Riding the cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch, the 3,466 m peak in the Bernese Alps of Switzerland, is one of the most sought after experiences. To reach the peak you not only get to enjoy the magnificent Jungfrau region near Interlaken, but also experience the Jungfraubahn, Europe’s highest-altitude railway.
The train climbs up the mountain at this amazing elevation on a slope that sometimes reaches 25 degrees. Quite impressive, if you think about it.
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How to Get to the Cogwheel Train to Jungfraujoch from Interlaken
Most travelers start this day trip from Interlaken Ost station. Jungfraujoch –Top of Europe station can be reached via two routs. Either by taking the train to Wengen, or the train to Grindewald. Both routes are about the same distance, so you can start on one and return on the other. This segment of the trip takes about 20 minutes.
From Grindewald or Lauterbrunnen (via Wengen) you need to change to a cog train heading towards Kleine Scheidegg (about 45 minutes). From Kleine Scheidegg you change trains again to get to the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe station.
This last segment of the trip takes about 50 minutes. The cogwheel train goes through a 7 km tunnel that was dug through the rock of the Eiger and Mönch Alpine peaks and then reaches Jungfraujoch.
The total time for the trip is roughly 2 hours and you need to change trains three times. The Swiss Pass covers only the first part of the ride (from Interlaken to Grindewald or Lauterbrunnen), so for the cogwheel train you need to buy a separate ticket (which is discounted with the Swiss Pass).
What to Expect on the Cogwheel Train to Jungfraujoch
From Interlaken Ost to Grindewald or Lauterbrunnen the ride is short and relatively boring, but once you board the cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch the scenery changes dramatically. Riding through the Swiss Alps along the Kleind Scheidegg Pass is amazingly beautiful and peaceful.
Whatever pictures you might have seen of this place, the real thing is ten times better! Alpine villages scattered throughout the hills. Green meadows dotted with grazing cows. Rustic cottages with colorful flowers. And above all these, the stunning views of the Eiger and Mönch in the background. You think you may be in heaven!
This is the most picturesque part of the trip. From here on, once you change to the next cogwheel train, the road continues through a tunnel. But even though is completely dark, this last segment is very impressive. From an altitude of 2,061 m at Kleine Scheidegg the train continues to climb up and up, till it reaches its destination at 3,454 m.
The tunnel is a marvel of engineering that took over 13 years to built and was marked by many blasting accidents, strikes and financial problems. If you are lucky (like we were!) to be invited in the train conductor’s cabin, you can see the tunnel in the beam of the locomotive headlights.
The cogwheel train makes two short stops in the tunnel: at Eigerwand and Eismeer. The stations have restroom facilities and panoramic windows from where you can enjoy the view for a few minutes.
Tips for Taking the Cogwheel Train to Jungfraujoch
1. Make reservations
No matter when you visit Switzerland, Jungfraujoch is a very popular destination and the train is always crowded. If you don’t have reservations you may have to wait for the next train, but you can’t go standing because of the steep slope.
2. Start as early as possible
The best is to board the day’s first train, although it’s pretty crowded. You are competing not only with first-time visitors, but also with locals who routinely go mountain climbing in this area.
By the way, I found this quite shocking: you see groups and groups of well-fit people of all ages wearing ski boots and carrying skis and heavy backpacks. And you keep wondering if they came all the way up here just to ski down the mountain. But why would they pay the steep price of the cogwheel train instead of using a ski lift for much less?
And then you discover that in fact they are up here for way more than just skiing. These are rock climbers who ascend the steep rocks in ski boots and then ski down the mountain. Unbelievable!
This must be extremely strenuous not only because of the difficulty of the task itself, but because at 3,454 m the air is very rarefied and doesn’t provide enough oxygen for breathing.
3. Once coming out of a train, go fast to the next one
Seats fill out fast and even if you have a reservation, you may have a hard time grabbing a good seat.
4. Don’t book a non-refundable ticket
The weather is of utmost importance if you want to have an enjoyable experience atop the Jungfraujoch. If it’s too cloudy, or there is a storm coming-up you will be spending your money in vain.
Cogwheel tickets are very expensive (we paid around $190/person). For more up-to-date information on the tickets you can go to Jungfrau – Top of Europe website.
5. Take advantage of the “Good Morning” or the “Good Afternoon tickets“
They are available from May 1st to October 25th and are 50% off the regular price. The Good Morning ticket is for the uphill train that leaves from Kleine Scheidegg at 08:00 a.m. or 08:30 a.m. with the latest return from Jungfraujoch at 1:00 p.m. The Good Afternoon ticket is for the train that leaves from Kleine Scheidegg at 3:30 p.m.
A Final Note
Riding the cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch is an experience in itself. The steep grade railway that will take you to the top of the mountain is not something that you see everyday.
The cogwheel is very different from other scenic trains in Switzerland. So if you are still wondering if arriving at the highest railway station in Europe it’s worth your time and money, I can assure you it is. But it’s not nearly as rewarding if you don’t have good weather. So don’t start this trip unless you can see the top of Jungfraujoch from Interlaken!
