maxima

It is absolutely essential to check the weather before going. The only time I went, it was totally fogged in at the top. Couldn't see a thing. if I had know I would have skipped it.

kja

I skipped it -- which probably means I'm not qualified to answer. ;-) But I can say that I have no regrets about skipping it, as I personally couldn't justify either the time or the money. Instead, I went to the top of Schilthorn and, while in the Upper Engadine, Diavolezza.

KTtravel

We skipped it years ago, because of the price, and have always wished we had done it. Of course, since we haven't been, I don't know if I would think it was worth the $ or not. Still, it is on my bucket list and I hope to go someday. I would definitely try to do the early bird departure or see if there was some way of obtaining a discount.

Please let us know what you decide. Happy planning!

kleeblatt

Many, many Swiss have never been there because:
1. the price
2. there are enough other beautiful mountains to keep them happy
3. elevation sickness

I've been there once and was struck by the whiteness of it all. Snow everywhere due to the glacier and the elevation. However, I did not enjoy how I felt due to the elevation so I'm quite happy never to go again.

It's an adventure and a trip of a lifetime. I understand why it's on people's bucket list but, unless I were to hike up to the hut or join a trekking tour that starts or ends at the Jungfraujoch, I don't plan to ever go again.

Ackislander

Some people are no doubt attracted by the mountaineering lore that surrounds the Monch, the Jungfrau, and the Eiger, particularly the last.

The ascent of the North Face of the Eiger was one of the great problems in mountaineering, and numbers of people died trying to achieve it. Now you can take the train.

If you can find a copy, the film "The Eiger Sanction" with Clint Eastwood features both the mountain and the railway.

nytraveler

Agree that this trip is NOT for people with altitude problems - or potential ones - anyone with lung problems or who has ever smoked.

When we went up there was an older couple (70s?) in the cabin with us and when they got to the top both were having trouble breathing - and took the next train right back down. I felt slightly lightheaded when we arrived - but a drink and small snack in the restaurant cured that and we were there about 3 hours overall. And yes, there were a number of large tour groups - but you could have your own space - except for the elevator up to the outdoor weather station.

Granted it is not cheap - but I honestly don;t know how much cheaper the other mountain trips are. (We also visited Piatus from Lucerne on another trip to Swtiz and while the views were great from the top - the overall experience was no comparison.)

kleeblatt

Comparing Pilatus and the Jungfraujoch is like comparing apples and oranges.

Pilatus is the most convenient mountain to get to from Lucerne. There's not much to do on top but look at the scenery or hike down.

The Jungfraujoch journey, on the other hand, takes you into beautiful Berner Oberland and to the Kleine Scheidegg, which I found truly amazing as well.

kappa1

I have been to the most Swiss mounatin summits that are mentioned above including Aiguille-du-Midi in Chamonix France. Have been to Jungraujoch also both on sunny time and some time with not much to see. Summer 2014, I went there when sky was nothing but blue and spent a lot of time there, both at the plateau and the other one, rather new, called "fun park" or something lime that? With this weather you would be happy even at the cost. If not ... only you can decide. I think Jungfrautrain Interlaken-Ost/Jungfraujoch return cost more than 50% (possibly loser to 80%)than the other the other famouns summits ( Kleinemattwerhorn, Gornergrat, Titls, Schilthorn etc).

Pal, that's Klein Scheidegg and not Gross --, in case nobody mentioned after your post. I have not read all the posts.

kappa1

> 50% (possibly loser to 80%)
Meant to say closer ...

Dianedancer

kappa -Yes, the fee is about 50% great than that to Gornegrat.

However, we are considering getting the Berner Oberland pass which would not cover going to Zermatt. So we would have to pay for that train trip (not sure of the cost). We've never been to Zermatt, so that might be nice. it's 2 hours from Interlaken, where we will be staying. But that's not a bother.

nytraveler and others - I hadn't thought about the elevation. When we were on the Aguille du Midi I did feel it was more difficult to climb stairs. But I wasn't nauseous or anything like that. On top of some volcano in Hawaii at 14,000 feet, I actually had altitude sickness. Luckily it passed in 15 minutes. We have never smoked.

