Jungfraubahn is marketed as 'The Top of Europe' and as such, thousands of people pay the hefty price of just over 200 Frans to visit her each year. Suitably impressive to match the price tag, where else can you travel on a train (with heated seats no less) to reach a peak of 4,158 metres with 360-degree views, in such comfort and ease?
See for yourself right here
The magical Jungfrau
I will let you in on a secret. You can get up to Jungfrau for half the price if you wake up early and hop on the first train up, precisely at 7.07 am (from Lauterbrunnen). Yes, it is still dark, yes, you don't see much on the way up, but once you are there exactly at 9 am you walk off the train and out of the dark tunnel and your first view will totally captivate you. It is simply, breathtakingly beautiful.
So clean, so white, so fresh.... captivating
Jungfraujoch is not the highest mountain in Switzerland but it is the only one you can access by train like this and it is most definitely worth visiting. There is a restaurant, a cafe, an ice tunnel where you can wander through and view the various ice sculptures, there's a viewing platform so you can actually feel the icy wind on your face and touch the snow. And what a perfect day it was -minus 5, windy, but blue skies abounded.
Icy penguin carvings
To visit Switzerland and not see Jungfrau is a bit like visiting Sydney and not seeing the Opera House. Sure, sometimes the weather conditions make in impossible to get there, but if you have the chance grab it with both hands. It is a memorable experience like no other. Not only was it awesome to view this magical mountain up close but to be standing where at one time, this was merely one man's dream. It was a very humbling experience. Of course, after a couple of hours wandering around taking in the views it was time to go back down and this time we would see the stunning scenery.
green hills soon to be covered in snow
It was great seeing where the skiers go during winter. This is only one small part of the Alps. It is far bigger than I realised and one could spend weeks (if not months) in this area exploring.
Jungfrau, I salute you and all the thousands of people who have worked hard (and to those who have lost their lives) working to pave the way for tourists like me, to visit and become enthralled by you.If you do have to spend over 200 Francs to reach this mountain - In my opinion, it is money well spent. You are paying for a very unique experience.
