Jungfrau Railway

A history of innovation and ingenuity shrouds Switzerland's Jungfrau Railway, a rail line that has been impressing travelers to the Bernese Oberland since 1912. The railway weaves up through Eiger Mountain's interior, entering through a tunnel in the Eiger Glacier face. Throughout the journey, a series of stations provide increasingly dramatic views of the surrounding alpine scenery as the route continues gaining elevation toward the summit. When the train finally stops at Jungfraujoch, guests have reached the "Top of Europe," the continent's highest railway station. Amazingly, this is the same route guests have traversed for over 100 years.

At first, the tracks are out in the open. Travelers watch Kleine Scheidegg fade into the distance as the peaks that were once so far overhead become the surroundings. Soon after this point, the train enters the mountainside through the Eiger Glacier tunnel. The journey proceeds upward, winding through the Eiger Mountain toward Jungfraujoch. Passengers catch a glimpse of the old Eigerwand Station during the climb and enjoy a quick stop at Eismeer Station for a five-minute look over the fantastic scenery from the station's viewing point. The final stretch of track proceeds to one of Switzerland's most impressive locations, Jungfraujoch, at over 11,300 feet above sea level. The ride through the interior of the mountain takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.

All of the train's seats are the same, plush side-by-side chairs set up in bays of four. This setup allows families to sit together with ease and for conversation between passengers as the route progresses. Trains depart at regular intervals throughout the day, and the rail line operates throughout the year.