Welcome to a brand new series where I will tell you everything you need to know about Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe and the Jungfrau region. From weather, height, to the Jungfrau pass and whether it’s worth a visit, we will cover everything you need to know before travelling and possibly visiting the highest point of Europe you can go as tourist by railway. Let’s start with the top tourist attraction in the region, Jungfraujoch.

Jungfraujoch, the Top of Europe

• How high is Jungfraujoch? The Jungfraujoch is 3,463 metres above sea level
• What is the temperature / weather like on Jungfraujoch? It typically ranges between -7°C to 0°C (19°F to 32°F).
• How long does it take to get to Jungfraujoch from Interlaken? Just under 2 hours if everything goes smoothly.
• Is it worth to go to the top of Jungfraujoch? Personally, I think absolutely yes.

Looking for information about the Jungfrau Pass and how to make the most of it? Read the full guide including how much it costs and what is included here.

Why is Junfraujoch (and Junfrau) famous?

The Jungfrau region which is nestled in the Swiss Alps, is one of the Switzerlnad’s most iconic and visited destinations. This is because of its two lakes – Thunersee and Brienzersee. The name Jungfrau meaning maiden in German, refers to one of the prominent peaks in the Bernese Alps. Rising to 4,158 meters (13,642 feet), the Jungfrau stands as a symbol of the majestic beauty of the Swiss Alps, attracting thousands of tourists, climbers, and nature enthusiasts each year.

If you’re travelling to Junfrau region or going to Jungfraujoch, chances are Interlaken is going to be the most important starting point. Every train you take with the Jungfrau pass will likely start from Interlaken (Ost). More on the pass, what you can visit and if it’s worth it in this article.

What’s the Difference Between Jungfrau and Jungfraujoch

While “Jungfrau” refers to the mountain itself, “Jungfraujoch” is a term that often causes confusion. Jungfraujoch is not a mountain but a high-altitude saddle or pass between the Jungfrau and the neighboring Mönch peak.

At 3,454 meters (11,332 feet), Jungfraujoch is known as the “Top of Europe” and is the highest point in Europe that can be reached by a railway. It’s also a really popular tourist spot, so don’t forget to read my top tips for visiting it below, so your experience is worthy every franc.

Jungfrau Webcam

Have a look at all the main tops of the Jungfrau region through webcam to decide whether it’s worth visiting and the weather is okay.

How to get to Jungfraujoch

Jungfrau railway (bahn) to Jungfraujoch

Starting your journey in Interlaken, it will take you about 2 hours before reaching the very top. There is no direct train from Interlaken and you’ll need to change in either Grindewald for the Eigergletscher cable car and then taking the train on the cogwheel railway to Jungfraujoch. Or you’ll take the train up to Lauterbrunnen,  change for Kleine Scheidegg and take the train on the cogwheel railway to Jungfraujoch.

To be aware that the last part of your trip may not be as smooth as you wish – chances are there will be lots of tickets pre-booked, meaning you may need to wait. Alternatively, you can buy your seats on the top of your ticket, meaning you’ll reserve seat for a certain time and day.

The cogwheel railway, inaugurated in 1912, climbs through tunnels carved into the Eiger and Mönch mountains, and there are great views as well as too much time in the tunnels. Just before Jungfraujoch, the train stops for a five minute break to have a little view at the Jungfraujoch which was nice and snowy (when it’s not) when I was there.

Things to do on Jungfraujoch

Whenever you reach Jungfraujoch, there’s things waiting for you to be visited. You don’t have to worry you’d miss anything, as everything is very well marked and the whole experience takes you around the building step by step. It takes about an hour to hour a half to see everything you can here.

Before going over the attractions, I would highly suggest to drink a lot of water and move around slowly. If you can, take the elevators and not stairs – especially after the ice gallery, as at the end of the day, you body is not used to being so high and my heart was racing like crazy after four flights of stairs. So personally, do not recommend to anyone to make that mistake.

Key Attractions (Jungfraujoch)

Sphinx Observatory
The first thing you’ll visit will be the Sphinx observation deck via a fast elevator, which ascend 108 meters in just 25 seconds. You’re now on the deck and you can have a little picture with the sign that says Jungfraujoch or walk around the deck (outside and inside).

