Will be traveling from Bacharach, Germany to Interlaken, Switzerland this summer. Can this be done in one travel day? Would it better to ride the train or rent a car?
Thanks, Jim
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19274 posts
According to the German Rail (Bahn) schedule page, if you take the fastest trains, the trip will take 6½ hours. ETA: If you purchase your tickets far enough in advance, you can get a Europa-Spezial fare of €39 pP, Bacharach to Interlaken.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
For comparison by car: From where I live, it takes about 4 and half hours to reach Interlaken, and I live about 70-80 minutes south of Barcharach. If you decide to go by car, realize that you will need to purchase a vignette sticker to drive in Switzerland.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33845 posts
Agree with Lee and Tom. For that trip, I've done it both ways, you pays your money and takes your choice. If you drive traffic around Basel and road works after Basel can slow you down a bit, no slowdown at the border now but you will have to stop, pay the CHF40 for the Vignette and continue. The train's a decent enough ride, and the views of the mountains after you leave Thun (and Lake Thun) are great.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32353 posts
Jim, As the others have mentioned, that trip can easily be done in one day. There are a number of different rail choices on that route, so you might want to check the bahn.de website to find the one that will work best for you. Travel by train would really be the best method, especially if time is an issue. You'll be able to travel faster and more efficiently by train than in a rental car (and it will probably be a more relaxing trip). Cheers!