Jungfraujoch vs Titlis vs Schilthorn vs Pilatus - which are priority?
 

Hi-

I'm going to be in Switzerland with my boyfriend at the beginning of June. Just trying to see how people feel about these different excursions. We will be based in the BO for a few days and Luzern for a few days. Just trying to get an idea of which excursions people felt were a "must-see." We would like to do one or two depending on (not necessarily in order of importance):
1. Length of time it takes to do the round-trip excursion
2. The cost (we will have a swiss pass)
3. The views and picture taking opportunities
4. The "once--in-a-lifetime" opportunity. We live near the Rocky Mountains so keep in mind that we have seen mountains before :)
5. The cost-benefit of doing the excursion as opposed to doing something else in the area since we don't have a lot of time. So, for instance, if we had to choose a day out on the Lake in Luzern or an excursion to Titlis, which would be better?

Thanks!

I lived in Boulder for a couple of years, I consider the Jungfraujoch a once in a lifetime experience do to the incredible engineering it took to build it and the fact that you would have to be a climber to reach the top any other way. Where are you basing yourself, as it takes time to get there if you are not staying in the area.

Well we are moving around a bit. Coming from Italy, spending time in Montreux/Vevey, taking Golden Pass to Interlaken but staying in Lauterbrunnen for a few nights. From there we will head to Luzern for a couple nights, then to Zurich.

I believe it was from Lauterbrunnen that we went up the Schilthorn to Piz Gloria---a revolving restaurant for lunch or drinks. That was several years ago, but the views of the Eiger, the Monch, and the Jungfrau were something we will never forget.
The Rocky Mountains are of course beautiful, but that 360 view from Piz Gloria is a wonder.

In Montreux we took dinner cruise on the lake that was also memorable for the beautiful views.

We have been up on Jungfraujoch twice. While the ride up both times was beautiful, there was a white out at the top on one occasion so you couldn't see much of anything. You need to check the weather on top on any of these mountain trips before you go up. But it was certainly an amazing experience.

Schilthorn is easy from Lauterbrunnen and quite beautiful as TPAYT says. Stop off in Murren on the way up or down as the mountains are right in your face from there!

So far, only votes for Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn.

oops, not sure why that posted! Anyways, I'm still curious what people think of Titlis, Pilatus (and possibly Rigli?) I'm just wondering if Schilthorn and Jungfraujoch are too much of the same thing...? Also, with only 2 full days in the BO, that would take up the majority of our time. If they are both a must-see, though, we will do them both (hopefully weather permitting!)

With only two days in the BO, my vote goes to Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn. No question about it.

Of course, there are those who would do both in one day (aka "The Griswolds Swiss Vacation"), leaving the second day for something else.

If you catch the earliest train for Jungfraujoch, you could possibly do both that and Schilthorn in one day. As I said earlier though, weather may figure into your decision to do one or the other or none.

Even though I have been to Luzern numerous times, I have never done Mt. Pilatus. I guess we were always so busy with other things. If you do a search here on Fodor's, I'm sure I remember reading that a few Fodorites have done Pilatus and/or Rigli.

From what I know though, I would go with Jungfraujoch and Schilthorn if weather permits.

When you are IN Luzern I would probably do the Titlis trip. The ride up to Engleberg takes about an hour or so (no changes required) on a "suburban" of sorts service (your passes are completely good) and the scenery is nice. There is a short, steeper rack (cogwheel)-assisted portion just before you arrive in Engleberg. Once in Engleberg it is an easy (no more than) 10-minute walk over from the railway station to the base of the series of lifts you will take (there are three segments in all) to get to the top.

The first segment is in a more or less typical gondola which holds four-five people. At the half-way point the gondola makes a rather abrupt left turn (you don't get off) and continues upward.

The second stage is in a larger gondola; the third stage is in the so-called "rotair" gondola: the floor revolves 360 degrees as you ascend to the top and that affords stunning views in and of itself. The summit is a little over 10,000 feet in elevation.

You can easily do this trip in a half-day depending on how long you might want to linger in both Engleberg and at the summit.

I've done all but Pilatus. It's difficult to compare the three as they all offer spectacular views and I enjoyed all of them.

The Jungfrau is the 'premier' mountain excursion in Switzerland, but it's also the most expensive and the hardest to get to and the most time consuming. It's not worth the money or effort if it's not a clear day. I think of the Jungfrau as an all day trip, due to the time it takes to get there, the time spent at the top, and the time getting back.

By comparison The Schilthorn is a breeze to get to, especially if you're staying in the Berner Oberland. It's just two cable car rides up from Murren, a bit longer from Stechelberg.

Titlis is accessed from Engelberg, which is an hour's train ride from Luzern. Access is pretty easy.

<So, for instance, if we had to choose a day out on the Lake in Luzern or an excursion to Titlis, which would be better?>

Given this choice, I'd choose the Titlis hands down. I find mountains a heck of a lot more interesting than lakes.

