Zurich to Interlaken
Zurich to Interlaken, without the changes.
Interlaken by train from Zurich Airport means a change at Bern or Lucerne and a fair amount of platform time with your cases. By road it is one journey of about two hours, past the Zug valley and along the Brienzersee, and it drops you at the hotel door.
At a glance
- Distance
- About 130 km by road from Zurich Airport
- Driving time
- Roughly 1 hour 50 minutes in clear conditions
- Route
- A4 and A8 via Lucerne and the Brünig or the A6 via Bern
- Serves
- Interlaken Ost and West, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, Wengen valley
- Good for
- Jungfrau region trips and summer walking holidays
The journey
There are two sensible ways to do it. The Brünig route goes via Lucerne and over the pass along the Brienzersee, and it is the prettier drive. The motorway route via Bern and the A6 is a little longer in distance but often faster and more reliable in winter.
It is around 130 km either way and takes about an hour and fifty minutes in clear conditions. We pick the route on the day based on the weather and the traffic, and you are welcome to ask for the scenic one if you are not in a hurry.
Beyond Interlaken
Interlaken is usually the gateway rather than the destination. The valleys behind it are all reachable by car, with one significant exception worth knowing before you book.
- Grindelwald: straight through, no restrictions.
- Lauterbrunnen: straight through, and the car park for the Wengen railway.
- Wengen and Mürren: car-free. We drive you to the valley station and you take the train up.
- Brienz, Bönigen and the lakeside villages.
- Thun and Spiez on the other lake.
Summer versus winter
The Oberland is a genuinely two-season destination and the transfers look different. Summer means walking gear, a lot of day trips and long light evenings. Winter means ski luggage and the Jungfrau ski area, with the same equipment considerations as any alpine run.
Either way, tell us what you are carrying and how many of you there are, and we will confirm the fit before you book.
Arriving and departing
For arrivals, send the flight number and we will track the landing and meet you in the hall. A two-hour drive is much better begun without a wait at the rank.
For departures, remember the extra step if you are staying somewhere car-free: you take the train down to the valley, and we meet you at the station rather than the hotel. We will plan the timing around the train.
Booking it
Message +41 77 259 19 78 with the date, the flight number if there is one, your exact destination and the number of passengers and bags. We will confirm the route, the timing and the price before you commit to anything.
Questions
Common questions
How long is the drive from Zurich to Interlaken?
About an hour and fifty minutes from Zurich Airport in clear conditions, for around 130 km, depending on which of the two routes suits the day.
Can you drive us on to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen?
Yes, both are reachable by road and are a short continuation from Interlaken. Give us the exact address when you book.
Can you drive to Wengen or Mürren?
Not all the way: both are car-free. We drive you to the valley station at Lauterbrunnen and you take the mountain railway up from there.
Which route do you take?
Either the Brünig via Lucerne, which is the scenic one, or the motorway via Bern, which is often faster in poor weather. We choose on the day, and you can ask for the scenic route if time allows.
Do you collect from Interlaken back to the airport?
Yes. Book both legs together if you can, and tell us your departure flight so we can work the pickup time back from it.
Tell us the journey
Send us the pickup point, the destination and the date on WhatsApp at +41 77 259 19 78. A real person reads every message and replies with a price before anything is confirmed.
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