The Jungfraujoch is the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres above sea level. It offers fantastic views of the surrounding Alpine panorama and has been accessible by the Jungfrau Railway since 1912. Around 700,000 people visit the Jungfraujoch every year!
The Jungfraujoch is a pass in Switzerland and is the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454 metres above sea level. The train ride up the Jungfraujoch to the "Top of Europe" is a fixed point for many tourists on their trip through Switzerland. The imposing pass can also be found on our lists of the top 10 sights in Switzerland and the 10 most famous and beautiful mountains in the world.
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PICTURES: Jungfraujoch
In good weather, the Jungfraujoch offers fantastic views of the surrounding four-thousand-metre peaks such as the Schreckhorn (4,078 metres above sea level) or the Jungfrau (4,158 metres above sea level). The impressive Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps, is 24 kilometres long and right under your nose. On clear days, the view stretches across the Swiss border to Italy, Germany and France.
The Jungfrau Railway
The Jungfraujoch has been accessible by the Jungfrau Railway since 1912. Around 700,000 people visit the Jungfraujoch by train every year. The valley station of the Jungfrau Railway is the "Kleine Scheidegg" station and lies at 2,061 metres above sea level. You can get here with the Wengernalpbahn either from the village of Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen.
The Jungfrau Railway has a length of just under 10 kilometres to the Jungfraujoch, 7 kilometres of which are covered in a tunnel. The railway overcomes a difference in altitude of almost 1,400 metres and stops at three stations: Eigergletscher (2,320m), Eigerwand (2,864m) and Eismeer (3,158m).
At the Eigerwand and Eismeer stations, the trains make a five-minute stop so that visitors can enjoy breathtaking views of the glaciers and deep down into the valleys through viewing windows carved into the rock.
Tip: Make sure to reserve a seat for a trip on the Jungfrau Railway! It can easily happen that you don't get a seat at the desired departure time. However, there is hardly a more beautiful setting in which to wait half an hour for the next train.
Sphinx Observatory
The "Sphinx" is a meteorological research station with a large dome for astronomical observations. The research station is more than 100 metres higher than the Jungfraujoch at 3,571 metres, but is not open to the public.
There is, however, a glazed viewing hall that can be reached in 25 seconds from the railway station by Switzerland 's fastest lift. In fine weather, you can enjoy the fantastic Alpine panorama from the terrace that runs around the "Sphinx".
The Ice Palace
In 1934, two mountain guides began to cut a hall out of the glacier ice by hand with ice axe and saw. This is how the first rooms of the Ice Palace were created. The two mountain guides never finished their work. Today, the interior of the glacier surprises with over 1,000 square metres of walkable space and corridors.
To prevent the ice grotto from melting away due to the heat of the many thousands of visitors, it is artificially cooled to minus three degrees. In niches there are shimmering bluish ice sculptures that are created anew every year by a regional ice artist. The glittering world of eternal ice is open all year round and can be visited in any weather.
Climate and best time to travel to the Jungfraujoch
Depending on the season, temperatures at the Jungfraujoch range from -37 to +12 degrees Celsius. The wind - or rather storm - can reach peak speeds of up to 260 km/h. There are an average of 1,700 hours of sunshine per year (similar to the number on the bathing island of Sylt in Germany).
There is nobest time to visit the Jungfraujoch, or it depends very much on your holiday plans. The Jungfraujoch has its advantages all year round, in winter the mountains attract visitors for skiing, cross-country skiing and tobogganing, in summer for hiking and mountain biking.
Restaurants / Catering
Europe's highest railway station naturally also has the highest restaurants in Europe and these are open all year round. The cuisine ranges from "European" to "Asian". So no one has to starve on the mountain!
Related links:
Official website of the Jungfrau ski region with information on tickets, accommodation and offers.
