Combining Jungfraujoch and the Eiger Trail is one of the best ways to spend one day in the Jungfrau region of Switzerland. If you move fast, you can also add on the Panorama Trail, which runs between Kleine Scheidegg and Männlichen.
We did this same itinerary and it was our favorite day of our 3 week trip to Switzerland. That’s saying a lot, because we had a LOT of great days.
After returning home, I wrote separate articles for each of these experiences, but we frequently get asked how to combine a visit to Jungfraujoch with the Eiger Trail. To answer that question, I wrote this guide.
This guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to plan your time and what to expect along the way. If you have any questions, let us know in the comment section at the end of this guide.
One Day in the Jungfrau Region: An Overview
In one day, you will start with Jungfraujoch, then hike the Eiger Trail, and then have the option to add on the Panorama Trail.
Here is a basic overview of the itinerary:
- Morning: Jungfraujoch
- Midday: Depart Jungfraujoch
- Very early afternoon: Hike the Eiger Trail
- Mid-afternoon: Train from Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg
- Mid-afternoon: Kleine Scheidegg. Walk the very first section of the Panorama Trail to Restaurant Grindelwaldblick and enjoy the view. Then, walk back to the Kleine Scheidegg station and use public transportation to return to your hotel.
Note: If you move fast, you can hike the full Panorama Trail after hiking the Eiger Trail.
Here is an overview of the places you can visit on this one day itinerary:
Jungfraujoch, also called the Top of Europe, is one of the most popular things to do in the Bernese Oberland. Jungfraujoch is the location of the highest train station in Europe. While here, you are treated to high alpine views, you can hike on the Aletsch Glacier, and you can even go snow tubing or zip lining. A visit here typically lasts 2 to 4 hours.
The Eiger Trail is a 7.25 km (4.5 mile) point-to-point hike that runs along the north face of Eiger mountain. It’s a mostly downhill hike and every step of the way you have gorgeous views of the area. This hike is great for all ages and ability levels.
The Panorama Trail is a 4.9 km (3 miles) point-to-point hike that runs between Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg. If you hike it from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, it is a downhill walk. Like the Eiger Trail, the views are amazing and this is also great for people of all ages and hiking abilities.
If you choose to do all three of these activities, it will be a very long day. You also won’t have a whole lot of downtime.
This map is from the Jungfrau.ch website. I have modified the map to zoom in on the region that you cover in this itinerary. On this map you can see Jungfraujoch, Kleine Scheidegg, Mannlichen, Grindelwald, and Eigergletscher. It also shows the hiking trails (the Eiger Trail is #36 and the Panorama Trail is #33), train from Grindelwald through Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg, and the cable cars.
One Day in the Jungfrau Region Itinerary
Morning: Jungfraujoch
How to Get to Jungfraujoch
Depending on your starting point, it can take 2 hours to get to Jungfraujoch (it took us 2 hours from Mürren). If you are doing this on a day trip from Zürich or Lucerne, it could take 3 hours or longer to get here.
The only way to get to Jungfraujoch is by train. The Jungfraubahn is the train that runs from Kleine Scheidegg and Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch.
Depending on your starting point, there are different ways to get to Kleine Scheidegg and Eigergletscher. For some places, such as Lauterbrunnen or Mürren, you have two different routes to choose from. Cost, time of day, and length of travel time can all influence your decision.
This all can be confusing, but here are the travel routes. Pick out your starting point and I list the route(s) you can take to get to Jungfraujoch.
For more information on planning your trip to Jungfraujoch, with maps and photos, read our article How to Visit Jungfraujoch.
Travel Routes to Jungfraujoch:
Here are the routes and travel time estimates for the towns in the Jungfrau region. You can also see the full timetable here.
The earliest arrivals to Jungfraujoch go through Grindelwald. If you want to take the first train to Jungfraujoch, you will have to travel through Grindelwald to do it (at least as of my latest search in June 2022), even if it is not the most direct route to Jungfraujoch.
