Must-knows about the Jungfrau Region

  • The high Jungfrau mountain range south of Interlaken is part of a UNESCO World Heritage area.
  • The famous mountain trio of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau dominates the views.
  • You can stay in the central town Interlaken, or in a scenic mountain village: Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, or Grindelwald.
  • The area is full of easy-to-reach mountain peaks: Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn, and many more.
  • Many travelers consider the Jungfrau Region to be a highlight of their Switzerland holidays.
Recommended season: early January to late February and late April to late October

What to see and do in the Jungfrau Region Copy link to clipboard

Jungfraujoch mountain station and Konkordiaplatz
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Jungfraujoch
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The Jungfraujoch excursion isn't cheap, but it's spectacular. We explain how to bring down costs, how to get there from Wengen and Grindelwald, what to …
Wetterhorn and Eiger above the clouds from Schilthorn
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Schilthorn
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The Schilthorn is one of the best locations to view the Jungfrau massif. We explain about the cableway from Mürren, prices, views and catering at …
Harder Kulm - panoramic view over Lake Brienz and Bernese Alps
Harder Kulm
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The Harder Kulm is an easy-to-reach and affordable mountain in Interlaken. It offers a panoramic view of the lakes and the Jungfrau Region.
Wetterhorn and Schreckhorn with gondolas to Grindelwald-First
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Grindelwald-First
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The First is a mountain near Grindelwald, offering amazing views, hiking trails and fun family activities. Learn how to make the most out of your …
Mönch, Jungfraujoch, Tschuggen and Jungfrau from Männlichen
Männlichen
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Männlichen is a mountain offering a 360° view of the Jungfrau Region. You can reach it from Grindelwald and Wengen. Find all details to plan …
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Jungfrau Region must-sees

If your time in the area is limited, these are some must-do activities:

  1. Visit a mountain top, such as Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn, for an up-close view of the Alps.
  2. Hiking is a must as well. Even simple short trails like Grütschalp to Mürren are a delight. A walk in the Lauterbrunnen Valley is a good option too.

If you're really pressed for time, you can do the one-day Jungfrau Region trip we composed to see some highlights.

The mountains of the Jungfrau Region

You may have heard of the famous viewpoints of Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch. But there are more. The main mountains you can visit are, roughly from north to south:

  1. Schynige Platte, to be reached cogwheel train from Wilderswil. You'll have great views of Lake Brienz in the north, and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau mountains in the south.
  2. Grindelwald-First, a top above Grindelwald that's packed with fun activities. You'll also look down on the Grindelwald Valley and the Wetterhorn, and you can walk to the mountain lake Bachalpsee.
  3. Pfingstegg, an affordable viewpoint south of Grindelwald with a toboggan run.
  4. Männlichen, to be reached by cable car from Wengen and gondola from Grindelwald. This is one of the best places to see the snowy peaks of the Jungfrau Region, plus the valleys of Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.
  5. Kleine Scheidegg, which is more of a 'saddle' than an actual mountain top. You can reach it en route to the Jungfraujoch. It's well worth a stop. There aren't many other spots where you're so close to the imposing Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau.
  6. Allmendhubel, an affordable viewpoint that's just a short funicular ride from Mürren.
  7. Schilthorn, above Mürren too. You'll have a 360 -view of the Bernese Oberland peaks here, which you can enjoy from the revolving restaurant.
  8. Jungfraujoch, the highest rail station of Europe. You're literally within the mountains of the Jungfrau Region, which is a magical experience.

Free vistas: great views without paying for mountain transport

Assuming you have a rail pass that allows free traveling, you can also enjoy the beauty of the Jungfrau Region from valleys and free mountain locations.