Take a seat and a month to wait while the clouds disappear – they tend to come and go, so chances are you’re actually going to see some sun as well. You’re not on one of the highest astronomical observatories in the world, providing breathtaking panoramic views of the Aletsch Glacier and surrounding peaks. By peaks I literally mean mountains as you can pretty much just see mountains and snow from here. Pretty great though because you may never be this high ever again. At least not while standing on the ground.

Walk through the history
Next, you’ll see a little exhibition that tells the story of Jungfraujoch and is a little memorial to all those people who died while building it. You’ll see the equipment they used as well as photographs.

Ice Palace
The ice palace is made of real ice and it’s built of tunnels carved into the glacier, offering somewhat fun and absolutely freezing experience. The temperature inside is around -3 degrees Celsius, and it showcases sculptures of animals and alpine landscapes.

The glacier

Ever seen those pictures with a Swiss flag on top of Jungfraujoch? Here’s your chance to get one too!

Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven

The Lindt shop and other shops of real Swiss goods is actually quite reasonably priced, to be fair besides the restaurant, the souvenirs are actually well worth buying. For example, a small Swiss knife is about the same price as down in Interlaken, so if you like something, I would recommend buying it. It’s actually nice to have some chocolate up there, as mentioned before, you will feel more tired and little low on sugar than being down by the sea. It’s also the highest Lindt shop in the world.

Is It Worth Going to the top of Jungfraujoch?

I would say yes, it’s worth it. However, if you’re only planning to go to the region for Jungfraujoch, you’d be missing out on lots of things you can do in the area. It can be fun, exciting but also tiring experience, especially for those who have never been to such high altitudes.

The height of Jungfraujoch, at 3,454 meters, offers panoramic views of the surrounding peaks and the Aletsch Glacier which is a UNESCO World Heritage site and quite frankly, I don’t think you’ll ever see anything this spectacular ever again. The whole region is incredible and showcases really nice part of Switzerland.  In the summer, the experience is just as rewarding, with hiking trails and other outdoor activities available.

Weather and Temperature: What to Expect at Jungfraujoch

The weather at Jungfraujoch can be quite unpredictable, given its high altitude. Even in summer, temperatures can be chilly, often hovering around or below freezing. The temperature typically ranges between -7°C to 0°C (19°F to 32°F), so dressing in layers is essential.

The Jungfrau region is also known for its rapidly changing weather, so it’s wise to check the Jungfrau webcam and weather forecasts before planning your trip. Personally, I was wearing my winter coat, had a hat and gloves. You can always undress but once you’re up there, you’re likely not going to go back down to grab more clothes.

Tips before visiting Jungfraujoch

• Check out the Jungfrau pass and decide whether it may be worth buying Jungfraujoch ticket on top of it (with a discount). There are multiple reasons why this may be good thing to do – a) there are so many tickets inspectors out there and you may buy the wrong ticket and have to pay the penalty fare, b) you’ll be able to swap the ways you’d like to go – so up you can take the cable car, back the train. This will provide you with little bit of flexibility that you otherwise may not have. This is not sponsored post by the way, but the Jungfrau pass makes so much sense. I used the three-day travel pass and it was great, I was able to pick the best day to go to Jungfraujoch based on the weather and didn’t have to worry about having the right ticket.
• Dress well. No matter how warm it is down by the lakes, take additional clothing and dress like you’re going skiing. It’s not warm at all up there, and even going through the experience, you will feel the chill. I mean there’s a literal ice palace up there, so take it into consideration.
• Go early or pre-book seats. Going early is the best tip I can give you. There won’t be that many tourists, you don’t have to pay for the pre-booked seats, and you’ll be able to enjoy it way more than when it’s crowded.
• Take water, sweets and take it easy – It’s a long way up there and the body feels it. Take some snacks or food if you don’t want to buy, and take it slow.
• Count with the whole day just for Jungfraujoch. If you see the map, you may think – let’s kill multiple birds by one stone and visit multiple places. While you can do that, if you’re just an average person getting up at 6am to be at Jungfraujoch early, you won’t want to do anything else afterwards. So count the whole day just for top of Europe, and ideally have couple more days to enjoy the region to the fullest.
• Lastly, check out the official website for all the information you need. It really is the best source of truth.

Ready to visit other nearby countries? How about Lago di Garda in Italy or perhaps Venice?