Wengen Option #1: train from Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg: 30 minutes; Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch on the Jungfraubahn: 44 minutes; Total time including transfers: 1 hour 25 minutes
Wengen Option #2: You can also travel through Grindelwald. It’s a longer journey but you can get on the first train to Jungfraujoch. You will travel from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen to Grindelwald. From Grindelwald, ride the Eiger Express to Eigergletscher and then the Jungfraubahn to Jungfraujoch. Travel time is 1 hour and 58 minutes.
Lauterbrunnen Option #1: train from Lauterbrunnen to Kleine Scheidegg (through Wengen): 42 minutes; Kleine Scheidegg to Jungfraujoch on the Jungfraubahn: 35 minutes; Total time including transfers: 1 hour 41 minutes
Lauterbrunnen Option #2: train from Lauterbrunnen to Zweilutschinen: 9 minutes; Zweilutschinen to Grindelwald Terminal: 17 minutes; Eiger Express to Eigergletscher: 20 minutes; Jungfraubahn to Jungfraujoch: 26 minutes. Travel time is 1 hour 39 minutes including transfers.
Mürren: train Mürren to Grutschalp: 21 minutes; cable car Grutschalp to Lauterbrunnen: 4 minutes; train from Lauterbrunnen to Zweilutschinen: 9 minutes; Zweilutschinen to Grindelwald Terminal: 17 minutes; Eiger Express to Eigergletscher: 20 minutes; Jungfraubahn to Jungfraujoch: 26 minutes. Travel time is 2 hours including transfers.
Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch: Eiger Express to Eigergletscher: 20 minutes; Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch on the Jungfraubahn: 26 minutes; Total time including transfers: 56 minutes
Interlaken Ost to Jungfraujoch: Train Interlaken Ost to Grindelwald: 29 minutes; Eiger Express to Eigergletscher: 20 minutes; Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch on the Jungfraubahn: 26 minutes; Total time including transfers: 1 hour 36 minutes
PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you make a seat reservation for the Jungfrau Railway (Jungfraubahn), you get a guaranteed time slot and you will not have a wait time when changing to the Jungfrau Railway at Eigergletscher. You also will not have to wait in line when riding the train from Jungfraujoch to Eiger Glacier Station (this saved us almost 30 minutes when exiting Jungfraujoch). Learn more about seat reservations here.
Jungfraubahn in Kleine Scheidegg | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
How Much Does it Cost to Visit Jungfraujoch?
Without any discounts, a round trip journey to Jungfraujoch can cost at least 200 CHF per person. In US dollars, that’s just about $200.
This cost depends on your starting location and the time of year you are visiting Switzerland. The summer months are the most expensive months of the year to visit Jungfraujoch.
For ticket prices and timetables, visit the official Jungfraujoch website.
You can get a discount by using a Swiss Travel Pass or the Jungfrau Travel Pass. Kids under 6 travel for free and kids 6 to 15 travel for free with a Junior Travel Card or pay half of the fare.
Traveling to Jungfraujoch
To make today’s itinerary work, plan to be on the very first train of the day. Not only will you get to visit Jungfraujoch with relatively low crowds, being on the first train gives you more free time this afternoon.
The first train of the day arrives anywhere from 8 am to 10 am, depending on the season.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Always check the timetables before you go. The Wengernalpbahn, the Eiger Express, the Männlichen gondola, and the train that runs between Grindelwald, Alpiglen, and Kleine Scheidegg have seasonal closures for maintenance, usually in May, October, or November. If you are visiting while one of these is closed for maintenance, you can still get to everything, but you may have to plan a different route.
Things to Do in Jungfraujoch
Now that you finally made it here, what is there to do at Jungfraujoch?
Your visit starts and ends in the main complex, a multi-story building with restaurants and shops.
While at Jungfraujoch, there are blue “Tour” signs which direct you where to go. Basically, you will do one big loop through the tunnels in the mountain, visiting the attractions along the way.
