Everything You Need To Know About Jungfraujoch : Top of Europe
Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe in Switzerland is the highest accessible point in Europe and was declared a UNESCO world heritage site in 2001. Over a million tourists from around the world visit this site to take a train ride on the Jungfrau railway and explore the other interesting and fun-filled attractions. This page will give you all the information you need to plan a trip to Jungfraujoch, along with some interesting facts about the site.
What is Jungfraujoch?
The Jungfraujoch, meaning ‘maiden saddle’ in German, is a glacier saddle connecting the Jungfrau and the Monch mountains of the Bernese Alps. At a height of 3,463 meters above sea level, it is called the ‘Top of Europe’. It is the highest railway station in Europe, the Jungfrau railway, which runs for 9 kilometers from the station of Kleine Scheidegg (at 2,061 m above sea level).
Over the years, the site has gone on to include more attractions such as the Sphinx Observation Deck, the Ice Palace, the Eiger Express tri-cable gondola, the Snow Fun Park, the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven, and more.
Jungfraujoch | Knowledge Graph
- Official name: The Jungfraujoch
- Location/Address: 3823 Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland
- Date of opening: February 21, 1912
- Timings: 8:00 A.M. to 4:20 P.M.
- UNESCO World Heritage Site: 2001
- Number of visitors per year: Over 1 million
Jungfraujoch Opening Hours
- Jungfraujoch is open from 8:00 AM to 4:20 PM every day throughout the year.
- The last departure from the bottom to the top is at 2:00 PM and the last departure from the top to the bottom is at 4:20 PM
- The itinerary is subject to change depending on the season and visitors are advised to cross-check the prevalent timetable while booking.
Why Visit Jungfraujoch?
- Jungfraujoch is the highest point in Europe accessible to tourists, which makes it a must-visit site.
- Take a train ride to the highest railway station in Europe - the Jungfraujoch station.
- Enjoy breathtaking views of the snow-capped landscape around Jungfraujoch from the Sphinx Observation Deck and the Glacier Plateau.
- Experience the ultimate winter escapade with ice-capped mountains, a snow park, ice sculptures, gondola rides, and much more.
- Have a fun-filled day at the Snow Park snowballing, skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, sledding, and ziplining.
- Marvel at the intricately detailed ice carvings and sculptures of animals such as bears, penguins, and eagles at the Ice Palace.
- Learn about the history and making of Lindt chocolate while tasting some delectable treats at the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven.
Why is Jungfraujoch So Famous?
- Jungfraujoch is famous for being the highest accessible point in Europe.
- It is also known for being the highest railway station in Europe.
- The area around Jungfraujoch, known as the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region, is the first UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in the Alps.
- The Sphinx Observation Deck at Jungfraujoch is one of the highest astronomical observatories in the world.
- The Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch is the highest of its kind in the world.
- The world’s highest chocolate shop - the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven - is atop Jungfrau mountain.
History of Jungfraujoch
The saddle of Jungfraujoch was first traversed by a group of six English mountaineers and six Swiss guides, led by Leslie Stephen, in July 1862.
In 1893, Swiss entrepreneur Adolf Guyer-Zeller came up with the idea of constructing a railway tunnel to the peak of the Sphinx. Its construction began on July 27, 1896, and was finally completed on February 21, 1912. The railway tunnel ran from the Kleine Scheidegg railway station to the summit of the Jungfrau, with stops at Eigergletscher, Eigerwand, and Eismeer.
In 1937, the Sphinx Observatory - one of the highest astronomical observatories in the world - was established. The observatory, located at a height of 3,572 meters, was made accessible from Jungfraujoch by an elevator.
In 1954, the Jungfraujoch radio relay station was built, making it the first radio station to allow radio relay connections across the Alps. At 3,705 meters above sea level, it is Europe’s highest radio relay station and was operational until 2013.
Jungfraujoch Highlights
Sphinx Observation Deck
Located at a height of 3,572 m above sea level, the Sphinx is one of the highest astronomical observatories in the world. It is home to one of the Global Atmosphere Watch's atmospheric research stations. An elevator takes you directly from the Jungfraujoch railway station to this open viewing deck, where you can enjoy breathtaking views of the Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger mountains.
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Ice Palace (Eispalast)
One of the attractions at the Top of Europe is the world’s highest ice palace. The Ice Palace is carved within the Aletsch Glacier as a tunnel that takes you into an ice exhibition zone. Here, you will find intricately detailed ice sculptures of animals such as bears, penguins, and eagles. You will also see ice carvings, an igloo, and some movie-inspired fan art made of ice.
