Jungfraujoch from Lucerne: Eiger Express & glacier train

Ride the Eiger Express to Europe's highest railway station and walk across the Alps' longest glacier

A full-day guided excursion from Lucerne to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, with professional guide, cable car and cogwheel train included. The tour departs Lucerne in the morning, passes through Interlaken and Grindelwald, then ascends via the new Eiger Express aerial cableway and a historic cogwheel train carved through rock over a century ago. At the summit, you explore the Ice Palace, Sphinx Observation Terrace and the Aletsch Glacier, the longest in the Alps and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The return follows the cogwheel train down through Kleine Scheidegg and the Lauterbrunnen valley, with the triple peaks of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau in view the entire way. A multilingual guide in English, Spanish or Chinese accompanies the group throughout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day excursion to Jungfraujoch and villages

• Coach journey to Bernese Oberland
• Short break in Interlaken
• Short break in Grindelwald
• Board Eiger Express gondola
• Cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch summit
• Explore Alpine Sensation and Ice Palace
• Visit Sphinx Observation Terrace and Aletsch Glacier
• Descend by cogwheel train via Kleine Scheidegg
• Pass through Wengen and Lauterbrunnen valley
• Coach return to Lucerne via Bernese Oberland

The experience

The day starts with a coach journey from Lucerne through the Bernese Oberland countryside to Interlaken, a village wedged between Lakes Brienz and Thun. A short stop there lets you step out before the group moves on to Grindelwald, where the mountains close in and the real climb begins. The Eiger Express (a state-of-the-art aerial cableway that opened recently) carries you from the Grindelwald terminal up to Eiger Glacier in a single ride, replacing what used to be a longer transfer. From there, you board a cogwheel train that tunnels through solid rock on a route built over a century ago, climbing steadily toward the summit.

Jungfraujoch sits at 3,454 meters, and the view from the top of Europe spreads across the Aletsch Glacier (23 kilometers of ice, the longest in the Alps), and the surrounding peaks. You have time to walk the Sphinx Observation Terrace, descend into the Ice Palace (a chamber carved into the glacier itself), and explore the Alpine Sensation exhibition. The Aletsch is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the scale of it only registers when you are standing on the plateau looking down at the crevasses and the slow rivers of ice below. The guide stays with the group and points out the geography, but the time at the summit is yours to spend as you want.

The descent follows the cogwheel train back down through Kleine Scheidegg, a car-free mountain village, and into the Lauterbrunnen valley, where the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau stay visible above you for the entire ride. The coach picks you up in Lauterbrunnen and drives back to Lucerne through the Bernese Oberland, arriving in the evening. The whole day runs about 10 hours from start to finish, and the guide handles the timing so the connections between coach, cable car and train all hold.

What’s included

• Professional multilingual guide in English, Spanish or Chinese.
• Eiger Express aerial cable car ride.
• cogwheel train from Grindelwald to Jungfraujoch and back down through Lauterbrunnen.
• access to the Ice Palace, Alpine Sensation exhibition and Sphinx Observation Terrace.
• views of the Aletsch Glacier and the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks.
• air-conditioned coach transport from Lucerne through the Bernese Oberland and back.

Options for this experience

2 options

Jungfraujoch from InterlakenGuide in English or Spanish · 10:30 and 10:45Lasts 8 hours, travels by air-conditioned bus coach. Departure point: Höheweg 95, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland

Guided Excursion to Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen from LucerneGuide in English or Spanish · 08:45 and 09:00Lasts 10 hours, travels by air-conditioned bus coach. Departure point: Tourist Bus Parking Landenberg, Alpenquai, 6005 Luzern, Switzerland

You pick the guide language when booking.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:45, 09:00, 10:30 and 10:45

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 48

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortInfant seats availablePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Yo Tours

Is this one for you?Book from Lucerne if you are arriving by train or staying in the city and want the full Bernese Oberland loop without renting a car or figuring out the rail connections: the coach, cable car and cogwheel train are all arranged, and the guide handles the timing so you do not miss a connection. If you are already staying in Interlaken, the same tour departs from there and saves you the drive from Lucerne.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6): free.

What is the Aletsch Glacier and why is it on the UNESCO list?

The Aletsch Glacier is the longest glacier in the Alps at 23 kilometers and is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its scale, age and the alpine ecosystem it supports. You walk on or near it at the Jungfraujoch summit and see it from the Sphinx Observation Terrace.

Do I need to book this tour in advance, or can I join on the day?

The tour operates on a fixed schedule and advance booking is required. The guide is assigned based on the language you choose at checkout (English, Spanish or Chinese), and the group departs Lucerne at a set time each morning.

What happens if I arrive in Lucerne late or need to join from Interlaken instead?

A separate option lets you join the tour from Interlaken rather than Lucerne, which shortens the coach portion at the start. If you are arriving by train or car, check the meeting point details at checkout. The guide will confirm the exact location and time.

Is the Ice Palace actually inside the glacier, or is it a building?

The Ice Palace is a chamber carved into the glacier itself, so you are walking through tunnels and rooms made of ice. It is part of the summit attractions included in the tour, and you explore it at your own pace during the leisure time at Jungfraujoch.

How much walking is involved at the top, and what is the altitude like?

Jungfraujoch sits at 3,454 meters, and the walking is moderate. You move between the Sphinx Observation Terrace, the Ice Palace and the glacier plateau, but there are no long hikes or steep climbs. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, though the altitude and thin air may affect some visitors.

What is the Eiger Express, and is it different from the old route?

The Eiger Express is a new aerial cableway that carries you from Grindelwald up to Eiger Glacier in a single ride, replacing an older two-stage transfer. It is included in the tour and offers views of the surrounding peaks during the ascent.