You will first come to the Jungfrau Panorama, a 4-minute 360° cinematic experience. Then, ride the elevator up to the Sphinx Terrace, which is one of the best viewpoints at Jungfraujoch. You get to see the Aletsch Glacier, which is the longest glacier in Europe.
Sphinx Terrace. On the right hand side of the photo is the trail to Mönchsjochhütte
View of the Aletsch Glacier from the Sphinx Terrace | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
Ride the elevator back to the underground tunnel and walk out to the Aletsch Glacier. At the Snow Fun Park, you can go snow tubing, zip lining, skiing, or snowboarding. All of these activities come at an additional cost. Click here for prices.
Our favorite experience at Jungfraujoch was hiking to Mönchsjochhütte. It’s 2.4 km one way and takes about 45 minutes to hike out to the hut. The hiking trail is groomed snow. It looks easy, but at this elevation, it’s a challenging hike.
The trail from Jungfraujoch to Mönchsjochhütte | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
Mönchsjochhütte | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
On this hike, you get spectacular views of the Aletsch Glacier and Jungfrau. Hiking to Mönchsjochhütte takes 1.5 to 2 hours and it’s worth it!
Back inside the main building, you can see the Alpine Sensation, visit the Ice Palace, step back outside for photos on the Glacier Plateau, and visit the souvenir shops inside the main building.
On Glacier Plateau | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
Glacier Plateau, Jungfraujoch
Have lunch at Jungfraujoch before riding the train to the Eiger Trail.
How much time do you need at Jungfraujoch? If you hike to Mönchsjochhütte, plan on spending 4 hours at Jungfraujoch. If you skip the hike to Mönchsjochhütte, your visit to Jungfraujoch will last about 2 hours.
The Eiger Trail
How to Get from Jungfraujoch to the Eiger Trail
From Jungfraujoch, ride the Jungfraubahn to the Eigergletscher station. We booked our tickets with a seat reservation, so we boarded the train that we made a reservation for without waiting in line. If you do not have a seat reservation, this wait could be as long as 30 minutes.
It takes 24 minutes to travel from Jungfraujoch to Eigergletscher.
For more information about the Eiger Trail (and more photos), check out our Eiger Trail Hiking Guide.
Hiking the Eiger Trail
Eiger Trail Hiking Stats
Distance: 7.25 km (4.5 miles) point-to-point
Elevation Change: 140 meters up, 800 meters down
Difficulty: Easy to moderate
Length of Time: 2 to 3 hours
On the Trail
The Eiger Trail starts next to the Eigergletscher station. But before hiking the Eiger Trail, walk out to the grassy area next to the train station. The views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley are beautiful from here.
View from the grassy area near Eigergletscher Station.
Back at Eigergletscher, look for the Eiger Trail signs. The Eiger Trail starts at the Eigergletscher train station and then it heads underneath the Eiger Express gondola. Follow signs for Eiger Trail/Alpiglen.
The trail sign at the trailhead states that it takes 2 hours to hike the Eiger Trail. We typically hike much faster than most estimates. However, it took us 2.5 hours, simply because we stopped so frequently to take photos and enjoy the views.
The trail is very well marked and easy to follow. Essentially, you will be walking downhill with Eiger mountain to your right. Just before the trail makes a turn towards Alpiglen, you will arrive at a waterfall. Then the trail zig-zags its way to Alpiglen. This is the toughest part of the hike since the trail is rather steep here. If you have hiking poles, this is the perfect place to use them.
Here are photos from the Eiger Trail.
Start of the Eiger Trail | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
Approaching Alpiglen | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
The trail ends in Alpiglen. There is a small restaurant here, if you need food or drinks or just to take a break before moving on.
Train to Kleine Scheidegg
From Alpiglen, ride the train to Kleine Scheidegg. Travel time is 12 minutes and trains leave every 30 minutes.
Alpiglen Station | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
Panorama Trail to Restaurant Grindelwaldblick
Once in Kleine Scheidegg, walk the very first part of the Panorama Trail towards Männlichen. On trail signs, you might see it written as Panoramaweg or trail #33.
