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My girls and I will be staying in Grindelwald for 4 nights in January. We’re purchasing the half fare card for travel (120 per person) – Zurich Airport to Grindelwald (Round trip would be 85.20) . My question is this – on the STC site, the Jungfraujoch excursion is 150 per person. But if I’m calculating correctly, from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch the roundtrip fare will be 82.50 per person. What am I missing?!
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Is it because an ‘excursion’ fare would be calculated from Interlaken Ost (being the ‘base point’) for Jungfrau trips?
Do be aware that there are many people (not just me…) who find Jungfraujoch overrated and disappointing for the price. There are cheaper ways to see snow and ice in Switzerland – especially in winter.
I saw one reviewer describe the opposite, but they had been taken in by the marketing slogan ‘top of Europe’ and described their trip as being a visit to the ‘highest peak in Europe’ – which of course it is not.
1960man, thanks for your reply. Perhaps you can make some suggestions, as I haven’t booked hotel reservations yet. Instead of Jungfraujoch what would you recommend? I’ve read mixed reviews about Jungfraujoch as well, but really didn’t know what other options are available for,our time frame and the season. I don’t have a set plan yet so I’m open to suggestions. We want to see the alps and would like to go sledding as we don’t ski (daughters are 22and 24). We prefer country to city, but wouldn’t mind a short half day trip to a larger town either. We will be arriving Zurich January 5 and departing on the 9th. Thanks for your help!
Hi Franks4duke,
Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch should be 47.50chf per person one-way with your Swiss Half Fare Card discount. Zurich airport to Grindelwald should be about 40chf per person with the Swiss Half Fare Card discount (one-way). Online purchase options and more details on the Swiss Half Fare Card: http://www.myswissalps.com/sw isshalffarecard
Details and tips here on how to find prices on the timetable: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable
Grindelwald (http://www.myswissalps.com/gr indelwald) is a nice ski resort in the Jungfrau region. Staying there doesn’t limit you to visiting the Jungfraujoch if you don’t want to. See other options of what to do in the Jungfrau region here: http://www.myswissalps.com/ju ngfrauregion/activitie s.
First (http://www.jungfrau.ch/en-gb/grindelwaldfirst/) is also a very popular mountain to visit in Grindelwald. Great for snowshoeing or winter hiking. There is also sledging: http://www.grindelwaldbus.ch/ en/sledging/bussalp
Probably the most popular town to stay in for members of MySwissAlps is Wengen, not far from Grindelwald: http://www.myswissalps.com/we ngen
Each town page has a list of our hotel suggestions there as well.
Hello Franks4duke,
The Schilthorn is another popular destination for wide views of the Alps. You can compare Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch by reading our pages about them:
In winter even a visit to Kleine Scheidegg, half way up Jungfraujoch, is worth it for wonderful views and snow. But it’s a lot lower than the other two places so the views are different.
Thanks everyone, for your replies. How do we get from Grindelwald to Schilthorn? Would you recommend we do both – that and Jungfraujoch? I’ve read wonderful things about Zermatt, but have also read that if the weather is poor it is a disappointing trip. If we checked the weather and it was good would that be a possible day trip from Grindelwald?
Hi Franks4duke,
If you go to the Schilthorn page in my previous post then you’ll find directions and a link to the timetable on the Route tab.
Both excursions are wonderful and quite different. Whether to do both is a personal decision based on interests, budget and how much time you have available. All of these excursions require good weather, including a trip to Zermatt. One of the main goals is to admire the views, which will be limited or even non existent if there are low clouds or precipitation. So it helps to have both good and bad weather plans.
Zermatt is doable as a (long) day trip from Grindelwald. Travel times are in the timetable Lucas referred to. You can read more about Zermatt here: http://www.myswissalps.com/ze rmatt.
I always recommend Zermatt – Gornergrat over Jungfraujoch. A day visit to Zermatt is risky regarding weather. It is best to spend a few days in Zermatt (Perhaps on another holiday?)
If fixed to the Berner Oberland area, I think it’s a case of ‘do anything except Kleine Scheidegg – Jungfraujoch’.
Thanks for the helpful info! If you all ever go to Disney World and want helpful tips, I can return the favor!
If we have the half fare card, can that be used for the Grindelwald bus fare for sledging at Bussalp? And then can you rent sleds when you get there? I couldn’t find the cost for renting sleds. Does anyone know how much it cost to rent a sled?
Our last day (Jan 8) will be a travel day back to the airport in Zurich. Would a side trip to Luzern be doable? And if so, what would you recommend we do there before heading to Zurich later that day? (Also, are there lockers we can rent to store luggage at the train station in Luzern?)
Thanks!
Yes the Swiss Half Fare Card will get you a discount on the bus (regular local buses on that route). You can always find prices using the timetable: http://www.myswissalps.com/ti metable (it shows half fare by default and you can switch that discount off as well to see any difference).
Timetables and sledge rentals etc can all be found on the Grindelwald bus website: http://www.grindelwaldbus.ch/ en
A side trip to Luzern can work depending on how much time you have to get to the airport. There are lockers at Luzern station you can store luggage in and then explore the town: http://www.myswissalps.com/lu cerne/activities
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