Good Morning Jungfraujoch!

The weather in Interlaken was fantastic, Camping Manor Farm was excellent and we were enjoying ourselves far too much in our lake-side setting to consider moving on to pastures new. With a new found sense of commitment it was decided that we should venture out and take in some more of the wonderful Bernese Oberland region.

Undoubtedly, the destination highlight of the region is the 'Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe' the highest railway station in Europe located 3,454 metres above sea level. However, at 204CHF per person for a return journey this is clearly not a cheap day out on the trains.....particularly if you have a family in tow!

Thankfully, those thoughtful Swiss folk have presented visitors with a 'less-expensive' option to visit this unique destination that really does provide great value for money....and it is called the 'Good Morning Ticket' (GMT).

On the face of it, the GMT (priced at 145CHF per person) is still an expensive purchase, especially if you consider the time limitations that are placed on the purchaser; however, as you'll find from reading our experience this really is a good ticket to buy particularly if you're an early bird!

Jungfraujoch...top of Europe

The first thing to consider when embarking on this excursion is the weather. As good as the cog-wheel train journey is, you need to be sure the weather is clear enough to enjoy the view when you get there. Thankfully, we were in a period of beautiful settled weather and the week long forecast was for more of the same so no problem on that front.

A trip to the tourist office on Höheweg (Interlaken) is the perfect place to purchase tickets and get useful advice and information beforehand. Due to visitor capacity there is obviously only a limited number of tickets available per day and so it's advisable to obtain your tickets in advance to guarantee a visit. 

For those who meticulously plan their vacations and have these type of excursions in mind, the ticket and travel options for the Jungfrau region are many and varied. Research on the various regional travel passes and tickets may prove to be a sensible option in order to get the best value for sightseeing. However, for spur of the moment tourists like us, the GMT was without doubt the best option.

All trains for the Jungfraujoch depart from Kleine Scheidegg and there are various train options to reach this station. The criteria of the GMT is that you must depart from Kleine Scheidegg on either the 8:00am or 8:30am train for Jungfraujoch and return back down no later than 13:00. Thereafter, the ticket can be used at leisure to return you back to your train station of choice.

The most popular route (and the one we took) starts in Interlaken Ost and goes via Lauterbrunnen onto Kleine Scheidegg. Then on our return we went via Grindelwald and back to Interlaken completing an almost circular trip.

Whilst on the face of it the GMT may seem restrictive the reality is that the timings work out perfectly. Either train from Kleine Scheidegg has you up on the Jungfraujoch well before 10am and although it'll be busy, it's still by no means at capacity.....you'll get more of a feel for this when you make your way back down! 

Furthermore, by mid-morning the sun will be out (weather permitting obviously) and the views and experience is every bit as good as it would be by mid- afternoon. Finally, once at the top you'll only need 2-3 hours to fully appreciate the experience, which leaves plenty of visiting time before you need to make the 13:00 return train.

When you purchase your GMT there is the option to reserve a seat on the train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch and again for the return journey back. It is an additional 10CHF per person but is a small price to pay knowing you'll have a seat for the 40 minute journey up and down through the tunnel. It is best to book a seat on the 13:00 train back as this is the last one available for the GMT; however, you can return on an earlier train if you choose, space permitting.

On the day of travel it is advisable to dress in multiple thin layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures throughout the day. It is best to take gloves, sun glasses and also a winter sports hat as it can get very windy. The Jungfraujoch is located at an altitude of 3454m and as such it might induce (light) altitude sickness from about 2000m. If you feel at all uneasy it usually helps to sit down for a while.

Interlaken Ost - Our starting point for the Top of Europe

On the day of our excursion an early-morning alarm had us up in sufficient time to partake in breakfast and a cup of coffee before we boarded our bikes and made the 3 mile journey to Interlaken Ost in darkness...........we had a train to catch!

In order to make the 8:00am train departing from Kleine Sceidegg to Jungfraujoch you need to catch the 6:35am train from Interlaken Ost. There is also a 7:05am train that would arrive in time for the 8:30am train at Kleine Scheidegg, but we don't like to cut these things too fine so made sure we were on the first one.

The journey from Interlaken takes in a couple of stops before arriving in Lauterbrunnen. Here you disembark and a short walk across the platform has you on the train to Kleine Scheidegg via Wengen.

Even approaching Lauterbrunnen early morning the views are spectacular

I'd certainly advise that for the best views going up that you take a seat on the right of the train. Although we were departing in near darkness it did not take long for full dawn to break and the spectacular views on offer come into focus.

We're in for a beautiful day!

Onward and Upward the Cog-Wheel Train Journey is Spectacular

Departing from Wengen on the last leg to Kleine Scheidegg

If you have any concern at all about train times and transfers then you can be rest assured the efficiency of the service is first rate. All stops and transfers are timed to perfection and there is no stress or rush to make connections, which can't be that difficult on one platform!