Kleine Scheidegg | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
From Kleine Scheidegg, it is a 500 meter, slightly uphill walk that takes 8 to 10 minutes to get to Restaurant Grindelwaldblick.
And why do we recommend hiking to a restaurant?
Because the views are some of the best of the day.
From the outdoor terrace, you have panoramic views of Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. Kleine Scheidegg, tucked away in the verdant green valley below these mountain peaks, makes the view even more dramatic.
Here are photos from the trail and the restaurant.
The view looking back at Kleine Scheidegg from the first part of the Panorama Trail.
Restaurant Grindelwaldblick | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
At the restaurant, have a snack or a drink and enjoy the view.
View from Restaurant Grindelwaldblick
View from Restaurant Grindelwaldblick
If you are doing extremely well on time, you can hike the remainder of the Panorama Trail to Männlichen (about 4.5 km or a little less than 3 miles), but just note the last cable time of the day (the last cable car of the day usually leaves Männlichen around 5 pm).
However, I think the best views from the Panorama Trail come from this restaurant detour so it’s not a huge deal to skip the rest of the hike. If you choose to skip the Panorama Trail, what you are missing out on are the views over the Lauterbrunnen Valley from Männlichen.
If you choose to end your day at the restaurant, to return to your hotel, walk back to Kleine Scheidegg and take the train to Grindelwald, Wengen, or Lauterbrunnen.
Optional: Hike the Panorama Trail
The Panorama Trail is a 3-mile point-to-point hike that connects Männlichen and Kleine Scheidegg.
You can only hike the Panorama Trail if you are doing well on time. From Alpiglen (the end of the Eiger Trail), you will have to take a train or train/cable car combo to get to the next trailhead. You will have to finish the Panorama Trail before the cable cars or trains close for the day.
You can hike the Panorama Trail in either direction, but the best way to go is Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg. However, from Alpiglen, it is a bit of a hassle, and takes some time, to get to Männlichen. It’s quicker and easier to ride the train to Kleine Scheidegg, but the downside is that the great views will be behind you as you do the hike, so you will constantly have to turn around to see them.
View from the Panorama Trail | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
Transportation to and from the Panorama Trail
Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg
From Alpiglen, ride the train to Kleine Scheidegg. Travel time is 12 minutes and trains leave every 30 minutes.
Alpiglen to Männlichen
From Alpiglen, ride the train to Grindelwald Grund. Once in Grindelwald Grund, walk to Grindelwald Terminal. At Grindelwald Terminal, take the Männlichen Gondola Cableway to Männlichen. Travel time is 48 minutes.
Last Train/Cable Car of the Day
Before committing to this hike, you need to be aware of the closing times for trains and cable cars in this area. The times that I am providing are very rough estimates. Before you go, check the timetables for the Männlichen cable cars and the train that leaves from Kleine Scheidegg.
If you choose to hike from Kleine Scheidegg to Männlichen, the last cable car of the day (Männlichen to Wengen and Männlichen to Grindelwald) is around 5 pm. That means that you need to start the Panorama Trail absolutely no later than 4 pm (and hike very fast) but ideally you should start this hike between 3 and 3:30 pm.
If you choose to hike from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, the last train of the day that leaves from Kleine Scheidegg is just past 6 pm, which gives you a little more time. However, it also takes longer to get here from Alpiglen. That means that you need to start the hike absolutely no later than 5 pm (and hike very fast) but ideally you should start this hike by 4 to 4:30 pm.
VERDICT: As you can see, adding on the third hike is challenging, and most people won’t have enough time left in the day to add it on. However, it is possible if you move quickly through Jungfraujoch and the Eiger Trail, in order to start the Panorama Trail by mid-afternoon. If you want a more leisurely experience, or don’t want the stress of managing these timetables, only do the Jungfraujoch + Eiger Trail + restaurant viewpoint combo.
