Fancy escaping into the clouds for a bit? Try a journey to the Jungfraujoch, a rail station sitting 3,454 metres above sea level (making it Europe’s highest, no less) and one that also happens to run to a UNESCO World Heritage Site – the stunning Jungfrau-Aletsch region of the Swiss Alps.
As you might gather from all those credentials, this is a truly special journey that everyone should make at least once. You can find out more about this unique area at the official Jungfrau Railways website, but below we’ve given you some inspiration to get things underway.
To get you started on this incredible trip, a multimedia tour greets visitors when arriving at the station, explaining how the pioneering Jungfrau Railway became a reality, step-by-step. It’s the perfect introduction to understanding this wonderful system, and also to ready you for the breathtaking Alpine scenery that’s coming up. This includes countless towering peaks – some measuring over 4,000 metres – and year-round coatings of snow.
Undoubtedly one of the finest places to soak it all up is the Sphinx Terrace: a viewing platform attached to an international research station, offering superb vistas out across those snow-capped peaks, as well as a prime view of the Aletsch Glacier – the largest in the Alps. How to get to this acclaimed vantage point? A smooth and speedy lift that glides up 108 metres in just 25 seconds.
But remember that not all of the memorable sights are outdoors. Look carefully and you might spot a polar bear, an eagle or even a penguin – if you venture into the fascinating Ice Palace, that is. Originally built in the 1930s, this otherworldly complex houses meticulously carved ice sculptures that need to be seen to be believed.
If you prefer to interact with the scenery rather than just observe it, head straight to the Snow Fun Park, where you can try out all manner of winter sports: skiing, snowboarding, sledging and tubing are all possible, no matter whether you’re an expert or an absolute beginner.
If that whets your appetite for adventure, make sure to pay Grindelwald-First a visit. This celebrated adventure area contains countless thrills that are sure to satisfy active-types and adrenaline junkies. From zip-lining to scooter riding to the First Glider (which lets visitors soar through the skies like an eagle, at up to speeds of 83 kilometres per hour), there’s no shortage of excitement here.
However active or relaxed you plan on being, don’t miss the Eiger Express, a thoroughly modern tricable gondola which whisks visitors to the ‘top of Europe’ in just 47 minutes, providing an immersive ride and spectacular views of the famous Eiger north face along the way.
Alternatively, get a closer look at some of the area’s natural wonders by visiting the Schynige Platte. Here, you’ll find a botanical garden with around 800 species of Alpine flower to admire, epic hikes to embark on, and the much-loved Schynige Platte Railway, a nostalgic cog railway dating back to the late 19th century.
Just when you thought you’d seen it all, there’s Harder Kulm, the nearest mountain to Interlaken. Hop in a funicular and you’ll soon find yourself surveying the surroundings from 1,322 metres above sea level. Gleaming bodies of water including Lake Brienz and Lake Thun are visible, as are the famous three peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. The place to take in all this splendour is Two Lakes Bridge, a wondrous structure that stretches out from the mountain to put visitors in the heart of it all. Reward yourself afterwards at the Harder Kulm Panorama Restaurant, a scenic spot to refuel if ever there was one, offering further views of all the sights as you dine on traditional Swiss specialties.
If that all sounds too tempting to resist, start planning your high-altitude adventure right now – click here to visit the Jungfrau Railways website and get started. And remember that the best way to experience all of these sights – and many more – in just one trip is to grab a Jungfrau Travel Pass. This clever ticket has it all: unlimited travel to all destinations for three-eight days, and a special price for the trip to the Jungfraujoch. Find out more by visiting the Jungfrau Railways website at the link above.