Zurich Airport to Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen: reaching the Jungfrau region
The Jungfrau region is the destination most requested by our clients who land in Zurich without skiing: Interlaken between its two lakes, Grindelwald below the Eiger, Lauterbrunnen and its waterfalls, and above them the car‑free villages of Wengen and Mürren. This guide explains how to get there, where the chauffeur can drop you and what it costs.
The route: Bern then Lake Thun
From Zurich Airport the car takes the A1 westbound, skirts Bern at the Wankdorf and drops down the A6 to Thun. The lake appears on the left, with the Niesen and the Stockhorn opposite, then the motorway follows the north shore to Interlaken. Count 135 km and 1 h 45 in normal conditions. From Interlaken two valleys open up: the Lütschinental towards Grindelwald (20 minutes) and towards Lauterbrunnen (15 minutes).
Times and prices from Zurich
| Destination | Distance | Time | E‑Class | V‑Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Interlaken | 135 km | 1 h 45 | CHF 500 | CHF 570 |
| Lauterbrunnen | 145 km | 1 h 55 | CHF 530 | CHF 610 |
| Grindelwald | 152 km | 2 h 05 | CHF 550 | CHF 630 |
Fixed prices per vehicle, vignette, fuel, waiting and VAT included, return at the same rate. For four, the V‑Class to Grindelwald works out at CHF 158 per person.
Interlaken: Ost, West and the Höhematte
Interlaken has two stations, Ost and West, and most hotels between them, around the Höhematte where the paragliders land. The chauffeur drops you at the hotel; for a Jungfraujoch excursion he can leave you straight at Interlaken Ost, where the trains to Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen depart. The Lake Brienz villages, Iseltwald and Brienz, are 15 and 25 minutes further.
Grindelwald: the terminal and the village
Grindelwald stretches over 4 km. The Grund terminal at the entrance is the departure of the Eiger Express to the Jungfraujoch and the cable car to the Männlichen; the centre and the hotels are higher up, First on the other side. Specify your hotel: we drop at the address, which spares the walk up from the station with suitcases.
Lauterbrunnen, Wengen and Mürren
Lauterbrunnen is the end of the road for Wengen: the rack railway climbs in 15 minutes from the station, where the chauffeur drops you with the luggage. For Mürren, the drop‑off is at Stechelberg, 6 km further at the head of the valley, at the foot of the Schilthorn cable car. Both villages are car‑free; hotels collect luggage at the arrival station if you tell them.
The train, honestly
From Zurich Airport a direct train or one change in Bern reaches Interlaken Ost in 2 h; Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen need one more change, 2 h 35 to 2 h 40. It is a very good journey, scenic after Thun, and we recommend it to solo travellers or couples with little luggage. The car wins from three people, with suitcases, to reach a Grindelwald hotel directly, or for a late flight.
A day or a week
Many of our clients chain: Zurich → Interlaken, two nights, then Interlaken → Lucerne over the Brünig pass (1 h 15), then Lucerne → Zurich Airport. We bill each leg at the fixed price and keep the same chauffeur if you wish. For a day return from Zurich, daily hire is often simpler.
The seasons
Summer (June to September) is the region's high season, with full hotels and busy weekend roads around Interlaken; book the transfer a week ahead. Winter opens the Grindelwald‑Wengen and Mürren‑Schilthorn areas from December to April, with the Lauberhorn races in Wengen in mid‑January. Our vehicles run on winter tyres with chains on board.
The Jungfraujoch in a day from Zurich
It is the excursion most requested by our visiting clients. The chauffeur drops you at Grindelwald Grund around 9 am; the Eiger Express climbs to the Eigergletscher in 15 minutes, then the Jungfraujoch train in 25 minutes, that is 3,454 m of altitude before 10 am. On the way back, descend via Wengen and Lauterbrunnen, where the chauffeur waits around 4 pm to return to Zurich or continue to Lucerne. Daily hire covers this programme with a single chauffeur; count the transfer price plus the waiting, with an instant quote. Book Jungfraujoch tickets in advance in summer, morning trains sell out.
The lesser‑known alternatives
The Schilthorn, above Mürren, offers a wider view of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau with fewer people; drop‑off is at Stechelberg. The Harder Kulm, above Interlaken, is a ten‑minute funicular with a terrace over the two lakes. Lake Brienz is visited by boat from Interlaken Ost, with Iseltwald and the Giessbach falls. For families, the Pfingstegg summer toboggan in Grindelwald and the Trümmelbach falls in Lauterbrunnen are a few minutes from the usual drop‑off points.