Some of our preferred spots are:

  • Winteregg. This tiny train station on the way from Grütschalp to Mürren has lovely views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley and the snowy peaks south of it.
  • Girmschbiel. This small meadow is at just a few minutes' walk from the train station of Wengernalp (between Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg). You'll come face to face with the Jungfrau, the Breithorn and other mountains here.
  • Grosse Scheidegg. This bus stop is located in the mountains between Grindelwald and Schwarzwaldalp in the Reichenbach Valley. You'll have wonderful views of the mountains Wetterhorn and Eiger, and you'll look down on the village of Grindelwald.

Traveling info and map Copy link to clipboard

How to reach the Jungfrau Region

The town of Interlaken is the gateway to the Jungfrau Region. Please learn how to get there our Interlaken travel guide. Here's how to travel to the other towns:

How to travel in the Jungfrau Region: car versus public transport

You don't need a car to get around in the Jungfrau Region. From Interlaken, a car only gets you to Lauterbrunnen/Stechelberg and Grindelwald. From there, trains and cable cars take you up in the mountains. There are frequent trains from Interlaken to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen.

Please find a comparison between modes of transport here.

Car-free areas

The Jungfrau Region is car-free beyond Grindelwald and Stechelberg (near Lauterbrunnen). The villages of Wengen, Mürren and Gimmelwald can not be reached by car, so they're attractive to enjoy the alpine scenery without any nearby traffic.

Travel distances and durations

The Jungfrau Region is a small area. The towns and attractions are relatively close to one another, which explains why you can see and do a lot in just one day.

Some examples:

  • The train ride Interlaken-Lauterbrunnen takes 20 minutes.
  • The train ride Interlaken-Grindelwald takes 35 minutes.
  • Getting from Wengen above the Lauterbrunnen Valley to Mürren on the other side of the valley requires 45 minutes.
  • You need 45 minutes to get from Wengen to Grindelwald in the other valley.

Train and mountain railways companies

Public transport in the Jungfrau Region is arranged for by several companies. They all work together to provide a seamless network of trains, cogwheel trains, cableways and funiculars. So in practice, you'll hardly notice this variety of companies.

Simplified, this is how things work:

  • The Berner Oberland-Bahn ("BOB") operates the trains between Interlaken Ost, Zweilütschinen, Lauterbrunnen, and Grindelwald.
  • The Jungfraubahnen (or Jungfrau Railways in English) provides traveling to Wengen, Grütschalp-Mürren, Kleine Scheidegg, Eigergletscher, Jungfraujoch, Schynige Platte and Grindelwald-First.
  • Additional smaller companies operate other routes, such as the cableways to Schilthorn and Männlichen, or the buses in and from Grindelwald.

The Swiss timetable contains all routes, with all modes of transport, by all companies.

Rail passes suitable for the Jungfrau Region

There are nation-wide passes that are also valid in the Jungfrau Region. Examples are the Swiss Travel Pass (offering free traveling to the towns of Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren and Grindelwald, and discounts on mountain trips) and the Swiss Half Fare Card (offering discounts on all trips, but no free routes).

In addition, there are regional passes that include most of the mountain trains and cable cars in the Jungfrau area. The main ones are:

  • The Jungfrau Travel Pass. This is a good choice if you're sure you'll focus on the Jungfrau Region only.
  • The Berner Oberland Pass. This is a good pick if you want to travel west, north or east of Interlaken too.

If you need help figuring out which rail pass suits your plans, please use our guide with free tools and a step-by-step plan.

The Jungfrau Region in Switzerland on a map

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Best months to stay in the Jungfrau Region Copy link to clipboard

We recommend visiting the Jungfrau Region in early January to late February and late April to late October:

  • January and February are best for a winter stay. These are the coldest months in which you can expect most snow in the mountains.
  • Late April to October are fine for other outdoor activities.

The Jungfrau Region in winter: January and February

To our taste, December can be a bit too early to expect a sufficient amount of snow in the mountains of the Jungfrau Region. That's why we prefer the months of January and February: they offer the best chance of winter fun in the mountains.

The snow season can start earlier and last longer than this. This varies each year. Mountain transport in the Jungfrau Region mostly has fixed operation dates. But in exceptional cases, if there's a lack of snow for example, the cableways may start operating later or stop earlier.

