Jungfraujoch or not

If you have the Swiss Pass you can catch the cable car right there in Gimmelwald
and go up to the Schilthorn for no extra charge and still have the other half of the
day for your hike. Get off at Murren on your way down to head to Lauterbrunnen
train station for train to Wengen and cable car to Mannlichen.

Personally I think it is overpriced and overrated. We did it on my first trip to Switzerland because it was part of the group package (I was there with my hiking club and the Jungfraujoch was included even though not a hike). We have been back 5 times since and have not been tempted to take that trip again.

You will get great views on your Maennlichen to Kleine Scheidegg hike. The part after Kleine Scheidegg involves a ride in a dark tunnel through the Eiger for 30 minutes. So you will have no views at all until you arrive at the building and walk upstairs and/or outside. Yes it is a nice view up there, but I have seen many similar at the top of various ski areas in North America.

You have only one full day there, and your choice to do that hike is a good one that will involve some fun transit (take the cablecar down from Gimmelwald to Stechelberg to start your journey to Wengen for a real thrill). Then take the Postbus to Lauterbrunnen for the train up to Wengen and the Maennlichen cablecar.

On the way back, you can return to Gimmelwald by the Grutschalp cablecar, and then walk back to Gimmelwald via Muerren, with some of the best views in the Alps right in front of you.

I wouldn't purchase in advance. It is expensive and I certainly wouldn't do it unless the weather was conducive to good views.

Another thing, I would think your time frame isn't exactly peak season so probably no harm in waiting.

I can't imagine one of the locals actually recommending you purchase your Jungfrau ticket before arrival. That's such a no-no thing to do. You can purchase your Jungfrau ticket right there at the Gimmelwald gondola station if you really want to go there.

Only visit Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn if the weather is good that morning.

If you take the earliest "Good Morning" train (discounted) to Jungfraujoch, you can get off at Eigergletscher or Kleine Scheidegg on the return and hike to Mannlichen, Alpinglen, Grindelwald, or other trail/train/cable car junctions.

With only two days in the area, in late October, there's no way I'd want to pre-purchase tickets for the Jungfraujoch! I very much enjoyed my Jungfraujoch trip, but I agree that you only want to do this if the weather is good, given how long it takes and how much it costs.

I also agree that this is very odd advice for a local to give. Usually, they're quite emphatic about adjusting activities to the weather, which is both unpredictable and rapidly changeable in this area, so the last thing they recommend is pre-purchased tickets.

"thought of doing the Mannlichen-Kleine Schefdegg hike and spending the rest of our day experiencing life in the area"

This is a much better idea!

No to the Jungfraujoch with such a short stay. I have to ask: in the Maennlichen to Kleine Scheidegg hike is your target activity, why are you staying in Gimmelwald? It is not very convenient. You’d be better off in Lauterbrunnen or Wengen.

As you're staying in Gimmelwald, visiting the Schilthorn would be a good trip, assuming the weather is reasonably clear. The Jungfraujoch is on the other side of the valley, and a very expensive trip. At that time of year, it may be shrouded in cloud so you wouldn't see much.

You should be able to find enough to do on that side of the valley, keeping in mind that two nights is only about a day and a half of actual touring time.

In Oct and with the time you have available, I’d plan to take the first cable car up to the Schilthorn. Stop in Birg on the way down and do the Thrill Walk. Take a hike to Trumbelbach Falls. Beautiful area.

We were there for a week last year in Oct and did a trip to the Jungfrau. It was amazing but took the better part of a day. (Now I’ll be thinking about schnitzel and rosti potatoes all day!)

Hope you have a wonderful trip!

Thank you to all who have provided advice in planning our time in Gimmelwald