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Grand Tour of Switzerland: Everything You Need to Know

Planning a road trip through Switzerland? Then you’re certainly in the right place because this detailed guide has all the info you need to plan your ideal Switzerland road trip itinerary!

It’s the Switzerland Grand Tour, an epic journey that covers all of Switzerland’s highlights!

We’ll give you a rough overview of the best places to visit on the tour and attractions you shouldn’t skip, but we won’t plan out every little detail for you. After all, it’s your grand tour of Switzerland, and you should be able to do it however you want!

Table of Contents

Zurich – Appenzell

Most tours of Switzerland begin in Zurich because the city has the largest and busiest airport. Travelers who are flying into Switzerland from overseas will most likely land at this airport, which makes it the perfect starting point for any Switzerland tour. 

Zurich is the most populous city in Switzerland and it’s considered the financial capital. The headquarters of all the major Swiss banks are right there in the city, but they’re not what you should be visiting while exploring the city. 

Instead, you’ll want to fill your itinerary with Zurich’s historic landmarks like Grossmunster, Fraumunster , the Opera House , Le Corbusier House , and many others. The bustling metropolis has enough content for a week’s stay, so you should do your best to really make the most of your time in the city. Don’t miss out on Lake Zurich either, especially if you’re traveling in the summer and want to cool down. 

The first leg of the grand tour of Switzerland takes you from Zurich to Appenzell, with optional stops in Schaffhausen and St. Gallen. Visit Schaffhausen to see Rhine Falls, Europe’s largest waterfall, and stop by St. Gallen to discover the Abbey of Saint Gall , one of the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites you will come across on this tour.

Appenzell – St. Moritz

Appenzell is a charming town near the Alpstein mountains. It is most famous for the Appenzell dog collar, which is the best souvenir you can take home from this town if you have a pet. 

The beautiful town of Appenzell is home to many museums, historic landmarks, and a gorgeous old town full of wooden houses. 

It’s also time to get your sturdy hiking boots and head to the mountains. Mountain summits are connected with the town by cable cars and inclined railways, and you can easily reach the tallest peaks in the area. Plan to visit the Wildkirchli caves, some of the area’s most famous attractions.  

There’s also the Aescher Guesthouse that you had to have seen on at least one postcard or book cover by now. The iconic house is built on the side of a mountain, and it’s one of the most famous landmarks in the entire country. You can visit the guesthouse and Wildkirchli during the same outing, for maximum time efficiency!

When you’ve explored enough of this town, get back in your car and head to St. Moritz. Optional stops along the way include Maienfeld, a small municipality in Graunbunden canton that’s famous for being the setting of the Heidi novel, and Zernez, the home of the only Swiss National Park . 

St. Moritz – Lugano

St. Moritz is a fancy resort town in the Alps. By fancy, I mean luxurious. And by luxurious, I mean expensive, glamorous, and catering to the rich and famous. The Alpine resort is a great destination for travelers with deeper pockets, who revel in the idea of relaxing in their hotel room hot tub while admiring panoramic views of the Alps. 

St. Moritz is all about glitz and glamour. The village is tucked away in the mountains, and yet its main pedestrian street is full of luxury shops like Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Dolce & Gabbana, and many others. That should give you a rough idea of who the town caters to the most. 

Nonetheless, it’s a fascinating little resort that’s worth visiting. Skip the high-end five-star hotels if you’re trying to do the grand tour of Switzerland on a tighter budget, and you’ll still be able to enjoy the place. If you happen to visit in the winter, you might catch a glimpse of the White Turf horse races or the winter polo on Lake St. Moritz , which are both pretty amazing to watch!

From the glamorous resort, head towards Lugano, a beautiful lakeshore town close to the border with Italy. Some of the places worth checking out along the way are Bellinzona with its lovely castles, and Locarno, the town that’s almost always sunny. 

Lugano – Zermatt

Lugano is situated on the shore of Lake Lugano, and it’s one of the prettiest places in southern Switzerland. Boasting beautiful parks, a vast beach complex, and a charming old town, the lovely Lugano is a perfect stop on the grand tour route of Switzerland. 