We've gone to the Schilthorn. Funny, but I wasn't bowled over. Not after Schnigge Platte where we could walk around on hillsides and hear and see cows (and sidestep cow pies). Murren was gorgeous to walk through, though.

PalenQ

Does the Berner Oberland Pass cover the Jungfraujoch train in full?

curious - not sure the Jungfraubahn Pass does either.

kappa1

> When we were on the Aguille du Midi I did feel it was more difficult to climb stairs.

Jungfraujoch is easier because it is 4000metres lower and also you get there much more slowly sitting on the train vs the hanging Gondola to the Auguille-du-Midi get you so quickly your body has much less time to get use to the altitude.

If you have been to the A-d-Midi in France, you will be amazed by the construction that the jungfrau company has built at such an altitude, much much larger space, clean and modern. Compared to Jungfraujoch, the wc at A-d-Midi was so basic ( should a bit better today though ) Only comparing between Jungfraujoch and A-d-Midi, the high price of the ticket of JFJ can be justified a bit there ( not only about the wc but all the constructions. That's my impression even though yes JFJ IS expensive.

PalenQ

but since the Jungfraubahn is always fully loaded it seems the three times I've been on it it seems like a sellers market!

Dianedancer

kappa - 4000meters lower? I'm sure you don't mean that. But it's funny. May be below sea level?

Truly I don't remember the toilets at A-d-Midi. Do remember seeing skiers going on their own trail somewhere on the mountain side. Brave! There's also a gondola that goes into Italy from there. But the winds were too high so it wasn't working at the time. That's probably fantastic to take.

Pal - Would seem to be a seller's market as you say. That's a good reason for them to keep prices high for us individual travelers.

kappa1

Oops, I added somehow an extra 0 ! Maybe I was thinking about the hight of Mont Blanc that's 4807m ( they used to say - now adays I see 4810m ).

Ok so 3842m A-d-Midi versus 3466m JFJ so the difference is 376m ( or so ).

neckervd

"the video of Jungfrau looks fantastic. The Berner Oberland region is just magical, ENJOY!!!!!"

I agree, but all the glaciers you see from Jungfraujoch are in the Canton of Valais and NOT in the Bernese Oberland.

Dianedancer

neckervd - Well, wherever the spots are that one is viewing doesn't really seem to matter. In the Aiguille du Midi we could see into Italy. However, your point is interesting!

dugi_otok

Hi Diane. Your post is Deja vu for me. In 1965 my wife and I, two grad students, spent our summer in Europe,mostly staying with family in Germany, Switzerland, and Croatia(then Yugoslavia). When not with family we adhered to Frommers Europe on $5 per day. We bought a new VW bug for $1300 and tooled around spending $1 to $5 per night for lodging. When it came to going to Jungfraujoch we agonized the $20 and did not go. When we got home (Los Angeles) we called ourselves fools for going 6000 miles and not spending the money to go up the mountain. We hoped we would get another chance.

Two years later we found ourselves there in Grindelwald. We were looking forward to Jungfraujoch. This time it was $30 and we decided it was too expensive. Again after getting home we could not believe we did not go up the mountain.

Then in 1987 we were there with our two teenage kids. This time we went up the mountain. I did not care what it cost. I think it was $500 for the four of us.I am not sure what I learned from this experience.

Dianedancer

dugi - So was the Jungfraujoch worth it?

Your story reminds me of only 2 years ago when we were in the Galapagos -not cheap in any way. But this didn't have to do with cost. We were to jump off a small boat into the cold water wearing wet suits. We did it once and it was freezing. The next day we were able to do this again. I thought, Am I crazy? But then I thought "When will I ever be here again"? And so we went. It was still very cold but your body warms up in about a minute. Very glad we did it.

So the motto for both us us seems to be - Do it when you can!

neckervd

Diane:
I agree with you: from every really high peak between Mont Blanc area and Zillertaler Alpen you sea a lot of peaks in other countries.
The particularity of Jungfraujoch is that it is considered as a bit of Canton Berne despite the fact that neither the railway station nor the restaurant or the Sphinx observatory are in the Canton of Berne.
Aiguille du Midi on the other hand is well in France and the most impressive glaciers in the neighbourhood are in France too (although you see tons of Swiss and Italian peaks farther away).