Jungfraujoch — Attraction in Lauterbrunnen

Very busy, but they've done a good job of making the most of what is a fairly small area.

I took two trains to get up there, at a huge cost (around 200CHF per person). The first train has great views, the second train spends 20 minutes travelling through a tunnel blasted out of the rock. Once at the top there is a monument dedicated to all the people who died during construction, which is a sobering thought. The tunnel might be difficult for claustrophobic guests to endure - but there is a cable car for them (unless they also have a fear of heights).

During the journey through the tunnel there are annoying videos playing showing you what to expect at the top. The video for "Chocolate Heaven" was totally misleading, showing free chocolate samples being given out and giving the impression of it being a chocolate factory. In reality it's literally just a Lindt shop. As an aside, the Lindt factory in Zurich is great, go there instead.

The main bulk of the area is indoors, with sem-randomly themed areas to "discover" - presumably for those days when the weather makes it impossible to be outside. There's a general multi-storey carpark/shopping mall vibe in all these internal areas due to the lack of external windows. Each of these areas tell you how long to expect to spend there but you won't actually want to spend longer than it takes to walk through (about 2 minutes per area).

The fake ice cave area might be difficult for claustrophobic visitors, with low ceilings and narrow corridors made of ice.

When we visited it was very busy and the different internalional approaching to queuing was very obvious. Most areas where not staffed so queue jumping and pushing-in were left to the individuals in the queue to sort out. Even those people who obeyed queuing etiquette appeared to have no concept of personal space and stood far too close. A tall man standing behind my wife loomed over her, reading her phone over her shoulder, while standing on the back of her shoes every time the queue moved.

For some unfathomable reason there are two watch shops at the top of the mountain, apparently high altitude increases people's desire to know the time without taking our their phone. One of the shops had a large 'no photographs' sign, and a very officious shop keeper who ensured this rule was adhered to. I can only assume he was preventing people from figuring out how much cheaper his merchandise would be when not at the top of a mountain.

The three outside areas are the highlight of the place and make up for the indoor stress-fest.

The first area is a metal grating balcony which runs around the building, giving great views. Unfortunately the designer of these balconices decided that interupting the views with wires, poles and infrastructure was important, so without zooming in and carefully framing your shot it's hard to get a metal-work free picture.

The second area is a zip-wire and tobogan area. Having already spent 200CHF to get up the mountain I decided the 20CHF for a single tobogan run was a little over the top. It's a great shame they don't make this a free activity.

The third outside area is a small area with great views and a flagpole. There are no wires obscuring the views here, which is a plus. Everyone seemed to want a photograph standing next to the flagpole, so there was a large queue. Goodness knows what visitors used to do up here before selfies were invented.

All in all worth a visit if you have the cash to splash, but very busy and very commercialised. The day before I visited Neisen, taking the funicular from Mulene station, for me this was a much more enjoyable and authentic experience - quiet and not at all commercialised. The views from Neisen are different - lakes, forests and craggy mountains - but no snow and...

Here are some vivid images showcasing the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe: snowy vistas of the Aletsch Glacier, the lofty Sphinx Observatory, glacier-carved corridors, and stunning Alpine panoramas that a million visitors flock to each. What it is: Jungfraujoch, dubbed the “Top of Europe,” is a high-altitude complex perched at 3,454 m, connected via tunnels to Europe’s highest railway station and the Sphinx Observatory.

Attractions: You’ll find multiple attractions all included in your admission—such as the Ice Palace, Alpine Sensation multimedia experience, 360° Cinema, viewing platforms like the Sphinx Terrace, Europe’s highest post office, restaurants, and exhibition areas.

Engineering marvel: The Eiger Express tricable gondola, opened in 2020, shaves ~47 minutes off the journey and offers spectacular views.

Visitor Impressions: The Good, The Bad, and The Views The panoramic views from the Sphinx Observatory, Ice Palace, and Glacier Plateau are frequently praised as breathtaking and unforgettable.

