Known as the birthplace of modern skiing, it’s no wonder tourists have been visiting this beautiful area for centuries – James Bond included. The original cog railway still runs today - from the top you’ll be greeted with unbeatable views of iconic mountains such as the jaw-dropping Eiger and Schilthorn.
It’s amazing that the Jungfrau region isn’t better known amongst Brits. With charming villages, a huge variety of ski terrain and breath-taking vistas at every turn it’s hardly surprising that those who’ve been here once return year upon year. Although the north face of the Eiger and the Jungfrau are some of the most iconic and familiar mountains in the world, many seem to forget that the area is famous not only for its mountaineering history, but also as one of the birthplaces of modern skiing.
The 3 main resorts, Mürren, Grindelwald and Wengen are linked by an impressive cog-railway system, which has been running for almost a century now. The cog-railway is one of the oldest ski lifts in Europe thanks to the British ski pioneers who begged the locals to keep the trains running in winter so they could use it for skiing. One of these pioneers was Arnold Lunn who set up the famous Kandahar club, responsible for organising the first official downhill ski race and ski World Cup. Today, visitors can try out the original Inferno run above Mürren or head to the newer Lauberhorn World Cup run for another challenge (by the end of your holiday you’ll be ready to compete!).
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The mountain villages of Mürren and Wengen are peaceful and secluded so don’t expect huge 24 hour clubs, but that’s not to say there aren’t some fun venues for a night out on the town. The Balloon Bar in Mürren is a quirky novelty place for evening drinks as it’s actually set inside a hot-air balloon basket. There’s also the Inferno, named after the infamous Inferno run, which serves up a selection of fittingly themed flaming drinks. Over in Wengen you’ll find plenty of cosy ‘Stublis’ (pubs) for a glühwein or a beer, and you can dance the night away at the Blue Monkey. Grindelwald is set in the valley making it easily accessible for locals, and it’s a bigger town, so you’ll have an even wider choice of après here – don’t miss the Mescalero Club where you can order Mexican food until 10pm during high season. While you’re up on the slopes there are plenty of nice huts - you’ll probably notice the Tipi bar on Kleine Scheidegg which is good for a quick afternoon pit stop.
From gourmet dining to cheap and cheerful, you’ll find that the Swiss uphold their reputation for good quality and excellent service across the board. Bargain eats include the easy to miss Tham Kok Keong in Mürren, a Chinese fast food place on Dorfstrasse which serves tasty noodle dishes, and Onkel Tom's Hutte in Grindelwald which specializes in pizzas. If you like to treat yourself, Chez Meyer's Le Grand restaurant at the Hotel Regina in Wengen is a fabulous option – the French cuisine here has won plenty of awards.
The Jungfrau is a leading holiday destination in Switzerland, and alongside the skiing there are lots of fun activities to keep you entertained. The area lift pass includes a trip on the First Flyer (a giant zip wire up on the mountain) for dare devils out there. Then there are the quirky ‘Velogemel’ sledges which are unique to the region and sort of resemble scooters on skis. You can rent these at the train station in Grindelwald and then take them down ‘Big Pintenfritz’, the longest sledge run in the world on the Faulhorn mountain.
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