Mt. Titlis v/s Jungfrau with a Swiss Travel Pass

In connection to my others posts in the forum, my travel dates to Swiss are 19/4 (day 1), 20/4 (day 2) and 21/4 (day 3).

19th and 20th we plan to visit the Titlis and Jungfrau but after I checked the prices of the mountain trains, have a question, although I know that no part of Switzerland can be called the best - each have their own beauty.

- Between the Titlis and Jungfrau which will be worth visiting more ? If we visit the Titlis on 19/4 should we still go to the Jungfrau on 20/4 ?

With the Swiss Travel Pass, the cable cars between Engelberg to Kleintitlis and the Chairlift to the glacier, Titlis snow park and everything is at 50% discount - CHF 56.50 per person. For this amount I get everything included starting at Engelberg and ending back at same place.

For the Jungfrau the discount is a mere 25% but then also the cost per person is more that twice of Titlis. Train to Gridelwald / Wengen is free with the Swiss Travel Pass but then from either of these places a round trip ticket to the Jungfrau via Kleine Scheidegg and back costs CHF 138 (after the 25% discount) so that makes me think once if I should do this trip (not considering the beauty of the place). OR should I visit elsewhere for a lesser cost or even free which might be as beautiful.

Hi sskundu,

Indeed, there's no decisive answer to this question. It's absolutely a matter of personal preference. Titlis and Jungfraujoch are quite different in my opinion. Titlis offers more of a roundabout view. At the Jungfraujoch, on the other hand, I literally feel like I'm right in the Alps, more than on any of the other viewing points. Opinions differ: lots of visitors feel the Jungfraujoch trip is worth their money as it's a special experience. Some rather pay less for another trip, as long as they can enjoy snow and pretty views.

In the end it's up to you how to spend your money. If costs are your main concern, you may consider Schilthorn alternatively. Views up there are very pretty too, although they may resemble those at Titlis a bit more than the Jungfraujoch views do.

Hi Annika,

For the same reason (indecisive) I have left the cable car ticket purchase and the Jungfrau mountain train ticket purchase to be done at the station. I hope (as told by Arno in another post) they would be the same price (after the discount) on-the-spot, as shown online on swissrailways site.

I guess after travelling free till Grindelwald or Wengen, I can get down there and buy the 25% disc. ticket up to the top over there ? Same question for Titlis - at Engelberg station ?

Hi sskundu,

All mountain transport tickets can always be purchased on the spot. Train tickets, e.g. the reduced tickets from Grindelwald or Wengen, can be purchased at any staffed station. There's no need to get off the train in Wengen just to get tickets. Simply buy them in Interlaken or any place convenient for you.

Thanks for that info. We would board the train from Luzern to Interlaken OST and then change train for Wengen. So I guess we can buy the discounted tickets at either Luzern or Interlaken OST. But while checking the sites I got another question:

-- Many of the places say "Interlaken to Lauterbrunnen" OR "Interlaken to Grindelwald". Even your site page of Jungfrau says the same in route Option1 vs route Option 2. From the maps I saw that Wengen is the next station after Lauterbrunnen and ticket cost from Wengen to Jungfrau is lesser also. With the Swiss Travel Pass we can travel for free upto Wengen and then use the discounted tickets from Wengen to the top. So is there any difference ? Or am I going wrong somewhere ?

-- When we change trains at Interlaken OST, is there any train code to determine if the train will go to Wengen or only upto Lauterbrunnen ?

Hi sskundu,

I think you're mixing up train destinations versus where your pass is valid. Those two things are basically unrelated. What the sites say is that you can take a train from Interlaken to either Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen (not to Wengen). There you change to the next train. From Lauterbrunnen that train happens to stop in Wengen along the way and that happens to be the place from where you have to pay if you have a Swiss Travel Pass (again: no reason to get off there as you can buy that ticket anywhere). Other passes are valid from other locations, but the trains simply operate as indicated in the timetable.

There is no train code. You can find the destination on the train displays or ask personnel.

Enjoy the ride!

Thanks once again Arno. First time nervousness in a foreign country :-)

So to get things straight (if travelling via the Wengen route)

-- Take the train from Interlaken OST to Lauterbrunnen and get down.

-- Change train for Jungfrau which will pass through Wengen and then via Klein Schedigg.

Pay only for the route between Wengen to Jungfrau and this can be bought at Interlaken or Luzern anywhere.

Are those ok or did I miss anything again ?

I understand :-) Yes, that's accurate. You'll need to change in Kleine Scheidegg too. The whole journey is really very simple and there's staff everywhere. Hundreds of people a day do this trip so you'll be fine :-)

Be sure to post a trip report once you're back!

Oh yes, I forgot the change at Klein Scheidegg to the mountain trains. Btw, I read that the route between Klein Scheidegg to Jungfrau is mostly tunnels ? and the train between the two points makes a short stop at two small stations within the tunnel. Are passengers allowed to get down and take a view outside OR something like, we get down at one of these small stations and take the next incoming train to the top ? I guess the paid discounted tickets will be open ones valid for any trains with as many changes ?

Yes surely I will write a trip report once back by end April.

There are indeed two stops where you can get off very shortly and then re-board the same train, please see myswissalps.com/ jungfraujoch/ gettingthere. Tickets are valid for all trains.