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Travel from Interlaken to Venice

We four (2 Adults + 2 kids) are planning to travel from Interlaken to Venice on August 21. Our swiss travel pass that is valid for 3 days will expire by then so we don't have constraints of using a pass.

There is no direct train from Interlaken to Venice.

I was looking at Interlaken airport but apparently the closest one is in Bern. So I'm thinking of taking train to Bern and fly out of Bern to Venice.

We want to leave before 9am and arrive by atleast 2pm in Venice since we have only two days in Venice.

Could you more experienced folks suggest any alternatives for going from Interlaken to Venice. We are open to both flying and taking trains.

Thanks

Posted by
19649 posts

Yikes! The only flight from Bern to Venice goes by way of Amsterdam, takes 4 hours, leaves at noon, and costs $1200. Fly from Zurich and it is a 1 hour direct flight at 1 pm cost more like $120. So in order to do that, you will have to leave at 8 am, and it will take about 1 hour to get from Venice airport into Venice proper. 8 am to 4 pm.

You can go by train in 6 Hours and 40 minutes and arrive at Santa Lucia station in the heart of Venice. Cost is about the same $120. Might be ways to do it cheaper depending on your date. Leave at 7:30 am and be there by 2:10 pm.

Oh, how old are the kids? They may travel at reduced cost.

Posted by
8889 posts

Tony,
"There is no direct train from Interlaken to Venice." - there is rarely a direct train from anywhere to anywhere. Trains are a network of interconnecting routes. That way you can get from anywhere to anywhere with a few changes.
Bern airport - forget it. It is a nothing airport, and is difficult to get to
Fly Zürich to Venice - you still need multiple trains to get to Zürich airport, and transport from Venice airport.

Train is the best way, and you end up in Venice itself, walking distance to your hotel.
"We want to leave before 9am and arrive by at least 2pm in Venice" - not really possible. The earliest options I can see is 07:29 depart Interlaken Ost, 14:10 arrive Venezia S. Lucia, or 06:00 arrive 13:35. Plenty of later options

  • Go to the SBB (Swiss Federal Railways) website her: https://www.sbb.ch/en
  • Enter From: Interlaken Ost, to: Venezia S. Lucia and your desired date and time
  • Click on "Search".
  • This will show you the trains required.
Posted by
6 posts

Thanks for your responses. My kids are 12 and 6. Another option, I was thinking of doing is taking train from Interlaken to Basel (2 hours) and flying out from Basel to Venice. There seems to be couple of cheap flights (easyjets) from there.

I didn't mean direct train. What I meant was "no change" train. Looks like there isn't a "no change" train from Interlaken to Venice. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

How is easyjet flights. Is it a no-fuss airline ?

Thanks again

Posted by
1315 posts

I didn't mean direct train. What I meant was "no change" train.

I'm sorry but what is the difference?

Posted by
8889 posts

direct train = no change train.
Some people also confuse "direct" with "non-stop". Even if it is "direct" (same train all the way), it is rarely non-stop, the train will have multiple intermediate stops.
Interlaken to Venice will involve at least two changes of train. Look it up on: https://www.sbb.ch/en

Easyjet is a good airline to fly with. It is a no-frills airline. You pay extra for luggage. But, you get what you pay for, good value but nothing else. Basel airport requires a shuttle bus from Basel station.

But, I still think train all the way is better. More comfortablle, more relaxing and you actuallly arrive in Venice. And you get to see the countryside. Flying will be a lot more hassle.

Posted by
19649 posts

Train for your family all the way to Venice on your date is 355 CHF nonrefundable, 387 CHF refundable. Leave at 7:29, arrive Venezia S. Lucia at 14:10. Train changes at Spiez and Milano Centrale.

Train for your family to Basel Europort is 85.80 CHF. Leave at 10:00, arrive at 11:39. Change trains at Bern and to the airport bus at Basel SBB station.
Easyjet is 30 CHF per person, plus 8 CHF pp to select seats in advance, plus 20.40 CHF per checked bag (15 Kg or less). Figure 233 CHF total. Leave at 13:10, arrive Venice airport at 14:25. Collect luggage and 8 EUR pp (equivalent to 10 CHF pp) for bus to Venezia Piazzale Roma, arrive by 15:40. Total cost 359 CHF.

There you have it. Flying saves you about 1 1/2 hours, but still does not get you there until 1 1/2 hours after your target arrival time. Rail gets you there about your target arrival time for the same cost, but you do have to roll out of bed earlier. Other than that, train is a lot less hassle. Plus on the train there will be a snack car with food and beverages for sale. And some nice scenery when you're not going through a tunnel.