See the old church, walk the olive grove trail, and take the cable car to Mount San Salvatore for stunning panoramic views. While in the area, you can also visit Gandria, a small village on the border with Italy best known for the Customs Museum. 

The Swissminiatur Park is also very close to Lugano, and it’s a great stop along the Switzerland route. You can see miniature versions of the landmarks you’ve already visited and those you’ll visit soon enough! 

When you feel like you’ve seen everything in Lugano, head towards Zermatt. The village lies at the foot of the Matterhorn, which means scenic views for days. Andermatt is a worthy detour, just before the iconic Furka Pass road.

Zermatt – Lausanne

The lovely village of Zermatt is best known for scenic Matterhorn views and easy access to the challenging peak. The village has long been a popular destination among mountaineers who want to attempt to conquer this peak, and you can find plenty of landmarks and attractions dedicated to those brave people. 

The Matterhorn Museum tells the story of the first ascent on the summit, while the Mountaineer’s Cemetery is a reminder that many of those men and women were unsuccessful.

The appeal of Zermatt also lies in the fact that it’s surrounded by breathtaking nature. With many cable cars and lifts to take you to the surrounding mountains and many more hiking trails, you could spend weeks, if not months, just hiking in the area and exploring the surroundings.

Some of the most popular natural attractions in the area are:

• The Gorner Gorge
• Monte Rosa Glacier,
• Matterhorn Glacier Palace

Lausanne is the next stop on your grand tour of Switzerland, so unless you’ve decided to just move to Zermatt, it’s time to continue exploring. If you still have plenty of time, Leukerbad and Montreux are detour-worthy stops. 

Lausanne – Neuchâtel

Situated on the northern shore of Lake Geneva, Lausanne is one of the biggest cities in Switzerland. It’s home to the Olympic Museum , beautiful parks, a sprawling botanical garden, several historic landmarks, and tall towers offering mesmerizing Lake Geneva views. 

The city is also home to many art museums, so you can have a great time here if you genuinely enjoy touring museums and discovering art. On top of that, the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Lavaux terraced vineyards is also close to the city, and it’s worth checking out if you’re into the occasional vineyard tour. 

Also, don’t miss out on Morges – the lovely town is just 10 minutes away from Lausanne by train, and it’s worth an afternoon trip. It’s a charming place with a gorgeous old town that will forever hold a special place in your heart. 

Neuchâtel is the next stop on this scenic route along the northern shore of Lake Geneva, but it’s not the first place you should visit Lausanne. The Yverdon-Les-Bains spa resort is a great place to rest and recharge, while the Creux du Van ravine promises to enchant you with its mesmerizing views and scenic hiking trails. 

Neuchâtel – Bern

Neuchâtel is the largest city on Lake Neuchâtel, the biggest lake that entirely belongs to Switzerland. It’s a charming city with many museums, a beautiful old town, and spectacular lake views. 

The city offers something to everyone, precisely what makes it such a popular destination. If you enjoy exploring the great outdoors, you can head to the Chasseral Regional Park, maybe a 30-minute drive from Neuchatel. The park boasts a vast network of hiking trails, most offering stunning panoramic views. 

Neuchatel is also an excellent destination for the other type of traveler who prefers to stay at a business hotel and tour museums. Neuchatel is known for its many cultural attractions, including theaters, museums, and the fabulous Neuchâtel Castle. 

Bern is the next stop on the Grand Tour of Switzerland, but don’t head there straight from Neuchatel. Make time for Murten first – the medieval town is stunning and well worth the short detour. 

Bern – Zurich

Bern is the de facto capital of the country and one of the most populated cities in Switzerland. It’s worth a visit, especially if you enjoy exploring big cities that are full of content for visitors. It’s also some 45 minutes away from Neuchatel by car. 

