about 10 minutes): which Lindt calls its highest shop in the world.
- Alpine Glow (5 minutes): a light and sound walkway in the station.
Some outdoor attractions such as the Snow Fun Park may not run all year, so check what is open on your date.
Food at the Jungfraujoch
The station has several places to eat: Aletsch Self, a self-service restaurant with international dishes; Crystal, an à la carte restaurant with Swiss food; the Pikantus Lounge bar; and Bollywood, a self-service Indian restaurant with curries and vegetarian dishes. Lower down, Eigergletscher has a restaurant and a bistro.
Weather and the best time to go
Weather decides how much you see. The top station is high above the valleys, so it can be clear above cloud or completely fogged in while Interlaken is sunny. The operator runs a live webcam on jungfrau.ch; check it on the morning you plan to go and keep a spare day in your itinerary if you can.
The Plateau has snow and ice in every season, so a trip works any time of year. In summer, the Good Morning Ticket and early trains help you beat the busiest hours. In winter, days are shorter, and the season pass and lower winter fares change the price.
Tips for the Jungfraujoch
- Bring warm layers, a windproof jacket, gloves and shoes with grip, even in summer. The Plateau is on snow.
- Pack sunglasses and sun cream. Snow and ice reflect strong sunlight at this altitude.
- Move slowly at the top. At 3,454 m, the air is thinner, and some people feel breathless or get headaches. People with heart or breathing conditions should check with a doctor first.
- Book the seat reservation in advance on clear days.
- Go up one route and down the other if you have the time.
- Keep a printed or offline copy of your ticket, since mobile signal may drop inside the tunnels.
Jungfraujoch FAQs
How high is the Jungfraujoch?
The station is at 3,454 m, the highest railway station in Europe. The Sphinx Terrace viewing deck is at 3,571 m.
How long does it take to reach the Jungfraujoch from Interlaken?
About 1 hour 30 minutes from Interlaken Ost via Grindelwald Terminal and the Eiger Express. The route via Lauterbrunnen and Kleine Scheidegg takes longer.
How much does a Jungfraujoch ticket cost?
The operator lists return tickets from CHF 129.60, plus CHF 10 for a seat reservation. Your fare depends on your starting station, the season and any rail pass.
Does the Swiss Travel Pass cover the Jungfraujoch?
It does not cover the whole trip, but it gives a discount on the mountain section. Enter your pass in the jungfrau.ch price calculator to see the fare.
Is there Indian food at the Jungfraujoch?
Yes. Bollywood is a self-service Indian restaurant at the top, with curries and vegetarian dishes.
Do I need a visa for the Jungfraujoch?
Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa for Switzerland. The Jungfraujoch has no separate permit.
Official resources: Jungfrau Railways: Jungfraujoch, Top of Europe; Jungfrau Railways: Good Morning Ticket; Jungfrau Railways: prices and tickets.
Photo credits
Featured image: NOTE: This image is a panorama of Jungfraujoch Sphinx-Observatory consisting of 5 frames that were merged or stitched in PTGui Pro 12.2. As a result, this image necessarily underwent some form of digital manipulation. These manipulations may include blending, blurring, cloning, and color and perspective adjustments. As a result of these adjustments, the image content may be slightly different from reality at the points where multiple images were combined. This manipulation is often required due to lens, perspective, and parallax distortions. / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; What the Jungfraujoch is: Gzzz / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; What the Jungfraujoch is: Andras Toth / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0; Via Grindelwald Terminal and the Eiger Express: TurkAviator / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Via Grindelwald Terminal and the Eiger Express: Blanky75 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Via Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg: Leonhard Lenz / Wikimedia Commons, CC0; Via Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg: Paradise Chronicle / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; What to see at the top: Xxlstier / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; What to see at the top: Roy Egloff / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0; Weather and the best time to go: Gabrielle Merk / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.
