Zurich: Grindelwald, Interlaken & Lauterbrunnen Day Trip

Three Alpine villages, one coach, and a valley that doesn't quit

You board a coach in Zurich, ride through the Bernese Oberland to Interlaken, then spend free time in Grindelwald (where cable cars and glacier walks are optional extras) and Lauterbrunnen's waterfall valley. Transport, a multilingual guide, and a full day out are all locked in. You just choose what to do in each village.

Step-by-step itinerary

Zurich to Interlaken, Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen

• Board coach in Zurich
• Travel through Bernese Oberland
• Arrive and explore Interlaken
• Continue to Grindelwald
• Free time in Grindelwald
• Visit Lauterbrunnen and waterfalls
• Return to Zurich by coach

The experience

So you're sitting in Zurich and someone says "the Bernese Oberland is an hour away," and you think, okay, but which bit? The answer is all of it, basically, or at least the parts that matter if you've got one day. The coach leaves Zurich in the morning, and the Brünig Pass does most of the talking on the way: the landscape just opens up, and your guide starts filling in the history while you're still processing the scale of it. Interlaken is first, and it's the kind of place where you can wander the main street, grab a coffee, and actually feel like you've breathed the place in rather than just passed through.

Grindelwald comes next, and this is where the mountains stop being a view and start feeling like they're in the room with you. The village sits in this lush valley with peaks and glaciers doing the heavy lifting on every side, and you get free time to move around at your own pace: some people take the cable car up to Mount First, others walk into the Glacier Canyon, some just sit and stare. The guide doesn't herd you. They just point out what's there and let you decide. It's the kind of freedom that makes a day trip feel less like a checklist and more like an actual choice about how to spend your time.

Lauterbrunnen is the finale, and it's genuinely strange in the best way: a valley with 72 waterfalls cascading down the cliffs, and Staubbach Falls (Switzerland's third-highest) just hanging there like it's no big deal. You've got time to walk around, and the whole place has this quiet intensity that the photos don't quite capture. The return to Zurich is long enough that you actually rest on the coach instead of checking your phone the whole way back. The guide is multilingual, the coach is air-conditioned, and the whole operation is carbon-balanced, which is the kind of detail that matters if you care about that stuff. Fair warning: some shops close on Sundays, and the order can flip. You might hit Lauterbrunnen first and work backward, depending on the day.

What’s included

• Your day includes hotel or city-center pickup in Zurich, transport in a comfortable air-conditioned coach, a fully guided tour in English or Spanish, and visits to Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Lauterbrunnen with free time to explore each village.
• The tour is carbon-balanced certified.
• Optional activities like cable cars and canyon walks are booked and paid separately.

Options for this experience

2 options

English08:00

Spanish08:00

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 08:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (6 to 15 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 48 · max 9 per booking

Live guideEnglish and Spanish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Best of Switzerland Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers based in Zurich who want to see three Alpine villages and the Jungfrau region without arranging their own transport or guide: the coach and timing handle the logistics, leaving you free to choose what to do in each stop. Expect a full day out, which is what makes fitting all three villages and the return journey possible.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Spanish.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 15 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How long is the drive from Zurich to Interlaken?

Around one hour through the Brünig Pass, with your guide sharing regional history and landscape details along the way.

What's included in the tour price?

Coach transport, a fully guided tour in English or Spanish, and carbon-balanced operations. Optional activities like cable cars and canyon walks cost extra.

Do I have to do the cable car at Grindelwald or the canyon walk?

No. You get free time in each village to explore at your own pace. Cable cars, Mount Pfingstegg, and Glacier Canyon are optional and booked separately.

Can the tour order change?

Yes. The tour may operate in reverse, visiting Lauterbrunnen first, then Grindelwald and Interlaken in the afternoon, depending on the day.

Are there shops and restaurants open on Sundays?

Some shops in Interlaken, Grindelwald, and Lauterbrunnen close on Sundays, so plan accordingly if you're booking for a weekend.

How long is the total tour?

A full day, with return to Zurich in the evening. The exact duration depends on traffic and how you spend your free time in each village.