From Interlaken: Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Winter Day Trip with Eiger Express

The Jungfraujoch is the icy saddle between the Mönch and the Jungfrau, and at 3,454 metres its station is the highest railway station in Europe. This guided day trip from Interlaken takes you up in winter, when the Bernese Oberland lies under deep snow and, on many days, a sea of fog fills the lowlands while the high peaks stand in sunshine.

You meet your guide in central Interlaken late in the morning and board a coach for the half-hour drive up the Lütschine valley to Grindelwald Terminal. There you change to the Eiger Express, a tricable gondola opened in December 2020, which glides up beneath the north face of the Eiger to Eigergletscher station in about 15 minutes. From there the cogwheel train of the Jungfrau Railway runs almost entirely inside the Eiger and the Mönch, through a tunnel completed in 1912, before arriving at the top.

You then have a little over two hours at the summit complex. A fast lift takes you up to the terrace of the Sphinx Observatory at 3,571 metres, from where the Great Aletsch Glacier, the longest glacier in the Alps and the centrepiece of the Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch UNESCO World Heritage Site, sweeps away to the south. Inside the glacier, the Ice Palace is a series of tunnels and halls carved into the ice and decorated with ice sculptures, kept at a few degrees below zero all year. The Alpine Sensation walkway tells the story of how the railway was built, and when the weather allows you can step out onto the snow of the Plateau.

The descent follows a different line. The train runs down to Kleine Scheidegg at the foot of the Eiger, then through the car-free ski village of Wengen to Lauterbrunnen, where the coach waits for the short drive back to Interlaken. You are back in town at around 18:00. Weather at this altitude changes fast: on clear days the view reaches far beyond the Swiss Alps, while on others the summit sits in cloud or blowing snow and the outdoor terraces close for safety. The trip runs in most conditions, so it is worth checking the summit webcams on the morning.

For winter 2026–27 this listing runs from 5 December 2026 to 30 April 2027, after the region's November maintenance closures: the Eiger Express pauses from 9 to 20 November 2026 and the railway between Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg until 4 December.

Dress for high-mountain winter. Temperatures at the summit typically sit between about -15 °C and -5 °C in winter, and the wind on the terraces makes it feel colder. Bring a warm insulated jacket, hat, gloves and winter shoes with a good grip, as the Plateau and outdoor paths are snow-covered and can be icy. Sunglasses and sunscreen are essential because the glare off the snow is intense at this altitude.

The air at 3,454 m is thin. Walk slowly, drink water and avoid rushing up stairs; a mild headache or light-headedness is common for healthy visitors and usually fades once you are back down. If you have a heart, lung or blood pressure condition, or any other health concern, ask your doctor before booking. If you feel unwell at the top, tell your guide.

The tour runs in most weather, and clear views cannot be guaranteed. In storms or strong wind the Sphinx terrace and the Plateau may be closed, and railway timings or the order of the day can change at short notice. The summit webcams give a good idea of conditions on the morning.

Be at the meeting point 15 minutes before departure and bring a valid ID. There is time for lunch at the summit restaurants, but carrying water and a snack is a good idea.