A trip to Jungfraujoch top of Europe - you need to know that

When planning our one-week stay in Switzerland, we knew immediately that we wanted to start our trip with one of the most famous attractions in Switzerland. We went to the Jungfraujoch glacier by train, which is the highest railway line in Europe. We describe how to get to the glacier by leaving your campervan at a campsite in Lauterbrunnen. We will also tell you about the cost of traveling in a motorhome around Switzerland .

Access to the Jungfrau top of Europe glacier

Make sure you plan your entire day for this trip. You need at least 4-5 hours to visit the whole place - without rush -. You will need 7 hours if you want to go for a walk on the top of Jungfraujoch. In addition, the height difference itself causes a lot of fatigue, so don't plan anything for the afternoon. When you go downstairs, you will probably be exhausted.

We stayed at the Jungfrau campsite in Lauterbrunnen. We like the campsites to be well connected to the surrounding attractions by public transport. We can then explore the area without moving the motorhome and in this case it is also the case. The nearest railway station is less than 2 km away. The walk is short and pleasant as you walk along pretty local buildings and pass the famous Staubbach Falls.

There are two ways to reach Jungfraujoch via the Eiger Glacier. Both routes start at the Lauterbrunnen train stop. One route is via Kleine Scheidegg by rail and the other from Grindelwald to the Eigergletscher. This new cableway was put into operation in December 2020. You can briefly see the entire journey here:

During our stay the Kleine Scheidegg was closed due to periodic inspection. So we chose the route from the video, that is: Lauterbrunnen - Grindelwald - Eigergletcher - Jungfraujoch. Many railways are inspected after the winter season. When traveling around Switzerland at the turn of the seasons, pay attention to it. Especially if you really care about driving a specific section. These exclusions are well described on the railway websites.

Travel costs to Jungfraujoch top of Europe

The train ticket from Lauterbrunnen - Grindelwald - Lauterbrunnen - cost us around CHF 20. Franek goes for free. From what we have noticed, children up to 5 years old have a lot of attractions and amenities for free. Remember that tickets must be purchased in advance at the box office. You cannot buy a ticket from the conductor. Many rail routes can be traveled for free with the Swiss Travel Pass. I am writing about it below.

A gondola ride from Terminal Grindelwald and then to the Jungfraujoch summit by train costs CHF 190 per adult and CHF 20 for children aged 6-15 years. Children under 5 travel for free. So for our 2 + 2 family we get 400 CHF .

Attractions along the way and at the top of Jungfrau top of Europe

The very beginning of the journey on the large gondola to the Eigergletscher brings you delight. Firstly, because of the amazing views, and secondly, the gondola itself is amazing. It is huge, but it only has seating. It was the first time we went like this. We were also at such a modern transfer terminal for the first time. The terminal looks a bit like an airport. There are shops, cafes and restaurants here.

The gondola takes you to the Eigergletscher. If the weather is nice, you can admire the Bernese Alps from here. The kids were playing with the snow, and we had a picnic on the terrace. Below you can read why we spent a little more time here than required by the Jungfraujoch train timetable.

After exiting the train at the top, look for signs to take you through all the free attractions at the top, one by one. The whole stay begins on the observation deck of the characteristic observatory, i.e. the Sphinx building. Then you go through a 250 meter long tunnel connecting the Sphinxa with the Ice Palace.

Tunnels are one of the biggest attractions - note this tunnel is carved in ice and you can also walk on ice. It is very slippery ... From the ice tunnels you go to the next viewpoint - Jungfraujoch Plateau. Here, a must-see is to take a picture with the Swiss flag!

From here we go to the building where the Lindt chocolate workshop and restaurants are located. The kids collapse from exhaustion, fall asleep in the restaurant, so we eat lunch and head for the return train.

We did not go for a walk on the Mönchsjochhütte due to the tiredness of the whole group. This is the only symptom of a quick trip to such a high altitude - drowsiness and fatigue. On the way back, most of the passengers are just asleep. The conductor distributes tablets of Swiss chocolate to all travelers.

More descriptions and photos of the attractions can be found on the Jungfrau top of Europe website: www.jungfrau.ch

My tips for going to the top of Jungfraujoch

Already at the campsite at the reception we were told that the trip to the Jungfraujoch peak could be associated with various discomforts due to the quickly covered height difference. There are several ways to remedy this and minimize the symptoms of altitude sickness.

Plan an hour or so stop at the top of the Eiger, a transfer station between the gondola and the train. Gradually climbing up the altitude will allow the body to get used to a lower air pressure.

Drink a lot of water, and then at the top it is best to let everyone drink at least half a liter of water.

Also bring: extra layers of clothing, mountain boots, warm boots, sunglasses, sunscreen.