Bern is known for many different things , but the city’s many fountains are perhaps the most interesting to all newcomers. There are 100+ fountains throughout the city, and the most famous ones are all situated in the heart of the city. Bern is also known for bears, and you can see the majestic animals going about their day if you visit the Bern Bear Park , which is just outside the old town. 

Museums, historic buildings, botanical gardens, and beautiful parks are all waiting to be explored in Bern. But, don’t limit yourself to the big city – Bern is close to some spectacular destinations, all of which are great for fun day trips.

Take at least one day to make a day trip to Lake Thun. It’s a beautiful lake with lots of things to do and see in the area, including the spectacular Thun Castle . Also, the scenic train ride from Bern to Thun allows you to discover even more enchanting landscapes, and it’s one of the highlights of the visit. 

While traveling from Bern to Zurich, stop by Lucerne if you have enough time. The city is gorgeous with sprawling lake views, countless historical landmarks, and some truly remarkable bridges. 

Grand Tour of Switzerland: Alternative Itineraries

Geneva – neuchâtel.

Instead of visiting Lausanne, head straight to Geneva from Zermatt. The city is certainly worth a visit if you’ve never been there before, and it has enough content to keep you occupied for days, if not weeks. 

Just keep in mind that Geneva and Lausanne are two wildly different cities. Geneva is home to many international organizations, high-end restaurants, and expensive shops. It’s got plenty of tourist attractions, but it’s better suited for travelers who want to experience the luxurious life in Switzerland. 

Lausanne, on the other hand, is much smaller and quieter. It’s not quite as fast-paced as Geneva, and it’s the better destination for travelers who enjoy quainter towns with impeccable natural surroundings. 

Neuchâtel – Basel 

Basel is known as Switzerland’s cultural capital and a better destination than Bern for travelers who genuinely enjoy learning about foreign cultures. The city is best known for its many unique museums, which you won’t find anywhere else in the country. 

Basel is situated right on the border with France and Germany; the influence of those countries is evident in the city’s attractions and cuisine. The location also allows for easy day trips to border towns in France and Germany, which makes it ideal for travelers who want to make the most of this road trip through Switzerland.  

Switzerland Road Trip Packing List

Not sure what you should bring on the grand tour of Switzerland? This packing list includes almost all the essentials – I always forget something when I’m packing, so I’m pretty sure I also forgot to add things to this list. But don’t worry – whatever you forget to bring on the trip, you can easily buy at the destination. 

Also, I’ve tried to keep this list universal so you can adapt it to your road trip. Consider when you’re traveling, and pack clothes according to the weather forecast. 

• Vehicle equipment (warning triangle, spare tire, winter chains in winter, etc.)
• First aid kit
• Season-appropriate accessories (sunglasses, hat, scarf, gloves, etc.)
• 7 (season-appropriate) tops – t-shirts, hoodies, sweaters
• 2 jackets (one lightweight jacket for warmer weather and one waterproof jacket)
• 2 pairs of shoes (one for casual walking and another for hiking)
• Two pairs of pants (jeans or slacks, plus leggings or a tracksuit)
• 2 pajamas or comfy clothes to wear at home
• Clean underwear for at least half the days of the road trip (plus a dozen extra pairs in case you soil yourself every other day), two bras, undershirts, socks
• Devices (laptop, smartphone, tablet, chargers)
• Bathing suit (even in the winter!)
• Toiletries – soap, body wash, shampoo, SPF, face creams and serums, razor, shaving foam, makeup, perfume, etc. 

Keep your suitcase light – I’ve learned over the years that overpacking is completely pointless. But what if I need it? Chances are you won’t, especially if you haven’t worn something for months at home. Also, you can buy whatever you need, and you will have access to washing machines and laundromats – a laundry day in the middle of your road trip should ensure you have plenty of clean clothes. 

Essential Tips For A Switzerland Road Trip

Don’t overpack. It’s just not worth it and it will be easier to get around with lighter luggage, especially as the road trip goes on and the souvenirs start to pile up. 