Hiking the Panorama Trail
Panorama Trail Hiking Stats
Distance: 4.9 km (3 miles)
Elevation Loss: 200 meters, 650 feet (Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg)
Difficulty: Easy
Length of Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
It is a point-to-point walk from Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg (or vice versa). The best way to do this hike is the direction of Männlichen to Kleine Scheidegg, since Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau will be right in front of you, and you will have views of them for the entire walk. It’s also a downhill walk if you do it in this direction.
For more information on the Panorama Trail, read our Panorama Trail Hiking Guide.
Männlichen | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
Panorama Trail | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
Another view from the Panorama Trail
We did this hike in the opposite direction, so we constantly had to turn around to see the view. It was still a great experience, but I recommend doing it in the other direction, if you don’t mind the extra travel time between Alpiglen and Männlichen.
Near Kleine Scheidegg, make the detour to Restaurant Grindelwaldblick. The view from here is phenomenal!
Ending the Day
If your hike ends in Kleine Scheidegg, ride the train to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen and continue to your hotel.
If your hike ends in Männlichen, ride the cable car to Wengen or Grindelwald and continue to your hotel.
Jungfraujoch, Eiger Trail & Panorama Trail Itineraries
Since there are several ways to organize your day, here are several sample timelines. Your times may differ, based on train schedules and the speed you move through these experiences.
For the Eiger Trail, I am using a hiking time of 2 hours since that is the average time to do this hike.
For most people, itinerary #4 is the best way to plan your day, because it includes the highlights of everything without the stress of making the last cable car or train of the day.
#1 Jungfraujoch & the Eiger Trail
- 8:15 am: Arrive at Jungfraujoch
- 12:15 pm: Depart Jungfraujoch
- 12:45 pm: Start the Eiger Trail Hike
- 2:45 pm: Train to Kleine Scheidegg or Grindelwald
PRO TRAVEL TIP: You can omit the hike to the Mönchsjochhütte at Jungfraujoch, to give you more time in the afternoon. However, I think it’s worth doing the hike to the Mönchsjochhütte, not only because it is a very unique experience, walking on the Aletsch Glacier, but also because you paid so much to get here, you might as well get the full Jungfraujoch experience. If you have multiple days in the Jungfrau region, you can always hike the Panorama Trail on another day.
#2 Jungfraujoch, Eiger Trail, and the Panorama Trail via Männlichen
- 8:15 am: Arrive at Jungfraujoch
- 12:15 pm: Depart Jungfraujoch
- 12:45 pm: Start the Eiger Trail Hike
- 2:45 pm: Alpiglen to Grindelwald (by train) to Männlichen (by cable car)
- 3:45 pm: Panorama Trail
- 5:15 pm: Train from Kleine Scheidegg to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen
#3 Jungfraujoch, Eiger Trail, and the Panorama Trail via Kleine Scheidegg
- 8:15 am: Arrive at Jungfraujoch
- 12:15 pm: Depart Jungfraujoch
- 12:45 pm: Start the Eiger Trail Hike
- 2:45 pm: Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg
- 3:15 pm: Panorama Trail to Männlichen
- 4:45 pm: Cable car from Männlichen to Wengen or Grindelwald
This is what we did. We decided to add on the Panorama Trail at the very last moment. We only had one hour to make it from Kleine Scheidegg to Männlichen, in order to make the last cable car, so we hiked that trail extremely fast. It was not the most enjoyable experience, so I think the next itinerary is the best option for how to plan your day.
#4 Jungfraujoch, Kleine Scheidegg, and the Eiger Trail
This is a GREAT option if you only want to hike the Eiger Trail but still want some of those great views from the Panorama Trail. For most people, I think that this is the best option of the day.
- 8:15 am: Arrive at Jungfraujoch
- 12:15 pm: Depart Jungfraujoch
- 12:45 pm: Start the Eiger Trail hike
- 2:45 pm: Train from Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg
- 3:15 pm: Arrive in Kleine Scheidegg. Walk the very first section of the Panorama Trail to Restaurant Grindelwaldblick and enjoy the view. This is also a great place for a snack or a drink. Then, walk back to the Kleine Scheidegg station and ride the train to Grindelwald, Wengen, or Lauterbrunnen.