Supplies making for the Top of Europe

We arrived at the station in Kleine Scheidegg in plenty of time to make the 8:00am train, however, we elected to defer our rise to the summit till 8:30am in order to take in some of the alpine atmosphere and listen to the endless ringing of cow bells.....the extra half-hour was more than enough for us!

The station is easy to navigate and there are a couple of souvenir shops alongside a few eateries and hotels. As the platform begins to fill with new arrivals approaching from both directions of Wengen and Grindelwald we were glad of the seat reservation for this part of the journey which is well managed, checked and importantly enforced......no queue jumpers allowed here!

The Jungfraujoch train due to depart

The final part of the journey from Kleine Scheidegg to the Jungfraujoch takes approximately 40 minutes and the majority of this section is in a tunnel, but the train makes two short stops along the way. On each stop you can disembark for a short period (approximately 5 minutes) and make your way to the viewing area for some breathtaking views or visit the toilet if required.

Five minute pit-stop for photo opportunities or the loo!

The platform at Eigerwand

The first stop in the tunnel is at the Eigerwand station at 2865m above sea level. Here you can make for the viewing area, expertly hewn out of the solid-rock, which provides great views straight down the famous Eiger north face.

The view from Eigerwand down to Grindelwald

Across to Interlaken from Eigerwand

Down the north face of the Eiger

The next stop-off is at Eismeer station which at 3160m is the second highest train station in Europe. Located just behind the south-east face of the Eiger, the station provides great views of the Grindelwald-Fiescher Glacier.

The second highest train station in Europe

The Grindelwald Fiescher Glacier from Eismeer

Eternal snow and ice on view from Eismeer

Staging post for the train at Eismeer

When you finally arrive at the Jungfraujoch station you disembark from the train and make your way through to the main visitor attractions. There is a well stocked souvenir gift boutique that sells , amongst others, a range of winter outerwear (ideal if you've arrived in the wrong attire!) and a range of postcards, which you can then post from the highest post box in Europe.

Highest Post Box in Europe

From here you can then move onto the walk-through tour that will take approximately 45 minutes to complete. From the entrance a lift takes you 117m further up to the Sphinx observatory. Here you can enjoy some stunning 360° views onto the glacier, across to Interlaken and the Black Forest in Germany, either from the outside terrace area or from the comfort of the building that has huge panoramic windows.

Jungfraujoch from the Glacier. The Sphinx sits above the main visitor attraction which is within the rock.

A view down to the snow park where you can pay extra to ski, sledge or snowboard

A view down the Glacier where hiking trails are possible

From the very top a view out to Interlaken and the Black Forest of Germany beyond.

Back inside the Alpine Sensation is a moving walkway with images, light and music, connecting the hall below the Sphinx observatory to the Ice Palace. Here there are a number of ice sculptures displayed within a freezing cavern system in the middle of the glacier.

Ice Palace Caverns within the middle of the Glacier

Ice Penguins, one of the many sculptures on show






For chocolate lovers there is Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven, where you can learn about the history of chocolate and how it's made and of course you can buy the chocolate!

You can hike across the glacier to the Mönchsjoch hut in about an hour, but this is advisable only in good weather and with the correct hiking gear.

After taking in some of the mountain air, a bite to eat and looking around the souvenir and watch shops we decided it was time to make our way back down the Jungfraujoch to Kleine Scheidegg. The place was filling up rapidly and a number of organised tour operators were commandeering the entrance halls, lifts and stairwells with their touring parties.........we were definitely glad of our early morning arrival!

We had a seat reservation for 13:00 train down to Kleine Scheidegg, however, with trains running approximately every half-hour we were able to queue in the non-reservation line and catch a slightly earlier one as space was permitted.

Once back at Kleine Scheidegg you have the opportunity to return back down the valley at your leisure (obviously train timetable dependent) and can go either via Wengen and Lauterbrunnen (as we did on the way up), or you can take the train down to Grindelwald and then onto Interlaken Ost from there. This route makes for a pleasant round trip and affords you some more opportunities of taking in the spectacular alpine scenery.

The route down to Grindelwald from Kleine Schiedegg completes a nice circular route

The Ski Slopes of Kleine Schiedegg in Summer

The single track down to Grindelwald traverses the grazing meadows

The train made several unannounced stops to permit cow crossings!

The journey down involves a change of trains at Grindelwald which then continues directly on to Interlaken Ost, our departure station. We arrived back in Interlaken mid-afternoon having had a thoroughly enjoyable day out. We located our bikes and made the short return journey back to Camping Manor Farm to put our feet up.

Having reflected on the whole excursion we came to the conclusion that if you're going to go up one mountain for a view, then this was certainly the one to go up. Yes the cost of the tickets might seem expensive on the face of it; however, when you factor in the entire train journey from Interlaken to the Top of Europe and then back again, alongside the views at the top of the Jungfraujoch, the ice palace and other attractions, then this really is a once-in-a-lifetime trip not to be missed.

If a couple of Yorkshire folk can recommend this, then you know it must be good value!

A Swiss adventure worthy of the cost!

Popular posts from this blog

Interlaken and a trip to Harder Kulm

About Turn.......we're homeward bound!