Apr 30, 20224 min read

6 Not-to-miss Day Trips from Lucerne, Switzerland - Jungfraujoch

Updated: Jul 2

En route to Jungfraujoch!

Jungfrau is the highest point in Europe; anyone looking for information on Switzerland Tourism would have surely come across the image of its iconic Sphinx Laboratory, an imposing metallic structure jutting out from among the snow-clad mountain peaks all around.

The peaks are Jungfrau and Mönch along the Aletsch Glacier.

A visit to this spectacular landscape is a day tour full of thrilling moments on the train as you travel through different climate zones in a single day, ride through the tunnel and see the panoramic views of the mountain peaks all around.

Things to remember if you're travelling with kids are

- If your itinerary is flexible, then make sure to check the day's weather at Jungfrau before your start. Ideally, one should make this journey only on a sunny day to get clear views of the glacier and the peaks.

- Carry light snacks to munch during travel. Although, once on top, there are restaurants aplenty.

- It can get very cold and extremely windy once you reach the top if you venture outside. Carry a down jacket with hoods even in summer for small kids. It's best to dress in layers.

- There is an Ice Palace on the top that houses beautiful snow sculptures. It's worth visiting but it can get pretty chilled inside. So, dress accordingly.

- Also, a very important advice from me is to do all the outdoor activities as soon as you reach the top if the weather is sunny. The weather can be very unpredictable around here. It was warm and sunny when we reached but our kids got busy in the indoor attractions. By the time we came out, the weather had become extremely windy and cloudy.

Getting to Jungfrau is time-consuming and expensive too. There are 3 ways to reach the top from Lucerne.

Wherever you are travelling from, the starting point is Grindelwald Terminal. If you are coming from Lucern, then your route will be -

- Train to Interlaken Ost from Lucerne Station over the Brunig Pass

Start as early in the morning as possible. The ride is very scenic along the lakes.

- From Interlaken Ost, train to Grindelwald Terminal

Swiss Travel Pass is valid till this point. Kindly check for any latest updates or changes.

After Grindelwald, there are 3 ways to travel ahead -

1. By Cable car from Grindelwald Terminal - Eiger Express tri-cable Gondola to Eiger Glacier Station - Jungfrau railway to Jungfraujoch

This is the quickest route and takes about 50 minutes to reach to the top

2. Train from Grindelwald to Kleine Scheidegg.

Sit on the right for glorious views of the Grindelwald Valley and on the left for the North face of Eiger.

- Train from Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfrau.

This is the final leg of the journey; most of it is through a tunnel, much to the delight of our kids. The train stops at 2 points along the route where you can get down and see panoramic views of the snow-clad peaks all around.

We opted for the trains-only route because our kids wanted to make a long train journey through a tunnel and we had no say in the matter!

This is the most conventional route and also the most laid-back one, takes 4 to 5 hours to reach Jungfrau as the train meanders through scenic mountains at a leisurely pace. If you have a full day on hand, then going by this route is an outing in itself.

3. Travel by train on the onward journey as in Option 2. On the return, however, opt for the gondola to save time. This is a good option because you can get the best views from the train and a joyride on the gondola too!

At Jungfraujoch

View from the top!

The moment you reach the top and venture into the open terrace, a blast of cold mountain air hits you. And what hits you, even more, is the absolutely mesmerizing mountain scenery. There are huge mammoths of snow as far as the eye can see.

Many activities are awaiting you at the top.

- Ice Palace

- Alpine Sensation

- Viewing platform at the top to see the Aletsch Glacier are free and included in your ticket.

Snow Park and Zipline are paid.

A lift takes you to the Sphinx Laboratory 117 m high. Views from the top are entirely weather-dependent. On a clear day, one can get magnificent views of the Alpine peaks of Italy, France and Germany on the Aletsch glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps.

My Tip -

I have read forums where some people who have travelled to Jungfrau felt that it was overrated and very expensive. It is undoubtedly expensive for a lone day trip.

But I contend that where else can you see a 23-kilometre-long glacier, the longest one in the Alps from a viewing platform that gives a front-seat view of the glacier, that too with your family and kids in tow?

The infrastructure around the mountain is amazing, to say the least. Not to mention the journey on the cogwheel and the gondola, that precedes this stunning scenery.

Jungfraujoch is an experience that is certainly worth your time and money!