Jungfraujoch round trip from Zurich & Lucerne

Visit the Jungfraujoch on a day trip from Zurich or Lucerne by train with a private guide.
Located at 3454 meters (11'333 ft) above sea level, it’s the highest train station in Europe.

Highlights

  • Jungfraujoch - Top of Europe (highest train station in Europe)

  • GoldenPass Panoramic route over the Brünig mountain pass

  • See the Aletsch glacier - the largest Glacier in the Alps

  • A spectacular journey through the Bernese Oberland

  • Jungfrau-Aletsch is a UNESCO world heritage site

  • Visit the villages Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen

The Lucerne - Interlaken train line is at least until September 29 disrupted due to flooding damange.
We will have to travel in both directions via Bern.

  • Season 2024 & Availability

    Season 2024: January 1 - October 31 & December 1 - December 31

    As a sole proprietor with a capacity of one tour per day, I can be fully booked far in advance.

    Click here to see my availability calendar

  • Detailed tour description

    Jungfraujoch tour from Zurich or Lucerne

    Option A: Jungfrau region round-trip by train and aerial cable car

    First we travel from Zurich or Lucerne to Interlaken

    For this leg we use the scenic Brünig train line, part of the Golden Pass panoramic route, and head up the Brünig mountain pass by train. The ride, which takes about 2 hours from Lucerne, will take us along the shores of five lakes and past waterfalls. Enjoy the beautiful views of rural Switzerland through the large panoramic windows of your first-class carriage on this ride to Interlaken.

    We travel to Lauterbrunnen, where we make a stop, and walk through this idyllic village, home to the Staubbach waterfall.

    With a height of 297 meters, it's one of the highest free-falling waterfalls in Europe.

    If you like to have more time at the peak, or if you prefer to walk less, we can also skip this stop.

    Then we travel on the cog railways Wengernalpbahn and the Jungfraubahn to the Jungfraujoch.

    Befor reaching the Jungfraujoch we have a 5-minute stopover at the train station Eismeer. It's Europe's second-highest train station, which is drilled into the Eiger mountain. From here you have a stunning view over the Ischmeer glacier. Ischmeer translates to sea of ice, and describes the view perfectly.

    At the peak we have plenty of time to visit all the attractions such as the ice palace and underground tunnel out of ice. Enjoy the Lindt Swiss chocolate heaven, soak up the panorama from the outside platforms, and ride the elevator to the Sphinx viewing platform.

    The elevator will take us in 25 seconds a full 108 meters higher. On a clear day, you have a stunning view of the UNESCO world heritage Aletsch glacier from this outside viewing platform.

    Of course, there is also time for you to relax and have lunch. At the peak, there is a self-service and an à la carte restaurant.

    On our way down from the Jungfraujoch, we take a different route through Grindelwald, back to Interlaken, so that you can see even more of Switzerland. We can also stop there and take a walk through the village.

    For the descent we are using the new V-Cableways (Eiger Express).

    Interlaken - Jungfraujoch Option B: round trip entirely by train

    With this option, we take the same route as with Option A. However, with this option we will use the cogwheel trains as well for the descent.

    This option is ideal if a member of your party has a fear of heights or doesn’t like traveling on aerial cable cars.

    Traveling both ways by train increases the travel time and will reduce the available time at the peak.

  • Inclusions & Exclusions

    Inclusions

    - All required train tickets in first class for you and the guide

    - Jungfraujoch mountain railway tickets for you and the guide (price includes entry fees)

    - Meeting at any centrally located Hotels, Apartment, or Airbnb

    - Return to any centrally located Hotel, Apartment, or Airbnb after the tour

    - Fee for the private guide, who will stay at your disposal throughout the tour

    - Car-free tour by train, mountain railway, and aerial cable car as per the tour description

    - Photography by the guide (with your own camera or smartphone)

    - A booklet with comprehensive information about Switzerland (one per party, for groups of four persons or larger are two printed copies included)

    - Jungfraujoch time slot reservations, during peak travel months

    - Use of a mobile hotspot with unlimited data (Speed: 4G)

    What is not included in the tour price?

    - Your meals and drinks

    - Any personal expenses

    - Optional activities

    - Travel insurance (participation at your own risk)

  • Lunch options

    Please regard that your lunch is not included in the tour price.

    During lunch hours:

    Crystal - à la carte restaurant at the Jungfraujoch peak * +

    This restaurant serves a variety of Swiss and International dishes.

    A few vegetarian dishes are available.

    Click here to download the menu

    Click here to read the restaurants' reviews on TripAdvisor

    Aletsch - self-service restaurant at the peak

    This restaurant serves a range of hot and cold dishes, mainly comfort food.