READ NEXT: 10 Days in Switzerland – the Perfect Scenic Train Itinerary
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Tory
hi Anda, thanks for your article, its very helpful. I have a question regarding the cost of the cogwheel ride where your article mentions $190/pp. I find this info incorrect but i could be wrong. Is there a site where i can get the exact cost, time table and how to reserve a seat? thank you 🙂
Tory
Anda Galffy
Yeah, I know it sounds expensive but Switzerland is one of the most expensive countries I have ever visited. The price is currently $172 (176 Swiss Crowns) but you have a few package options. You can check them at MySwissAlpa.com or to Jungfrau.ch (I can’t add links in the comments). Hope this helps.
Kristin
Hi Anda, my name is Kristin and I live in Brisbane, Australia and we are visiting Switzerland in April this year. Thanks for writing your article on the cogwheel train which was very interesting and informative. Does the cogwheel train run in April? As we looked at another cogwheel train to Pilatus and it appears not to run in April???
Thanks
Kristin
Anda Galffy
I’m glad if my post was of help to you, Kristin. You will have to check their website for ticket pricing and timetables. I was there in May, not in April.
Anne
Hi Anda,
I apologize because I know I sent you a message but I cannot find the reply. So I will ask again. We are going to be staying in Lauterbrunnen May 17-May 20 and hopefully going up to Jungfrau. We will bring warm jackets, hats, gloves and will wear hiking shoes. If wearing jeans do we need to wear base layers like smart wools under our jeans and shirts or will we get too hot? Also when you walk out on the snow areas is it packed or will we go thru several inches of snow? My shoes are just Merrell slip ons waterproof but they don’t comb up over my ankle. You mentioned it being so windy up there should we pack a windbreaker to put over our jackets? I also wondered if you could bring yaktrax to put on shoes so not to slip in icecastle? If I am unable to walk to ice palace or in snow with my family as I have bad back, knees and afib can I wait someplace inside at the top for them I cannot tell if there is in inside place at the very top? Again I apologize for asking the questions again. I believe you also went mid-May and looking at the weather for next week it is not looking very good right now? By any chance did you go in Tummelbach Falls? Just wondering if I can walk the stairs and how slippery it is. This is our first stop in Europe then driving to Tuscany where the weather looks to be much much warmer. So hard to pack! Our oldest son is graduating from college so this is a probably one of the last all together family trips we will do. Thank you again. Anne
Anda Galffy
I replied to your previous comment right away, Anne. However, you ask me these questions in the comments section of another post and that’s where I replied.
Rylah krishna Pastrana
Im staying in Grindelwald in May specifically in this hotel:
Hotel Allegro/SJBZLincolnweg 23 | CH-8840 Einsiedeln –is this close to this spot? I want to ride the cogwheels.
Thank you.
Anda Galffy
I am not acquainted with Grindewald so I can’t tell you how close Hotel Allegro is from the train station. However, Grindewald is a very small place and most likely your hotel is not far from it.
AKASH GOLA
Hi Anda, I like the way you write and I am fan of your blog. Very informative articles.
Thanks for sharing again.
Connie Reed
This looks like a truly awesome experience. My husband is a train nut and loves any kind of train ride. I would love this one too. A great way for non-skiers to see the mountains.
Linda Bibb
We missed the opportunity to visit Interlaken when we were in Switzerland but we did ride a cogwheel train outside Lucerne at Mount Pilatus. What a great experience that was. We had great weather and the view was spectacular.
Really good photos inside the tunnel. How did you manage that?
Mary {The World Is A Book}
This is so neat! What a great journey and I can just imagine the panoramic scenery. I love train rides and will definitely make this a must when we find ourselves in Switzerland. Thanks for all the tips.
Victoria @celebratetheweekend
Anda, we plan to ride a cogwheel to Mount Pilatus in Lucerne this summer- I wonder about the “scary” factor (I am a “scaredy cat” according to my daughter).
Anda Galffy
I didn’t travel to Mount Pilatus, Victoria, so I don’t know. The cogwheel train for Jungfraujoch wasn’t scary at all (unless you get scared when the train goes through a tunnel).
Linda Bibb
I’m not sure why you’d find it intimidating but we didn’t find the cogwheel train on Mount Pilatus scary at all.
Victoria @celebratetheweekend
Fear of heights? (I found Mt. Washington in NH and Tioga Pass quite scary)
Ruth
I will take a ride like this just for the view. Like the big windows in both sides of the train. When I visited Switzerland, I took the cogwheel to Mt. Pilatus. It was short but the views from the top where amazing.
Lyn@thetravellinglindfields
It sounds fabulous but the idea of having to rush to get a good seat is a huge turn-off. There is nothing I hate more than having to compete with the other tourists to enjoy an experience which we have all paid a lot for.
Anda Galffy
I agree, Lyn, but that’s what you have to face when you visit popular places.
Linda Bibb
The best way to avoid some of this would likely be to travel off-season.
Louise
I love trains – that’s my favorite mode of transportation. Your pictures, as usual, are breathtaking. And thanks for sharing great tips!
Melodie K.
Neither my husband or I ski, but it might be worth taking the Cogwheel Train to see a gorgeous chunk of the world, with the Eiger of book and movie fame, from such a great altitude. I wonder . . . what kind of facilities or hiking trails, if any, did you discover at the top?
Anda Galffy
Oh, you can do a lot of hiking at the top (if your lungs can adapt to the high elevation!).
Suze The Luxury Columnist
You’re right, there are lots of skiers who use the train and it is surprising but I suppose they are doing it as a one-off!
Anda Galffy
In fact there were more skiers than regular tourists on that train.