The Swiss Alps in Winter: Which Tours Run and What Closes

Hours, prices and access verified by the Swiss Alps Tours team — last checked 2026-09-26.

A red and white train curving through a snow-covered village in winter

The Swiss Alps do not close in winter. The Jungfraujoch railway runs all season, the valleys are under snow, and several tours keep going. What changes is the detail: some lifts stop for maintenance in late autumn, the falls inside the mountain close, the hikes depend on the weather, and the top is far colder. This guide sets out which days run, what closes, and how to book a winter day that works.

What changes in the Swiss Alps in winter?

Three things. The first is the lifts. Mountain railways close sections for maintenance weeks outside the main seasons, often in spring and late autumn, and the summer season of some lifts ends in October. The second is the falls: Trümmelbach Falls opens from early April to early November only, and the valley days that visit them change with it. The third is the cold. At the Jungfraujoch the average January high is −9.5 °C.

The summer passes end too. Jungfrau Railways sells its summer season pass from 3 April to 29 November 2026, and its winter passes start after that. The First Adventure Package, with unlimited gondola rides, runs from 13 April to 25 October 2026.

Which summit days keep running?

The Jungfraujoch days. The summit is under snow all year, and Jungfrau Railways sells an Unlimited Jungfrau Winter Pass from 1 December 2026 to 30 April 2027, and it includes trips to the top. The railway runs through the winter, and neither Jungfraujoch listing names a winter pause.

Winter even makes one thing easier. The gondola seat reservation from Grindelwald is mandatory only from 1 May to 31 October 2026. And on the Jungfrau Travel Pass, the connecting ticket to the Jungfraujoch costs from CHF 63 in winter against CHF 89 in summer. The Jungfraujoch day from Interlaken and the Jungfraujoch day from Zurich both carry the lifts in the fare.

When do the lifts close for maintenance?

Each operator sets its own weeks, known locally as revisions, and publishes them on its own site. On the Jungfraujoch days, routing and transport may change during maintenance work and with seasonal schedules, so a tour may take a different route up on a revision week rather than stop.

The one closure that reshapes a tour is on Mount Titlis. Engelberg-Titlis has closed the Rotair, its revolving cable car, from 17 August to 11 December 2026. On the Rhaetian Railway, the Bernina Express is diverted via the Vereina tunnel from 29 October to 13 November 2026. The notice names the Bernina Express; the Milan days ride the regular red trains. Before you book a day in November, check the operator's own page for your date.

Check a November date twice. Late autumn is when most maintenance weeks fall. Every fare here refunds in full up to 24 hours before, so book, then check the operator's page for your date. The three-day plan leaves you a spare day for exactly this.

What happens on Mount Titlis in 2026-27?

Until 11 December 2026 you ride up on Titlis Connect instead of the Rotair. The building works for the new summit station also limit the tour's time at the top to about an hour, and the rest of your mountain time is at Trübsee, the middle station.

In winter, snow tubing moves to Trübsee, from December to April, depending on weather and snow. The Ice Flyer chairlift is in the fare when the weather allows, but the Engelberg page shows only its summer season, 4 May to 31 October 2026, so check it for a winter date. The Titlis day from Zurich costs $199 with the cable cars in the fare.

What are the valley days like in snow?

Snowy, and still running. The Mürren rail day has run in December and January: one family's January review describes three hours in Mürren playing in the snow. Mürren and Wengen are car-free, so the trains are the way in whatever the season.

The coach days to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen name no winter pause, but their listings note that the activities they suggest depend on seasonal availability. Up at First, the Flyer and the Glider run in winter too.

What stops until spring?

The falls inside the mountain. Trümmelbach Falls closes in early November and reopens in early April, on dates set each year by the weather. The valley walk, the Mürren hike and the e-bike day all include a visit there, so plan them inside that window.

The hikes are the other question. The First hike, the Mürren hike and the valley walk each need good weather, and the operator calls them off otherwise, with a new date or a full refund. Jungfrau Railways sells a Winter Hiking and Sledging Pass from CHF 61, valid from 21 November 2026 to 25 April 2027, so the paths do not all close. The guided hikes are a separate question.

Which tours run in winter?

Here is each day with what its own listing says about the season. Where a listing names no pause, we say so.

