The train station at Zürich airport (called Zürich Flughafen) provides convenient access to cities and mountain destinations across Switzerland. The train tracks are below the airport. Just follow the signs with the train icon.

Timetable

You can check the timetables on the SBB Mobile app and SBB.ch. Before your flight, it's helpful to check the possible connections, so you know what to look for.

The signs above the track show upcoming departures with train number, destination, and departure time.

Best connections

Below are the best connections to popular destinations, with the least transfers:

To Zürich HB (city): direct trains leave every few minutes, many options: S2, S16, S24, IR 13, IR 75, IC 8, IC 1, IC 81

To Luzern: direct trains are IR 13 or IR 75, departs about every 30 mins. Or you can travel via Zürich HB.

To Bern: direct trains are IC 1, IC 8, or IC 81, departs 30-60 mins.

To Interlaken Ost: direct train is IC 81, departs every 2 hours

To Geneva: direct train is IC 1, departs hourly

To Zermatt: direct train to Visp is IC 8, which departs every 2 hours. Then change to local train to Zermatt.

To Basel: no direct trains, must travel via Zürich HB

Tickets

Train journeys are free with Swiss Travel Pass, Eurail, and Interrail passes.

If you need a ticket, you can buy it on the SBB Mobile app, ticket machines next to the train track, or ticket counter/info desk near the tracks. Discounted 50% with Swiss Half Fare Card and for children age 6-15. Children under 6 ride free with parent.

Once you have a valid ticket, you can just get on the train. You do not have to scan your ticket or show it to someone. Random checks are done on the train. You will get a fine if you cannot show your valid ticket/travel pass.

Sample travel times & costs

Here are some travel times from Zürich airport (aka Zürich Flughafen) to popular destinations. I've include a sample adult one-way fare for 2024.

• Zürich city (aka Zürich HB ): 9-13 mins / frequent direct trains / CHF 7

• Lucerne (aka Luzern): 1h to 1h30 / 1 transfer / CHF 31

• Interlaken Ost: 2h10 to 2h20 / 0-2 transfers / CHF 77

  • Grindelwald: 3h / 2-3 transfers / CHF 88.80

  • Wengen: 3h / 3-4 transfers / CHF 92

  • Mürren (aka Mürren BLM): 3h15 / 4-5 transfers / CHF 96.60

• Zermatt: 3h40 / 1-3 transfers / CHF 134

Tips for better connections

When traveling with luggage, little kids, or those with reduced mobility, it can be difficult to change trains quickly. So try to choose connections with less transfers as noted below.

• Zürich airport to Interlaken - There is a direct train every two hours, which is the best option if it works for your schedule. Otherwise you may need to transfer trains at Zürich HB and/or Bern, which can be a hassle with luggage. 

• Zürich airport to Zermatt - Easiest connection is the direct train to Visp, then transfer to Zermatt. Otherwise, you may need to transfer trains at Zürich HB and/or Bern, as well as Visp.

Interlaken Ost is the main transit hub for the Bernese Oberland and Jungfrau Region.

Check the current train schedule and purchase individual tickets on SBB.ch and the SBB Mobile app.

Scenic Trains

From this train station, you can ride these scenic trains:

• Luzern-Interlaken Express. Travel time 2 hours. Reservations optional.

• Golden Pass Express to Montreux. Travel time 3h30. Reservations required.

Travel times

Here are travel times from Interlaken to nearby cities:

• Lauterbrunnen: 22 min • direct

• Grindelwald: 36 min • direct

• Meiringen: 31 min • direct

• Thun: 35 min • direct

• Kandersteg: 1h11 • 2 transfers

And travel times to further destinations

• Basel: 2h06 • direct or 1 transfer

• Bern: 56 min • direct

• Geneva: 2h56 • 1 transfer

• Zürich Airport (aka Zürich Flughafen): 2h13 • 1 transfer

• Zürich City (aka Zürich HB): 2h • direct or 1 transfer

Tickets

Train journeys to and from Interlaken are free with Swiss Travel Pass, Saver Day Pass, Eurail, and Interrail passes. Discounted 50% with Swiss Half Fare Card.

If you need to purchase tickets, you can do this at ticket machines or counter at the station. Or via SBB.ch or SBB Mobile app.

Luggage Storage

The Interlaken Ost train station has 105 luggage lockers. You can rent them for up to 24 hours.

In 2025, the cost is CHF 10 for 24 hours.

The locker size is 44.7 x 88.0 x 61.5 cm. Learn more.

This train travels between Interlaken Ost and Lauterbrunnen/Grindelwald.

Start: Interlaken Ost

End: Lauterbrunnen (22 mins) or Grindelwald (36 mins)

When: train leaves Interlaken Ost every 30 mins on the XX: 04 and XX:34. Check current schedule on SBB.ch

💡 For the Eiger Express (for Jungfraujoch excursion), you will get off at the Grindelwald Terminal stop, one before the Grindelwald main station.

Boarding tips

⚠️IMPORTANT: After traveling about 13 mins to Zweilütschen, the train makes a brief stop and splits in half. The front section continues to Lauterbrunnen. The back section continues to Grindelwald.