View from Eigergletscher Station | One Day in the Jungfrau Region
How Much Does this Cost?
That’s a tough one to answer. With multiple starting points throughout the area, and numerous ways to plan your day, there is no one set price for this itinerary.
Jungfraujoch is the big ticket item in the Jungfrau region. This experience can cost as much as 200 CHF (about $200 USD) per person, depending on your starting point (this price includes your round-trip travel to and from Wengen, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, or another village in the Jungfrau region).
The Swiss Travel Pass gives you a 25% discount on the train that runs from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch and the train that runs from Wengen to Jungfraujoch. It also gives you a 25% discount on the train that runs from Grindelwald to Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg and a 50% discount on the cable car that runs from Wengen to Männlichen to Grindelwald.
The Jungfrau Travel Pass gives you free transportation on the trains and cable cars up to the level of Eigergletscher and there is an additional fee to travel from Eigergletscher to Jungfraujoch (about CHF 75 per person during high season).
I recommend booking your Jungfraujoch tickets a few days in advance of your visit and making a seat reservation, in order to decrease wait times.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: Watch the weather forecast and do this itinerary on the clearest weather day that you will be in the Jungfrau region. If you have cloudy skies, you may not be able to enjoy the view from Jungfraujoch or along the Eiger Trail.
Important Links
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s better, the Eiger Trail or the Panorama Trail?
Both hikes offer incredible views of Swiss Alps and you can’t go wrong with either one. We liked the Eiger Trail more than the Panorama Trail, since it is a thrilling experience to hike along the north face of the Eiger. However, the Panorama Trail is shorter and easier than the Eiger Trail, so this is a good pick for families with young kids or those who prefer a more leisurely walk.
When is the best time to visit Jungfraujoch and hike the Eiger Trail?
The best time to hike the Eiger Trail is from late June through October, when the trail is free of snow. During the summer months, the timetables to travel to Jungfraujoch start earlier in the day, which gives you more time to add on a hike, like the Eiger Trail, after visiting Jungfraujoch.
Is hiking to Mönchsjochhütte at Jungfraujoch worth it?
The hike to Mönchsjochhütte is a challenging, 5 km (3 mile) round trip hike. On this hike, you walk on the Aletsch Glacier. The icy, snowy trail plus the high altitude makes this hike deceptively difficult, but what an awesome view you get of Jungfraujoch and the Aletsch Glacier. If you have plans to visit Jungfraujoch, it is worth adding on the hike to Mönchsjochhütte, if you are up for the challenge. You will pay quite a bit of money to travel to Jungfraujoch, so you might as well experience as much of it as possible.
If you have any questions about how to visit Jungfraujoch and add on the Eiger Trail and/or the Panorama Trail, or if you want to share your experience, let us know in the comment section below.
More Information for Your Trip to Switzerland
JUNGFRAU REGION: What exactly is the Jungfrau region? Find out in our Guide to the Jungfrau Region, which includes maps and important travel planning information, and a Jungfrau Itinerary to help you plan your time. We also have articles about the best things to do in the Jungfrau region as well as the top hikes in the Jungfrau region. Riding to cable car to Schilthorn and the Mürren Via Ferrata were two of our favorite experiences in this part of Switzerland.
SWITZERLAND ITINERARY: If your visit to the Jungfrau region is part of a bigger trip to Switzerland, check out our Switzerland Itinerary, which has suggestions on what to do if you have 7 days, 14 days, or even longer.
ZERMATT: In Zermatt, don’t miss the hike from Gornergrat to Riffelberg. For more ideas on what to do, read our article Best Things to Do in Zermatt. For more alpine views, learn how to visit Matterhorn Glacier Paradise (and find out if it is worth it).
LUGANO: Lugano is located in southern Switzerland. From here, you can visit the fairytale bridge Ponte dei Salti and you can easily day trip to Lake Como and Bellagio.
