3 Best Sights in Berner Oberland, Switzerland

At 11,332 feet, this wonderland of snow and ice is called the "Top of Europe" thanks to its train station, the highest on the continent. (Though Matterhorn Glacier Paradise in Zermatt is technically higher, by 1,378 feet, it's only accessible by gondola.) Jungfraujoch is the "saddle" between the Jungfrau and Mönch peaks, and offers breathtaking views of the iconic Aletsch Glacier. From Grindelwald, the fastest route to Jungfraujoch is via the Eiger Express gondola to Eigergletscher (15 minutes), and then the 26-minute Jungfraubahn to Jungfraujoch, though trains also depart from Kleine Scheidegg. At the top, a plethora of activities await at Snow Fun Park, from ziplining to snowboarding, skiing, sledding, and tubing. There's also an ice palace (open all year long), a multimedia experience tracing Jungfrau history, and a selection of restaurants.

Said to be Europe’s longest aerial ride, the modern 10-seater gondolas travel an amazing 6 km (3¾ miles) to Männlichen's airy station in 19 minutes. Departing from Grindelwald Terminal, the gondolas' glass walls offer spectacular views en route up the mountain. At the top, there's a playground with a giant wooden cow slide, a mountain hut with a restaurant, and several hiking trails. The "Royal Walk" leads to the mountain summit in 25-minutes, while the 5-km (3-mile) Männlichen Panorama trail follows a gentle descent to Kleine Scheidegg, where you can catch the gondola back down to Grindelwald.

At the foot of the legendary Eiger north face, Kleine Scheidegg is a hub for the cable cars and cogwheel trains that rise up from below (from Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen via Wengen), as well as those that continue on (to Jungfraujoch). At a height of 2,061 meters (6,762 feet), it’s a good place to stop for a breather and get acclimated to the elevation if you’re heading higher, and the restaurant at the station is a fine place to do that. With plenty of scenic terrain, Kleine Scheidegg is not only a stopover point. Popular hikes include the "Eiger Trail" and the "Lauberhorn Trail," which follows the longest downhill Alpine skiing racing slope. In winter the whole area turns into a skiing, snowboarding, and sledding paradise.