Interlaken Ost, the departure point for the direct InterCity to Zurich and for the narrow-gauge lines into the Jungfrau region.
Photo: Stefan.Bauer.Stuttgart / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Interlaken to Zurich by Train
A domestic route within Switzerland.
Reviewed by Eurotraintrip on 2026-07-30
- Duration
- 1h 59m – 2h 12m
- Price from
- 33 CHF
- Distance
- 130 km
- Operators
- SBB CFF FFS
- Frequency
- Direct InterCity trains roughly every 2 hours via Bern and Spiez, with an hourly alternative available by changing in Bern
Compare and book Interlaken–Zurich tickets
Check pricesWhat makes Interlaken to Zurich different
- This is one of the few genuinely scenic-first corridors on this site rather than a business connection: the direct Bern-Spiez line runs along Lake Thun into Interlaken, while the alternative Luzern-Interlaken Express crosses the Brunig Pass and passes five lakes - which route to take is a real trip-planning decision unique to this pair of cities, not just a booking preference.
- Interlaken Ost is the interchange for three separate narrow-gauge mountain lines - toward Lauterbrunnen/Wengen/Kleine Scheidegg, toward Grindelwald, and via the Jungfraubahn network toward Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in Europe at 3,454m - meaning most passengers arriving here from Zurich are mid-journey to a second, mountain-bound leg, not at their final stop.
- Interlaken's name is literally descriptive: it sits on the flat strip of land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz (Latin inter lacus, 'between the lakes'), which is also why the town has two train stations, Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost, roughly 15 minutes apart on foot.
Interlaken station
Departs from Interlaken Ost, the gateway station for the Jungfrau region, with cogwheel trains toward Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen departing from clearly signed platforms at the same station - no security screening, board as on any Swiss domestic service.
Zurich station
Arrives at Zurich Hauptbahnhof, Switzerland's largest station with 26 tracks handling around 3,000 trains a day; international and most domestic long-distance trains use the main terminus platforms, with direct tram and S-Bahn connections into the Altstadt just outside.
Train vs. other options
There's no meaningful commercial flight option for a roughly 130km domestic hop like this; the realistic comparison is driving via the A6/A8, which covers similar time to the train without traffic but misses the Lake Thun views and doesn't benefit from SBB's consistently high on-time performance.
Booking tips
- Book an SBB Supersaver ticket as early as possible for up to 50-70% off the standard fare - as on other Swiss routes, it locks you to one specific train and can't be refunded or exchanged.
- For a single scenic day out rather than the fastest transfer, ask specifically for the Luzern-Interlaken Express routing instead of the direct Bern line - it's slower but adds five lakes and the Brunig Pass to the window; the default booking otherwise routes you via Bern.
- If continuing on to Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald or Lauterbrunnen, the connecting narrow-gauge trains depart from clearly marked platforms at Interlaken Ost itself - no need to change stations within town.
Good to know: Switzerland's rail booking system defaults to the faster Bern-Spiez routing unless you specifically search or request the Luzern-Interlaken Express - the slower, more scenic option via Lucerne and the Brunig Pass costs the same fare but has to be actively chosen, not just found by taking whichever departure comes first.
While you're in Zurich
Zurich's Altstadt straddles the Limmat River, with the Grossmunster's twin towers rising above the east bank.
Photo: Thomas Wolf, www.foto-tw.de / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0 DE)Switzerland's largest city packs medieval alleys, Marc Chagall's stained-glass windows, and a converted-warehouse nightlife district into a small footprint, with a cable train up to a panoramic mountain viewpoint just 20 minutes from Zurich HB.
Full Zurich travel guide →Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Interlaken to Zurich?
Direct InterCity trains via Bern and Spiez take about 1 hour 59 minutes to 2 hours 12 minutes.
Is the Interlaken to Zurich train scenic?
The direct Bern-Spiez route runs along Lake Thun for part of the way. For a more scenic (slower) ride, the Luzern-Interlaken Express via the Brunig Pass passes five lakes, but has to be specifically requested rather than being the default routing.
Can I connect to Jungfraujoch from Interlaken Ost?
Yes - Interlaken Ost is the hub for the narrow-gauge lines toward Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen and onward to Jungfraujoch, Europe's highest railway station, with clearly marked connecting platforms at the same station.