    On online menu is not available for this location.

    Click here to read the restaurants' reviews on TripAdvisor

    Bergrestaurant Kleine Scheidegg - à la carte restaurant * +

    This restaurant is located at the intermediate station Kleine Scheidegg (= lunch before reaching the peak).

    This restaurant serves a variety of Swiss and International dishes.

    A few vegetarian and vegan dishes are available.

    Click here to download the menu

    Click here to read the restaurants' reviews on TripAdvisor

    Quick lunch:

    There are convenience shops and sandwich outlets along our travel route, where you can grab a bite.

    * This option may not be available at all times, especially during low season (i.e. April, November, and early December). If you want to eat at this restaurant, please let me know at the time of booking, so that I can check availability for our tour date.

    + For restaurants marked with a plus (+), reservations are recommended. I'm happy to reserve a table for you.

    Disclaimer

    Restaurant menus, prices, and options are subject to change.

    The restaurant menus are hosted as a PDF file on the restaurants' websites.

  • Activity level

    The activity level is high: frequent train changes, high altitude (up to 3572 m/ 11'719 ft) ice palace with a floor out of ice, without slip and fall protection (optional), and a half-hour walk through the villages Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald (optional)

  • Pick-up area

    I can meet you at any centrally located hotel in Zurich or Lucerne.

    Click here to see a map of the Zurich pick-up area

    Click here to see a map of the Lucerne pick-up area

    If you're staying outside of the pick-up area, I can meet you at the central train station of Zurich or Lucerne.

  • Weather

    Weather forecast

    Once a reliable weather forecast is available (usually one to three days before departure), I will send you a link to the forecast.

    If there is bad weather forecasted, I will include my recommendations for our tour day.

    I use the weather forecasts provided by the Federal Office of Meteorology and SRF (Swiss Radio and Television).

    With the link below, you can check the weather forecast at any time by yourself. The forecast is available for the next five days.

    Click here to see the current weather forecast for the Jungfraujoch

    Operability

    This tour can run in any weather condition except during a storm. During a storm, aerial cableways have to halt operations for safety reasons. If there is a storm with gale-force winds in the forecast, I need to cancel the tour. On rare occasions, there may be a cancellation due to landslides, avalanches, and other natural forces or the risk thereof. I will fully refund the deposit in this case.

    Your options in case of bad weather

    - You can choose a different tour/mountain peak in an area with better weather (if available, the price of the newly selected tour will apply). A fee of CHF 40 per person will be added in case of a destination change, for the non-refundable Lucerne-Interlaknen Express seat reservation, and Jungfraujoch time slot reservations.

    - We can do the tour as planned despite the weather.

    - I also have a few full-day train tours. For example, the Glacier Express route on local trains tour. These tours are ideal on rainy days as we are for most of the day inside and not exposed to the weather, and as on rainy days the views are usually better at lower altitudes. Further, this tour has a lower tour price as it doesn't require any expensive mountain railway tickets.

    - If not having perfect weather is a dealbreaker, you can cancel by forfeiting the deposit.

  • Example itinerary (Option A from Zurich with lunch at Kleine Scheidegg)

    This itinerary is only an example. The schedule can vary due to various factors such as the season, the day of the week, construction work, service, and schedule changes.

    The exact departure and return time depends on the pick-up/drop-off location.

    Pick-up 

    6:30 a.m. - 6:50 a.m at any centrally located Hotel or Apartment

    InterRegio 

    7:10 a.m. - 7:51 a.m. Zurich HB - Luzern

    Luzern-Inrterlaken Express 

    8:06 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. Luzern - Interlaken

    Regional train 

    10:05 a.m. - 10:25 a.m. Interlaken - Lauterbrunnen

    Sightseeing 

    10:25 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Visit Lauterbrunnen

    Regional train 

    11:30 a.m. - 12:08 p.m. Lauterbrunnen - Kleine Scheidegg

    Lunch & Photo stop 

    12:08 p.m. - 1:27 p.m. Lunch and photo stop Kleine Scheidegg

    Jungfrau Railway  

    1:27 p.m. - 1:32 p.m. Kleine Scheidegg - Eigergletscher

    Jungfrau Railway  

    1:45 p.m. - 2:11 p.m. Eigergletscher - Jungfraujoch

    Sightseeing 

    2:11 p.m. - 4:47 p.m. Enjoy the Jungfraujoch

    Jungfrau Railway  

    4:47 p.m. - 5:11 p.m. Jungfraujoch - Eigergletscher

    Sightseeing 

    5:11 p.m - 5:30 p.m. Eigergletscher panorama terrace

    EigerExpress  

    5:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m. Eigergletscher - Grindelwald Terminal

