German-speaking Gstaad is located in the valley of the River Saane in the western Bernese Oberland, in southwestern Switzerland on the border to the French-speaking region. At 1,050 m (3,444 ft) above sea level, the village is surrounded by gently rising mountains, as are the other 8 villages - Saanenmoeser, Schoenried, Saanen, Feutersoey, Gsteig, Turbach, Lauenen and Ablaendschen - that belong to the Saanenland region.
Distances to other popular Swiss Destinations:
Destination |
Distance |
Travel Time in Minutes |
km |
miles |
by Train |
by Car |
Bern |
85 |
53 |
107 |
approx. 95 |
Basel |
174 |
108 |
174 |
approx. 145 |
Geneva |
149 |
93 |
154 |
approx. 135 |
Zurich |
188 |
117 |
173 |
approx. 155 |
Lucerne |
134 |
83 |
175 |
approx. 120 |
Montreux |
58 |
36 |
80 |
approx. 80 |
Interlaken |
67 |
42 |
98 |
approx. 85 |
Grindelwald |
85 |
53 |
154 |
approx. 110 |
St. Moritz |
356 |
221 |
394 |
approx. 300 |
Zermatt |
173 |
107 |
188 |
approx. 200 |
Getting to Gstaad:
By Plane:
The nearest international airport is Geneva-Cointrin (approx. 2 1/2 hours by train, 2 hours by car), but also the other airports are within less than 3 hours travel time. The Bern-Belp Airport, which also has some international flights, is reached within approx. one hour by car. There's a regional airport in Saanen for small, private airplanes.
By Train:
Trains to Gstaad either connect through Montreux when coming from the west (e.g. Geneva), or through Spiez when coming from all other directions. Several international trains (south-north) connect through Spiez where you need to change trains for Zweisimmen, where to change trains for Gstaad. Trains get to / leave from Gstaad once an hour. The most memorable way to travel to/from Gstaad is with the scenic train Golden Pass from/to Lucerne via Interlaken and the Simmental Valley, or from/to Montreux.
By Car:
- from the north (Bern, Basel, Zurich) to Thun on the A6 Highway, then Exit Wimmis / Zweisimmen and you get to Gstaad via the Simmental Valley main road.
- from Central Switzerland (Lucerne) via the Bruenigpass and the A8 Highway to Interlaken and Spiez, then on the A6 Hghway taking Exit Wimmis / Zweisimmen via the Simmental Valley main road to Gstaad.
- from the west (Geneva, Lausanne, Vevey, Neuchatel) get to Bulle on the A9 Highway from where you take the main road via Chateau d'Oex to Saanen/Gstaad.
- from the Valais (Rhone Valley) take Exit "Aigle" on the A9 Highway, and then via the "Col' du Pillon'" Pass you get to Gsteig/Gstaad.
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