Jungfraujoch & the Glacier Express
Jungfraujoch, 'Top of Europe,' is reachable from Interlaken or Grindelwald via a cogwheel railway that ends at 3,454m — Europe's highest railway station, with an ice palace, an observation deck, and (on a clear day) views into Germany's Black Forest. Expect CHF 200–230 ($250–285) round-trip and a full day. The Glacier Express, a separate 8-hour panoramic train between Zermatt and St. Moritz, costs roughly CHF 150–170 ($185–210) for the seat reservation plus a rail pass or ticket, and is worth it mainly for the Landwasser Viaduct and Oberalp Pass sections.
Switzerland's two most famous train experiences get bundled together constantly, and it's worth being clear they're different things: Jungfraujoch is a destination (a mountain station you ride up to and back down from), and the Glacier Express is a journey (a scenic transfer between two towns). Both are genuinely spectacular; neither is cheap.
Jungfraujoch — 'Top of Europe'
The Jungfrau Railway climbs through a tunnel bored directly into the Eiger and Mönch mountains, opening onto Jungfraujoch station at 3,454m — the highest railway station in Europe. At the top: an ice palace carved into the glacier, an observation deck with (weather permitting) views stretching to the Aletsch Glacier and into the Black Forest, and a Lindt chocolate shop that's a genuinely fun stop for something that sounds like a tourist trap.
| From | Approx. journey time | Round-trip cost |
|---|---|---|
| Interlaken Ost | About 2.5 hours each way | CHF 210–230 ($260–285) |
| Grindelwald | About 1.5–2 hours each way | CHF 190–210 ($235–260) |
| Lauterbrunnen | About 2 hours each way | CHF 200–220 ($245–270) |
Book the earliest morning slot you can — Jungfraujoch runs a ticket-quota system in peak season specifically to manage crowds at the summit, and clear-weather mornings sell out first. Check the live summit webcam before you commit; a foggy Jungfraujoch is an expensive way to see white.
The Glacier Express
An 8-hour, 291-km panoramic train between Zermatt and St. Moritz, crossing 291 bridges and through 91 tunnels, with the standout stretch being the Landwasser Viaduct and the Oberalp Pass summit. It's genuinely scenic, but slower than flying between the same two points by design — the entire point is the window, not the destination. Panoramic-class carriages have floor-to-ceiling windows; book a seat reservation well ahead in summer, since panoramic cars sell out weeks in advance in July–August.
Which one should you actually do?
- Do Jungfraujoch if you're based in or near Interlaken and want the 'highest point in Europe' bragging rights and the ice palace.
- Do the Glacier Express if you're already traveling between Zermatt and the Graubünden region (St. Moritz) and want to make the transfer itself the highlight rather than a means to an end.
- If you only have time (or budget) for one, most first-time visitors get more out of Jungfraujoch — it's a self-contained day trip, where the Glacier Express requires you to actually be heading in that direction already.
What it costs, honestly
Both are expensive by any country's standard, and Switzerland doesn't discount them much even with a Swiss Travel Pass (typically 25–50% off, not free). Budget for one of these two as 'the' big-ticket splurge of the trip rather than trying to do both — most itineraries genuinely don't need to.