Interlaken & Jungfrau Region

Mongolian citizens need a Schengen short-stay (C) visa. The Swiss consular agency in Ulaanbaatar closed on 31 July 2024, so residents of Mongolia apply to the Swiss Embassy in Beijing: book through VFS Global's Swiss China site, then attend in person in Beijing for fingerprints (you need a Chinese visa). The fee is the yuan equivalent of €90 (ages 6–11 €45, under 6 free) plus the VFS fee. Apply between 6 months and 15 days before travel; decisions usually take 15 days.

Tip: If you will spend most of your trip in another Schengen state (Germany, France, Austria, etc.), you may legitimately apply through that country's channel in UB — no trip to Beijing needed.

Medical insurance valid across Schengen, including repatriation, with at least €30,000 cover is mandatory. Check that it covers mountain hiking and helicopter rescue. Attach a return flight reservation, hotel bookings for the whole stay, 3 months of bank statements, an employer letter and a 35×40 mm colour photo.

The Swiss Travel Pass (2nd class: 3 days CHF 254, 4 days CHF 309, 8 days CHF 439) covers the train from Zürich to Interlaken and the lake boats, with discounts on most mountain transport. If you are staying only in the Jungfrau Region, the Berner Oberland Pass (3 days CHF 240, 4 days CHF 280, 6 days CHF 350, 8 days CHF 395; ages 6–16 CHF 30) is better value — it includes First, Harder Kulm and the trip to Mürren. Children aged 6–15 travelling with a parent ride free on the Swiss Family Card.

Tip: Seat reservations to Jungfraujoch are mandatory in summer — the smart move is to book 1–2 days ahead once you can see the forecast.

Zürich Airport to Interlaken Ost takes ~2 hours via Bern and Thun; a direct train runs every 2 hours, otherwise change once at Bern or Zürich HB. The full 2nd-class single fare starts at CHF 77; discounted 'Supersaver' tickets bought early in the SBB app are cheaper. With a Swiss Travel Pass you need no extra ticket. A scenic route via Lucerne and the Brünig Pass also exists.

Tip: Interlaken has two stations, West and Ost: trains to the Jungfrau, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen and Lake Brienz boats leave from Ost; Lake Thun boats from West.

Connecting via Frankfurt with MIAT, you enter Schengen there and register fingerprints and face in EES; you then arrive in Zürich as on a domestic flight. Leave enough time for the connection. You can also take an ICE train from Frankfurt via Basel and Bern straight to Interlaken.

Switzerland is not in the EU, so an EU SIM that worked in Germany, and some 'Europe' eSIMs, may charge separate, expensive roaming in Switzerland. Always check that Switzerland (CH) is on the country list of travel eSIMs such as Airalo or Holafly.

Tip: Download the Bernese Oberland in Google Maps and your hiking app for offline use — signal drops in the Lauterbrunnen valley and the Eiger tunnel.

Swisscom offers tourists a Prepaid Flat with unlimited data and calls for 7, 15, 30 or 90 days: order the eSIM online and activate it after landing in Switzerland. Physical SIMs are sold in Swisscom shops (Zürich Airport, Interlaken) with your passport. Sunrise and Salt also sell prepaid SIMs.

Guests staying overnight in Interlaken get the Interlaken guest card (digital version: Interlaken Pass) from their hotel, giving free rides on local buses and trains around Interlaken (as far as Iseltwald) plus discounts on lake boats and the Harder funicular. Grindelwald, Wengen and Mürren each have their own guest cards.

Trains from Interlaken Ost split at Zweilütschinen: the front carriages go to Lauterbrunnen, the rear ones to Grindelwald — sit in the right part. From Lauterbrunnen trains climb to Wengen and Kleine Scheidegg, and from Grindelwald Terminal the Eiger Express gondola links to Jungfraujoch. Reach Mürren by cable car and train from Lauterbrunnen, or by cable car from Stechelberg.

Mountain railways are privately run, so the Swiss Travel Pass gives discounts rather than free travel: 25% on Jungfraujoch (return from Interlaken ~CHF 177 in summer) and 50% on First, Harder Kulm and the Schilthorn. Seat reservations to Jungfraujoch are mandatory 1 May–31 Oct 2026 (CHF 10). If you will do many peaks in this region alone, the Jungfrau Travel Pass (from CHF 165) covers most of them except Jungfraujoch itself.

