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Jungfrau Ski Region
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!).
In an incredible feat of Swiss engineering, it’s possible to continue on from the ski area and ride the cog-railway all the way to the top of the Jungfraujoch at 3454m, where you can alight at the highest railway station in Europe. A well-deserved UNESCO World Heritage site, the views over the glacier and surrounding peaks are breath-taking to say the least.
The area is great for families and non-skiers thanks to the variety of fun excursions and activities, and a visit to the region is not complete without a trip up to Piz Gloria, the rotating panoramic restaurant at the top of the Schilthorn which you will probably recognise from the Bond film ‘On Her Majesty’s Secret Service’.
Stats & FAQ
Location: Switzerland, Alps.
Open: December-April
Downhill: 213km
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| Highest Altitude: | 2971m |
| Lowest Altitude: | 945m |
| No. lifts: | 44 |
| No. runs: | 76 |
| Slope Orientation: | N, S, E, W |
| Night Skiing: | Yes |
| Glacier: | No |
| Cross country trails: | 27.5 km |
| Downhill Runs: | 213km |
| Beginner slopes: | 30% |
| Intermediate: | 50% |
| Advanced slopes: | 20% |
| Lift Pass Price: | Sportpass Jungfrau: CHF 339 (adult 6 day) |
| Resorts: Grindelwald, Wengen, Mürren, Interlaken | |
Skiing/BoardingSkiing in Jungfrau
There are 3 main ski areas in the Jungfrau region, all connected by the cog-railway: The area above Grindelwald linked to First, the large Männlichen/Kleine Scheidegg area above Wengen, and the Schilthorn mountain above Mürren.
Newbies to the whole skiing malarkey will probably want to base themselves in Wengen where there are a couple of nursery areas and easy blues to progress on to. Begin at the Wengiboden nursery slope or the great Figeller children’s area where the Swiss Ski School run lessons, with 4 magic carpets and 3 draglifts.
If you’re going out of peak season, the pretty village of Mürren might be more apt as this has the most snow sure nursery slopes. The Snowli Kids Centre has a cute little igloo village and some drag lifts, or you can ride the funicular up to Allmenhubel beginners area which is high enough (1907m) for late-season skiing (there’s a really good mountain hut here too).
Jungfrau’s network of ski slopes and lifts is about as extensive and varied as any in the top resorts of the Alps. Overall, the area is probably best suited to intermediates, particularly if you are staying in Wengen. Here you have direct access to the gentle rolling hills at Männlichen, where there are speed limits on some runs which can be very reassuring if you’re still finding your feet.
This is not to say that the area doesn’t have its share of hair-raising black runs (the gun barrel section of the Inferno run is as intimidating in real life as it sounds here on paper), or excellent off-piste (try traversing beneath the Eiger north face for some of the best powder lines). Either way the ski area is so vast you can’t possibly get bored, no matter what level you’re skiing at, and boarders will be kept busy with the "Im Rad" snowpark at the top of the Schiltgrat chair or the "White Elements" snowpark in First.
Jungfrau Apres Ski
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.
Best time to go
Best time to ski Jungfrau
When is the best time to ski Jungfrau?
The Jungfrau ski area isn’t the highest in Switzerland so there isn’t the summer skiing that you get at some resorts like Zermatt, but you can ski quite late into the season here, usually into April. The first snow starts to fall in December, or occasionally in November, and by Christmas there’s usually plenty of the white stuff for some yuletide skiing.
Thankfully those clever people responsible for maintaining the area are on the ball, and have been busy upgrading the resort’s facilities including installing a plethora of snow cannons so that now over 50% slopes can be prepared with artificial snow. What’s more, there’s also a new gondola up from Wengen, so no more long queues during peak season.
Peak Dates
Escape from it all and spend this Christmas in the Jungfrau Ski Region - just jump on the cog-railway and ride it up to one of the region’s sweet little mountain villages such as Wengen or Mürren, or stay down in the valley in Grindelwald. The locals love to celebrate this time of year too with torch-lit processions and glühwein parties.
