Interlaken
Interlaken is 215 km from Geneva Airport, a drive of about 2 hours 20 minutes via Lausanne, Bern and Lake Thun, all within Switzerland. The town sits on a strip of flat land between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, directly below the snow-capped trio of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau, and it is the hub of the Jungfrau region. AirportsTransfers.ch offers private transfers from Geneva Airport to any hotel in Interlaken or the surrounding valleys.
- Distance from GVA: 215 km
- Drive time: about 2 h 20
- Route: motorways via Lausanne, Fribourg, Bern and Thun
- Border crossing: none
- Best for: Jungfrau excursions, lake cruises, hiking and adventure sports
From Geneva Airport to Interlaken
The fastest road heads north-east from Lake Geneva across the rolling countryside of the Swiss plateau, past Fribourg and around Bern, before following the Aare valley down to Thun. From Thun the motorway hugs the southern shore of Lake Thun, with the Niesen pyramid on one side and the water on the other, until it reaches Interlaken. Most of the journey is on motorway, so drive times are reliable outside the Bern rush hour.
By train the trip usually involves a change, typically in Bern, and the last part is a regional connection. With a family, a group or heavy luggage, a direct transfer removes those steps and delivers you to the hotel door, which matters in a town where many hotels are spread between two stations.
Arriving by road also lets you appreciate the change of scenery: the open farmland of the plateau, the medieval roofs of Bern in the distance, then the first view of the Bernese Oberland peaks reflected in Lake Thun. On a clear afternoon it is a fitting introduction to the region, and a chauffeur can stop briefly at a lakeside spot if you would like a photograph or a break after a long flight.
What Interlaken is known for
The heart of town is the Höhematte, a large open meadow kept free of buildings, from which you look straight up at the Jungfrau. Along its edge runs the main avenue with grand nineteenth-century hotels, a casino building and plenty of watch and souvenir shops. Two railway stations, Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost, bracket the town; the second is the departure point for the mountain railways.
Interlaken also has a reputation as an outdoor-sports capital. Paragliders drift down onto the Höhematte on most clear days, and the area is known for canyoning, rafting on the Lütschine and skydiving. Quieter pleasures include the funicular up to Harder Kulm, a viewpoint above town looking over both lakes and the high peaks, and boat cruises on Lake Thun and Lake Brienz.
The Jungfrau region on your doorstep
From Interlaken Ost, trains climb to Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald, the starting points for the car-free villages of Wengen and Mürren and for the railway to the Jungfraujoch, the high saddle between the Mönch and Jungfrau with views over the Aletsch Glacier. Other classic excursions include the Schynige Platte cog railway with its alpine garden, the Schilthorn above Mürren, and the cliff walk at First above Grindelwald.
Many travellers stay in Interlaken precisely because it keeps all these options open, with more choice of hotels and restaurants than the mountain villages.
Where to stay
Hotels near the Höhematte and Interlaken West suit people who want shops and restaurants close by. Around Interlaken Ost you are nearer the mountain trains. The villages of Matten, Unterseen and Wilderswil offer quieter streets and apartments, while lakeside villages such as Iseltwald or Spiez feel more relaxed. Tell us the exact address when booking, as some lakeside properties have narrow access roads.
Practical tips
- Weather changes quickly in the mountains; check visibility before buying tickets to the high summits.
- Summer and the weeks around Christmas are the busiest periods, so book accommodation early.
- Pack warm clothing even in July if you plan to visit the Jungfraujoch.
- For a day combining Bern and Interlaken, a chauffeur by the hour is a flexible option.
Reserving a private transfer to Interlaken
Book online with AirportsTransfers.ch and the fixed price for your vehicle is displayed before you pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, with no meter running. Your chauffeur meets you inside the arrivals hall holding a sign with your name, and because flights are tracked, a late landing simply means the pick-up moves with it at no extra cost. Couples travel comfortably in an E-Class or S-Class sedan; families and groups of up to seven with ten bags choose the V-Class van, and larger parties the Sprinter minibus. Child seats are fitted on request, and skis or sports gear should be listed in the booking. Need help? Call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77 at any time.