Spring, summer, and fall in the Jungfrau area

  • Late April and May are low season in this region. Still, we love visiting during this time of the year. Even though we can't make alpine hikes yet, and we can't visit all mountains because of maintenance breaks, we love the peace and quiet. You can very well enjoy scenic train trips and valley hikes. And the scenery is at its best, with a stunning combination of flowery spring meadows, blossoming trees, and snow on the mountain peaks.
  • Most mountain transport is running by June. This is when you can enjoy nearly all activities, except maybe for the high-altitude hiking routes.
  • July and August are the warmest, and also the busiest months. Many tourists from abroad visit the Jungfrau Region. The Swiss themselves do too during the school holidays. You can still beat the (potential) crowds though: taking the first cable car or mountain train of the day is a simple and effective trick.
  • September is a perfect month in the Jungfrau Region. The air is often crisp and clear, there are fewer tourists, and weather can be very pleasant. The downside in our opinion is that there's not much snow left on the peaks, especially after a warm and dry summer.
  • October is when fall begins. We love the way in which the valleys and trees start coloring. And more than once, we've been able to rise above low-hanging clouds in the valley, looking down on them from a mountaintop in the beaming sun. Most mountain transport in the Jungfrau Region operates until mid-October.

Jungfrau Region weather Copy link to clipboard

Which temperatures to expect

Temperatures drop with altitude. This means that it's significantly warmer in Interlaken or Lauterbrunnen (down in the valley) than in Wengen or Mürren (up on the mountain slopes). Examples:

  • Typical summer daytime temperatures for Lauterbrunnen at 800 m altitude are 19°C to 23°C. In winter it can get 5°C to 10°C.
  • Average summer daytime temperatures for Wengen, which is about 400 m higher, are 14°C to 20°C. Expect 2°C to 6°C in winter, with reasonable chances of frost at night.

You'll experience even larger differences when traveling up and down the mountains. That's why it's so important to dress in layers and adapt to varying temperatures.

When to expect rain

It can rain year-long in the Jungfrau Region. Most rain falls between May and August. This sometimes puts off visitors, but we feel that's not necessary. If you see rain in the forecasts, this can mean a number of things:

  • Typical patterns for warm days are a clear start in the morning, then a building of clouds in the course of the day, followed by showers in the late afternoon or early evening.
  • On other days, there's a mixture of sunny and rainy spells.

Bottom line is that we experienced continuous rain for several days only a few times during our visits. Often, we've been lucky with bright weather for days or even weeks in a row!

Snow in the Jungfrau Region

Snowfall in the mountains of the Jungfrau Region is very common from December to March, sometimes even April.

Don't necessarily expect snow in the villages though. Although Wengen, Mürren and Grindelwald are likely to get snow-covered, there's no guarantee. You may need to use cableways and ski lifts to start your winter activities.

Fog and low clouds from in fall and winter

Year-long, fog or low clouds may block the views from the valleys of Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald. This is especially common in autumn (October-December), and to a lesser degree in winter.

Make sure to check mountain webcams each morning. Because in case of low clouds, the sky at higher elevations may be brilliantly clear. So a mountaintop visit may pay off, and can even be extra special: looking down on the clouds is magical.

Jungfrau Region 5-day weather forecast

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Accommodation tips for the Jungfrau Region Copy link to clipboard

The Jungfrau Region is packed with hotels and holiday rentals. Still, we recommend booking early, especially if you're traveling in popular months such as January, February, July or August.

Our Jungfrau Region hotel and rental guides provide a wide choice of accommodation.

Alternatively, check our hotel tips per town:

Lauterbrunnen village and valley plus Jungfrau

Hotels in the Jungfrau Region, Switzerland

The best hotels in the Jungfrau Region: centrally located in Interlaken, or with mountain views in Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, and …
Balconies with mountain view in Mürren

Chalets and apartments in the Jungfrau Region

Find comfortable vacation chalets and apartments in the Jungfrau Region: Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen, Mürren, Grindelwald and other villages.

