Around 125 km, about two and a half hours of planned driving time, fixed price per vehicle: how the transfer from Zurich Airport to Interlaken works – via Lucerne and the Brünig Pass or via Bern, with tips on hotels, winter driving, the Jungfraujoch and onward travel to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and Wengen.
Interlaken lies between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, right in front of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. For many travellers from India, the Gulf, Asia and America it is the heart of their Swiss trip: the base for the Jungfraujoch, paragliding, boat trips and excursions to the mountain villages.
This guide describes the transfer from Zurich Airport to Interlaken: pricing logic, the two possible routes, driving times in summer and winter, hotels, excursions and the honest question of when the train is enough.
The route at a glance
The driving time is our planning value including a buffer. On a clear road you are often in Interlaken sooner.
| Key facts | Zurich Airport → Interlaken |
|---|---|
| Distance | around 125 km |
| Planned driving time | about 150 minutes (door to door) |
| Route | via Lucerne and the Brünig Pass, alternatively via Bern and Lake Thun |
| Price | Fixed price per vehicle, known in advance |
| Included | Meet & greet, 60 min waiting time, flight tracking, luggage, ski bags, child seats |
| Vehicles | E-Class (up to 2), V-Class (up to 7), S-Class (up to 3) |
How the price is made up
The Zurich Airport–Interlaken transfer has a fixed price per vehicle, calculated from our per-kilometre tariff. It depends only on the vehicle class and is shown in the booking form before you confirm.
Included are VAT, meet & greet with a name sign, 60 minutes of waiting time after the actual landing, flight tracking, luggage including up to four ski bags, and child seats. Between midnight and 6 am a night tariff of 20 % applies. Because the price is per vehicle, the transfer is particularly worthwhile for families and groups.
The route: over the Brünig or via Bern
The shorter and more scenic route goes via Lucerne: on the A4 and A14 to Lucerne, then on the A8 along Lake Sarnen, up to the Brünig Pass and down to Brienz. At Lake Lungern and Lake Brienz you see the first postcard views before reaching Interlaken from the east.
The alternative follows the A1 to Bern and then the A6 and A8 along Lake Thun to Interlaken. It is a little longer but motorway all the way. The driver chooses it, for example, in heavy snowfall on the Brünig or in traffic around Lucerne. Both routes are covered by the fixed price.
On a drive of around two and a half hours, a short break is pleasant, for example at Lake Lungern with a view of the mountains. Just let the driver know.
In winter: what you should know
The Brünig Pass lies at around 1,000 metres and is open all year, but can be slower in snowfall. Our drivers know the route and allow more time in winter. On changeover Saturdays the roads into the Bernese Oberland are busy; for a return trip on a Saturday we recommend an extra buffer of 45 to 60 minutes.
We carry ski luggage free of charge, up to four ski bags per vehicle. For a family with full equipment the V-Class is the right choice. More in The best ski resorts from Zurich Airport.
Arriving in Interlaken
The grand hotels on the Höheweg with a view of the Jungfrau are driven right up to the entrance, as are those around Interlaken West and Ost stations. Many places to stay are in the neighbouring villages of Matten, Unterseen, Wilderswil or Bönigen – enter the hotel name and exact address when booking.
If you are staying in a holiday apartment, note in the notes field how the key will be handed over; the driver will wait briefly if needed until everything is sorted.
Excursions from Interlaken
Interlaken is the ideal base for the Jungfrau region:
- Jungfraujoch: via Grindelwald and the Eiger Express or via Lauterbrunnen and Wengen to Kleine Scheidegg, then on the Jungfrau Railway up to Europe's highest railway station.
- Harder Kulm: the funicular straight from Interlaken with views over both lakes and the famous trio of peaks.
- Boat trips on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, for example to the Giessbach Falls or to Spiez.
- Lauterbrunnen valley with the Staubbach and Trümmelbach falls, plus Mürren and the Schilthorn.
- Tandem paragliding with a landing right on the Höhematte in the centre.
On to Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen or Wengen
Many guests do not stay in Interlaken itself but in the mountain villages. Grindelwald is around half an hour from Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen about 20 minutes. Wengen and Mürren are car-free: the transfer ends in Lauterbrunnen or Stechelberg respectively, where the driver takes you and your luggage to the train.
It is best to drive directly: we have fixed routes to Grindelwald and Wengen. Which village suits you is explained in Jungfrau region for beginners.
Transfer or train?
The train from Zurich Airport to Interlaken is a good connection with at least one change, usually in Bern or Lucerne. For solo travellers with light luggage and a Swiss Travel Pass it is a sensible choice.
The transfer wins for families and groups, with a lot of luggage or ski equipment, after late landings, for accommodation outside the centre and for anyone who does not want to change trains after a long-haul flight. How a pass and a transfer can be combined is shown in Is the Swiss Travel Pass worth it?.
Frequently asked questions about the Interlaken transfer
How long does the transfer from Zurich Airport to Interlaken take?
We plan about 150 minutes from the arrivals hall to the hotel. On a clear road it is often around two hours.
Which route does the driver take?
Usually via Lucerne and the Brünig Pass, in snow or traffic via Bern. The price stays the same.
Do you also drive directly to Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen?
Yes. Enter the destination address; for car-free villages we drive to the railway station.
Is the transfer cheaper than the train for families and groups?
For groups of adults often yes, because the fixed price is per vehicle. Families with a Swiss Travel Pass, on the other hand, benefit from children under 16 travelling free by train with the Swiss Family Card – then luggage and changes are the deciding factors. The booking calculator shows the exact transfer price in seconds.
Can the driver stop on the way, for example in Lucerne?
Yes. Add an intermediate stop in the booking form, for example for lunch in Lucerne; the price is calculated for the whole route.
Book your Interlaken transfer now – price known in advance, chauffeur waiting in the arrivals hall.
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