A Day Exploring The Top Of Europe

In 2020, after having lived in Switzerland for four years, we finally explored the famous Jungfraujoch, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Since we did not have many travelling opportunities in 2020 due to travel restrictions, we had some savings to spare. We booked a hotel for one night in Interlaken, Bern and drove there to spend the night.

The next morning, we began our adventure towards Jungfraujoch. We had already booked our tickets online, and the total cost was 212 CHF per person.

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Arriving in Bern

• Via Train or Bus: Bern is centrally located with fast, direct rail connections from Zurich, Basel, and Geneva. To check schedules and book your ticket, use the Busbud platform here.
• Via Flight: Fly into Zurich or Geneva Airport and use public transport to arrive in Interlaken/Grindelwald. To find the best deals on airfare, search and book your flights here.

Getting Around and Staying in Switzerland

• Going Around:
  • Taxis & Private Transfers Secure a reliable, fixed-price ride with professional drivers. Avoid the airport queues by booking in advance. Book your taxi/transfer here.
  • Car Rentals Enjoy the freedom of the open road. Compare the best rates from top brands to find your perfect vehicle here.
  • Public Transport Travel like a local and save money. Skip the station lines by securing your train and bus tickets here.
• Stay Connected: To navigate the city like a local and share your photos in real time, we recommend getting an eSIM. Pick the option that suits your needs:
  • We recommend Airalo for a budget-friendly and basic plan. Get your Airalo eSIM here.
  • Yesim is our top-pick for unlimited data needs. Get your Yesim eSIM here.
• Where to Stay: To make the most of your trip, I recommend booking one of these hotels.

Journey to Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe

We parked our car at the Interlaken Ost railway station and took a train to reach the Grindelwald Terminal.

Pro-tip: Secure your round tickets for the railways in-advance using the widget below.

From Grindelwald Terminal, we took the modern Eiger Express gondola to the Eiger Glacier Station. This station features a panorama terrace that provides breathtaking, rugged views of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau peaks. It was extremely cold, but we had prepared well for the low temperatures. Next, we took the historic cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch, which is the highest railway station in Europe. Once we arrived, we began our exploration.

Sphinx Observation Deck

We took the elevator to arrive at the Sphinx Observation Deck. At the deck, we saw stunning, panoramic views of the Alps. The weather was completely clear at the time, and we got to see the mountains perfectly. The snow-covered mountains were a true treat for the eyes and relaxed us completely. After enjoying the incredible scenery, we used the elevator to go back down.

Alpine Sensation

The Alpine Sensation is a 250-metre-long corridor trail that leads directly to the Ice Palace. As we wanted to visit the Ice Palace, we followed the trail. It started with a giant, beautiful snow globe that serves as a tribute to Jungfraujoch.

The entire trail was beautifully lit up with glowing Edelweiss flowers, which is the symbolic flower of Switzerland. The walkway also provided educational information on how the Jungfrau railway was constructed by miners, recounting their immense sacrifices. We found the trail to be extremely enchanting, especially due to the glowing flowers. At the end of the trail, we arrived at the Ice Palace.

Eis Palast (Ice Palace)

The Eis Palast, or Ice Palace, was an incredible walkway through icy tunnels which brought us to intricate ice sculptures of different items. We saw detailed sculptures of the Top of Europe wall, igloos, penguins, bears, and even Charlie Chaplin’s famous “The Tramp and the Kid” poster. The palace was extremely cold, but we thoroughly enjoyed these precise pieces of art.

Glacier Plateau

After the Ice Palace, we went outside of the observatory to explore the Glacier Plateau. We saw people enjoying some winter sports, but we stuck to walking. It was extremely cold outside, and soon it started snowing. Luckily, we had enjoyed almost half an hour of walking by the time the snow began to fall. We rushed back inside when the snowfall on our faces became too unbearable. Once the snowfall stopped, we went out once again to enjoy the view.

Lindt Sweet Chocolate Heaven

We somehow found ourselves at the entrance of Lindt Sweet Chocolate Heaven and obviously had to go inside. The site provided a fascinating introduction into the chocolate-making process. We went through the different parts of the exhibition and thoroughly enjoyed learning about the science of chocolate making.

Back to Civilization

After our adventures at Jungfraujoch, we travelled back via the cogwheel train to the Eiger Glacier Station. From there, we took the route back to Grindelwald station, and then finally returned to Interlaken Ost. By the time we arrived in Interlaken, it was already 5 pm. We rushed to our car to have dinner and drive home.

Final Remarks

Jungfraujoch is definitely a must-visit attraction. While it is expensive and extremely cold, we found the cost to be totally worth the experience. We have plans to visit again once our kids are older.

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