Jungfraujoch Private Tour: Ice Palace & Sphinx Observatory

The Ice Palace sits inside the mountain at the highest railway station in Europe.

A private day trip from Zurich to Jungfraujoch (the "Top of Europe" at 3,454 meters) by luxury Mercedes and cogwheel mountain railway. Your driver-guide takes you over the Brünig Pass and through Interlaken to the Bernese Oberland, where you ride the train to the summit, visit the Sphinx Observatory platforms, and walk through ice tunnels carved into the Ice Palace. Hotel pickup, train tickets and entrance fees are included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Jungfraujoch Sphinx Observatory30m · entry included
2. Jungfrau30m · entry included

Private day trip to Jungfraujoch

• Drive over mountain pass to Swiss Alps
• Coffee break and souvenir shopping
• Travel by cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch
• Visit Sphinx Observatory platforms
• Walk through the Ice Palace

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Zurich hotel and a drive over the Brünig Pass toward the heart of the Swiss Alps. Your private driver-guide handles the route while you watch the landscape shift from valley floor to Alpine terrain. A short stop in Interlaken gives you time to pick up souvenirs (watches, Swiss army knives, chocolates) before you head toward the cogwheel railway station in the Bernese Oberland.

At the station, you board the cogwheel train for the ascent to Jungfraujoch. The railway climbs to 3,454 meters above sea level, the highest railway station in Europe. Once at the summit, an elevator takes you up to the Sphinx Observatory platforms, where the view opens across the glaciers and peaks of the Swiss Alps. Then you walk into the Ice Palace: a tunnel carved through the ice itself, lined with sculptures and frozen detail that only exists at that altitude and temperature.

The tour runs about ten hours door-to-door. You travel in a latest-model Mercedes with a single guide dedicated to your group, which means the pace is yours to set: linger at a viewpoint, spend extra time in the Ice Palace, or move through at your own rhythm. Hotel transfers, the cogwheel train tickets, and entrance to both the Sphinx Observatory and Ice Palace are included. You only pay separately for food, drinks and personal purchases.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a luxury Mercedes Benz vehicle with a dedicated driver-guide.
• Jungfraujoch cogwheel railway tickets for the ascent and descent.
• access to the Sphinx Observatory platforms and the Ice Palace.
• hotel pickup and drop-off (in the option you select at checkout).

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day9 departure times: the first at 08:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to12h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (3 to 5 years): free · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Swiss Epic Tours

Is this one for you?Choose the Private Tour with Pickup if your hotel is in Zurich and you want door-to-door service. Choose the option without Pickup if you prefer to meet the guide at the starting point and save on that service. Either way, the small group size, your party only, means the pace and stops are yours to decide.

Traveler reviews

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (3 to 5 years): free. Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Ice Palace at Jungfraujoch?

The Ice Palace is a tunnel carved through the ice inside the mountain at the summit, decorated with ice sculptures and accessible by elevator from the Sphinx Observatory platforms. It exists only at that altitude and is part of the included access on this tour.

Do I need to book hotel pickup, or can I arrange my own way to the meeting point?

Hotel pickup from your Zurich accommodation is included in the Private Tour with Pickup option. If you choose the Private Tour without Pickup, you arrange your own transport to the starting point and save on that service.

How long does the train ride take to reach Jungfraujoch?

The cogwheel railway climbs to the summit at 3,454 meters, the highest railway station in Europe. The ascent is part of the included journey, and the total tour runs about ten hours from hotel to hotel.

Can I visit the Sphinx Observatory and Ice Palace on the same day?

Yes. The Sphinx Observatory platforms and the Ice Palace are both included stops on the same tour, accessed by elevator from the summit station, so you see both in one visit to Jungfraujoch.