What better way to celebrate this festive time of year than by spending New Years in the Jungfrau Ski Region, where you can spend days on the well-groomed pistes or seeking out the best powder, and evenings enjoying a fondue and a glass of local wine. Don’t miss the many parties and firework displays around the region too.
With great nursery slopes, children’s parks and family-friendly hotels, February Half Term in the Jungfrau Ski Region is an excellent choice for those travelling with children. Adults too will be charmed by the romantic villages, the fun activities on offer and the fantastic skiing.
Ski like James Bond this Easter in the Jungfrau Ski Region and race down the Schilthorn on the exciting Inferno run. For those less daring there are plenty of gentle blue runs and easy beginner slopes, as well as lots of other fun activities such as sledging, snow shoeing and the giant First Flieger zip wire to keep you busy.
Families in Jungfrau
Many of the resorts in the Jungfrau area are famous for being family friendly, and with good reason. There’s a wide selection of hotels with excellent facilities especially for children, these include playrooms, children’s menus, a baby-sitting service, swimming pools… the list goes on. Why not take a look at the Hotel Eiger in Mürren which is close the ski lifts and town centre making it a very convenient choice, or you could stay at the Grand Hotel Regina in Grindelwald. To find out more about which hotels are best suited to your family, read more on each individual accommodation page or, better still, give one of our team a call and we can advise you on prices and availability as well. We often recommend hotels for families, but apartments can also be perfect for those travelling with children. As well as being budget friendly, they offer you so much flexibility – you can eat in and cook, or you can go to the local restaurants, whatever you feel like.
Wengen, Grindelwald and Mürren all have nursery slopes with children’s clubs, so every one of them make ideal resorts for little tots to learn to ski. The most snow sure beginner’s slopes are up at Kleine Scheidegg, or over by Mürren. If you’re staying in Mürren then the Snowli Kids Centre is conveniently located close to the town centre, and children will love playing in their mini igloo village. Above Mürren there is also the Allmenhubel beginners area which is high enough (1907m) for late-season skiing.
Organising your family trip to the Jungfrau area couldn’t be simpler. Our team are on hand to help you find the perfect holiday, and we can make you personalised recommendations or answer any queries you might have, just give us a call on the above number. You can also browse through our holidays online - look out for our promotions and special deals, and don’t miss our package holidays which include flights and transfers.
GroupsGroup Holidays Jungfrau
There are plenty of great hotels and some quality apartments in the Jungfrau area for your group to stay at this winter. Choose from budget options such as the Eiger Apartments in Grindelwald, or treat yourselves (that’s what holidays are for after all!) and book into one of our luxury hotels, you’ll be surprised just how affordable these can be – for example the Hotel Beausite Park and Jungfrau Spa in Wengen, which is just 5 minutes’ walk from the village centre, or the Grand Hotel Regina in Grindelwald which is one of our personal favourites.
For groups it really depends what kind of holiday you’re looking for whether you decide to stay in an apartment or a hotel. Generally hotels are convenient for group bookings because of their size, which means that there is often availability for more people to join your booking later and that allows you to keep asking around to see if any more friends are interested in joining you. They are also convenient in the sense that many come with half board, meaning you can all eat together at the hotel’s restaurant and there’s no one complaining about the bill at the end of it with everything paid for in advance! On the other hand, apartments can work very well and are also kind to your wallet at the same time, especially if you don’t mind all pitching in and doing some cooking.
The best thing about travelling in a group is that you are likely to get a hefty group discount depending on your group size. To find out more about discounts give our team a call, we can advise you on availability and prices, and we are more than happy to help you organise every aspect of your booking. It’s definitely easiest to go with a package holiday if you’re travelling as a group because booking travel independently can be a total headache, and package holidays usually save you money too. Most of our package holidays come with flights, transfers and accommodation included in the cost, and you can also ask us about packages with inclusive ski hire, lift passes and even ski tuition. Another option if some of you are willing to drive would be to go for one of our self-drive holidays, or you could all catch the Eurostar over with one of our train holidays. We also have accommodation only options if you’re making your own way over. Get on the phone, have a chat with our team and start organising your group booking now, or have a browse through the options below to get an idea of what’s on offer.
More Jungfrau Holiday Resources
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