Jungfraujoch - The Top of Europe
The sphinx in the middle of a glacier world The scenic wonders of Switzerland really come into focus A toothed rack railway trip from the "Kleine Scheidegg up to the Jungfraujoch is beside the Matterhorn in the Valais-Wallis region the biggest tourist attraction in Switzerland. To undertake this high-altitude excursion you need to wait for a day with perfect weather. Don't bother going on a cloudy day, it will not be worth the money. The best way to start your journey up to the top of Europe is from the town of Interlaken Ost. Guests that can afford it stay at the 5-star Victoria-Jungfrau in Interlaken. For more information on the luxury Victoria-Jungfrau click here. 
The best time to leave from Interlaken Ost is around 06:30 in the morning to beat the crowds. It is important even in the summer to take along warm clothing, hiking shoes and sun glasses. The train gets you very quickly to high altitude and causes a drop in air pressure. The lack of oxygen at altitude also causes some people shortness of breath, headaches and tiredness. Once you have arrived at the "Kleine Scheidegg" (2,061 m) you can see the train tracks joining from the "Wengernalpbahn" coming from Grindelwald and the other one from Lauterbrunnen/Wengen. On the ridge behind the "Lauberhorn" where every year the famous World cup downhill ski race takes place, you can see the towering north face of the Eiger peak close to reaching. Right beside it, you also see the Mönch and the Jungfrau mountains. The two antigous hotels Bellevue and Des Alpes (1841 and 1896) are still a nice place to spend a vacation in the summer or winter. An airplane landing on the Aletsch glacier From here the 7,1 km long tunnel leads through the Eiger and Mönch mountains to the Jungfraujoch. Approximately 4,4 km after leaving the "Kleine Scheidegg" you arrive at the Eigerwand station at 2,865 m. Through giant windows, you can see with a magnificent view down to the 1,800 m located resort of Grindelwald, the Lakes of Thoun and Brienz and as far away as the Jura mountain massif in north-western Switzerland. Click here for more on the resort of Grindelwald. Climbing higher by train and after about 5,7 km you arrive at the "Eismeer" station at 3,160 m. From there, the panorama extends to the cleft fall of the glacier, to the Schreckhorn, Wetterhorn and the Fiescherhörner. Finally, after the 50 minutes and 9,3 km train ride, the cog wheel train with an average steepness of 25% reaches the 3,454 m Jungfraujoch (11,400 feet). Arriving at the top, you will cross the reception hall with a view gallery and cafeteria. Close by you have the choice to visit the famed Eispalast (Ice Palace). It is a cavernous area carved out of a glacier and featuring permanent ice sculptures on display. 
Check out the Sphinx Terrace (3,573 m), from which the views of the Jungfrau and Mönch peaks are topped only by that of the 23 km (14-mile) icy expanse of the Aletsch Glacier, Europe's longest. Besides a terrace, the Sphinx also has a research- and weather station as well as a conservatorium. The "Sphinxstollen" maintains an exit to the "Jungfraufirn, where you can take a sleigh ride with husky dogs. If you rather prefer, take a 45-minute hike on an even flat winter trail to the "Mönchsjochhütte (a small mountain hut). The rack railway route from Interlaken to the top The round view from the Jungfraujoch is incredible - to the south, you see the Aletsch Glacier, to the north part of the Alps and the Jura mountains where on clear days you can recognize the Vosges mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany. Visiting the Jungfraujoch is not cheap but for somebody coming from the big city, it offers a new perspective. Return from Jungfraujoch to Switzerland Attractions Return from Jungfraujoch to High End Travel Switzerland Home Page
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Continuing on your way up, the trip with the Jungfrau rail takes you first through meadows to the station of the Eiger glacier at 2,320 m. 
The Top of Europe offers several restaurants, (the food is definitely not the point here) with a view of a magnificent mountain world. 