We are staying in Oberhofen for a couple days and would like to have a car to get around the region. We are coming from Florence and would like to arrive in Thun and rent a car at the station. I can't seem to find out if there are agencies at the train station or not. If not, are there car rental agencies at the Interlaken stations? Or Bern? We are flexible on where we arrive but would like to be able to get the car right there. Thanks in advance for any help!
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
1131 posts
Where do you plan to go in Switzerland? It has some of the best trains in the world - just curious as to why you want (or even need) to rent a car.
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
Just google "car rental Thun". I don't see anything at the station, a Europcar south of town, an Avis north of town, and a place that will rent you a Harley-Davidson.
Posted by
OP
2 posts
Thanks for the replies. We just want the flexibility of a car to get around in/near Interlaken.
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
There appears to be an Avis and Europcar in Thun
There is a local company: http://www.autovermietungthun.ch/ but they only rent vans, not cars.
I would not be put off by them not being at the station, a short taxi ride would be the option.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33821 posts
We just want the flexibility of a car to get around in/near Interlaken.
Are you talking about driving around Interlaken? If so, you should know that free parking is extremely rare and traffic can be difficult with tour buses and the train line and its level crossings which back up the traffic. The trains are so frequent that the gates are sometimes down as much as they are up. Because Interlaken West station is right in the centre it does sometimes mean being patient.
If you want it to go to Brienz and Meiringen - the first for wood carvers and the Brienzer Rothorn and the second for the Aareschlucht and Reichenbach Falls, I can give you some information. The Brienzer Rothorn is very close to the Brienz station which itself is adjacent to ship landing. Taking the train there (or boat) is very easy. Reichenbach Falls is a few minutes' walk from Meiringen station, easily combined with the Aareschlucht which has its own little shuttle train which leaves from the Meiringen station. The parking lot for Reichenbach Falls is at the base, is not free, and it shares with a private medical centre. You can hike up, or there is an original funicular up about half way. Or you can take the Postbus from Meiringen station up to the top (no parking up there) and hike down.
If you want it to go up the hill to Lauterbrunnen and the Lauterbrunnen valley, you can't go to the villages up the sides, Wengen, Gimmelwald or Muerren which are car free. You need to park and take the gondola or train.
Is there something else you wanted the car for?
Posted by
Basel, Switzerland
8889 posts
Jeff, for better or worse, the location you have chosen, Oberhofen am Thunersee (to use the full name) is on the north side of Thunersee, 6 Km from Thun station (the nearest). There appears to be (I checked on SBB), a bus every 10-15 minutes to Thun station, taking about 20 minutes.
There is also a bus direct to Interlaken, going along the north shore of the lake, every 30 minutes taking 51 minutes.
That bus connection would not stop me using public transport to get around the area, neither would it stop Nigel or most others who are familiar with Swiss Public Transport. I know most of the locations in the area are easy to get to by train, bus or cable car, parking is a PIA, and some locations (Wengen, Mürren) are not even accessible by road, you need to park and get the train.
I can also understand that someone who is not familiar with the area, staying 6 Km from the nearest station, would consider that a reason to have a car.
Your choice.