    Regional train  

    6:05 p.m. - 6:09 p.m. Grindelwald Terminal - Grindelwald

    Sightseeing 

    6:09 p.m. - 7:18 p.m. Visit Grindelwald

    Regional train  

    7:18 p.m. - 7:53 p.m. Grindelwald - Interlaken

    RegioExpress  

    8:00 p.m. - 8:52 p.m. Interlaken - Bern

    InterCity  

    9:02 p.m. - 9:58 p.m. Bern - Zurich

    Drop-off  

    10:15 p.m. - 10:45 p.m. at any centrally located Hotel or Apartment

    Customization possibilities:

    You can extended or shorten the duration of the stay at the Jungfraujoch peak in half-hour increments (must be booked in advance).

    You can spontaneously skip or shorten the visit to Grindelwald.

  • Example itinerary (Option A from Lucerne with lunch at Kleine Scheidegg)

    This itinerary is only an example. The schedule can vary due to various factors such as the season, the day of the week, construction work, service, and schedule changes.

    The exact departure and return time depends on the pick-up/drop-off location.

    Pick-up 

    7:30 a.m. - 7:40 a.m at any centrally located Hotel or Apartment

    Luzern-Inrterlaken Express 

    8:06 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. Luzern - Interlaken

    Regional train 

    10:05 a.m. - 10:25 a.m. Interlaken - Lauterbrunnen

    Sightseeing 

    10:25 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Visit Lauterbrunnen

    Regional train 

    11:30 a.m. - 12:08 p.m. Lauterbrunnen - Kleine Scheidegg

    Lunch & Photo stop 

    12:08 p.m. - 1:27 p.m. Lunch and photo stop Kleine Scheidegg

    Jungfrau Railway  

    1:27 p.m. - 1:32 p.m. Kleine Scheidegg - Eigergletscher

    Jungfrau Railway  

    1:45 p.m. - 2:11 p.m. Eigergletscher - Jungfraujoch

    Sightseeing 

    2:11 p.m. - 4:47 p.m. Enjoy the Jungfraujoch

    Jungfrau Railway  

    4:47 p.m. - 5:11 p.m. Jungfraujoch - Eigergletscher

    Sightseeing 

    5:11 p.m - 5:30 p.m. Eigergletscher panorama terrace

    EigerExpress  

    5:30 p.m. - 5:50 p.m. Eigergletscher - Grindelwald Terminal

    Regional train  

    6:05 p.m. - 6:09 p.m. Grindelwald Terminal - Grindelwald

    Sightseeing 

    6:09 p.m. - 7:18 p.m. Visit Grindelwald

    Regional train  

    7:18 p.m. - 7:53 p.m. Grindelwald - Interlaken

    RegioExpress  

    8:04 p.m. - 9:55 p.m. Interlaken - Lucerne

    Drop-off  

    10:10 p.m. - 10:40 p.m. at any centrally located Hotel or Apartment

    Customization possibilities:

    You can extended or shorten the duration of the stay at the Jungfraujoch peak in half-hour increments (must be booked in advance).

    You can spontaneously skip or shorten the visit to Grindelwald.

    Customization possibilities:

    You can extended or shorten the duration of the stay at the Jungfraujoch peak in half-hour increments (must be booked in advance).

    You can spontaneously skip or shorten the visit to Grindelwald.

  • Example itinerary (Option A from Zurich with lunch at the peak)

    This itinerary is only an example. The schedule can vary due to various factors such as the season, the day of the week, construction work, service, and schedule changes.

    The exact departure and return time depends on the pick-up/drop-off location.

    Pick-up 

    6:30 a.m. - 6:50 a.m at any centrally located Hotel or Apartment

    InterRegio 

    7:10 a.m. - 7:51 a.m. Zurich HB - Luzern

    Luzern-Inrterlaken Express 

    8:06 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. Luzern - Interlaken

    Regional train 

    10:05 a.m. - 10:25 a.m. Interlaken - Lauterbrunnen

    Sightseeing 

    10:25 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Visit Lauterbrunnen

    Regional train 

    11:30 a.m. - 12:08 p.m. Lauterbrunnen - Kleine Scheidegg

    Photo stop 

    12:08 p.m. - 12:27 p.m. Photo stop Kleine Scheidegg

    Jungfrau Railway  

    12:27 p.m. - 12:32 p.m. Kleine Scheidegg - Eigergletscher

    Jungfrau Railway  

    12:45 p.m. - 1:11 p.m. Eigergletscher - Jungfraujoch

    Sightseeing 

    1:11 p.m. - 4:16 p.m. Enjoy the Jungfraujoch

    Jungfrau Railway  

    4:16 p.m. - 4:41 p.m. Jungfraujoch - Eigergletscher

    Sightseeing 

    4:41 p.m - 5:00 p.m. Eigergletscher panorama terrace

    EigerExpress  

    5:00 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. Eigergletscher - Grindelwald Terminal

