One of Switzerland’s must-visit destinations is Zermatt, home to the iconic Matterhorn. Many travelers base themselves in Grindelwald or around Interlaken to start their Swiss adventure. In this post, I’ll share detailed instructions on how to reach Zermatt by rental car. Since the distance Grindelwald to Zermatt is considerable and the route can be a bit complicated, I think the information I’m about to share will be really helpful for your journey.
Check the Weather First
Swiss travel is heavily influenced by weather conditions. This is especially important if you’re planning to visit high mountain areas like Jungfrau, First, or the Matterhorn. I strongly recommend checking the weather through apps or real-time webcam sites both the evening before and the morning of your planned trip.
During my Swiss vacation, I stayed mostly in Grindelwald, with my initial plan being to ascend Jungfrau or First. However, when I woke up and checked the mountain weather, the peaks were completely hidden by fog, making it impossible to enjoy Jungfrau or First. Meanwhile, Zermatt was reporting clear weather with visible views of the Matterhorn, so I decided to head to Zermatt on my first day instead. I’d suggest keeping your Swiss itinerary flexible if possible, so you can adjust your accommodation and travel plans according to weather conditions.
The view from outside my accommodation in Grindelwald was completely foggy, with no mountains visible at all.
Getting to Zermatt
Route: Grindelwald – Kandersteg Tunnel – Täsch Station – Zermatt
First thing to know: Zermatt is an environmentally protected area where combustion engine vehicles are prohibited. You’ll need to park your car at Täsch station (next to Zermatt) and continue by train.
I set my Google Maps navigation to Täsch station and started driving. While the navigation estimated about 2 hours and 30 minutes, the actual journey took over 3 hours due to waiting times at the Kandersteg tunnel and other factors.\
The Kandersteg Tunnel
While Swiss highways are free if your car has the Swiss vignette (highway pass), driving from Grindelwald to Zermatt involves one unavoidable cost: the Kandersteg-Goppenstein tunnel. This is because the Alps stand between these locations, and you need to use a train tunnel to pass through them.
When you follow your navigation to Täsch, you’ll eventually stop at the Kandersteg tunnel. Here, there’s no separate road – you must load your car onto a train to cross the tunnel.
It works similar to a highway toll booth – you pay the fee and drive your car onto the train. The electronic boards at the payment area display train times and costs, which you should check carefully.
Fees are charged per vehicle and vary by date:
- Monday to Thursday: 27 CHF (25 CHF if booked online)
- Friday to Sunday and holidays: 29.5 CHF (28 CHF if booked online)
After purchasing your ticket, follow the cars ahead of you to drive onto the train. Be careful not to position your car between train segments, or you’ll hear creaking noises during the journey. I recommend keeping some distance from the car in front and avoiding parking at segment joints.
Personally, I found the experience of transporting my car on a train through a tunnel quite fascinating. Interestingly, once we emerged from the tunnel, the weather improved dramatically. The fog had completely disappeared.
Parking at Täsch Station and Costs
After exiting the train, we continued along winding mountain roads to reach Täsch station. The route after the tunnel involved quite a few twisty mountain passes.
Eventually, we arrived at Täsch station.
The parking lot at Täsch station is spacious, so finding a spot isn’t difficult. Parking fees vary depending on vehicle size.
Taking the Train to Zermatt
From Täsch station, you need to take a train to reach Zermatt.
The parking lot and ticket office are connected, making it easy to find. There’s also a free public restroom in the station which I definitely recommend using before continuing your journey.
The train fare from Täsch to Zermatt was 16.4 francs per person for a round-trip ticket. Since we needed to return to Täsch to get our car anyway, we purchased round-trip tickets.
The train journey from Täsch to Zermatt takes about 15 minutes. There are no specific boarding times or assigned seats, so you can board freely.
If you have a Swiss Pass or Half Fare Card, you can either travel at no additional cost or purchase tickets at a 50% discount.
Even during this short train ride to Zermatt, the Swiss scenery remained breathtaking. It really seems like there’s no place in Switzerland without gorgeous views.
Many people visit Zermatt for skiing, so you’ll see plenty of passengers carrying ski or snowboard equipment on the train.
Taking the Mountain Railway to Gornergrat Observation Deck
To see the Matterhorn, you need to go to the Gornergrat observation deck. The mountain railway to the observation deck can be boarded at Zermatt GGB, located right in front of Zermatt station. It’s very easy to find since it’s directly opposite the main station.
Returning to Grindelwald
The return journey follows essentially the same route. Head back to Täsch station, then take the train through the Kandersteg tunnel just as you did on the way there. For navigation, you can simply set your hotel in Grindelwald as the destination.
As you follow the navigation, you’ll arrive at the train boarding area in Goppenstein. Unlike Kandersteg, when you reach Goppenstein, you’ll see a tunnel ahead. Be careful not to enter this tunnel – you need to turn left instead! I almost made this mistake myself, so pay close attention to your navigation instructions.
I’ve now covered how to travel from Grindelwald to Zermatt using a rental car. It’s not actually a complicated route, though my explanation ended up being quite detailed. I hope the information I’ve shared helps you enjoy your Swiss adventure! In my next post, I’ll explain how to get from Zermatt station to the Gornergrat observation deck where you can see the magnificent Matterhorn.
