In case you are planning a go to to the Bernese Alps and solely have the time, or the cash, for Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn, which one do you have to go to?
Each are extraordinary experiences, providing panoramic views of the Alps with a couple of distinctive variations. Each additionally include a giant sticker value.
On this article, get an summary of what to anticipate at every go to, how a lot you’ll spend, after which get our suggestions for which one to go to, based mostly in your touring type.
An Overview of Jungfraujoch
A visit as much as Jungfraujoch is likely one of the hottest issues to do within the Bernese Oberland. Stand on one of many highest factors within the Swiss Alps, stroll by means of an ice cave, play within the snow, get panoramic views over the Alps, and hike out to Mönchsjochhütte.
Additionally referred to as the Prime of Europe, there’s loads of advertising and marketing and promoting to make you, as a vacationer, really feel like that is one thing you could do. And it’s working. Jungfraujoch is a really crowded expertise, particularly in the summertime months.
The way to Get to Jungfraujoch
The one technique to get to Jungfraujoch is by practice. Relying in your place to begin, you’ll almost certainly take a sequence of trains to get right here. And this may take a number of hours.
First, you’ll have to get to Kleine Scheidegg or Eigergletscher. The ultimate practice to Jungfraujoch, referred to as the Jungfraubahn, leaves from Kleine Scheidegg.
In case you are beginning in Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, or Gimmelwald, you’ll take the practice to Kleine Scheidegg. It’s right here that you’ll board the Jungfraubahn after which it’s a 35-minute journey, largely in a chilly, darkish tunnel, to get to Jungfraujoch. You exit the practice at Jungfraujoch, the very best practice station in Europe.
The Eiger Categorical is a model new gondola connects Grindelwald with Eigergletscher, reducing down journey occasions. In case you are beginning in Grindelwald or Interlaken, you’ll take the Eiger Categorical to Eigergletscher, then board the Jungfraubahn at this station, and take this practice to Jungfraujoch.
The Jungfraubahn, earlier than it enters the tunnel.
How A lot Does a Go to Price?
With none reductions, tickets can price at the very least CHF 200 per particular person (roughly $200 USD). The ultimate practice journey (Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch) prices CHF 156 within the excessive season. Spherical journey tickets from Grindelwald Terminal to Jungfraujoch price CHF 214 within the excessive season.
There are reductions to make this cheaper. In case you have the Swiss Journey Move, you’re going to get a 25% low cost. Youngsters journey free with a Junior Journey Card. The Jungfrau Journey Move additionally gives reductions.
Be taught extra about the right way to go to Jungfraujoch, with maps, recommendation on the right way to get right here and reserve your tickets, with a number of tricks to have the very best expertise, in our article
The way to Go to Jungfraujoch and is It Value It?
What Can You Do on Jungfraujoch?
There’s a lot to do, as soon as you’re right here. Benefit from the panoramic views from the Sphinx Terrace, go snow tubing or snowboarding on the Aletsch Glacier, hike out to Mönchsjochhutte, and see the ice carvings within the Ice Palace. There are additionally a number of eating places and present retailers the place you may spend extra money.
A go to sometimes lasts 4 to five hours, just a little bit longer should you additionally plan on snow tubing or snowboarding.
The view from the Sphinx Terrace.
An Overview of Schilthorn
Schilthorn is one other excessive alpine peak within the Bernese Oberland. It sits throughout the Lauterbrunnen Valley from Jungfraujoch.
Piz Gloria, the primary complicated of buildings on Schilthorn, was featured within the James Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. While you’re right here, you may dine within the rotating restaurant that was featured within the film.
The way to Get to Schilthorn
Most individuals get to Schilthorn by using the sequence of cable automobiles that begins in Stechelberg. There may be additionally a mountaineering path to the highest.
The journey on the cable automobile is likely one of the finest elements of the go to to Schilthorn. You silently drift over small cities and hamlets, previous farms and their cows and sheep, and the views of the mountains get higher the upper you go. There aren’t any chilly, darkish tunnels on this journey, simply sweeping views of the Bernese Alps.
A view of the cable automobile, taken from Birg.
How A lot Does a Go to Price?
A go to to Schilthorn is less expensive than Jungfraujoch. Once more, your price depends upon your place to begin, however costs vary from CHF 85 to CHF 127.