Day	Runs in winter?	Its own line on weather or season
Jungfraujoch from Interlaken	Yes: the railway runs all winter	Routing may change during maintenance work
Jungfraujoch from Zurich	Yes: the railway runs all winter	Routing may change during maintenance work
Titlis and Lucerne from Zurich	Yes, via Titlis Connect until 11 Dec	Snow tubing at Trübsee, December to April
Mürren rail day	Yes: guests rode it in December and January	Needs good weather and a minimum group
Kleine Scheidegg rail loop	No winter pause stated	Needs good weather and a minimum group
Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen coach	No winter pause stated	Activities depend on seasonal availability
Four countries, private, Zurich	Yes: guests rode it in November and January	The Rhine Falls boat is seasonal
Red train from Milan	No winter pause stated	No seasonal line
Grütschalp to Mürren hike	Weather decides; the falls close in November	Needs good weather and a minimum group
Lauterbrunnen valley walk	Weather decides; the falls close in November	Needs good weather and a minimum group
E-bike and waterfalls	Weather decides; the falls close in November	Needs good weather and a minimum group
Tandem paragliding	Weather decides	Needs good weather

Where a day says "no winter pause stated", pick your date on the booking page. It shows only the dates that run.

How cold is it at the top?

Far colder than in town. These are MeteoSwiss's 1991-2020 averages for the Jungfraujoch, with Interlaken's sunshine for comparison.

Month	Jungfraujoch daily high	Daily low	Sun at the top	Sun in Interlaken
December	−8.7 °C	−14.5 °C	101 h	56 h
January	−9.5 °C	−15.5 °C	117 h	67 h
February	−10.2 °C	−16.3 °C	122 h	82 h
March	−8.6 °C	−14.4 °C	161 h	129 h

Look at the sunshine. In January the Jungfraujoch gets 117 hours of sun, against 67 in Interlaken, because the top often sits above the valley cloud. Interlaken itself averages 0.1 °C in January. The full year is on the Swiss Alps weather page.

Is the Bernina line open in winter?

The Milan listings name no winter pause. The diversion from 29 October to 13 November 2026 is a notice about the Bernina Express, the panoramic train, and the Milan days ride the regular red trains. The Milan red train day costs $91 with the train ticket in the fare.

Cross the border with a passport, or a national ID card if you are an EU or EEA citizen. Carry a warm layer, because you get an hour on foot in St. Moritz.

How do you book a winter day?

Pick the date on the booking page. It shows only the days that run.
Book with the refund in mind. Every fare refunds in full up to 24 hours ahead.
Dress for the top. A warm jacket, gloves, sunglasses and shoes with a solid sole. You cannot rent clothes at the Jungfraujoch.
Keep a spare day. The winter sun is often above the cloud, but not every day.
Check November twice. Maintenance weeks fall then.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Jungfraujoch open in winter?

Yes. Jungfrau Railways sells an Unlimited Jungfrau Winter Pass from 1 December 2026 to 30 April 2027, and it includes trips to the top. The summit is under snow all year, and your tour may change its route during maintenance work.

How cold is it at the top in winter?

Cold. At the Jungfraujoch the average daily high in January is −9.5 °C and the low −15.5 °C, from MeteoSwiss's 1991-2020 normals. Bring a warm jacket, gloves and shoes with a solid sole.

Is Mount Titlis open in 2026?

Yes, with limits. From June 2026 building works cut the tour's summit visit to about an hour, and the Rotair revolving cable car is closed from 17 August to 11 December 2026. Until then you ride up on Titlis Connect.

Do the hikes run in winter?

They need good weather, and the operator calls them off otherwise, with a new date or a full refund. The valley days also depend on the falls inside the mountain, which close in early November and reopen in early April.

What should I wear on the Jungfraujoch?

The Jungfraujoch is under snow all year, so bring a warm jacket, shoes with a solid rubber sole and sunglasses. You cannot rent clothes or shoes at the top, so wear them from the start.

What is the best month for a tour in the Alps?

Summer, if you want the hikes and every lift running. Trümmelbach Falls opens from early April to early November, and mountain lifts close for maintenance weeks outside the main seasons, so check the one you want before you book.

Can I cancel if my plans change?

Yes. Every tour here refunds in full if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start. If the operator calls off a hike, a flight or the e-bike day for weather, you are offered a new date or a full refund.

Where these facts come from

Swiss Alps days that run through the winter

From Zurich: Mount Titlis with Ice Flyer & Lucerne Day Tour

Ten hours from Zurich with a break in Lucerne. The summit is limited to about an hour while the new station is built.

From $199 per person

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Jungfraujoch Top of Europe Day Trip from Interlaken

The same seven-hour Interlaken day on another booking site, for a group of up to 48, about 2 hours 20 minutes at the top.

From $320 per person

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St Moritz & Swiss Alps Day Trip with Bernina Red Train from Milan

The Milan red train day on another booking site, for up to 60, with about 2 hours 20 minutes on the train.

From $91 per person

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Next: Found a day that runs on your date? Compare every summit, train and valley day on Swiss Alps Tours.