The journey from Interlaken takes 1.5–2 hours depending on your route and transfers. Using the Eiger Express from Grindelwald Terminal is notably faster (~55 minutes total) compared to traditional routes via Kleine Scheidegg.

Many find the experience crowded and rushed, especially during high season with large groups funneling into elevators, narrow corridors, and popular sights. Facilities sometimes come under fire: complaints include dated or poorly maintained bathrooms, cramped eating areas, and chaotic crowd control. Expectations of Swiss efficiency sometimes fall short—some say the pricey experience (200–300 CHF per person) fails to match the service or infrastructure quality. Others, particularly families, feel the experience is worth the steep price when the mountains deliver. “No, I mean they charge you an arm and a leg to get up to Jungfraujoch.” Another noted that the restaurants feel like tourist traps, and advocated simply going outside to enjoy the view instead: “Don’t waste your time and money there. Go outside and enjoy the view.” Views Absolutely spectacular—glaciers, peaks, panorama Weather dependent — clouds can limit visibility Convenience Accessible via Eiger Express or Jungfrau Railway Long journey; better early in morning to beat crowds Experience Ice Palace, observatory, exhibitions—all included Overcrowded interiors and tourist-tacky elements Cost Unique mountain setting Pricey—upwards of 200–300 CHF per person; needs pre-booking and patience Absolutely—if you're after Alpine drama and dream glacier views, and you accept the tradeoffs of cost, crowds, and tourist infrastructure.

To improve your visit:

Go early to avoid peak rush.

Pre-book seats, or travel with Swiss Travel Pass or Jungfrau Travel Pass for discounts and smoother experience.

Skip crowded indoors—spend your time outside soaking in the views.

Forget relying on restaurants for atmosphere, especially if your day is all...

Jungfraujoch- Top of Europe, so it explains why you need to visit Jungfrau at least once in your lifetime. The entrance fee is a bit pricey (€180+ before discount of you have a swiss pass or other passes), then you will be given a Jungfraujoch Passport as souvenir (similar to real passport and don’t forget get it stamped with your visiting date at the entrance). It was really windy when we got up there, so if you want to go outdoor, please prepare your sunglasses, masks/shawls to cover your nose so you can make it to the flag point with such strong wind (this is where you take the grand picture with Jungfrau view & Swiss flag after 'Conquering' the strong wind). Use a selfie stick to take great pics! The train interval is about 15mins each way up or down. The Jungfraujoch- Tour includes: Sphinx-Terrasse- Enjoy breathtaking views of the Aletsch Glacier and into Italy, France and Germany from the Sphinx observation terrace. Aletsch Glacier- Over 22 km long and almost a kilometre thick: The Great Aletsch Glacier is the mightiest ice stream in the Alps. Mönchsjoch Hut- What about a glacier walk? On a well­kept, sign posted path you can walk across the Jungfraufirn to Switzerland’s highest­altitude mountain hut, which has a warden service. The walk to the Mönchsjoch Hut and back takes approximately two hours (between 45 and 60 minutes each way). Mid­March – mid­October. Alpine Sensation- Moving walkways take you on an exciting, multimedia­staged trip through the pioneering era of the Jungfrau Railway. Ice Palace- Enchanting sculptures in crystal­clear ice line the tour through the artificially created glacier tunnels. Glacier Plateau- Experience guaranteed snow and ice 365 days a year on the glacier plateau. Top of Europe Shop &Lindt Swiss Chocolate Heaven- Shop and snack high above the clouds. Explore the world of chocolate – and treat yourself to a delightful souvenir.

Overall, icy air streams across your face, snow crunches under your feet, and the view nearly takes your breath away: on one side the view of the Mittelland up to the Vosges, on the other the Aletsch glacier, bordered by four thousand metre peaks. Standing on the Jungfraujoch 3,454 metres above sea level, you can feel it with your first step: this is a different world. It's one you have to experience. Just go for it....