Which city is cheaper, Interlaken or Zermatt?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
A Travel Price Comparison for Switzerland Zermatt vs. Interlaken for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons
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Should you visit Zermatt or Interlaken?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Zermatt and Interlaken can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Zermatt or Interlaken?
Zermatt
Located at the foot of the Matterhorn, Zermatt is a Swiss village best known for its skiing, climbing, and hiking opportunities. It has become a popular mountain resort town due to its location and also features a number of boutique shops, hotels, and restaurants that cater to the vacationers who come to enjoy the many winter activities of the Alps.
Interlaken
Interlaken is a small city that is located in the Bernese Highlands Region of central Switzerland. It sits pleasantly between two Alpine Lakes, Brienzersee and Thunersee. This scenic setting and its easy accessibility make it a popular base camp for travel into the Bernese Oberland Alps. It has become a top tourist destination in Switzerland and it is also a hub for outdoor sports enthusiasts, as there are plenty of things to do in Interlaken in the summer. Interlaken is a great hoping off point to explore many of the nearby mountains, lakes, and valleys. It offers easy transportation to most major Swiss cities by train or car.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZermatt $178Interlaken $184
The average daily cost (per person) in Zermatt is $178, while the average daily cost in Interlaken is $184. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Zermatt and Interlaken in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZermatt $100Interlaken $106
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZermatt $200Interlaken $212
Compare Hotels in Zermatt and Interlaken
Looking for a hotel in Zermatt or Interlaken? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Zermatt Hotel Prices and Interlaken Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zermatt $42Interlaken $10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zermatt
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zermatt:
- Airport Transfer to Zermatt or vice versa: $1,078
- Airport Transfer Zermatt to Geneva or vice versa: $1,219
Typical Local Transportation prices in Interlaken
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Interlaken are as follows:
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Cable Cars (for 2)$65
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Interlaken
Also for Interlaken, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Lausanne: Transfer to Interlaken Village: $130
- Private Transfer from interlaken City to Lucerne City: $174
- Private transfer from Interlaken to Zurich Airport: $485
- Private Transfer from Interlaken to Geneva Airport: $670
Is it cheaper to fly into Zermatt or Interlaken?
Prices for flights to both Interlaken and Zermatt change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayZermatt $45Interlaken $51
Typical Food prices in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Tea at Interlaken$33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zermatt $45Interlaken $83
Tours and Activities in Zermatt
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Zermatt are as follows:
- Guided tour “Love stories of Zermatt”: $496
- Standard Flight Experience with Matterhorn View from Zermatt: $261
- The best of Zermatt walking tour: $496
- Zermatt Village plus Mt. Gornergrat Private Tour: $305
- Zermatt and Gornergrat Private Day Tour: $512
Tours and Activities in Interlaken
For Interlaken, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Lake Thun and Lake Brienz Express Tour from Interlaken: $30
- High Ropes Adventure Park Admission in Interlaken: $46
- Trümmelbach Waterfalls Small-Group Tour from Interlaken: $80
- Aare River Gorge Walk Small-Group Tour from Interlaken: $106
- Kayak Tour of the Turquoise Lake Brienz: $115
- Schilthorn Piz Gloria (James Bond Location) Small Group Tour from Interlaken: $159
- GAILY TOUR in INTERLAKEN - Gay & Lesbian Tour: $187
- Tandem Paragliding Experience from Interlaken: $196
- Tandem Paragliding Experience with Transport from Interlaken: $196
- Self-Guided Tour: Schilthorn Piz Gloria (James Bond world) from Interlaken: $217
- Aare River Gorge Walk plus Lake Brienz Cruise - Private Tour from Interlaken: $238
- Aare River Gorge Walk Private Tour from Interlaken: $238
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZermatt $22Interlaken $13
When comparing the travel costs between Zermatt and Interlaken, we can see that Interlaken is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Europe, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
When is the best time to visit Zermatt or Interlaken?
Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.
Should I visit Zermatt or Interlaken in the Summer?
Both Interlaken and Zermatt during the summer are popular places to visit. Furthermore, the hiking and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Interlaken this time of year.
Zermatt is around the same temperature as Interlaken in the summer. The temperature in Zermatt is usually 23°C (73°F) in July, and Interlaken stays around 21°C (70°F).
In Interlaken, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Zermatt. In the summer, Zermatt often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Interlaken. Zermatt gets 250 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 241 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Zermatt. Zermatt usually gets more rain in July than Interlaken. Zermatt gets 133 mm (5.2 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 89 mm (3.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyZermatt 23°C (73°F)Interlaken 21°C (70°F)
Should I visit Zermatt or Interlaken in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Zermatt and Interlaken. Furthermore, many travelers come to Interlaken for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.
In the autumn, Zermatt is a little warmer than Interlaken. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Zermatt in October are around 15°C (58°F), and Interlaken is about 13°C (56°F).
Zermatt usually receives more sunshine than Interlaken during autumn. Zermatt gets 152 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 120 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Zermatt gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Zermatt usually receives more rain than Interlaken. Zermatt gets 140 mm (5.5 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberZermatt 15°C (58°F)Interlaken 13°C (56°F)
Should I visit Zermatt or Interlaken in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Zermatt as well as Interlaken. Additionally, many visitors come to Interlaken in the winter for the skiing and the cuisine.
Interlaken can get quite cold in the winter. Be prepared for some very cold days in Zermatt. In January, Zermatt is generally much warmer than Interlaken. Temperatures in Zermatt average around 5°C (41°F), and Interlaken stays around 3°C (37°F).
In the winter, Zermatt often gets more sunshine than Interlaken. Zermatt gets 119 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Interlaken receives 55 hours of full sun.
Zermatt usually gets around the same amount of rain in January as Interlaken. Zermatt gets 76 mm (3 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 77 mm (3 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryZermatt 5°C (41°F)Interlaken 3°C (37°F)
Should I visit Zermatt or Interlaken in the Spring?
Both Interlaken and Zermatt are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. Also, most visitors come to Interlaken for the natural beauty during these months.
Zermatt is a little warmer than Interlaken in the spring. The temperature in Zermatt is usually 13°C (55°F) in April, and Interlaken stays around 12°C (53°F).
Zermatt usually receives more sunshine than Interlaken during spring. Zermatt gets 176 hours of sunny skies, while Interlaken receives 150 hours of full sun in the spring.
It's quite rainy in Zermatt. In April, Zermatt usually receives more rain than Interlaken. Zermatt gets 152 mm (6 in) of rain, while Interlaken receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilZermatt 13°C (55°F)Interlaken 12°C (53°F)
Typical Weather for Interlaken and Zermatt
| Zermatt | Interlaken | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 5°C (41°F) | 76 mm (3 in) | 3°C (37°F) | 77 mm (3 in) |
| Feb | 6°C (44°F) | 71 mm (2.8 in) | 5°C (40°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Mar | 10°C (49°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) | 8°C (46°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Apr | 13°C (55°F) | 152 mm (6 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| May | 17°C (62°F) | 194 mm (7.6 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 101 mm (4 in) |
| Jun | 20°C (69°F) | 171 mm (6.7 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jul | 23°C (73°F) | 133 mm (5.2 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 89 mm (3.5 in) |
| Aug | 22°C (72°F) | 166 mm (6.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 104 mm (4.1 in) |
| Sep | 19°C (67°F) | 153 mm (6 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 15°C (58°F) | 140 mm (5.5 in) | 13°C (56°F) | 70 mm (2.8 in) |
| Nov | 9°C (49°F) | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 6°C (42°F) | 63 mm (2.5 in) | 4°C (39°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
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