Jungfrau Region: The Jungfraujoch

I personally think that reading online guides to the Jungfrau region is confusing. All these cable cars and funiculars made were beyond my understanding when I read about them. In reality, it is much more organized and easy to understand when you are actually there.

We decided to stay in Grindelwald mainly because it was easy to reach many of the tourist attractions, it was one of the few nearby villages that allowed car transportation and also because it was cheaper than other option. We wanted a place with some parking attached and we found such a place on outskirts of the city. The place was called Gasthof Panorama (Panorama Guesthouse). It was facing a mountain, so the panorama was definitely there. However, inside, the place felt like the 50s, musty and run down.

In any case, we came there to spend time exploring the mountains, so the condition of the hotel did not matter much.

The Jungfraujoch — Top of Europe

Visiting Jungfraujoch is easy from Grindelwald. There is a train station in the middle of the town, and tickets to Jungfraujoch can be bought right there. Thankfully, we bought half-fare cards, so our tickets cost only half the regular price, which saved us about $100 per person.

Jungrfaujoch is a popular tourist attraction, which makes it excessively crowded. Honestly, there is nothing spectacular to see over there. Just snowy mountains.

A better way to explore Jungfraujoch is to take a walk through the snow to the Mönchsjochhütte hut. The walk takes about 45 minutes to an hour, depending how good you are at walking on the snow.

I personally do not like walking in the snow, so I did not enjoy this walk at all. However, after all this time, this walk is our most vivid memory of the trip to Jungfraujoch.

It was also very warm. Snow, sun and exercise together produce a lot of warmth. I did not use sunscreen and regretted that the very next day. My face and hands got sunburned.

At the end of the walk there is a nice view and a small cafe where we were able to enjoy coffee and a traditional Swedish apple pie.

On the way back we heard a lot of cracking noises. I thought there was going to be an avalanche, which motivated me to walk faster.

There was no avalanche after all, and we got back to the station to experience the Ice Palace. It is a tunnel made of ice and is good for making a couple of selfies.

Overall, Jungfraujoch was a good experience. A little bit too touristy for my liking but definitely worth visiting.