My favorite part of our Switzerland trip was hiking town to town in the Jungfrau region. This region is so beautiful, the best way to really appreciate the landscape is to walk through it. Depending on how ambitious you are, you can actually hike from Kleine Scheidegg all the way down to Interlaken. The towns are pretty close together so you can definitely cover a large amount of the region in just a day!
The route I took starts at Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe, and ends in Interlaken. If you need to tap out anywhere on this route, you can hop on the train with the Jungfrau Travel Pass.
Jungfraujoch
To get to Jungfraujoch, get on a train at Interlaken Ost, Grindelwald, or Lauterbrunnen. Once you arrive at Jungfraujoch spend some time exploring Europe’s highest railway station! Step out onto the observation deck where you can see the Swiss Mittelland & the Aletsch Glacier from over 11,000 ft on a clear day.
Jungfraujoch also houses a gallery of ice sculptures and a Lindt chocolate shop where you can watch chocolate being made!
Now it’s time to start your epic town to town hike! Get back on the train at the Jungfraujoch station and take it 2 stops to Kleine Scheidegg. Here you will get off and start your hike. There is a small restaurant as this stop, but it was closed when I went in October. The trails in this region are marked by time and distance to the next village, so you’ll want to look for the signs for Wengen. The Eiger Ultra Trail is another trail in the region you can use while hiking town to town.
Wengen
The route from Kleine Scheidegg to Wengen is approximately 4 miles and will take you 1.5-2 hours. This is a mostly downhill hike and can a bit muddy, so wear your hiking boots. My favorite are the Moab 3’s by Merrell. This route is full of amazing views of alpine meadows scattered with picturesque Swiss chalets. My favorite part of this hike is the cows! If your Swiss vacation dream includes petting adorable cows, this is the trail for you!
When you get to Wengen, take some time to walk around the village. I visited an adorable cheese shop for an afternoon snack as we strolled along cobblestone streets and marveled at the views.
Once you’ve had your fill of Wengen, it’s time to get back on the trail and head to Lauterbrunnen.
Lauterbrunnen
The Eiger Ultra Trail can take you from Wengen to Lauterbrunnen. However, this option will take you 5 hours. The most efficient route is this trail, which takes about an hour. It is steep and has a lot of switchbacks, but as long as you have good shoes, you’ll be fine! The views as you descend into Lauterbrunnen are so worth it.
Once you reach Lauterbrunnen make sure to go see Staubbach Falls and walk around town a bit. It is likely afternoon by this point, so stop into a bar for a beer and some fondue to fuel the rest of your hike.
Interlaken
The last part of this hike (if you’re staying in Interlaken) is quite a bit flatter than the previous legs. The trail from Lauterbrunnen to Interlaken takes about 3 hours. If you are visiting in the summer, you will probably have enough daylight, however if it’s Fall, you may want to hike to a closer station and take the train the rest of the way to Interlaken.
Your first option is Zweilütschinen station (about 1 hour hike from Lauterbrunnen). If you want to continue and visit some more cows as you hike along the turquoise Lütschine River, you can hike 2.5 hours to Wilderswil station. From either of these stations, you can use your Jungfrau pass to ride the train back to Interlaken Ost station.
Final tips for hiking town to town:
- Bring water! Although you can stop at each town and get something to drink, it is still important to always carry water with you when doing a long hike.
- Have a warm jacket or raincoat depending on the time of year. The weather can change drastically depending on the elevation you’re at, so wear layers and be prepared.
- Wear good shoes. This area can be very wet and muddy, so I really urge you to have hiking boots or at least shoes with sturdy soles.
For more tips on visiting Switzerland and suggestions on where to go, check out some of my favorite activities here.
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