I am heading to Switzerland and I have booked my accommodation for 2 nights, 3 days in Interlaken.

I must see Jungfraujoch. I wanted to hire a car for three days- but how far up Jungfrau can I drive? Can I drive all the way from Interlaken - Wengen - Kleine, then drop the car there before taking the train up to Jungfraujoch?

Also, it a permit really needed to drive in Switerland?

Also, here's my itinerary if you could make a comment:
Day 1- Take a steamer along Lake Thun
Day 2- Go to Jungfraujoch, visiting Grindewald and Wengen along the way.
Day 3- Go zorbing. Drive to Lucerne.

Thanks!

There is no need to rent a car for the Jungfrau - there are a series of trains from Interlaken that go all the way to the top. If you want you can spend time at the towns where you change from one train to another, And since there are two routes you can opt to ascend one way and descend the other.

It is total nonsense to rent a car for the Jungfraujoch trip. You can drive to Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald, but have to park the car there.

Hop on the train in Interlaken Ost. Go up via Lauterbrunnen - Wengen - Kleine Scheidegg and down via Kleine Scheidegg - Grindelwald.

Your itinerary sounds reasonable. Don't miss a stop at castle Oberhofen.

Permit for driving in Switzerland is only needed for motorways (Vignette, 40 Sfr.)

Ingo

Thanks for your help. It's just that there is 3 of us going, so I thought it might be cheaper if we hired a car rather than taking the train. And I also thought it would be more convenient to drive and stop off at the towns, rather than waiting in between for the trains.

But I guess if the trains come regularly, there is no need.

In a quick answer, you don't drive to the Jungfraujoch. Either Grindelwald or Lauterbrunn is the end of the road for cars.

As Ingo said, a car is useless really. By the time you rent a car and pay about $50 a day for it, and pay to park in Lauterbrunnen, you can ride the train from Interlaken Ost to Lauterbrunnen much cheaper.

From Interlaken Ost you take the brown and tan Berner Oberlandbahn to Lauterbrunnen. Make doubly sure you board a car marked Lauterbrunnen because the train divides at Zweilütschinen with half of the cars going to Lauterbrunnen and half to Grindelwald.

In Lauterbrunnen you change to the Wengener Alpbahn and ride to Wengen and then to Kleine Scheidegg. At KS you change for the Jungfraubahn and continue on to the the viewing building.

Each change of trains involves using equipment for a steeper roadbed. The Jungfraubahn added new equipment last year that is state-of-the-art.
The old brown and tan equipment that runs up and down to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen looks like it dates from WW I.

The first train up leaves Interlaken Ost at 6:35, and hourly thereafter until 14:35.

The trip up takes a little over 2 hours.

Don't be surprised if you feel a little lightheaded at the top. You have gained a lot of elevation quickly. Some people get off at Kleine Scheidegg and wait for the next train to give their body a chance to adjust, but the majority head on up. The train stops twice inside the mountain to let you look out a window cut into the rock, and to have a little time to adjust.


My advice is to take the earliest train that is conveneient to your schedule.
On a clear day, the afternoon trains coming down are often packed.

When you get to the Joch, I recommend walking the snowtrack out to the Mönchjochhütte - a climbers' and hikers' shelter on the flank of the Mönch, the next peak over from the Jungfrau. The shelter is fairly large; it sleeps 125 people and there is a snackbar in operation.

The snow track is groomed and if you stay on it, footing is firm for most hiking boots with lug soles. I would not try it with slick bottom street shoes, however. I have seen people try and they soon had cold, wet feet.
Besides, they were slipping and sliding all over the place.

Incidentally, the undiscounted fare is 168.80 chf, which translates to about $130 per person. The early morning trips are a little cheaper, 144.80 chf.

If you drive the freeways in Switzerland, you need a sticker. I don't know how strictly this law is enforced. When I drove in switzerland I also rented in Switzerland.

Thanks for your reply.

I looks like I will be sticking to public transport then. Could you please tell me, since I will be stopping off in Wengen and Grindewald on the train journeys to and fro, do I need to buy a onw-way tickets between these destinations? Or can I buy a return ticket to Jungfraujoch and hop on/hop off the train.

If I buy the 1 month half fare card at CHF99, do I get 50% off the entire journey to Jungraujoch (Hence, the price will be CHF84.40), as well as the steamers?

Or, I already have a Eurail-Flexi pass, so should I use one of my days to travel to Jungfrau?

We just returned from Switzerland and spent one day in Lucerne. It is absolutely beautiful. We had booked a cruise down Lake Lucerne on a steamship. Absolutely breathtaking scenery. You will love this perfect Swiss town!

You buy one ticket at half off.
You can get on and off at will as far as I know.
The reason most people don't is that they want to go home.
Also, if the day is crowded, the next train will be even fuller of people.

You are obligated to come back the same way you went up unless you specifically order a different ticket.

In other words, it is possible to ascend from Lauterbrunnen to Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg and return via Grindelwald.

Trains travel to Kleine Scheidegg from two directions: from Wengen and from Grindelwald. The trains don't switch sides of the mountain because different equipment is needed for the trip.
The gradient of the railbed coming up from Grindelwald is not as steep as it is from Wengen.

I hope you have a clear day for your trip.

Do I need to get the half-fare card before I get to Switzerland, or can I get it once I am there?

Also, what will the weather be like during June? Will it be very cold, or shall a polar-fleece be adequate?