A 5-DAY ITINERARY IN SWITZERLAND’S JUNGFRAU VALLEY: WENGEN, GRINDELWALD AND CAR-FREE VILLAGES

This five-day trip in Switzerland begins before you reach the mountains.

Zurich and Lucerne, the first gateways to Switzerland

Zurich or Lucerne give you a first glimpse of the country. An urban, well-ordered Switzerland, where every detail feels perfectly placed. You’ll spend a few hours there, just long enough to grasp that quiet precision which characterises the country: a way of life where nothing is ostentatious, and everything is just right. 

A panoramic train journey through the Bernese Oberland

Along the tracks, the journey settles into its rhythm. Switzerland is best explored from a train carriage rather than behind the wheel. The GoldenPass Panoramic trains prove the point perfectly with their floor-to-ceiling windows through which landscapes roll by like a film, changing scene by scene: plains, hills, the first forests, then the rising hills, the deepening valleys, and suddenly the Bernese Oberland opens up.

Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and the slow approach to Wengen

In Interlaken, the scenery begins to change. In Lauterbrunnen, everything takes on a spectacular scale. Cliffs rise up, waterfalls tumble into view. Then Wengen, accessible only by train. A hint of what lies ahead.

How to get to Wengen by train from Interlaken

As morning arrives, it's time to venture deep into the heart of the mountains.

Jungfraujoch, the “Top of Europe” and the Aletsch Glacier

The Jungfraujoch, the “Top of Europe”, rises to 3,454 metres. The journey begins in Wengen, via a cogwheel railway that cuts through the heart of the Eiger, carved into the rock at the start of the 20th century. The ride itself is an experience. And so is the arrival: at the top, the Aletsch Glacier – the longest glacier in the Alps, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site – stretches as far as the eye can see. It takes a while for your gaze to adjust to this vast expanse of white. It’s clear why mountaineers from all over the world have chosen this place as their training ground.

Schilthorn and panoramic views of the Jungfrau peaks

In the afternoon, return to the heights on the Schilthorn side from Mürren, a two-cable-car ride from Wengen. The panorama here is more rugged, less visited. The Jungfrau, Mönch and Eiger rise up before you, side by side. The kind of view that shifts your sense of scale.

A day at altitude combining exploration, contemplation and extreme landscapes

Between these two peaks, the region offers a multitude of routes and activities. Hiking, via ferrata, the freedom to explore. You’ll return to Wengen with a distinct feeling of having gained a new perspective.

Explore our experiences in the Jungfrau Valley

Your last day is the most precious. After so many discoveries, it’s time to savour every moment with gusto. What is there to do in Wengen on this final day?

Hiking and exploring the mountain pastures around Wengen

For starters, a short hike departing from the village, bright and early. Towards Wengernalp, or simply along the alpine meadows surrounding Wengen. On paths where you’ll encounter more marmots than hikers. A moment to see how the morning light plays on the peaks, to smell the damp grass, the wildflowers, and the air flowing down from the glaciers.

Activities at the Grand Hotel Belvedere: wellness, yoga and foraging

The Grand Hotel Belvedere’s excursions continue in this spirit. Mushroom foraging, led by chef Will Gordon, is an invitation to engage with the mountains more mindfully. The meal that follows, built around these ingredients, ties the whole experience together. A yoga session in the yurt, too. With the mountains as your backdrop, and your breath as your guide. 

Your final moments in the mountains – picnic and contemplation

At midday, head to higher ground with a picnic freshly prepared by the Grand Hotel Belvedere Brasserie. Terrines, cheeses, bread, a little sweet treat: a simple break, where the landscape is enough. The afternoon unfolds naturally. The rooms and suites of the Grand Hotel Belvedere become a prime vantage point, binoculars in hand, on the balcony. In the evening, a final dinner at the Brasserie Belvedere: Art Nouveau with Heimatstil spirit, ochre arabesques and large arched windows. Nothing is overdone. Will Gordon’s signature vegetable fondue is the perfect example: silky texture, deep flavours, hearty yet light. A dish like a final sustained note, simple and precise.

The Jungfrau Valley with the Grand Hotel Belvedere

The Jungfrau Valley deserves to be experienced within its wider setting.

To the west, Montreux and the shores of Lake Geneva with its terraced vineyards, old towns, and that feeling of being between two worlds. Geneva, for its international atmosphere and museums. Further south, Stresa and Lake Maggiore mark the border between Switzerland and Italy: the gardens of the Borromean Islands, the palaces, the blue-green waters.

The Grand Tour of Switzerland – the official Swiss tour that loops round the country by train and car – provides seamless connections between these destinations, in true Swiss style.

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