The currency is the Swiss franc (CHF), not the euro. Cards and phone payments are accepted almost everywhere, even at summit restaurants, and the local Twint app is widespread. Some places take euros but give change in francs at a poor rate. Withdraw cash from bank ATMs.

Tip: If an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in tögrög, say no — choose francs.

A meal at an inexpensive restaurant is about CHF 29 per person and a mid-range dinner for two about CHF 120 — more in the Jungfrau Region and on the summits. Hotels are most expensive in summer and at Christmas. Picnic on food from Coop and Migros and carry water up the mountains; spring and fountain water is drinkable.

Foreign visitors who spend more than CHF 300 in one shop on one day (watches, knives, etc.) can reclaim Switzerland's 8.1% VAT. Get an export form from the shop and have Swiss customs validate it at Zürich Airport within 90 days of purchase.

Fondue — bread dipped in melted cheese; raclette — melted cheese over potatoes; rösti — a crispy potato cake, often topped with egg or cheese; Älplermagronen — the herders' dish of pasta, potatoes, cheese and apple sauce. Mountain 'Alp' farms sell fresh milk and cheese. For dessert, meringues from the Bernese Oberland and Swiss chocolate.

Tip: Service is included in restaurant prices; if you are happy, round the bill up a little.

Coop and Migros by Interlaken Ost and West stations, and the small supermarkets in Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen, are the cheapest options. Take food and water up the mountains — summit restaurants are very expensive. Most shops close on Sundays, but station shops stay open. Interlaken has plenty of Indian, Asian and kebab places.

Police 117, fire 118, ambulance 144, poison control 145, European emergency number 112 — free, 24 hours. Interlaken Hospital (Spital Interlaken) has a 24-hour emergency department. If you lose your passport, report it to the police and contact Mongolia's mission in Geneva.

For a mountain accident call Swiss Air-Rescue Rega on 1414, or use the Rega app to send your location. Helicopter rescue is very expensive without insurance, so check in advance that your policy covers it.

The air is thin on Jungfraujoch and the Schilthorn — walk slowly, drink water and go down if you feel dizzy. Summer afternoons bring thunderstorms and lightning, so start hikes early. Bring warm layers, a rain jacket, sunglasses, sunscreen and sturdy shoes. Stay on marked trails, never cross a glacier without a guide, and book paragliding and canyoning only with licensed operators.

Say 'Grüessech' (Bernese) or 'Grüezi' entering a shop or restaurant and 'Merci, adieu' when leaving. The Swiss take punctuality very seriously — trains and gondolas are not even a minute late, so turn up at your booked time.

Keeping noise down on Sundays and at night is a firm, legally backed custom. Sort your rubbish and carry it back down from the mountains. Don't fly drones over private meadows or photograph into people's windows — residents of Iseltwald and Lauterbrunnen are weary of the crowds.

People greet each other on mountain trails; give way to those walking uphill. Close cattle gates behind you, keep away from cows with calves and keep dogs on a lead. Don't pick the flowers.

SBB Mobile — nationwide timetables, tickets and your Swiss Travel Pass. Jungfrau app — tickets and seat reservations for Jungfraujoch, First and the Eiger Express, plus which lifts are running. Google Maps works in the valleys, but check mountain train times in SBB.

MeteoSwiss — mountain weather and storm warnings; check the jungfrau.ch summit webcams for clear skies before going up. Rega app — sends your location in an emergency. Google Translate's camera translates German menus on the spot.

From Interlaken Ost to Zürich Airport takes ~2 hours by train, 2nd class from CHF 77. Leave Interlaken at least 5 hours before your flight — you may change at Thun or Bern. If you connect to MIAT via Frankfurt, your Schengen EES exit check happens in Frankfurt.

Leave the Schengen area no later than the date on your visa — EES records your exit day automatically. Carry Tax Free goods unopened in your hand luggage and have the export form validated by Swiss customs at Zürich Airport — since Switzerland is outside the EU, this happens in Zürich, not Frankfurt.