From Zurich to Munich: All Options Compared – Train, Car or Private Transfer

Munich and Zurich are closer together than many people think. Yet the route is often a puzzle for travellers: is there a direct train? How often do you have to change? Do you need a vignette by car, and if so, which one? And is a private transfer across three countries worth it?

This guide answers these questions, compares the options honestly and gives tips for events such as Oktoberfest and the major trade fairs.

The route at a glance

Driving times are guide values and depend on traffic around Munich and at Lake Constance.

The route: Lake Constance, Vorarlberg, Allgäu

From Zurich Airport the A1 heads east past Winterthur and St. Gallen to the border at St. Margrethen. A short stretch leads through Vorarlberg and the Pfänder tunnel near Bregenz, then you reach Germany at Lindau and follow the A96 through the Allgäu via Memmingen to Munich.

The Austrian section requires a vignette – with a transfer we take care of it, you need do nothing. If you drive yourself, from February 2027 you need the digital Austrian vignette; the Swiss vignette is explained in Swiss motorway vignette 2027. German motorways are toll-free for cars.

Option 1: the EuroCity

Direct EuroCity trains run between Zurich HB and Munich Hauptbahnhof via Lindau; the journey takes around three and a half hours. From Zurich Airport you first need to travel to Zurich HB.

For solo travellers with light luggage whose destination is near Munich's main station, the train is a good choice. For Munich Airport, the exhibition centre in Riem, destinations in the surrounding area or groups with a lot of luggage it means further changes.

Option 2: the private transfer

With a transfer the chauffeur meets you in the arrivals hall and drives you straight to your destination without changing – to a hotel in the old town, an office, the exhibition centre or Munich Airport for an onward flight. The fixed price is per vehicle, borders and vignettes are no concern of yours, and up to seven people travel in the V-Class.

This makes particular sense for groups and families, for business travellers who want to work on the way and for travellers with a lot of luggage. The destination page Transfer to Munich shows how to calculate the price for your address.

Option 3: hire car or your own car

With your own car the route is straightforward, but with three countries, two vignette systems and the traffic around Munich it is not quite as relaxed as it looks on the map. With hire cars, one-way rentals across the border are often expensive; check drop-off fees and the required vignettes before booking.

Detours on the way: Lindau and Neuschwanstein

The route offers lovely stops. The island town of Lindau on Lake Constance is right on the way and ideal for a stroll around the harbour with a view of the Alps. Bregenz, with its lake festival in summer, is close too; details are on the page Transfer to Bregenz.

If you want to see Neuschwanstein Castle, plan a detour via Füssen. That adds a few hours to the journey and is best done with an hourly booking, where the driver waits during your visit. Enter stops in the booking form; the price is calculated for the whole route.

Oktoberfest, trade fairs and football

Some events make Munich particularly busy:

• Oktoberfest from mid or late September to early October – hotels are then very expensive and booked out early, and the roads around the Theresienwiese are closed.
• Trade fairs in Munich-Riem, including major industry fairs, when traffic around the exhibition centre is heavy.
• Home matches at the Allianz Arena, with queues on the A9 north of the city.
• Christmas markets in Advent, for example on Marienplatz.

For these dates early booking pays off, and a note about the occasion in the notes field helps – the driver will then plan a suitable drop-off point.

Open jaw: land in Zurich, fly home from Munich

Many travellers combine Switzerland and southern Germany in one trip: arrive in Zurich, spend a few days in Lucerne, the Bernese Oberland or on Lake Constance, then travel on to Munich and fly home from there. That saves the way back and often gives you a wider choice of connections.

The transfer can be planned flexibly for this: pickup at your hotel in Switzerland instead of the airport, stops on the way and arrival right at the terminal in Munich. For a departure from Munich, plan the drive generously and calculate your time at the airport using the rules in How early should you be at Zurich Airport? – they apply to Munich in the same way.

Frequently asked questions about Zurich–Munich

How long is the drive from Zurich to Munich?

By car around three and a half to four hours. The direct EuroCity takes around three and a half hours from Zurich HB.

Do I need a vignette?

Not with a transfer – we take care of it. If you drive yourself, you need the Swiss and the Austrian vignette for the route.

Do you also drive directly to Munich Airport?

Yes. Enter Munich Airport as your destination; the price is calculated for the distance.

Do I need a passport?

Yes, all passengers need a valid passport or ID card; travellers from third countries need the required Schengen documents.

Can I stop in Lindau or on Lake Constance?

Yes. Add an intermediate stop in the booking form.

Book your Munich transfer now – fixed price for your exact address.