Much like Jungfraujoch, you can even get reductions on these costs. The Swiss Journey Move offers you a 50% low cost. Youngsters journey free with the the Junior Card.
In fact, should you hike to Schilthorn and journey the cable automobile down (or vice versa), you save roughly 50% on the ticket value.
What Can You Do on Schilthorn?
From the viewing platform at Schilthorn, you get superb views of Mönch, Eiger, and Jungfrau, to not point out 200 extra mountain peaks. Have brunch at Piz Gloria, the rotating restaurant, and go to Bond World.
On the cable automobile journey to Schilthorn, you’ll switch in Birg. Stroll the Thrill Stroll and revel in extra gorgeous views of the world.
Birg Thrill Stroll
Be taught extra about the right way to go to Schilthorn, with maps, recommendation on the right way to get right here, with a number of tricks to have the very best expertise, in our article
The way to Go to Schilthorn and Birg
Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn?
So, how do you resolve which one to go to? Listed here are the benefits and downsides of each.
Jungfraujoch…The Good
Go to a UNESCO World Heritage Website
Jungfraujoch is positioned throughout the Jungfrau-Aletsch Area, an space that was chosen as a UNESCO World Heritage Website in 2001. For many who try to see as many UNESCO websites as potential, this may be one for the record.
View of the Aletsch Glacier from Jungfraujoch
Trip a Historic Practice
Jungfraujoch is the situation of the very best practice station in Europe. Development of the railway started in 1896 and was all achieved by guide labor: choose axes, shovels, and human labor. It took sixteen years to finish the railway, formally opening in 1912.
Play within the Snow/Stroll on a Glacier
At Jungfraujoch, you get to go mountaineering, snowboarding, and snow tubing, even through the summer season months. For a lot of guests, this opportunity to play within the snow is likely one of the highlights of a go to right here, particularly for guests who sometimes don’t get to see snow the place they reside.
Greatest Alternative for Youngsters
With the prospect to play within the snow and the ice carvings within the Ice Palace, Jungfraujoch is a better option in case you are touring with youngsters.
Jungfraujoch…the Dangerous
It’s Costly
The go to to Jungfraujoch is almost double what you’ll pay to go to Schilthorn. Sure, you get to do extra as soon as you’re right here, however CHF 200 is rather a lot to spend.
It Feels Extra Touristy and Crowded
There may be much more advertising and marketing to attract guests to Jungfraujoch. Not solely will folks be arriving from close by areas like Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, but additionally Lucerne and even Zurich.
To keep away from the crowds, ensure you are on the primary practice of the day. Even then, it’ll nonetheless really feel crowded, particularly in the summertime months.
You Ought to Guide Your Tickets in Advance
That is such a preferred exercise that if you wish to be on that first practice, you must e-book your tickets 1 to 2 days upfront. Watch the climate and preserve your fingers crossed that the forecast doesn’t change, if it’s predicted to be a transparent day once you reserve your tickets.
Schilthorn…the Good
The Trip to Get Right here is Thrilling
No costly practice journey. No journey by means of an extended, darkish tunnel. Only a sequence of thrilling cable automobiles get you to Schilthorn.
Brunch at Piz Gloria, the Rotating Restaurant
We cherished this! It takes 45 minutes for the restaurant to do one full revolution, and through this time, you get to benefit from the view as over 200 mountain peaks slowly drift by outdoors your window.
The View is Higher than Jungfraujoch
That is simply my opinion, however I feel that the view is healthier from Schilthorn. Since Piz Gloria sits on high of a mountain peak (versus Jungfraujoch, which sits on a saddle between two mountains), you get 360° views of the Alps. Plus, you get a spectacular view of Jungfrau, Mönch, and Eiger, with the Lauterbrunnen Valley stretched out in entrance of it.
At Jungfraujoch, your foremost view is of the Aletsch Glacier, which is great, however it’s not jaw-dropping just like the views from Schilthorn.
The view from Schilthorn
It’s Cheaper
Ticket costs are roughly half of what you spend to go to Jungfraujoch.
You Can Hike to Schilthorn
For these wanting so as to add on an epic hike with much more superb alpine views, you may hike to the height of Schilthorn (or journey the cable automobile up and hike again all the way down to Mürren or Gimmelwald).
You can’t hike to Jungfraujoch.