Get some travel pass. The Swiss Travel Pass is great if you want to ride trains, but the half-fare card is the better option if you mostly get around by car. It gets you discounted access to all the most popular city attractions plus many other benefits, so it’s worth it. 

Don’t be afraid to step off the beaten path. Switzerland is known for its spectacular nature, and most of its prettiest attractions are hidden off the beaten path. 

Travel by train on day trips. It’s usually quicker than driving, train tickets are cheaper than parking, and you can enjoy the views without stressing about the drive. 

Look for Grand Tour Photo stops. Grand Tour Photo Spots in all destinations are included in the established Grand Tour of Switzerland itinerary. If you want epic photographs to commemorate this fabulous experience, don’t miss out on these photo spots!

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written by Joanne Owen

updated 11.10.2023

Switzerland — a destination you voted one of the most beautiful countries in the world — offers travellers a rewarding range of experiences. And there’s no better way to experience that range than on a Grand Tour of Switzerland. This unforgettable road trip route covers everything from glaciers and palm-backed lakeshores, to charming villages and buzzy cities.

Start — explore the city of Zürich

1st stage — zürich to appenzel, 2nd stage — appenzell to st moritz, 3rd stage — st moritz to lugano.

• 4th stage — Lugano to Zermatt

5th stage — Zermatt to Lausanne

6th stage — lausanne to neuchatel, 7th stage — neuchatel to bern, 8th stage — bern to zürich, grand tour of switzerland alternatives — start or end in geneva, basel or chiasso, best photo spots on the grand tour of switzerland, tips for a road trip in switzerland.

Better yet, set off with The Rough Guide to Switzerland on hand to enhance every stage of your road trip.

The Grand Tour takes in dozens of Switzerland’s top attractions — including five Alpine passes, thirteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and twenty-two lakes.

Divided into eight signposted segments, it's an awe-inspiring circuit of 1643km. Covering cosmopolitan Zürich, Italianate Lugano, and the majestic Matterhorn, it offers a unique road trip of a lifetime. And they're just a small sample of the route's attractions.

In good news for travellers who want to travel more responsibly, the Grand Tour of Switzerland is the world’s first road trip for electric vehicles .

Bern is a highlight of the Grand Tour of Switzerland road trip © 4kclips/Shutterstock

Travel ideas for Switzerland, created by local experts

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Lakes and mountains for the whole family in Italy & Switzerland

Spend your first 3 nights at Lake Como in Italy, discovering the area by boat or foot, before heading to Zermatt in Switzerland. Zermatt with its peaceful nature is the ideal backdrop for strolls, hikes and other activities with the whole family.

Zürich is the setting for the start of this Switzerland road trip. A vibrant city that blends urban verve with waterfront beauty and Renaissance grandeur. 

Zürich’s Old Town plays host to legend-steeped medieval churches, such as the mighty Grossmünster. It's also the stunning stage for Switzerland’s highest concentrations of clubs, and world-class museums. Kunsthaus , we're looking at you.

Head to hill-framed Lake Zürich to enjoy rewarding boat excursions. With its Mediterranean-style plazas, taking a trip to Rapperswil comes especially recommended. You also won't want to miss seeing the 15,000 rose bushes that gave rise to its “City of Roses” moniker,

Best places to stay in Zürich

• Best for culture vultures:  Alma Hotel . An upmarket hotel focused on sustainability.
• Best for couples:  Hotel Kindli . One of Zürich’s most charming small hotels.
• Best for nightlife-lovers:  Pension Furdich . Backing onto a park, this is close to funky bars and clubs.

Explore more accommodation in Zürich .

Zürich's Grossmünster church © S-F/Shutterstock

From Zürich, epic natural wonders await near Schaffhausen at Rhine Falls, Europe's largest waterfall.

With  Schloss Laufen perched on a cliff directly above the falls, this top grand tour of Switzerland photo spot blazes with drama.

