How to Get to Grindelwald from Zurich, Zurich Airport, Lucerne and Geneva

By Ramon Stüdeli, who lives in Grindelwald and LucerneLast updated: 31 October 2026

Quick answer: Every train route to Grindelwald goes through Interlaken Ost. There you switch to the Bernese Oberland Railway, which runs every 30 minutes and takes about 35 minutes to Grindelwald. From Lucerne, the trip takes about 2 hours 45 minutes. The travel time from Zurich depends on your connection, so check it on sbb.ch before you travel.

Key facts at a glance

Change at Interlaken Ost: the Bernese Oberland Railway runs to Grindelwald every 30 minutes. About 31 minutes to Grindelwald Terminal, about 36 minutes to Grindelwald station.
From Zurich HB: via Bern to Interlaken Ost, depending on the connection with a change in Bern or Spiez. Check connection and travel time on sbb.ch before you travel.
From Lucerne: the Luzern–Interlaken Express over the Brünig Pass, about 2 hours to Interlaken Ost with no change.
From Geneva: via Bern and Interlaken Ost, or the scenic way on the GoldenPass Express from Montreux (about 3 hrs 15 min to Interlaken Ost).
Two stations: Grindelwald Terminal (Eiger Express, Männlichen, parking garage) and Grindelwald station (village center, First gondola).
Luggage: Swiss Federal Railways (SBB) luggage service from station to station or from your door, delivered two days later.

All travel times are rounded and come from official timetables and route descriptions. Check the current timetable on sbb.ch, it changes every December.

Routes at a glance

From	Route	Changes	Travel time (approx.)
Zurich HB	Zurich HB → Bern → Interlaken Ost → Grindelwald	1–2 (Interlaken Ost, maybe Bern or Spiez)	check timetable
Zurich Airport	Zurich Airport → Zurich HB or Bern → Interlaken Ost → Grindelwald	1–2	check timetable
Lucerne	Lucerne → Brünig → Interlaken Ost → Grindelwald	1 (Interlaken Ost)	about 2 hrs 45 min
Geneva	Geneva → Bern → Interlaken Ost → Grindelwald	2	check timetable
Geneva, scenic route	Geneva → Montreux → GoldenPass Express → Interlaken Ost → Grindelwald	2	about 3 hrs 15 min from Montreux to Interlaken Ost, plus about 35 min
Bern	Bern → Interlaken Ost → Grindelwald	1	about 1 hr 25 min to 1 hr 35 min

Sources: sbb.ch (timetable), interlaken.swiss, bls.ch, jungfrau.ch.

From Zurich main station (Zurich HB)

Trains run via Bern to Interlaken Ost, depending on the connection with a change in Bern or Spiez. From Bern, it's 47 to 55 minutes to Interlaken Ost.

At Interlaken Ost, you switch to the Bernese Oberland Railway to Grindelwald. Check the current connection and total travel time from Zurich HB on sbb.ch before you travel.

From Zurich Airport

From the airport, take a train toward Zurich HB or straight toward Bern, then continue as from Zurich HB. The exact connection and travel time depend on when your flight lands, so check sbb.ch or the SBB app.

Tip for long-haul travelers: Keep your arrival day easy. After a long flight, the Jungfraujoch is a better fit for day 2.

eSIM for SwitzerlandMobile data without roaming, set up before you travel

From Lucerne

The Luzern–Interlaken Express crosses the Brünig Pass and takes about 2 hours to Interlaken Ost. According to interlaken.swiss, you pass five different lakes on the way. The train has large panoramic windows, and a seat reservation is recommended. At Interlaken Ost, change to the Bernese Oberland Railway to Grindelwald, about 2 hours 45 minutes in total.

From Geneva

Fastest option: Train to Bern, on to Interlaken Ost and then the Bernese Oberland Railway to Grindelwald. Check travel time on sbb.ch.

Scenic option: From Geneva to Montreux, then the GoldenPass Express with no change to Interlaken Ost (about 3 hours 15 minutes). There are three classes (2nd, 1st and Prestige). A reservation is recommended in 2nd and 1st class and mandatory in Prestige class. The Swiss Travel Pass, GA, day passes and Half Fare Cards are accepted.

Grindelwald Terminal or Grindelwald station?

	Grindelwald Terminal	Grindelwald station
Location	one stop before the village center	last stop, in the village center
Lifts	Eiger Express (Jungfraujoch), Männlichen gondola	First gondola about a 10-minute walk, Wengernalp Railway to Kleine Scheidegg
From Interlaken Ost	about 31 min	about 36 min
Parking	parking garage in the terminal	–

Get off at the stop closest to your hotel. If you're heading straight to the Jungfraujoch, get off at Grindelwald Terminal.

By car

From the north, drive via Bern or Lucerne to Interlaken and follow the signs for Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen. From the south, take the Grimsel Pass (summer only) or the Simplon Pass and the Lötschberg car train. Grindelwald Terminal has a parking garage with direct access to the Eiger Express.

Good to know: Wengen and Mürren are car-free. If you stay there, you park in the valley and continue by train.

Car rentalCompare rental cars, for example from Zurich or Geneva

Luggage: how to travel lighter

Ship your bags ahead: SBB offers luggage transport from station to station and from your address to your destination station. Your bags arrive two days later. Check on sbb.ch whether your destination station offers the service.
Flight luggage: For flights to and from Zurich or Geneva with selected airlines, SBB offers a flight luggage service.
Changing trains: Travel with bags you can easily carry and lift yourself.
Trains with several destinations: Some Bernese Oberland Railway trains run to more than one destination. Check the sign on the car so you're in the part going to Grindelwald, not Lauterbrunnen.

Which ticket?

Swiss Travel Pass: Check on swisstravelsystem.com before you travel whether it covers the whole trip to Grindelwald.
Swiss Half Fare Card: up to 50% off the trip.
Jungfrau Travel Pass: valid in the Jungfrau Region. The trip from Zurich, Lucerne or Geneva is not included.
Grindelwald guest card: from one overnight stay, the local bus is free and you get discounts on mountain lifts.

FAQ

How long does it take from Zurich to Grindelwald?

It depends on the connection. You travel via Bern to Interlaken Ost and continue on the Bernese Oberland Railway in about 35 minutes. Check the current connection and travel time on sbb.ch before you travel.

Is there a direct train to Grindelwald?

No. You always change to the Bernese Oberland Railway at Interlaken Ost.

How often does the train run from Interlaken to Grindelwald?

Every 30 minutes. Check the first and last train from Interlaken Ost in the current timetable on sbb.ch.

How do I get from Lucerne to Grindelwald?

Take the Luzern–Interlaken Express to Interlaken Ost (about 2 hours), then about 35 minutes on the Bernese Oberland Railway.

How do I get from Geneva to Grindelwald?

Via Bern and Interlaken Ost, or the scenic way on the GoldenPass Express from Montreux to Interlaken Ost.

Can I drive to Grindelwald?

Yes. Grindelwald is reachable by car, and there is a parking garage at Grindelwald Terminal. Wengen and Mürren are car-free.

Where do I get off in Grindelwald?

At Grindelwald Terminal for the Jungfraujoch and Männlichen, at Grindelwald station for the village center and the First gondola.

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About the author

Ramon Stüdeli is the owner of Grindelwald Experiences. He lives in Grindelwald and Lucerne, brings broad experience from tourism and other industries and has traveled to more than 60 countries.