The pros and cons of the Jungfrau Region

The pros of the Jungfrau Region

This is why the Jungfrau Region keeps attracting us, and why we think you may want to visit it too:

  1. If there’s anything like ‘perfect scenery’, we think the Jungfrau Region has it. The combination of sunny valleys, waterfalls, massive steep rock walls and snow-capped peaks is amazing. The landscape is lovely and impressive at the same time.
  2. There are lots of things to do, and they’re all a short distance away. So in just one or two days, you can go hiking, visit a vantage point in the mountains, make scenic train or cable car rides, and add a boat trip on the nearby lakes of Thun or Brienz.
  3. There aren’t many peaks that can match the iconic mountain trio of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. And you can view these mountains up close, especially on Kleine Scheidegg where you’re at the foot of these mighty mountains.
  4. The area is easy to reach from Swiss cities and towns in the north, such as Basel, Bern, Lucerne, and Zurich.
  5. If you’re based near Interlaken, you can visit surrounding areas with different scenery as well. Examples are the areas of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. Day trips to Thun, Bern, Meiringen, and even Lucerne or Zermatt are doable.

The cons of the Jungfrau Region

These could be reasons to skip the Jungfrau Region:

  • Weather in the mountains dictates your plans. The glory of the Jungfrau Region mainly consists of the beautiful mountains, and views will be less impressive (or non-existing) if it’s cloudy. You may prefer a more central location outside the Jungfrau Region, such as Thun or Bern, to be more flexible.
  • The area can be touristy, especially in high season months: January, February, July and August. Famous attractions such as Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch can feel crowded, especially during weekends (when the Swiss themselves are free too), during Swiss public holidays, and on particularly sunny days. If you have the chance to visit the region in April-June, or in September-October, you may prefer that over the busier months.
  • You may prefer exploring areas off the beaten track. In that case, we recommend you focus on less well-known regions: the three-lake area around Neuchâtel, the Jura mountains, or the vast area of Graubünden for example.

Where to stay in the Jungfrau Region

The best town to stay in: the answer in short

  • Do you prefer a lively place with lots of shops and restaurants and good train connections to other regions? Then pick accommodation in Interlaken.
  • If you value nature and the option to start hiking directly from your hotel, then look into Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Mürren, and Wengen.
  • Wilderswil offers the best of both worlds: it’s close to the facilities of Interlaken, but it’s a small quiet village.

A comparison of the Jungfrau Region towns

The best place for a stay in the Jungfrau Region depends on your priorities. We provide in-depth information about each town in our guides. In addition, here are the towns’ main features to help you compare:

  • Interlaken is the largest town, located between the beautiful Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. It’s not particularly picturesque, but it is practical as there are many hotels, shops, and restaurants. Also, you can easily travel not only to the Jungfrau Region, but also to other areas in the Bernese Oberland. Hiking options directly from town are limited.
  • Grindelwald, at the base of the Eiger, is the largest town after Interlaken. It can be touristy at times. The town offers easy access to Jungfraujoch, First and Männlichen and lots of hiking trails.
  • Lauterbrunnen, down in the Lauterbrunnen Valley with its many waterfalls, is small but centrally located. You can quickly reach Wengen and Mürren from here, and Interlaken is just 20 minutes by train.
  • Wengen is a car-free village on a plateau, with beautiful mountain views, access to Männlichen and Jungfraujoch, and lots of hiking trails. It’s a good base if you want to focus on the Jungfrau Region. It’s less suitable to explore other areas you: you’ll have to factor in extra traveling time from and to Lauterbrunnen in the valley for each trip.
  • Mürren is a car-free village on a plateau, with great views over the Lauterbrunnen valley, access to the Schilthorn, and quite some hiking trails. Just as is the case for Wengen, traveling to other parts of the region takes a bit longer.
  • Wilderswil is located just south of Interlaken. It’s smaller, but also prettier than Interlaken. With several supermarkets, hotels and restaurants if offers all basics for a great stay. There are perfect connections to Interlaken and the rest of the Jungfrau Region.
  • Gimmelwald is a tiny car-free settlement near Mürren. There aren’t many facilities. We don’t recommend staying there, unless your main objective is to relax and enjoy the wonderful views. Find our detailed opinion here.
  • Stechelberg is tiny as well and is located somewhat isolated at the end of the Lauterbrunnen valley. It can be reached from Lauterbrunnen by bus or by car.