The Rhine Falls and Schloss Laufen — one of the best grand tour of Switzerland photo spots © maloff/Shutterstock

Schaffhausen itself is likely to be a highlight of your Grand Tour of Switzerland. Boasting one of the country’s most beautiful medieval town centres, its riverside Old Town is crammed with glorious guild houses.

More old-time magic can be found in tiny Stein-am-Rhein, an almost perfectly-preserved medieval village.

Best places to stay in Schaffhausen and Stein-am-Rhein

• Best for city slickers:  Vienna House zur Bleiche Schaffhausen City . A business hotel with contemporary design.
• Best for couples:  Park Villa, Schaffhausen . An atmospheric old mansion on the edge of the Old Town. 
• Best for foodies:  Garni Adler, Stein-am-Rhein . With a fine façade, this has a great Swiss restaurant.

Discover more  places to stay around Schaffhausen .

Scenic schaffhausen © Bildagentur Zoonar GmbH/Shutterstock

No Grand Tour road trip around northeast Switzerland would be complete without spending time in relaxed St Gallen. 

Set in rolling wine country between the Appenzell hills and the Bodensee, St Gallen’s Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Best places to stay in St Gallen

• Best for city centre style:  Einstein. A grand old hotel housed in a former textile factory.
• Best for the socially conscious:  Hotel Dom. Part of a project that trains and employs people with disabilities.
• Best for families:  Vadian . A friendly two-star on a quiet street near the cathedral.

Explore more  places to stay in St Gallen . 

The abbey of Saint Gall © Ruslan Kalnitsky/Shutterstock

The last leg of this stage of the Grand Tour of Switzerland takes you to Appenzell. In an area known for its traditional rural traditions, this impossibly quaint town has fairy tale allure.

Into the great outdoors? This region has lots of rewarding hiking trails to ramble in summer. Come winter, the hills are a paradise for cross-country skiers, with 200km of trails extending through the canton.  

All of which makes Appenzell a picture-perfect place to enjoy sports and outdoor activities in Switzerland . 

Best places to stay in Appenzell

• Best for foodies:  Hotel Appenzell . This gabled building on the square has a confiserie and top restaurant.
• Best for warm-hearted welcomes:  Gasthaus Hof . A friendly, old-fashioned hotel with rustic ambience.
• Best for luxury:  Romantik Hotel Säntis . This fine old hotel belongs to the prestigious Romantik group. 

Browse more  places to stay in Appenzellerland .  

Appenzell oozes traditional charm, making it one of the top grand tour of Switzerland photo spots © Sina Ettmer Photography/Shutterstock

This stunning segment of the road trip boasts more records than any other stage of the Grand Tour of Switzerland. These include Switzerland’s oldest city, and its only world monument,  Salginatobel Bridge .

The power of nature is uniquely presented at the Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona UNESCO Heritage Site. Geological formations at this dramatic spot show the collision of the African and European continents. 

Meanwhile, if you’re travelling in Switzerland with children, you won’t want to miss exploring Heidi Village. Located in the Graubünden region, little ones will love following the idyllic Heidi Trail to the Heidi House. 

More charm can be found in Graubünden’s cantonal capital, Chur. Chockful of secret courtyards and cobbled alleys, Chur is Switzerland’s oldest town.

Cable car access to Brambrüesch mountain means Chur also has a host of hiking and biking trails on the doorstep. 

Best places to stay in Chur

• Best for couples:  Freieck . A comfortable hotel in sixteenth-century buildings.
• Best for foodies: Hotel Stern . Smart Old Town hotel with wood-beamed rooms and great food.
• Best for budget travellers:  Viva Hostel . This modern, lively hostel has a range of rooms.

Discover more  places to stay in Chur.  

Chur's charms are a highlight of the Grand Tour of Switzerland © Avatar_023/Shutterstock

If you fancy sampling some of Switzerland’s best outdoor experiences , you’ll want to explore the Swiss National Park in the Engadine.

For excellent hiking and scenery that’s inspired painters and poets for centuries, take a trip to Muottas Muragl mountain. Here the Panoramic Path traverses alpine hills and meadows, with views to glitzy St Moritz.