PS - I'm a Colorado girl too, but there's nothing quite like the Swiss Alps

Haha everyone's comments make it harder to decide! Everything sounds so fun. If it was possible to do the Jungfraujoch, Schilthorn,and Titlis (I believe we have enough time for all three, so it would just depend on the weather..) does anyone think that this would be "over-kill?" Or, are they all different enough that we would enjoy seeing all 3? Also, if the weather report for the mountain is not good, does that usually mean that the weather "down below" is also not very good? For instance, if the weather is not clear enough to go up to Jungfraujoch, is there a good chance that we will still be able to enjoy exploring Murren, Wengen, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald, or Gimmelwald? Just as a reminder, we will be there in early June, if that makes a difference...

We found that if the weather was cloudy up in the towns yo mention and the Jungfrau that the lakes in the valley below-Thun and Brienz- were OK for a visit. We waited for a clear day at our chalet before heading up to Jungfrau and it was incredible.

It really depends kaleighmh - I've been in Engleberg when it was overcast and dark, but the sun was out up on the Titlis because it was above the clouds. The same works in reverse, it can be beautiful in town and miserable up top.

Fortunately, the Swiss have solved this by installing web cams on the mountain tops and you can see what the weather is like before you go up.

There are also several weather channels on Swiss TV, that show the conditions on the mountain tops. While in Switzerland, we usually watch these channels over breakfast and plan our day accordingly.

As much as I like snow covered mountains, visiting the Jungfrau, Schilthorn and Titlis during one short trip might be a bit much, but if you've got the time, money and inclination, go for it.

Well, I'm not getting my hopes up that the weather will be good enough to do all three. I figure we will just plan each one on a certain day and let the weather make the decision for us. If the weather is good, we will go to the excursion that is planned, and if not, I have a couple back-up plans for each day
(I am a little bitter of an over-planner, if you can't tell! :)

*A little bit. I don't know why "bitter" came in (maybe subconscious??)

I am planning a similar trip and have some of the same questions.
In my opinion (though I have not been there) it doesn’t make sense “to do” the Jungfrau and the Schilthorn on the same day, unless your purpose is” to do”…(and check).

On the day of going to the Jungfrau in makes sense to explore that area a little: Enjoy Kleine Schideg, Mannlichen, maybe combine with a visit to Wengen and/or? Grindelwald – First, going up one way going down the other.

On the Schilthorn day it calls for visiting Stechlberg, Murren (go up one way go sown the other), Grimmevald, Murrenbachfalle (may Staubachfalle or Traumelbach).

Of course, the key word is “The Weather”. In a visit to Switzerland many years ago we had tickets for the Pilatus but is was cloudy, so we missed it.

My question is more specific: in BO, if you are able to visit only one: Jungfrau or Schilthorn? I heard preference to the Schilthorn, claiming that the way up is more beautiful since one has the view all the time, as opposed to being inside the mountain. And, that from the Schithorn you see all thre: Jungfrau, Munch and Eiger, where as from the Jungfrau you see only two. Besides the 360o view from the rotating restaurant.

In the Luzern area, Pilatus or Titlis (Rigi?)? Pilatus is more famous but I heard a preference to Titlis, I don't know why.

Having been to all 4 mountains, Titlis and Pilatus twice, I can sincerely say "do all of them, if at all possible." We have spent many vacations in the USA and Canadian Rockies. As lovely as they are, they cannot compare to the Alps, especially the Lauterbrunnen Valley and villages of the Jungfrau Region. We visited Titlis and Pilatus from Lucerne, Jungfrau and Schilthorn from Lauterbrunnen. In October we'll be staying in Wengen, and revisiting all 4 mountains. Each is spectacular in it's unique way! Sorry to not be able to help in your decision making process, but having seen them all, it's an impossible choice!

I live in Switzerland. All your choices are good. Pilatus is a special place for the Swiss, so it is a good choice. Jungfrau is a must with the spectacular view of the Aletsch glacier, the longest in the Alps, but take time to linger in Klein Scheidigg, with it's view of the Eiger. I love the Schilthorn and Titlis, but I would rate them lower - but still spectacular. Schilthorn has the James Bond association if you are a Bond fan. Titlis get's lots of Buddhists because the view includes an outcrop which purpotedly looks like Buddha. Many Indians visit Jungfraujoch because it is used in Bollywood movies as a backdrop because Kashmir is unsafe. It features in many movies, I recommend Eiger Sanction and Nordwand, particularly the latter because although it is subtitled in English it really gives you a feel of the Jungfrau. I'm suprised you omit Zermatt, where you can take the Gornegrat mountain railway for the most spectaclar view of the Matterhorn and Switzerland's highest mountain, Dufourspitze. Most of the 12,000ft mountains are near Zermatt. The Matterhorn was the last major mountain in the Alps to be climbed and half the party died on the ascent. it's a special place.

Go to where it's most convenient for you.

Personally, I adore the Kleine Scheidegg, the last major station before going up the Jungfraujoch. A hike (more like a stroll) from Männlichen to the Kleine Scheidegg is out of this world.

If you go up to Schilthorn, rent one of those push bikes for on the way back down. It's an asphalt road with no traffic and a perfect alternative to riding in the gondola again.

Pilatus is closer than Schilthorn from Lucerne and is great for its views.

So, really, it depends on how much time you have. And how the weather is. I wouldn't recommend any of the above excursions in bad weather. Not worth it if you don't see anything and freeze your Füdli off.