Car Rental in Interlaken (2026) - Driving Guide & Best Rates

Renting a car in Interlaken makes most sense for tourists planning to explore the broader Bernese Oberland region — small villages, alpine valleys, and scenic mountain passes that trains don't easily reach. For day trips to areas like Grindelwald, Lauterbrunnen, or along Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, a car offers genuine flexibility that public transport cannot fully replicate. However, for Interlaken itself, a rental is largely unnecessary. Switzerland's rail network is exceptionally well-developed, and Interlaken has two train stations (Ost and West) with frequent connections throughout the region. Driving into the town center adds parking challenges with limited and generally costly options. Switzerland drives on the right side of the road, which presents no adjustment for most European and North American visitors. Road quality is generally excellent, though mountain routes can involve narrow lanes, sharp switchbacks, and steep gradients that require confident driving. Some high alpine passes close seasonally — check current road status before planning routes. One important local consideration: Swiss motorways require a vignette (toll sticker). If your rental vehicle doesn't already have one, factor this into your planning before accessing the highway network.

Interlaken has rental agencies located near its two train stations (Interlaken West and Interlaken Ost), making town pickup convenient; if flying in, broader agency selection is generally available at Zurich or Bern airports, where one-way rentals to Interlaken are typically offered.

Before driving off, photograph the entire vehicle to document any pre-existing scratches or dents — mountain roads in the Bernese Oberland are narrow in places, and having a clear damage record protects you at return.

Confirm whether your rental includes a Swiss highway vignette (Autobahnvignette), which is required to use Swiss motorways — if not included, you will need to purchase one, as driving without it carries a fine.

Parking in central Interlaken is limited; look for signposted paid parking garages near the train stations rather than circling the town center, and note that blue-zone street parking requires a parking disc available at rental agencies.

When returning, refuel before reaching the return location — fuel stations become sparse on the valley approach roads, and rental agencies typically apply a premium surcharge for cars returned below the agreed fuel level.

Mountain approach roads to surrounding areas such as Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen include narrow lanes, steep gradients, and tight hairpin bends — drivers unfamiliar with alpine driving should reduce speed significantly and use designated passing points when meeting oncoming vehicles.

Interlaken sits on a narrow land corridor between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz, creating a natural traffic bottleneck; the main through-route experiences notable congestion during peak summer tourism season and winter ski periods — allow extra travel time.

All vehicles using Swiss motorways and many national roads are legally required to display a vignette (annual motorway tax sticker); Swiss traffic enforcement is strict and fines for non-compliance are issued on the spot — verify you have a valid vignette before driving.

Alpine weather in the Bernese Oberland can deteriorate rapidly; mountain roads in the region may require winter tires or snow chains during colder months, and some higher-altitude routes near Interlaken are subject to seasonal closures — check road conditions before departing.