There are a lot of expensive trips you can do in Switzerland. And many of them will cost you a fortune!
However, there are often cheaper alternatives that are just as good and sometimes less crowded. Especially in summer.
So, if you are heading to Switzerland and want to save some money, these are the tips for you!
1. Jungfraujoch (Top of Europe)
Perhaps the most popular and heavily marketed attraction in Switzerland. The Jungfraujoch is seriously impressive. You travel through the middle of the Eiger mountain to get to an underground train station, the highest in Europe. Then, once you get outside, you are confronted with year-round snow and the longest glacier in Europe.
However, it can cost you north of $200 per person for the privilege. And it is extremely busy up there in peak season.
Alternative
The second most popular trip in the Jungfrau Region is the Schilthorn. In many ways it is quite different to the Jungfraujoch, but the trip and experiences at the top are just as enticing!
A trip to the top of the Schilthorn offers
- A visit to Mürren on the way – an authentic car-free Swiss Alpine town
- Stop at Birg – the jaw-dropping Skyline walk and Thrill walk
- Piz Gloria – the top of Schilthorn – James Bond themed and with a revolving restaurant. The views of the distant Jungfrau, Eiger and Monch are also stunning
2. Mount Pilatus (Golden Round Trip)
Mount Pilatus is one of the most popular and expensive trips from Lucerne. And there are certainly reasons why this is the case. You get to ride on a jaw-droppingly steep funicular to the top and get some of the most stunning views of Lake Lucerne at the top. If you do the Golden Round Trip you also get a boat road on the lake thrown in for good measure.
However, the whole tour costs over $110, which is quite a lot of money if you are staying in Switzerland for a while.
Alternatives
Of course, there are a few worthwhile alternatives around Lake Lucerne you may want to consider:
- Mount Rigi is free for Swiss Travel Pass holders and heavily discounted for Half Fare holders. It also includes a boat ride and a funicular to the top.
- Stanserhorn – Just down the lake from Pilatus, is also included in the Swiss Travel Pass, this trip includes an open-top gondola, which is a rare experience!
- Burgenstock & Hammetschwand Lift – A lesser-known but far cheaper option is a short boat ride and short funicular ride to the top of Bürgenstock, then a short (yes everything is short) hike to the stunning glass elevator on the cliff (Hammetschwand)
3. Gornergrat
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The Gornergrat offers one of the most stunning views of the Matterhorn and the surrounding mountains. But such a great view comes at a price. Tickets often cost over $130 per person, which is a lot of money to spend for a view.
So, what are the alternatives?
Alternatives
Instead of heading all the way up to the most expensive lookout, you can catch one of the other cheaper gondolas up high enough to get other amazing views:
- Sunnega
- Rothorn
- Schwarzsee
It is also “marginally” cheaper if you book early to go up the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, but with the challenge of predicting the weather, it might not be worth it.
4. Grindelwald First
Grindelwald First is probably second only to the Jungfraujoch in terms of popularity and expense when you come to the Interlaken Region.
The gondola itself is not outrageously expensive, but when you combine it with the adventure activities, it can all add up
So, what are the alternatives?
Alternatives
If you still want to take younger children on a bit of an adventure, Pfingstegg, also in Grindelwald offers a great selection of activities and views with
- A mountain coaster
- A zipline
- Cheaper cable car and activities
There are also hikes there, but often they are far more strenuous than at First
Another option is to go to Männlichen if you want to do a hike, but you also need to get there early to beat the crowds; you just don’t have the activity crowds you have on First!
when ever you show us the expensive mountain excursions, need to include the amount with Swiss pass also. that way, we could compare and adjust our budget. I know some are free and some are 50 or 25% off. but thanks for your blogs and I am fine tuning my itinerary for 2027 as too late to buy Swiss pass and booking hostels as I am solo traveler.
You need to look at this page https://switzerlanding.com/pass-coverage-mountains/
Thanks Ashley. Very useful to know.
Defo give Jungfraujoch a miss.
Where do Mt Titlis stand?
Cheers.
Ravi
It’s near Lucerne, not nearly as expensive as Jungfrau.