Zurich to Munich, around Lake Constance.

The route

North-east from Zürich past St. Gallen, briefly through Austria at Bregenz, along the south shore of Lake Constance, then onto the German A96 through Memmingen and into Munich. Roughly three and a half hours, essentially all motorway.

Two crossings, both Schengen, so normally no stop — carry ID. Traffic around Munich in the afternoon peak is the main variable, and a Friday arrival is meaningfully slower than a Tuesday one.

When it beats flying

The flight is about an hour. The journey is not. Add the drive to Zurich Airport, check-in and security, the flight, and then Munich Airport to the city — which is itself 40 minutes — and the door-to-door difference narrows sharply.

For three or more people, or anyone with real luggage, the transfer is frequently faster in practice and simpler in every respect: one vehicle, one loading, no gate, no baggage reclaim, and you arrive at the address you actually wanted.

Oktoberfest, trade fairs and the seasons

Munich runs on events. Oktoberfest in late September and early October, plus the major trade fairs at Messe München, fill the city's hotels and its roads. During those weeks, book early and expect slower city-side journeys — and consider a vehicle at disposal rather than separate transfers if you are moving between venue, hotel and dinner.

We also run the reverse regularly: Munich into Zürich, and Munich to Swiss ski resorts, which for some Bavarian travellers is a shorter journey than anything involving an airport.