Riding Up the Jungfraubahn

Railway enthusiasts already know that 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the Jungfraubahn, the world’s highest railway. Located in Switzerland’s stunning Bernese Alps, near the town of Interlaken, the 1,000 mm railway chugs nine kilometers from the Kleine Scheidegg station to Europe’s highest railway station on Jungfrau mountain.

Most of the trip takes place in a tunnel dug through the massive mountains of Eiger and Mönch. The train stops at two stations, where large windows carved out of the mountainside frame fantastic views. At the Eigerwand station, you’ll see panoramic views of Eiger’s north face and the lovely ski resort town of Grindelwald. At the Eismeer station, you’ll marvel at views of a massive glacier. At the final station, Jungfraujoch, view the frozen summit of Jungfrau from the Sphinx Observation Platform; walk through the Ice Palace, decorated with beautiful ice carvings; and enjoy a hot drink in the station complex.

While the Bernese Alps are a major skiing and snowboarding destination, there’s much more to do there – not only in winter, but all year long. The town of Interlaken lies between two mountain lakes, Thunersee and Brienzersee, that get warm enough for swimming in the summer. You can also explore the hiking and mountain biking trails and try out adventure sports like bungee jumping, river rafting, paragliding and skydiving.

In the winter, recreational opportunities abound. In addition to Alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowboarding, visitors can go sledding (the longest sledding run in Europe is on Faulhorn mountain) and ice skating.

In any season, visitors enjoy the ubiquitous fondue restaurants, cozy taverns and souvenir shops along Interlaken’s main street. Be sure to browse the Swiss-made watches, knives, music boxes and chocolates. Brienz, a town at the other end of Brienzersee, is known for its top-class woodcarvers.

If you’re able to visit before October 21, you can purchase a special Jungfrau Centenary Pass. In addition to a trip up to Jungfraujoch station, the pass provides three days of travel on the Jungfrau Railways network, which includes links between Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen, Grindelwald and Kleine Scheidegg. Talk with your travel professional to find out about air travel and lodging options in and around Interlaken.