We found beautiful weather so we could admire the beautiful views of the glacier, but this trip is also a good idea if, for example, it is raining in Lauterbrunnen . You can be either on the train or in the gondola or in the transfer terminals throughout the entire journey. At the top of Jungfrau, you explore the ice tunnels - here's what to do in any weather.

Swiss Travel Pass

It's a good idea to buy a Swiss Travel Pass. You can buy it, for example, for 3 or 6 days. It entitles to free travel on almost all trains in Switzerland and on some railways, incl. Rigi on Lake Lucerne, and many attractions, incl. A trip to the Eigergletcher or Jungfraujoch is subject to discounts of up to 50%.

In a motorhome around Switzerland

Many people asked us about tolls in Switzerland and on the way to Switzerland for a motorhome over 3.5 tons. It turns out that in some countries we travel cheaper than with a vehicle up to 3.5 tons.

We currently use two toll collection devices. One is a device for collecting e-tolls in the Czech Republic. In this case, I paid CZK 33 (about PLN 7) for traveling towards Switzerland and driving 550 km on the Cieszyn - Rozvadov section.

The second device we use is the UTA One. It allows for automatic toll collection in many European countries. This is done without having to register and install a separate device for each country. This device works, among others in Poland, Austria, Italy, France, Spain and Switzerland.

However, when it comes to Switzerland and the GVW of a motorhome over 3.5t, different toll rules for motorhomes and for "heavy goods" vehicles apply here. Therefore, during our stay in Switzerland, we turned off the UTA One device. We bought an e-vignette instead. The motorhome travel fee is not billed for each kilometer traveled, only periodically. It is enough to buy an e-vignette using the VIA application. For 7 days you have to pay CHF 25 (about PLN 110).

So the total cost for tolls with a motorhome over 3.5 tons from Poland to Switzerland is PLN 120. Driving the same road in a motorhome below 3.5 tons (to Switzerland for a week), I would have to pay about PLN 240 in total for tolls (10-day vignette in the Czech Republic and 1-year in Switzerland).

In addition, if I would like to go through Austria instead of the Czech Republic, for the section Mikulov - Salzburg for a 3-axle motorhome with a GVM of 5.5 t I would have to pay about 120 € one way.

Internet and phone calls in Switzerland

During our week in Switzerland, we never connected to the roaming network, and we used the phone normally and without any obstacles or high costs . How did we do it?

While still in Poland, we have launched the WiFi calling service at our operator. Right after crossing the border, we bought an internet card for a mobile router (I will write about it below). Then we turned on airplane mode (for our entire stay in Switzerland) and we had free wifi calls. We are currently using the T-mobile network. If you use your phone with another operator, they may charge you additional fees for the wifi calling service.

We chose the SALT network. Unlimited internet in this network costs CHF 2 per day. You must first purchase 10 days in advance. We highly recommend this solution.

Camping Jungfrau in Lauterbrunnen

We stayed here for two days. This campsite is one of the most beautifully situated campsites in Switzerland . It is located in the small mountain village of Lauterbrunnen at the foot of a huge waterfall. When walking along the town, you have the impression that the water is falling directly on the nearby houses. It turns out, however, that this is only one of the 67 waterfalls in the area! Be sure to plan a few days in this place, because there are many attractions in the area. It is recommended to take the train from here to the village of Murren. Another trip idea is a trip to the top of the Schilthorn. At the top, the panoramic Piz Gloria restaurant awaits you. Perhaps you know her from the James Bond movie. During the check-in at the reception, you will learn absolutely everything about the possibilities of this region. The campsite staff is very kind and will help you choose the right attractions for you depending on how you want to spend your time.

The campsite is open all year round, so it will also be perfect for winter ski trips. In the winter season, a ski bus goes directly to the nearest ski stations from the campsite . The same bus will also take you to the train stations, from where you can go to the more distant slopes. There is also a storage room on the campsite. The campsite has heated sanitary facilities, which is perfect for people who like to take long showers after returning from their skis.

Amenities at camp Jungfrau

There are a total of 3 sanitary buildings on the camp site . There are so-called babyroom. It is a room for bathing babies. There is also a family bathroom. There are also dish washing facilities in heated rooms and there are dishwashers. Of course, the campsite has a camper-service , i.e. a point for emptying dirt from the motorhome.

There is also a restaurant on the campsite, a well-stocked shop. There is also a fully equipped large kitchen with a huge fridge and dining area. There is also a room with a fireplace and comfortable sofas and a hammock. In the evening you can sit here with a glass of wine and a cheese board.

The camping in May cost us around CHF 55 for two nights. This is the cost for a Standard lot . This price includes 2 adults, 2 children (3 and 6 years old) and electricity. In winter, electricity is billed on the basis of consumption, and in summer, it is a one-off payment. The campsite is also perfect for those who prefer a camping holiday. The excellent infrastructure will provide comfort to all those who like spending time outdoors.

There is also a playground for children on the campsite and a laundry room. The nearest railway station is less than 2 km away.