How long to stay in the Jungfrau Region

How many days to spend in the Jungfrau Region

If your itinerary allows, try spending at least 4-5 days here. In this number of days, you can visit several mountain tops, make a couple of hikes, and enjoy the region from different angles without feeling rushed. A 4- or 5-day stay also increases your chances of visiting vantage points in good weather.

If you have a limited number of days available, try staying for at least 2 nights (so 1 full day) in the Jungfrau Region.

How long we stay in the Jungfrau Region ourselves

We have stayed in this area for 2 to 3 weeks in a row (in Wilderswil to be precise), and we’ve repeated this several times without once getting bored. To us, the idea that “if you’ve seen one mountain, you’ve seen them all” does not apply. We feel that every nook and corner of the Jungfrau Region is unique and charming in its own way.

But of course, this is very personal. You may have an entirely different taste and be perfectly satisfied with a short one-time visit, or with skipping the region altogether!

More about the towns in the Jungfrau area Copy link to clipboard

Höheweg main street in center of Interlaken

Interlaken

Interlaken is the central town in the Bernese Oberland, and the gate to the famous Jungfrau Region. We share our …
View of Eiger and Mönch from the outskirts of Mürren

Mürren

The car-free alpine village of Mürren is perched on a cliff high above the Lauterbrunnen Valley in the Bernese Oberland. …
View over Wengen and tops of western Lauterbrunnen Valley

Wengen

Wengen is a car-free alpine village in the Jungfrau Region, surrounded by hiking trails in summer and ski slopes in …
Street in Grindelwald center with Wetterhorn view

Grindelwald

Grindelwald in the Jungfrau Region has all tourist facilities you can wish for, and is at a very scenic spot …
Lauterbrunnen village with Staubbach Fall

Lauterbrunnen

The small and scenic village of Lauterbrunnen is the gateway to the Lauterbrunnen Valley, and to the mountain villages Wengen …

Itineraries that include the Jungfrau Region Copy link to clipboard

Panoramic Bernina Express train at Alp Grüm

Ultimate scenic trains

Enjoy a week of scenic rail traveling all across the Swiss Alps, including famous panoramic trains. A must-do for train …
Jungfrau, Breithorn, Tschingelhorn and Lauterbrunnen valley from Männlichen

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This extremely varied trip includes the famous Jungfrau, cogwheel train rides, cable cars, the Rhine Falls, Zurich and more: the …
The RegioExpress Lötschberger near Mitholtz in winter

Scenic trains winter

8 days across Switzerland in winter, using the most scenic winter trains such as the Glacier Express and Bernina Express. …

The Jungfrau Region in our MySwissAlps blog Copy link to clipboard

Bench with view of Schreckhorn and Grindelwald, between First and Grosse Scheidegg

Hike First-Grosse Scheidegg

Easy walk across alpine meadows with great views of the Jungfrau massif. You can continue by bus or on foot …
Reflection of Schreckhorn and Finsteraarhorn in Bachalpsee

Hike First-Bachsee

Popular, easy trail to a beautiful mountain lake with reflections of the Schreckhorn and other mountains above Grindelwald.
Rosenlaui valley towards Grindelwald, Wetterhorn and Eiger from Hasliberg

Hike Grosse Scheidegg-Meiringen

Admire the great scenery during this hike between the valleys of Grindelwald and Meiringen. It starts just above the tree …

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Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.