Day Trip to Jungfraujoch from Lucerne

Things to Know Before Visiting Jungfraujoch on a Day Trip from Lucerne

Visiting Jungfraujoch on a Day Trip from Lucerne is one of the most exciting things to do in Switzerland.

It is the highest point in Europe; anyone looking for information on Switzerland Tourism would have surely come across the image of its iconic Sphinx Laboratory, an imposing metallic structure jutting out from among the snow-clad mountain peaks all around.

The peaks are Jungfrau and Mönch along the Aletsch Glacier.

A visit to this spectacular landscape is a day tour full of thrilling moments on the train as you travel through different climate zones in a single day, ride through the tunnel and see the panoramic views of the mountain peaks all around.

• If your itinerary is flexible, then make sure to check the day's weather at Jungfrau before you start. Ideally, one should make this journey only on a sunny day to get clear views of the glacier and the peaks.

• Carry light snacks to munch during travel. Although once on top, there are restaurants aplenty serving all kinds of food. But as with all touristy places, the prices in these eateries are steep.

• It can get very cold and extremely windy once you reach the top if you venture outside. Carry a down jacket with a hood even in summer for small kids. It's best to dress in layers. When we reached the top, it was quite sunny, and we could get great views of the glacier. Within minutes, the sky turned cloudy, and it became overcast.

• There is an Ice Palace on the top that houses beautiful snow sculptures. It's worth visiting, but it can get pretty chilly inside. So, dress accordingly.

• Also, a very important piece of advice from me is to do all the outdoor activities as soon as you reach the top if the weather is sunny. The weather can be very unpredictable around here. It was warm and sunny when we reached but our kids got busy in the indoor attractions. By the time we came out, the weather had become extremely windy and cloudy.

How to Reach Jungfraujoch from Lucerne

Getting to Jungfrau is time-consuming and expensive, but the journey through the Swiss Alps is absolutely unforgettable. Depending on your itinerary, budget, and the kind of experience you want, there are 3 ways to reach Jungfraujoch from Lucerne.

Wherever you are travelling from, the starting point is Grindelwald Terminal.

Option 1: Via Grindelwald Terminal and the Eiger Express

• Lucerne to Interlaken Ost

• Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald Terminal

• Eiger Express tri-cable Gondola to Eiger Glacier Station (Eigergletscher)

• Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch

This is the quickest route and takes about 50 minutes to reach to the top

Option 2: Via Lauterbrunnen and Wengen

• Lucerne to Interlaken Ost

• Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen to Wengen

• Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg

• Jungfrau Railway to Jungfraujoch

This is one of the most scenic and traditional routes to Jungfrau and is perfect for travellers who want to fully experience the beauty of the Bernese Oberland region.

Although this route takes longer than the Eiger Express option, it offers a much more traditional Swiss mountain railway feel and allows travellers to enjoy the beautiful villages in the Jungfrau region.

We opted for this train-only route because our kids wanted to make a long train journey through tunnels and landscapes, and we had no say in the matter!

This is the most conventional route and also the most laid-back one; it takes 4 to 5 hours to reach Jungfrau as the train meanders through scenic mountains at a leisurely pace. If you have a full day on hand, then going by this route is an outing in itself.

Option 3: Traditional Jungfrau Railway Route via Kleine Scheidegg

Travel by train on the onward journey as in Option 2. On the return, however, opt for the gondola to save time. This is a good option because you can get the best views from the train and a joyride on the gondola, too!

Things to Do at Jungfraujoch

The moment you reach the top and venture into the open terrace, a blast of cold mountain air hits you. And what hits you, even more, is the absolutely mesmerising mountain scenery. There are huge mammoths of snow as far as the eye can see.

Here are some of the top things to do at Jungfraujoch:

Visit the Sphinx Laboratory

The Sphinx Laboratory is one of the main highlights of Jungfraujoch and offers spectacular views of the Alpine peaks of Italy, France and Germany on the Aletsch glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps.

The viewing platform of the laboratory is easily accessible by lift and is one of the best places for photography at Jungfraujoch.

Walk through the Ice Palace

The Ice Palace is a fascinating network of tunnels carved directly into the glacier. You can walk through icy corridors with beautiful ice sculptures, frozen walls and unique displays.

Enjoy snow activities at the Snow Fun Park

During the summer months, visitors can enjoy activities like snow tubing, sledging, ziplining, skiing, and snowboarding at the Snow Fun Park.

Experience the Alpine Sensation

The Alpine Sensation is a multimedia corridor connecting different areas of Jungfraujoch. Through lights, music, and displays, it tells the story of the construction of the Jungfrau Railway.

Is Jungfrau worth visiting?

I have read forums where some people who have travelled to Jungfrau felt that it was overrated and very expensive. It is undoubtedly expensive for a one-day trip.

But I contend that where else can you see a 23-kilometre-long glacier, the longest one in the Alps, from a viewing platform that gives a front-seat view of the glacier, that too with your family and kids in tow? The only condition is that you should visit it on a sunny day.

The infrastructure around the mountain is amazing, to say the least. Not to mention the journey on the cogwheel and the gondola that precedes this stunning scenery.

In my opinion, Jungfraujoch is an experience that is certainly worth your time and money.