Visiting Jungfraujoch (The Top of Europe): Is It Worth It?

Over a million tourists are drawn to the mountaintop of Jungfraujoch, Switzerland each year. This scenic spot, located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site beloved for its fantastic views of glaciers, the surrounding mountains, and even several other countries, along with having a few very fun things to do.

Jungfraujoch (sometimes called “the” Jungfraujoch) is a whopping 3,463 meters, or 11,361 feet, above sea level, making it truly the top of Europe. While you could technically get higher than that by hiking to the summit of Mont Blanc, Jungfraujoch’s stunning views and snowy fun won’t require as much effort – this is the highest accessible spot in Europe by traditional means, as it’s connected to the rest of Switzerland by rail and cable cars.

For its spectacular scenery and unique activities, the Jungfrau region is a popular place for Switzerland visitors as a day trip from both large cities and tiny villages. But it can be overwhelming to plan a trip to the top of Europe – there are questions of time of year and weather, the multiple connections required via train and cable car, and how to actually plan a visit, among other things to consider.

Here, we will break down visiting Jungfraujoch in Switzerland and everything you need to know about it. We’ll discuss if the trip to the top is worth it (spoiler alert: it is totally worth it) and all the great things you can do there, as well as how to best plan a trip up the mountain.

What is Jungfraujoch?

Jungfraujoch, often called the Top of Europe, is the highest point in Europe accessible without hiking. The word means “maiden saddle” in German, which refers to the fact that the mountain top is actually a glacier saddle. This saddle sits between Jungfrau and Mönch, two prominent peaks of the Bernese Alps on the border of the Bern and Valais cantons, which dominate the skyline from the nearby town of Interlaken, along with nearby Eiger.

The Aletsch Glacier forms on the east side of Jungfraujoch and flows for 14 miles, making it the longest glacier in the Alps. There’s another smaller one, the Eiger Glacier, on the other side of the mountain. Due to the extreme elevation of over 11,000 feet, there is guaranteed snow year-round at Jungfraujoch.

Clearly, Jungfraujoch is a place of extremes, but it doesn’t stop there. This is also Europe’s highest train station, post office, and Lindt store. It’s a…