Meandering down from Alpine St. Moritz to Italianate Lugano, this stage of the Grand Tour of Switzerland has the most significant change in altitude and scenery.

With 350km of pistes, and no shortage of fine places to sleep, eat and make merry, it’s little wonder that St Moritz is esteemed as one of the world’s best ski resorts. 

Interestingly, though, thanks to its mineral springs St Moritz first came to fame as a summer spa town. And, to this day, there’s plenty to keep visitors happy in summer — from hiking and biking, to sailing, kitesurfing and Alpine golf.

Best places to stay in St Moritz

• Best for luxury:  Badrutt’s Palace Hotel . This legendary five-star is one of Europe’s swankiest hotels.
• Best for families:  Chesa Languard . A friendly little hotel with some of the best rates in the centre.
• Best for romantics:  Soldanella . A family-run hotel in an Art Nouveau building.

Explore more  places to stay in St Moritz . 

Swanky St Moritz © Shutterstock

From St Moritz, nature-lovers will want to continue their road trip to  Switzerland’s largest regional nature park, Parc Ela .

This stunning UNESCO Heritage Site is traversed by the Rhätische Bahn (Rhaetian Railway). One of the world's most scenic rail networks, this is travelled by the  Glacier Express  that runs from St Moritz and Davos to Chur. It then winds west over the Alps to  Zermatt .

To the northeast of Parc Ela, the Viamala gorge presents one of the best grand tour of Switzerland photo spots. Carved into rocks by glacial ice, the sheer 300m cliffs are a staggering sight. 

From here, the road trip route wends south to the Italianate-speaking canton of Ticino . 

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4th stage — Lugano to Zermatt

While you could explore this stage’s top sites on the way down, we’ll kick off in Lugano. This sits at the southern end of a segment that takes in an extraordinary number of bends. These comes courtesy of the Tremola road that snakes from Airolo. 

Basking in a sun-drenched bay of Lake Lugano, Lugano is framed by wooded hills and fronted by palm tree-lined promenades. It's also criss-crossed by winding lanes packed with places to enjoy some of the best eating and drinking in Switzerland . 

To the north, Locarno sits on the curve of a Lake Maggiore bay, with the surrounding valleys offering some of the most beautiful scenery in the Ticino canton.

Where to stay in Lugano and Locarno

• Best for families:  Lugano Dante, Lugano . A quality four-star by Lugano’s funicular station.
• Best for big spenders:  Splendide Royal, Lugano . Traditional style characterises this classic.
• Best for understated style:  Giardino Lago, Locarno. A quietly opulent waterfront hotel. 

Browse more places to stay in  Lugano  and  Locarno .

Locarno viewed from Cardada mountain © Eva Bocek/Shutterstock

Other highlights along the Grand Tour of Switzerland route that runs through Ticino include Ascona and Bellinzona, the latter of which has a trio of UNESCO castles. 

From Airola, the serpentine Tremola extends to Andermatt in Central Switzerland via the Gotthard Pass, which divides northern Europe from the south. 

Hair-raising hairpin bends characterise the Via Tremola of the Gotthard Pass © Freedom_wanted/Shutterstock

While journeying south towards Zermatt — the end point of this diverse stage of the Grand Tour of Switzerland — don’t miss seeing the Furka Pass on a steam train excursion. Enjoying fun train trips are among the best things to do in Switzerland with kids.

Alternatively, if you fancy finding serenity in truly sublime surroundings, the lesser-visited Goms area of the upper Rhône valley comes highly recommended.    

Presided over by (arguably) the world’s most famous mountain, the majestic Matterhorn, Zermatt is one of the world’s prettiest vacation villages.

Zermatt also offers easy access to the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, which includes 360 kilometres of pistes, over 400 kilometres of hiking trails, and 54 mountain railways. As such, it's a place to unleash your inner adventurer.

