A picturesque train ride to the top of the world (or the top of Europe at least) ☺

I’M ON TOP OF THE WORLD!!

Have you ever wanted to stand at the summit of a majestic snow-covered mountain, spread your arms à la Leonardo and Kate, and shout this at the top of your lungs (the world be damned!)?

Well then, there’s no better place to do this than scenic Jungfraujoch in picturesque Switzerland. At Jungfraujoch (a big mouthful!), the highest train station in Europe, you can do all this and more. The best thing is that you won’t even feel silly doing it. But if you don’t, you’ll surely regret it ☺

Standing at over 3000 metres above sea level, Jungfraujoch is one of the many exquisite spots you must explore in and around Switzerland’s stunning alpine countryside.

The only way to reach Jungfraujoch is by cogwheel train. Don’t be fooled by the quaint-sounding term though. Jungfrau Railway’s cogwheel conveyances are as modern and comfortable as you’d expect from Switzerland. And the journey that culminates in that elusive top-of-the-world feeling is simply unforgettable! As with almost every place I have visited in Switzerland, I cherish the journey that took me to Jungfraujoch as much as I cherish the place itself. Read on to know why!

The route to Jungfraujoch

All trains to Jungfraujoch set off from Kleine Scheidegg (another tongue-twister of a name!) ☺

To get to Kleine Scheidegg, you can travel by either of these routes:

Interlaken →Zweilütschinen → Lauterbrunnen →Wengen → Kleine Scheidegg ➔ MY ROUTE

OR

Interlaken → Zweilütschinen → Grindelwald → Kleine Scheidegg

Either ways, your journey to Kleine Scheidegg and then to Jungfraujoch should take a little over two hours.

To get to Jungfraujoch, you can board the train at any of these stations, but I’d recommend that you start at Interlaken. I guarantee you will lose yourself in the journey, which is a draw in itself!

In short, your 2-part journey to Jungfraujoch will look like this:

Section 1: Interlaken – Lauterbrunnen –  Kleine Scheidegg

My journey

The train ride starts from Interlaken

I was travelling with Prati and when we boarded the train from Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen, we both got seats on the right of the train. Neither of us realised it at the time, but by sitting on the right, we were treated to the most stunning views of snow-covered mountains, craggy peaks and verdant countryside. Don’t get me wrong, the left side is not so bad (it is Switzerland after all!) But the views from the right side windows of the train are absolutely mind-blowing! Don’t take my word for it, check it out for yourself!

The Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen journey took about 30 minutes.

Chug Chug trains climbs higher..

and higher…

At Lauterbrunnen, we disembarked and then boarded the cogwheel train to Kleine Scheidegg. Kleine Scheidegg stands an impressive 2,000+ metres above sea level, so the topside views are mesmerising!

and it reaches the snow covered peaks..

Section 2: Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch

At Kleine Scheidegg, we boarded Jungfrau Railway’s unique cogwheel train. And this is where we had the most fun! Did I mention the views at Kleine Scheidegg are dazzling? The Jungfrau train made a couple of short stops, first at Eigerwand and then again at Eismeer. By this time, we were already climbing an incline that got progressively steeper. As the train slowed down, we got to experience nature’s colourful palette in all its breathtaking glory. Everyone on the train got down at Eigerwand and Eismeer to take pictures like mad – a very poor substitute to the glory of nature, I tell you!

At Kleine Scheidegg station

View of Kleine Scheidegg station from the train as we move toward Jungfraujoch

After we left Eismeer, the train – still climbing – entered the Eiger Tunnel. Can you imagine the ingenuity and skill it must have taken hundreds of people to dig a tunnel through a mountainside standing 3000 metres above sea level, more than a century ago?! I was totally floored (pun unintended!), not to mention, absolutely humbled by the experience!

After about 45 minutes, we reached Jungfraujoch, Europe’s highest railway station. The view that greeted my eyes – pristine white snow covering majestic peaks as far as I could see – left me in tears. It was literally a winter wonderland come to glorious life! It took me several minutes to recover from the near-spiritual experience.

And luckily for us, the wind was not blowing too hard so we managed to take lots of beautiful pictures for my memory-book ☺

View from the Top

Hiding from the wind

My tips and recommendations

• Take your time exploring the area in and around Jungfraujoch. There’s so much to see – the Ice Palace, the Alpine Sensation
• On the return journey, travel by the route you didn’t take on the onward journey.

So, if you went from

Interlaken →Lauterbrunnen → Kleine Scheidegg →Jungfraujoch

Then go from

Jungfraujoch →Kleine Scheidegg →Grindelwald →Interlaken

when you return

• Wander around the stations’ platforms, breathe in the pure mountain air, contemplate the meaning of life (☺) and take lots and lots of pictures!

Grindelwald town

• Check the train timetables and the weather before you start your journey. Travel early in the morning to avoid crowds. We started at 8 AM and the train was still full! We were lucky to get good seats. Here are some useful links: JUNGFRAU TIMETABLE and MYSWISSALPS
• And this may seem obvious, but make sure you dress in layers. The air at Jungfraujoch is VERY cold, even in summer. And don’t forget to wear thick socks and sturdy shoes!
• Carry snacks and plenty of water if you dont want to spend in Euros 🙂

So, have you managed to cross ‘travel to the top of Europe’ off your bucket list? I’d love to hear more about your experience. 

And now for the last cliche pic 😉