Takes Much less Time
In case you are staying close to Mürren, you will be on the high of Schilthorn in lower than half-hour (it took us 2 hours to get to Jungfraujoch from Mürren). There may be additionally much less to do right here, so basically, most visits final 3 hours. In case you are quick on time and staying in or close to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, select Schilthorn.
It’s Much less Crowded
For each experiences, we have been both on the primary practice or the primary cable automobile of the day. The practice to Jungfraujoch was fully full, in order that’s lots of people instantly flooding the constructing.
For Schilthorn, we shared the a lot smaller cable automobile with only a handful of individuals. Whereas we dined at Piz Gloria, we virtually had the restaurant to ourselves.
The Schilthorn terrace very first thing within the morning.
Schilthorn felt splendidly empty in comparison with our expertise at Jungfraujoch.
It does get crowded on Schilthorn, sometimes between 10 am and 4 pm. However at the very least you may have the prospect to have a quieter, much less crowded expertise right here, if that’s vital to you.
Birg Thrill Stroll
On the journey as much as Schilthorn or again all the way down to Mürren or Stechelberg, get off at Birg and stroll the Thrill Stroll, for extra gorgeous views of the Alps.
The view from Birg
Schilthorn…The Dangerous
Much less Prone to See Snow
Mid to late summer season, there’s not a lot snow left on high of Schilthorn. Nonetheless, in 2020, an space opened the place guests can contact the snow.
However if you wish to stroll on the snow, Jungfraujoch is the clear winner.
Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn: Our Advice
The principle causes to go to Jungfraujoch are for prime alpine views of a wintery wonderland, the prospect to stroll and play within the snow, and to journey a historic practice to the very best practice station in Europe. The draw back is the massive price ticket (will be over CHF 200 per particular person) and the potential for spending at the very least 3 to 4 hours on trains, relying in your place to begin. Nonetheless, after your go to to Jungfraujoch, you may add on the unimaginable Eiger Path for one superb day within the Jungfrau area.
The principle causes to go to Schilthorn are to journey the sequence of thrilling cable automobiles, soak up 360° views of the Alps, dine at Piz Gloria, and stroll the Birg Thrill Stroll. That is less expensive and faster to go to, so if you’d like excessive alpine views with out spending a small fortune, select Schilthorn.
Of the 2 experiences, Schilthorn was our favourite. We loved each, however the value and size of time to get to Jungfraujoch is a giant minus. Plus, the crowds get to be insane mid-morning. However we cherished strolling out to Mönchsjochhutte and this was our favourite expertise at Jungfraujoch.
Schilthorn was an all-around nice expertise. From the cable automobile journey to the great brunch and the Birg Thrill Stroll, we loved each single minute of this expertise.
In case you can go to each, do it, as a result of I feel that they’re price it, since they provide totally different experiences. Simply ensure you do these on clear days so that you simply get to benefit from the spectacular views.
I hope this helps you make your choice, and in case you have any questions on which one is healthier, Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn, tell us within the remark part under. Additionally, in case you have achieved each, which one do you advocate?
Extra Locations to Go in Switzerland:
JUNGFRAU REGION: What precisely is the Jungfrau area? Discover out in our Information to the Jungfrau Area, which incorporates maps and vital journey planning info. We even have articles about the very best issues to do within the Jungfrau area in addition to the highest hikes within the Jungfrau area. The Eiger Path and Schynige Platt to First are our favourite hikes.
LUCERNE: Learn to spend one excellent day in Lucerne with a visit to Mt. Pilatus.
ZERMATT: In Zermatt, don’t miss the hike from Gornergrat to Riffelberg. One other well-liked hike is the 5 Lakes Path. For extra concepts on what to do, learn our article Greatest Issues to Do in Zermatt.
SWITZERLAND ITINERARY: In case your go to to Zermatt is a part of an even bigger journey to Switzerland, try our Switzerland Itinerary, which has solutions on what to do in case you have 7 days, 14 days, and even longer.
ZÜRICH: For issues to do on a fast go to, try our article One Day in Zürich.
LUGANO: Lugano is positioned in southern Switzerland. From right here, you may go to the fairytale bridge Ponte dei Salti and you’ll simply day journey to Lake Como and Bellagio.
Learn all of our articles about Switzerland in our Switzerland Journey Information.
