Planning a trip to the Jungfrau region, but not sure where to start? We super overwhelmed ourselves, as there is just so much to see and do! Fortunately, we discovered the Jungfrau Travel Pass, which is a popular way to explore this part of Switzerland. Over 4 days, we used it to see some of the most amazing mountains in the country. Here’s what to know about the Jungfrau Pass, from the tickets included to the cost, and all about our trip.
Our Visit to the Jungfrau Region
Believe it or not, this was only our second visit to Switzerland! Our previous trip was only for a quick layover in Zurich, so we were obviously excited to return and see more.
This time we would head to the Jungfrau region and stay in Interlaken for one week. Most of our days were spent camping on Lake Brienz, which we would use as a home base of sorts.
While we did have a car to get around, we mostly utilized the incredible train system. This was the first way the Jungfrau Pass came in handy!
The Jungfrau Travel Pass allows you access to trains, cable cars, funiculars, and even the boats. In our case, we figured out it was easier to park our car at the closest station to Lake Brienz (Wilderswil).
From there, we could hop on the efficient train system to Interlaken. It also connected us to the gondolas that we’ll discuss in more detail next. After reading this article, check out our best Switzerland travel tips.
Using the Jungfrau Travel Pass
There are all kinds of options to pick from depending on how many days you have. You can choose anywhere from three to eight days for your Jungfrau Travel Pass.
Currently, the Jungfrau Pass cost starts at 210 CHF (222 Euros), and goes up 20 more CHF for every day after. Due to this small price increase for each day, it makes perfect sense to add on a couple more days if you can!
Check the updated prices on the official Jungfrau Pass website here.
As we mentioned, you can use the tickets for all different public transport routes in the Jungfrau region. It was easy to pull our passes up through our email for mandatory checks on the trains and boats, or to scan in to enter the cable cars.
However, you may want to ask your hotel to print your tickets out just to be safe.
4 Top Mountains to See With the Jungfrau Pass
So where are the best places to experience with the Jungfrau Travel Pass? We recommend taking a look at the map to see the vast area it covers.
You can hit everywhere from Grindelwald-First to the stunning Lauterbrunnen village, and even cruise all around Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. For this article, however, we’re going to focus on the top four mountains we loved.
Just know it’s a great mix of hiking, viewpoints, and adventure activities. There is something for every skill level and age, plus plenty of fun things to do for the whole family.
1. Schynige Platte: Top of Swiss Tradition
Let’s start off with one of our favorite hikes we did in Switzerland! Schynige Platte was the first mountain we visited with our Jungfrau Pass, and it turned out to be such an amazing day.
We boarded the Schynige Platte train bright and early in the morning to start our trip. Astonishingly, this railway has been in operation since 1893!
It would switch over from steam to electric locomotives in 1914, which was an extremely new innovation for its time. This meant we were literally riding on a piece of history up one of Switzerland’s most beautiful mountains.
As we headed up the steep incline, we passed through tunnels and slowly worked our way to the top. The views got more and more scenic as we approached the final station.
In total, the 7 km long track took about 50 minutes to complete. And with that, we were ready to hike!
Panorama Ridge Trail
Once we got to the top, we were eager to get on the trail and hopped out with all the other passengers. There are several different options to look into depending on the amount of time you have.
We chose the Panorama Ridge Trail, as it was our first day and we had plans for the afternoon. The 5.6 km loop will take you all around Schynige Platte for epic views of Interlaken and the surrounding peaks.
It should take between 2.5 and 3 hours to complete with photo stops. While it’s common for it to be cloudy on this hike, it added a certain mystique to the Swiss Alps.
As we made our way around the beautiful loop, we couldn’t help but to be awestruck by the views of Lake Brienz and green flora around us.
At one point, we even heard bells and came across a large group of cows grazing! Can you believe they live over 2,000 meters high atop Schynige Platte??
For those that aren’t scared of heights, we recommend going to the highest point of the mountain. The peak is near the end of the loop and requires a steep climb up wooden steps
Heading Back Down Schynige Platte
Honestly, we could’ve stayed all day up here! Yet, there was so much to do around the Jungfrau region that we knew we had to eventually head back.
Before we hopped back on the historic train, we stopped into the restaurant for a coffee and pastry. There is even a hotel at the top of Schynige Platte (book it here) if you’re looking for a room with a view.
One other thing not to miss is the traditional Alphorn players. These are the giant instruments you may have seen in pictures before your trip.
If you’re lucky with your timing, you can catch a free concert on top of the mountain. The train runs every 40 minutes, so you’ll have no problem catching one back to Wilderswil Station.
2. Jungfraujoch: Top of Europe
Schynige Platte was a great warm up for what was to come the following morning. This was because we were heading to one of the main attractions in all of Switzerland.
Jungfraujoch is known as the “Top of Europe,” and to get there you’ll be riding to highest railway station on the continent! Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but its peak sits at a staggering 3,454 meters above sea level.
However, before you get on the famous train through the mountain, you’ll have a fun ride on the Eiger Express. This is the world’s most modern tricable gondola, which takes you from Grindelwald to Eigergletscher station in just 15 minutes. As you can imagine, every moment of this ride was unbelievable!
Highest Railway Station in Europe
We highly recommend starting your day at Jungfraujoch as early as possible. It’s also smart to book your train tickets in advance from Eigergletscher for the second portion of the ride (you can do it here). This way you’ll guarantee yourself a seat during the busy times of the year.