    Regional train  

    5:35 p.m. - 5:39 p.m. Grindelwald Terminal - Grindelwald

    Sightseeing 

    5:39 p.m. - 6:48 p.m. Visit Grindelwald

    Regional train  

    6:48 p.m. - 7:23 p.m. Grindelwald - Interlaken

    RegioExpress  

    7:30 p.m. - 7:51 p.m. Interlaken - Spiez

    InterCity  

    7:54 p.m. - 8:24 p.m. Spiez - Bern

    InterCity  

    8:31 p.m. - 9:28 p.m. Bern - Zurich

    Drop-off  

    9:45 p.m. - 10:10 p.m. at any centrally located Hotel or Apartment

    Customization possibilities:

    You can extended or shorten the duration of the stay at the Jungfraujoch peak in half-hour increments (must be booked in advance).

    You can spontaneously skip or shorten the visit to Grindelwald.

  • Example itinerary (Option A from Lucerne with lunch at the peak)

    This itinerary is only an example. The schedule can vary due to various factors such as the season, the day of the week, construction work, service, and schedule changes.

    The exact departure and return time depends on the pick-up/drop-off location.

    Pick-up 

    7:30 a.m. - 7:40 a.m at any centrally located Hotel or Apartment

    Luzern-Inrterlaken Express 

    8:06 a.m. - 9:55 a.m. Luzern - Interlaken

    Regional train 

    10:05 a.m. - 10:25 a.m. Interlaken - Lauterbrunnen

    Sightseeing 

    10:25 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. Visit Lauterbrunnen

    Regional train 

    11:30 a.m. - 12:08 p.m. Lauterbrunnen - Kleine Scheidegg

    Photo stop 

    12:08 p.m. - 12:27 p.m. Photo stop Kleine Scheidegg

    Jungfrau Railway  

    12:27 p.m. - 12:32 p.m. Kleine Scheidegg - Eigergletscher

    Jungfrau Railway  

    12:45 p.m. - 1:11 p.m. Eigergletscher - Jungfraujoch

    Sightseeing 

    1:11 p.m. - 4:16 p.m. Enjoy the Jungfraujoch

    Jungfrau Railway  

    4:16 p.m. - 4:41 p.m. Jungfraujoch - Eigergletscher

    Sightseeing 

    4:41 p.m - 5:00 p.m. Eigergletscher panorama terrace

    EigerExpress  

    5:00 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. Eigergletscher - Grindelwald Terminal

    Regional train  

    5:35 p.m. - 5:39 p.m. Grindelwald Terminal - Grindelwald

    Sightseeing 

    5:39 p.m. - 6:48 p.m. Visit Grindelwald

    Regional train  

    6:48 p.m. - 7:23 p.m. Grindelwald - Interlaken

    Luzern-Interlaken Express  

    8:04 p.m. - 9:55 p.m. Interlaken - Lucerne

    Drop-off  

    9:45 p.m. - 10:10 p.m. at any centrally located Hotel or Apartment

    Customization possibilities:

    You can extended or shorten the duration of the stay at the Jungfraujoch peak in half-hour increments (must be booked in advance).

    You can spontaneously skip or shorten the visit to Grindelwald.

Map of the travel route from Interlaken: Option A (recommended)
Roundtrip by train and aerial cable car

Map of the travel route from Interlaken: Option B
Roundtrip entirely by train
(only recommended if fear of heights makes travel by cable car impossible)

Roundtrip travel route from Zurich to Jungfraujoch
via Brünig mountain pass and Berne

Travel route from Lucerne to Jungfraujoch
both ways via Brünig mountain pass

Source of the maps: Swiss Federal Office of Topography swisstopo

Health notice

Due to the high altitude, it is dangerous to participate in this tour if you have a pacemaker or any heart or lung conditions.

Further, I don’t recommended participating during a pregnancy.

‘Top of Europe’

The term ‘Top of Europe’ refers to the Jungfraujoch being the highest railway station in Europe. The highest peak in Europe accessible without mountaineering is the Klein Matterhorn peak (Glacier Paradise) in Zermatt.