Alpine Sensation
The Alpine Sensation is a 250-meter-long corridor connecting the Sphinx Observation Deck to the Ice Palace. The site features a multi-media display portraying the history and story of the making of the Jungfrau Railway. The site also pays homage to the miners who were injured and lost their lives in the process, with 30 memorial plaques. The moving walkways along the chilly corridor take you to a massive snow globe at the end.
Glacier Plateau
The Glacier Plateau is the most picturesque viewpoint at Jungfraujoch. It offers unobstructed views of the German Black Forest and the French Vosges on one side, and Aletsch Glacier with its highest mountain peaks on the other side. You can take a picture with all of this in the background, along with the Swiss flag on the site. This vantage platform is hardly a ten-minute walk from the Jungfraujoch train station.
Hike to Mönchsjoch Hut
Mönchsjoch Hut - the highest-altitude serviced hut in Switzerland - is one of the most popular attractions near Jungfraujoch. The 45-minute long hike from Jungfraujoch to Mönchsjoch Hut takes you on a journey through the picturesque icescapes at a height of 3650 meters. You can admire the true beauty of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region, while on this hike.
Eiger Express
The Eiger Express is the newest addition to the Jungfraujoch experience. This tri-cable gondola ride is the fastest way to get to the Eiger Glacier station from Grindelwald Terminal, taking just about 15 minutes (than the usual 45 minutes). Enjoy breathtaking bird’s eye views of the snow-capped rocky mountains, lush greenery, and white ski slopes beneath, as you ride on these gondolas.
Jungfrau Panorama
One of the first attractions you come across at Jungfraujoch is the Jungfrau Panorama experience. It is a 4-minute long visual treat that gives you a 360-degree all-around experience of the mountainous region with real-life views of the Jungfrau summit. Visitors can race through the clouds with their cameras, fall into piles of snow, plunge into ice crevices, or watch it snow over the mountains, irrespective of the actual weather outside.
Snow Fun Park
The Snow Fun Park at Jungfraujoch offers visitors the ultimate winter experience. With a wide range of activities such as snowballing, skiing, snowboarding, snow tubing, sledding, and more, the Snow Park guarantees fun for people of all ages. The Flying Fox rope slide at the park lets you zipline over the longest glacier in Europe - the Aletsch Glacier, while you can also enjoy great views of the glacier from the SnowBar.
Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven
Located atop the Jungfrau mountain, the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven is the world’s highest chocolate shop. At the store, you will get to learn about the history of Lindt, taste some delectable chocolate treats, and also watch how the famous Lindt chocolate is made from a virtual Lindt Maître Chocolatier.
Frequently Asked Questions About Jungfraujoch
A. Jungfraujoch is a glacier saddle, 3,463 meters above sea level, connecting the Jungfrau and the Monch mountains of the Bernese Alps.
A. Jungfraujoch is located on the upper part of the Aletsch Glacier, on the boundary between the cantons of Bern and Valais, and halfway between the towns of Interlaken and Fiesch.
A. Jungfraujoch is famous for being the highest accessible point in Europe. It is home to the highest railway station in Europe and also the Sphinx Observation Deck, the Ice Palace, the Snow Park, and the Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven.
A. Jungfraujoch offers visitors the ultimate winter experience with breathtaking views of snow-capped mountains, a snow park, ice sculptures, gondola rides, and much more.
A. You can book your tickets to visit Jungfraujoch either offline at the venue or online here. It is advised to buy them online to skip the ticket queues, especially during peak times.
A. Prices for tickets to visit Jungfraujoch start at CHF 117.
A. Jungfraujoch is open from 8:00 AM to 4:20 PM every day throughout the year.
A. A visit to Jungfraujoch would take around 5 - 6 hours including the train ride if you wish to explore all the attractions. It would take an hour and a half lesser if commuting by the Eiger Express.
A. The best time to visit Jungfraujoch is from June to August when the weather is comfortable to go hiking and try out various snow activities.
A. Visitors must wear warm clothes, thick jackets, thick socks, comfortable walking shoes with a good grip, and maybe a pair of gloves and sunglasses while visiting Jungfraujoch, as the area remains cold even during summer.
A. Yes, Jungfraujoch is wheelchair accessible. Wheelchair users can either take the Wengernalp Railway or the Eiger Express tri-cable gondola from Grindelwald Terminal to Jungfraujoch.
