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ZRH → Zurich · head to head

SBB train to Zürich HBorIC81 to Interlaken Ost?

The short answer

These do not go to the same place, so price is not the comparison. The SBB train to Zürich HB reaches Zürich HB, the main station; the IC81 to Interlaken Ost does not. Runs on through Zürich HB to Interlaken, on an SBB point-to-point fare rather than the ZVV ticket.

The SBB train to Zürich HB is quicker: 11 min against 2 h 13.

SBB train to Zürich HB: 05:00–00:42. IC81 to Interlaken Ost: 06:46–18:46.

Priced against each other

Whole-party totals · adult fares
What each costs for the whole party, in CHF. The cheaper of the two is marked on every row.
TravelersSBB train to Zürich HBIC81 to Interlaken OstDifference
1CHF 7.20CHF 77CHF 69.80
2CHF 14.40CHF 154CHF 139.60
3CHF 21.60CHF 231CHF 209.40
4CHF 28.80CHF 308CHF 279.20
5CHF 36CHF 385CHF 349
6CHF 41CHF 462CHF 421
7CHF 48.20CHF 539CHF 490.80
8CHF 55.40CHF 616CHF 560.60

Side by side

Where each one leaves you
regional · SBB, on a ZVV zone ticketSBB train to Zürich HB
From
Zürich Flughafen railway station, platforms 1 to 4 — follow the train signs from arrivals
To
Zürich HB, the main station, in 9 to 13 minutes; most trains call at Zürich Oerlikon on the way
Luggage
Mainline Swiss trains: racks and standing space by the doors.
Runs
05:00–00:42
Journey
9–13 min

Take whichever train comes first. The S2, S16, S24, InterCity and InterRegio all reach Zürich HB in 9 to 13 minutes on the same CHF 7.20 ticket; there is no premium service and no supplement.

The last train toward the city is at 00:42, the first at 05:00. Between them no train runs, on any night of the week.

Buy a three-zone ticket, not a two-zone one. The city zone counts double, so airport to anywhere in Zurich is three zones; a cheaper ticket is not valid on arrival.

Coming back the same day? Buy the CHF 14.40 24-hour ticket instead of two singles. It costs the same and covers everything in the city in between.

Six or more of you: one CHF 41.00 Multikarte covers six rides and the tariff lets a group share it — CHF 2.20 less than six singles, and the only party-size saving Zurich has.

The airport says the ride takes 15 minutes and trains run every 10; the timetable says 9 to 13 minutes and 12 or 13 trains an hour. The airport's figure is the safe one for a connection.

The single is valid for one hour and the last journey must be finished inside it; the train plus a tram across town fits, a long wait does not.

SBB train to Zürich HB: price for every party size

See ZVV single tickets
IC81 · SBB, on a point-to-point ticketIC81 to Interlaken Ost
From
Zürich Flughafen railway station, platforms 1 to 4 — the InterCity showing Interlaken Ost
To
Interlaken Ost, the main station between the Thun and Brienz lakes, in 2 h 13; via Zürich HB
Luggage
Mainline Swiss trains: racks and standing space by the doors; bicycles need a reservation on this train.
Runs
06:46–18:46
Journey
133 min

The ticket is SBB's, not ZVV's: Zürich Flughafen to Interlaken Ost, CHF 77.00 an adult, CHF 38.50 for a child of 6 to 15 or with a Half-Fare card, under-6s free.

One an hour, at :46, from 06:46 to 18:46 — 13 trains a day, each the same 2 h 13. Earlier or later than that, every connection found needs a change, typically at Bern, so check before you plan a landing or departure around this train.

The full fare is fixed; the "Supersaver" for one named train is cheaper, sold only in advance, priced by demand and refused on any other train, so it is not priced here.

IC81 to Interlaken Ost: price for every party size

See the fare on sbb.ch

This compares two of 19 options. See all of them ranked for your party size

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