Once we’d finished the Gondola ride, we immediately got in line for the next train to Jungfraujoch. It was only around 9am, but there were already a ton of other travelers ready to head up to the peak with us.
There is one brief stop on the way at Eismeer Station where you can get off for a glimpse of the first glacier. Just be quick! The train takes off approximately 5 minutes later to head to the top.
Just as with the Schynige Platte Railway, Jungfraujoch has a wildly impressive history. It took years of manual labor to build the track directly through the mountain.
The railway was completed in 1912, and has been transporting passengers to the Top of Europe ever since! There is a great exhibit at the top of Jungfraujoch about this if you have time.
What to Do at Jungfraujoch
After an unreal 35 minute train ride through the dark mountain tunnel, we made it! Our first goal was to head to the top viewing platform.
Here you can take in the spectacular views of the Aletsch Glacier and gorgeous mountain peaks. This is the longest glacier in the entire Alps, covering 80 square kilometers and holding an insane 11 billion tons of ice!
There is actually a well designed route with arrows and times listed that will take you around the entire complex. Know that there are enough activities that you could spend the entire day at Jungfraujoch.
This includes a walk through the ice palace, zip lines, the snow fun park, and even the highest Lindt chocolate shop in the world! If you’re up for a hike, get your snow boots on and head to the Mönchsjoch Mountain Hut.
Grindelwald First: Top of Adventure
As if we hadn’t had enough excitement at Jungfraujoch, the next day we were ready for more! The following morning we headed back to Grindelwald to experience the Top of Adventure.
Here is another instance where you’ll want to wake up as early as possible to avoid lines. This especially applies to the summer months, when the adventure activities are in full swing.
We started off our day by taking the train from Interlaken to the village of Grindelwald. This beautiful town is worth visiting in itself and we would’ve loved to spend a couple nights here.. Two of the most popular hotels to stay at are Bergwelt Grindelwald and Eiger Mountain & Soul Resort.
From there, we hopped right onto the cable car and headed up the mountain. There are multiple stops on the way up. However, if you plan to ride the First Flyer or First Glider you’ll want to go straight to the top.
Riding the First Flyer
Honestly, we thought we were there super early! Yet, we quickly saw from the lines, that we weren’t the only ones who got up at the crack of dawn.
Nevertheless, we jumped in line for First Flyer, as it was something we were most excited for. After about an hour of waiting, we climbed into the harness for the ride of a lifetime.
Although it takes just seconds to get to the bottom, the 800 meter long steel cable was such an adrenaline rush. We could feel the top speed of 84 km/hour as we wizzed our way to the bottom.
The First Glider is worth checking out if you’d like to soar like an eagle through the sky! This area is also the point where the paraglides take off from, which you can see floating around throughout the day.
Hike to Lake Bachalpsee
Just before we headed off on a hike, we made a stop at the First Cliff Walk. This is a scenic platform which wraps its way around the main building and gondola station.
After that, we headed off towards Lake Bachalpsee. If you’ve been researching for your Switzerland trip, you’ve likely seen photos of this unreal lake.
The hike takes just over an hour, with amazing views of the Bernese Alps behind you the entire way. This is one of those things that’s listed as an “easy hike” for the Swiss. Still, be prepared for a moderate incline on the way up!
We couldn’t believe our eyes once we reached the lake. The clear blue water was sparkling and we had the perfect view of the snowy Alps in the distance.
We grabbed a seat and opened our packed lunches, but oh were we in for a surprise! Lake Bachalpsee is home to wild goats, so beware of them if you’re planning have a picnic here.
Trottibikes Down the Mountain
After an epic hike we were ready to head back down to Grindelwald village. One of the most fun parts about the Top of Adventure is that you can actually take mountain carts or trottibikes to the bottom!
We chose the trottibikes ourselves, which are kind of like a mix of a scooter and bicycle. This was a major highlight and the ultimate end of our day at Grindelwald-First.
The path down is rather steep, as it winds its way down the mountain through farms and local neighborhoods. The nice part about it is its very smoothly paved, but be sure to take your time and watch out for other trottibike riders.
4. Harder Kulm: Top of Interlaken
Last but not least, we had to check out the Top of Interlaken! This is the main town in Jungfrau and where many travelers choose to stay during their visit.
It sits between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, so there is so much to do and see around the area. Yet, for the best view of Interlaken, you’ll want to ride the Harder Kulm funicular to the viewpoint above.
This is another historic ride and has been transporting sightseers for over 100 years. It’s also quite a steep incline at a 64% gradient. The ride takes just 10 minutes before you’re at the peak.
The Harder Kulm viewpoint will give you amazing views over both lakes, and there is even a restaurant to have a drink or meal. Unfortunately, it was quite rainy, and we didn’t have the picturesque sunny views as with other days in the Jungfrau region.
We also decided to take the one hour loop through the Harder Kulm forest. This was such a fun hike! It was a great ending to our day at the Top of Interlaken.
Should You Buy the Jungfrau Travel Pass?
Yes! If you couldn’t tell, this was an amazing way to experience this part of Switzerland.
The Jungfrau Pass allows you access to so many awesome activities. We would have never been able to get everywhere we did without it.
Of course, you can always pay for the gondolas, boats, and mountains individually. However, if you’re planning to see as much as possible, you will actually save money using the Jungfrau Travel Pass.
Have any questions on this article or want to share your own tips for using the Jungfrau Pass? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake