The Top of Europe: My Jungfrau Experience

It’s no secret that Switzerland is one of my favorite countries of all time. I’ve been to The Alps, Geneva, Zurich, Lucerne, Basel…but my first experience in this peacefully scenic country still hits home the hardest.

One of the things I did during my first time in Switzerland, was take a day trip from Interlaken up to Jungfraujoch. 

I was on a tour group my first time in Europe, and the excursion for the day was expensive (as in, almost two hundred dollars) … but very worth it. 

 You have to switch trains several times, and you spend a lot of the day, well… sitting, on those trains, but you won’t mind it when you look out the window and see things like this. 

Passing through Lauterbrunnen; May 2017.

 We switched trains three times. There was a moment where I had to pee so badly in between one of the trains, and I begged my tour leader (who had told us before that there would be no bathroom breaks allowed during our journey up there) to go. I told her I’d be fast…

 … and I was, I was in and out in under a minute, but when I got back to the group, I realized…

 … I left my ticket in the bathroom.

My (very expensive) ticket for Jungfraujoch; May 2017.

 If you’ve never been to Switzerland, and you’re planning a trip there, let me tell you right now. 

 They are the definition of punctual. 

 Those trains will arrive and will leave to the minute that they’re scheduled too.

 Elsewhere in Europe, they don’t really check your train tickets. You could hop on a train from Milan to Rome, and they’ll merely glance over your ticket. 

 In Switzerland… that is not the case.

 They’re going to come check it several times. They’re going to punch it. I’ve had times where I’ve been on trains from France or Germany to Switzerland where they even ask to see my passport (which isn’t common, once an American is in Europe – it usually doesn’t get checked again within the EU/EUR/CH region. 

Yeah, I know what you’re thinking… Stephanie, what the heck does that mean?

EU = The European Union (which doesn’t include Switzerland)

EUR = Short for Europe

CH = The abbreviation for Switzerland

Long story short: 

Do. Not. Lose. Your. Ticket.

 If you lose your ticket… 

 You. Are. Screwed.

 Well, stuck is a better word (given you will literally be stuck somewhere halfway between the alps and the villages below them), but you get what I’m trying to say.

 I somehow, miraculously, ran back to the bathroom, snatched up my ticket (which was also raucously) still on the floor, and hopped back onto the train with about a minute to spare.

I’m glad I made it back on there, because the views only got prettier the further up we went. 

I know it’s hard to believe… but yes, I took that picture, and yes - it really does look like that.

Just look at the little houses on the hills! It’s exactly like what you think it’ll be.

You might recognize this picture from my homepage… now you know where it’s from!

 Once we got up to the top, just before noon, it was already flooded with tourists. I went in May, a relatively shoulder season, but I think it’s safe to say this place will be packed year-round given its popularity.

Me at “The Top of Europe” in May 2017.

 They have little exhibits and shops (including a Lindt store) you can check out inside if you don’t want to venture out in the cold weather to see the flag and attempt to touch the top… but you should.

 I’ve done a lot already, but seeing that flag in the distance… remains one of my top five life moments. 

The Swiss flag and the wind in my hair as I proudly take my selfie whilst on Jungfraujoch; the highest mountain in Europe - thus, called, “The Top of Europe”; May 2017.

 After dreaming about it over and over again… suddenly being in a reality that I was so convinced would always on be a fantasy… just, put the biggest smile on my face.

 I will say, it is cold and it is windy. I’m a tough cookie, so all I brought with me was a mediocre black jacket and some sweatpants. Looking back, some boots with traction would’ve been helpful… but I was in sneakers, and I lived, so I’m sure you can opt to do that as well if you’re looking to travel light the way I do.

 They have lots of place to eat or to grab something warm to drink inside. If you went out to “the top” it’ll hit the spot after you fought for your place out there. 

 If you’re going to Switzerland, it is absolutely worth the trip up there for the day. I hope everyone gets to feel the way that I did when I saw that flag.

 If you’re looking for other things to do in Switzerland, click here.