LUCERNE: Learn how to spend one perfect day in Lucerne with a trip to Mt. Pilatus.
TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY: For more information about the camera gear we carry, check out our Travel Photography Gear Guide. And tips and tricks for taking great photos in our article How to Take Better Photos while Traveling.
Read all of our articles about Switzerland in our Switzerland Travel Guide.
All rights reserved © Earth Trekkers. Republishing this article and/or any of its contents (text, photography, etc.), in whole or in part, is strictly prohibited.
Comments 22
HI Julie, We’re following a lot of your printed hikes for our 3.5 day trip , staying in Murren in Sept. Thank you for all of your great info, including details I might have forgotten had I not seen them on your notes. For this 1 day of hikes, we’re not going to go to Junfraujoch but will hike the Eiger Trail and Kleine Scheidegg., maybe more hiking on the Panorama trail.
My question is, for best planning purposes, which order is best for these 2+ hikes, Eiger trail first or Kleine Scheidegg?
Author
I recommend doing the Panorama Trail (Mannlichen to Kleine Scheidegg) first and then the Eiger Trail. From Murren, travel to Wengen on the series of trains and gondola through Lauterbrunnen. From Wengen, ride the gondola to Mannlichen and then hike to Kleine Scheidegg on the Panorama Trail. Have lunch at Restaurant Grindelwaldblick or in Kleine Scheidegg. From Kleine Scheidegg, hike or take the train to Eigergletscher to get to the Eiger Trail. Hike the Eiger Trail, then travel back to Murren. I think this is the most efficient way to do it and you get to hike the Panorama Trail in the best direction, with the mountain views right in front of you. Cheers, Julie
❤️
Hi, thanks for the great info! If time is a concern, would you recommend the panorama trail or Monchsjochhutte? Planning to do jungfraujoch + eiger trail but wondering which of those two to prioritise
Author
That’s a great question! If you like the idea of hiking across the snow for views of the glaciers, then do the Monchsjochhutte hike. It’s a tougher hike, since you are on snow and at a higher elevation, so keep that in mind, because it is more challenging than the Panorama Trail. So, hike the Panorama Trail if you want an easier hike, know that you can get the transportation to work out with the cable cars and trains, and simply want more panoramic views of Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau. It comes down to personal preference for which type of experience you prefer to have, but I don’t think you can go wrong either way. In my opinion, adding on the Monchsjochhutte hike makes the big expense of visiting Jungfraujoch worth it. I hope this helps! Cheers, Julie
HI! Could we do this in the opposite direction? I would like to take family photos first (which location do you recommend for that) before heading to Jungfrau.
Thanks.
Author
You can but the issue can be clouds over Jungfraujoch. The skies over Jungfraujoch generally start off clear in the morning and get cloudier midday, so you risk clouds and no view once you get to Jungfraujoch. However, you could get lucky and skies could stay clear, but I wouldn’t plan on that. Plus, it’s simple to start the Eiger Trail hike coming back down from Jungfraujoch. If you did the Eiger Trail first, you’d have to take the train from Alpiglen to Kleine Scheidegg, then visit Jungraujoch, so this also adds more time. So, I think it is best done in the order we lay out here. Cheers, Julie
THANK YOU for these incredibly detailed, well-organized, and cleanly displayed itineraries. This is exactly what I’m looking for and I appreciate the info!
Author
You’re welcome!