From Geneva or Basel
The Jungfrau region is also reached from the other two airports: Geneva Airport → Interlaken in 2 h 15 via the A1, the A12 and Bern, from CHF 720; from Basel EuroAirport, 1 h 45 via the A2, A1 and A6, on the same fixed‑price model. For a stay in Switzerland that starts in Geneva and ends in Zurich, or the reverse, we chain transfers with Interlaken as a stage: Geneva → Interlaken, then Interlaken → Lucerne or Zurich.
Where to stay: Interlaken, Grindelwald or Wengen?
Interlaken is the practical base: hotels of every category, stations, restaurants, and the two valleys twenty minutes away. Grindelwald is the choice for scenery, below the Eiger, with the Eiger Express at the foot of the village; it is also the liveliest in the evening. Wengen and Mürren, car‑free, are for those seeking absolute calm, with historic hotels and an arrival by train or cable car. Lauterbrunnen, at the head of the valley, is the most affordable and the closest to the waterfalls. We serve all four at the fixed price; the drop‑off point changes, not the quality of service.
The weather and what you see
The Jungfrau often hides in cloud by late morning: to see it, go up early. The Jungfraujoch and Männlichen webcams show visibility live; our chauffeurs check them with you when leaving Zurich and suggest, if the summit is clouded, starting with Lake Brienz or the Harder Kulm and going up in the afternoon. In winter, snow lies from Grindelwald; in summer it is 10 °C colder at the Jungfraujoch than in Interlaken, bring a jacket.
Checklist before booking
- The village and hotel: Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, or the departure station for Wengen and Mürren.
- The number of passengers and bags; the V‑Class from four people with suitcases.
- The flight number and terminal in Zurich, Arrival 1 or 2.
- Child seats, free, with age and weight.
- A planned excursion, Jungfraujoch or Schilthorn, so we can suggest hourly hire rather than two transfers.
- The rest of the trip, Lucerne, Bern or Zurich, to continue with the same chauffeur.
Book a week ahead in summer and for the Lauberhorn races in January; the rest of the year, the day before is often enough. The price is fixed and cancellation free up to 24 h before.
Luggage, skis and the mountain railways
If you continue to Wengen or Mürren, your luggage travels with you on the rack railway or the cable car; the chauffeur loads it onto the platform trolley and the hotel collects it at the top if you have given your arrival time. In winter, skis and boots go in the same trains. For the Jungfraujoch, leave the suitcases at the hotel or in the lockers at Interlaken Ost and Grindelwald Grund: the summit trains are busy and the terminals have no left‑luggage service. We can also keep your luggage in the car during a day excursion on hourly hire.
Frequently asked questions
How long from Zurich Airport to Interlaken?
1 h 45 in normal conditions via the A1, Bern and the A6 along Lake Thun, 135 km. Grindelwald is 20 minutes further, Lauterbrunnen 15.
Can you drive to Wengen or Mürren?
No, both villages are car‑free. The chauffeur drops you at Lauterbrunnen station (rack railway to Wengen, 15 minutes) or at Stechelberg (cable car to Mürren).
What does a transfer Zurich → Grindelwald cost?
From CHF 550 in an E‑Class for 1 to 3 passengers, CHF 630 in a V‑Class for up to 7 people, all included. Interlaken is CHF 500, Lauterbrunnen CHF 530.
Is the train a good option for Interlaken?
Yes: 2 h from the airport, direct or with one change in Bern. Alone or as a couple with little luggage, we recommend it. For several people or with suitcases, the car is simpler.
Can we do Interlaken → Lucerne → Zurich with the same chauffeur?
Yes. Each leg is billed at the fixed price, and we keep the same chauffeur for the whole stay if you ask.
Can the chauffeur wait during the Jungfraujoch excursion?
Yes, on daily hire: drop‑off in Grindelwald in the morning, pick‑up in Lauterbrunnen or Grindelwald in the afternoon, then back to Zurich or on to Lucerne. Instant quote by phone.
Are there child seats and room for buggies?
Yes, free baby seats, child seats and boosters, fitted before you arrive. A folded buggy fits in the E‑Class; the V‑Class takes a double buggy easily.
Can we do Zurich → Interlaken with a stop in Lucerne?
Yes, over the Brünig pass: Zurich → Lucerne (50 min), stop, then Lucerne → Interlaken (1 h 15). Billed as a transfer with an extended stop, instant quote.