So it's important to board on the correct part of the train. The sections are clearly labeled on the ground and the train itself. There are train conductors on the track directly people to the correct section.

For Lauterbrunnen: Board on the AB part of track 2.

For Grindelwald: Board on the CD part of track 2.

Tickets

Free with Swiss Travel Pass,  Berner Oberland Pass, Jungfrau Travel Pass and GA. Discounted with Swiss Half Fare Card.

No seat reservations for this train.

You can purchase tickets on the SBB Mobile App, ticket machines, or ticket counter at the station.

This spot in the Lauterbrunnen village is a popular places to take pictures, with both the Staubbach falls and church in frame. It's a short walk from the train station and Kirche parking area.

See photospot on Google Maps.

The Staubbach Falls is perhaps the most famous of the 72 waterfalls in Lauterbrunnen valley. It's the third tallest waterfall in Switzerland at 297m.

It's easy to visit these falls are easy to visit, no gondola or long hike required. Just a 12 min walk from the Lauterbrunnen train station to the base of the falls. The visitor parking lot is even closer. See Staubbach Falls location on Google Maps.

You can already see these falls as you start to walk through the Lauterbrunnen village. When you reach the base, you can optionally hike up a short dirt path to a closer viewpoint, which leads through a tunnel to a lookout behind the water. 

When to visit: The best time to visit the falls is between April and August, when the water is flowing the most.

Cost: Free. These falls are free to visit, no barrier to entry.

Read my Staubbach Falls post for more info.

This easy walk starts in Lauterbrunnen and follows a country road through the valley, ending at the Trümmelbach Falls.

Trail: easy • 1h15 • 4 km • 60m up, 50m down • see trail map

Trail Description

1. This walk starts at the Lauterbrunnen train station.

2. You walk through town headed towards the Staubbach Falls. My map has you visit a couple nice photo spots on the way.

3. After the Staubbach Falls, you dip down to the river so you can cross two cute wooden bridges.

4. Then back up to the official trail on the country road (very little car traffic). On the path, there are a couple honesty shops for cheese and other local products.

5. After about 50 mins, you fork left, following signs to Trümmelbachfälle (the falls). Walk through the fields on the designated path, through the campground.

6. Then across the street to the entrance for the Trümmelbach falls. After your visit, you can return to Lauterbrunnen by bus.

If you want to walk longer, you can rejoin the walking path and continue to Stechelberg, about another hour.

These impressive glacier falls near Lauterbrunnen are a must-see if you are in the Jungfrau Region or near Interlaken. Since the visit takes less than an hour, it’s an easy add-on to other activities you might be doing in the area.

Location: Trümmelbach 236, 3824 Stechelberg • Bus stop: Trümmelbachfälle

Open: April through November - 9:00 to 17:00, longer in July/August

Website: www.truemmelbachfaelle.ch

These falls drain the glacial melt from the Eiger, Jungfrau and Monch, with up to 20,000 liters/second rushing through caverns cut into the mountain. It’s a beautiful sight.

After paying an entrance fee, you ride an elevator up into the cavern. Then you explore by walking on a paved path, up and down lots of stairs to different viewpoints. The viewpoints have high railings for safety. But everything is wet with the spray from the waterfalls, so it can be tricky to walk. We suggest shoes with good tread and a rain jacket.

Read our full Trümmelbach Falls article.

How to get there

These falls are in the Lauterbrunnen valley. There is a bus stop and parking right at the entrance to the falls. You could also walk here on the valley path from Lauterbrunnen.

Note for families:

Children under 4 are not admitted into the falls complex. Be aware that it is very noisy, with the pounding water, and often quite dark, which may scare some children. The stairs can be wet and slippery, so smaller children may need assistance to walk safely.

The Lauterbrunnen public swimming pool is located just above the village with spectacular mountain views. The outdoor pool is slightly heated to a comfy 23C, with a depth of 90 to 180cm. The pool has a fun amusments including a small slide, water slackline, trampoline, and children's paddling pool.

They rent deck chairs and umbrellas to use in the lounge area, which also has a small playground. They have a cafe with snacks and drinks, nothing fancy. There are changing rooms and showers.

With your hotel guest card, you get a small reduction on the entrance fee.

Location: Bei der Zuben 468, 3822 Lauterbrunnen

Open: June to beginning of September, daily usually 10:30 - 18:00, in good weather only

Website: jungfrauregion.swiss

Arenas Resort Victoria-Lauberhorn in Wengen is a beautiful hotel nestled in the Wengen alpine village, a prime location with stunning views of the Jungfrau.

This historic building boasts a large wellness area and a sun terrace perfect for soaking up the mountain scenery. They have a variety of room configurations to fit families up to 5 people.

Of their two restaurants, we slightly prefer Pasta & More, which has a slightly more casual vibe and serves both Italian classics and local dishes including fondue.

What we like:

• amazing views from the valley facing rooms

• roomy family suites

• heated indoor pool

• wellness area with sauna, steam bath, outdoor whirlpool (35°C), massage jets, and gym

➡️ Check current prices

Location: Adligenswilerstrasse 22, 6006 Luzern

Website: www.arenasresorts.com