Wow, you guys are awesome!!! Thanks so much for the time and effort you put into your amazing posts, they are truly inspirational! We have followed some of your itineraries and they have been fantastic:) I have a question if you are at all able to help. We will driving to Grindelwald in winter (at the end of January 2023) just for the day (arriving 10am and staying till approximately 4.30pm)and was planning to do Jungfraujoch (including associated plateau, ice palace, sphinx, cliff walk) and Monchsjochhutte walk from up there, however the walk will be closed:(
To make the most of the $$$ ticket, can you suggest the best hikes/sites? Not sure if you can do Eiger trail in winter. Have to end up back in Grindelwald. Thanks so much, any help would be greatly appreciated:)
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Hello Faye. I’m not sure if the Eiger Trail is open at that time, either. Looking at the websites for the area, June through October is stated as the time that the Eiger Trail and Panorama Trail are open. Here is a link to the Mannlichen website that has real time information about conditions on this area, and this is where I got the June through October dates. In the winter, this area becomes a place to go skiing. That might not work out with your schedule since you will just have a couple of hours, but maybe that website will give you some more ideas of what to do in the winter. You might still be able to walk from Kleine Scheidegg to the Grindelwaldblick restaurant, which has a great view of the area. I hope you have a great time in the Jungfrau region! Cheers, Julie
On our way to Switzerland now and using your guide – thank you!
Author
You’re welcome! I hope you have a great time! Cheers, Julie
Do you strongly recommend the Jungfrau side versus the Schiltorn side? I will only have one day to experience this region and want to make the best choice. We would like to do some walking – the Eiger walk sounds very nice – and also experience the smaller towns and villages. I will be there in late August.
Author
That’s a tough one. As far as smaller towns and villages, our favorites are Murren and Gimmelwald (on the Schilthorn side). But we loved the Eiger Trail. You could either follow this itinerary and stick to the Jungfrau side (which is amazing). Or, spend the day on the Schilthorn side, ride the cable car to the top of Schilthorn, back down to Murren, walk the Northface Trail, and have dinner in Murren with a view of Monch, Eiger, and Jungfrau. Either way, it will be a great day. Cheers, Julie
These photos are incredible. I can’t wait to do some of these hikes next summer in Switzerland, thanks so much for sharing!
Author
You’re welcome!!
This is so helpful, thank you! What are your thoughts about starting from Wengen, taking the cable car to Mannlichen, then walking the Panorama trail to Kleine Schiedegg, train to Jungfraujoch, and potentially Eiger trail on the way back down from Jungfraujoch? I’m guessing it may be too much for one day!
Author
That would all work very well, as far as efficiently using the public transportation and hiking. The reason I put Jungfraujoch first is because the mountain peaks have a tendency to get clouded in the afternoons. This does not happen every day and on the day that we did this, the skies remained fairly clear, but by 3 pm, there were clouds around Jungfraujoch. So, if you do Mannlichen and the Panorama Trail first, you take a greater chance that Jungfraujoch will be cloudy when you get there (most likely, you would be arriving around 11 am or noon). Cheers, Julie
this is exactly the route my husband and I are planning to take in 2 weeks – I am using so many of your plans for our trip! Thank you! Our hotel is in Wengen so I thought this would be a good way to do it. Glad to hear your comments on it. Would you say the trails are runnable also – downhill is I am assuming – but obviously we don’t want to go too fast and miss all the views 🙂 . would you recommend bringing yaktracs or similar for the hike to Monchsjochhutte? and is that trail “runnable”? If we run/walk the Eiger trail would you say it could be done in 2 hours? We are fit and run/bike regularly. thanks!
Author
Hello Rachel. The Eiger Trail and the Panorama Trail are “runnable” and if you fast walked/jogged the Eiger Trail, it shouldn’t take any more than 1.5 hours but you could do it even quicker. The hike to Monchsjochhutte is not runnable on the way up. You’re at a high altitude and it’s slow going walking uphill in the snow. But it is faster coming down and you could fast walk it. I don’t think yaktrkacs are necessary. The trail is snowy and slushy, at least when we did it, so I don’t think yaktracs will offer much benefit. On the Jungfraubahn, you could sit on the right side for the first part of the train ride for views over Kleine Scheidegg. But it won’t take long until you are in a tunnel with no view. During your time in the area, when you ride the train between Lauterbrunnen and Wengen, sit on right side of the train for views of the Lauterbrunnen Valley. I hope you have a great day! Cheers, Julie
Love the info. Much appreciated.