• Best for Matterhorn views:  Kulmhotel Gornergrat . The highest hotel in the Alps is uniquely atmospheric.
• Best for glamour:  Grand Hotel Zermatterhof . One of the finest hotels in the country.
• Best for cosy comfort:  Hotel Allalin. This boasts modern, folksy decor and a spa.

Discover more places to stay in  Zermatt .

The Matterhorn offers some of the best grand tour of Switzerland photo spots  © Shutterstock

The route to Lausanne will take you through sunny Sion. Capital of the canton of Valais , Sion is home to a charming old quarter and two ancient castles. 

Another major attraction along this part of the road trip is the adventure sport hotspot of Les Diablerets. This high profile ski resort village is located in the canton of Vaud, much of which sits on the northern shore of Lake Geneva .

Meanwhile, before reaching Lausanne at the end of this stage of your road trip, you'll want to visit enchanting Château de Chillon, and upmarket Montreux.

Home to an esteemed jazz festival, Montreux features in our calendar of festivals in Switzerland and run-down of the best things to do in Switzerland in summer .

Enchanting Château de Chillon, Switzerland © FenlioQ/Shutterstock

Taking in Switzerland’s renowned watchmaking region, this stage kicks off in Lausanne , a city that’s lively, cultured and scenic with it. Think steep wooden hills tiered above a lake, an alluring Old Town, with the Cathédrale Notre-Dame rivalling its Parisian counterpart. 

Lausanne’s many cultural highlights include the Olympic Museum , the  Collection de l’Art Brut, and the  Musée Historique . Then there’s the Ouchy waterfront to wander. This elegant beauty spot plays host to free festivals around the year. 

If you plan to linger in Lausanne, the train des vignes runs through the terraced vineyards of Lavaux, offering views of the Savoy and Valais Alps from above Lake Geneva. 

Best places to stay in Lausanne

• Best for couples:  Angleterre & Residence . A classy hotel on the Ouchy waterfront.
• Best for luxury-lovers: Beau-Rivage Palace . Set in waterside gardens, this is one of Switzerland’s finest hotels.
• Best for families:  Elite . Lausanne's best mid-price hotel.

Browse more of the best places to stay in Lausanne .  

The Rough Guides to Switzerland and related travel guides

In-depth, easy-to-use travel guides filled with expert advice.

Lausanne © Keitma/Shutterstock

The road trip route from Lausanne leads to  Jura Vaudois Nature Park — a magical landscape of forests, marshland and meadows. It also takes in the breath-taking  Creux du Van rock formation, around which a nature reserve protects animals and arctic-alpine flora. 

Southeast of Creux du Van, the route leads to Neuchâtel, home to Switzerland’s largest archaeological museum . With a charming lakefront promenade and enchanting 12th- century core, Neuchâtel inspires wonder as it transports visitors back in time.

From Lake Neuchâtel, the wateriest leg of the Grand Tour of Switzerland road trip leads you through the magnificent lake region. 

Along the way you won’t want to miss spending time in Fribourg. With its medieval Old Town set on a forested peninsula, this is one of Switzerland’s most magical spots. 

Best places to stay in Fribourg

• Best for affordability:  Hotel du Faucon . An excellent-value little hotel in the Old Town.
• Best for couples:  Hotel de la Rose . Cosy, comfortable and housed in a seventeenth-century building.
• Best for foodies:  Le Sauvage . A sixteenth-century townhouse with a fine restaurant. 

Find more  places to stay in Fribourg . 

Largely thanks to its fairy-tale castle, Gruyères is also a place of enchantment, with a strong tradition of cheese and chocolate-making.

As you route through the Bernese Oberland , opportunities for adventure present themselves. Gstaad, for example, is a mecca for celebrity winter-sports aficionados. Meanwhile, friendly outlying villages offer affordable family-oriented accommodation. 

Then there’s the mighty Jungfraujoch. The Jungfrau railway has been taking travellers to the highest station in Europe for over a century. This also happens to be one of the top grand tour of Switzerland photo spots. 

The same is true of the Lauterbrunnen valley, where a whopping 72 waterfalls rush from vertical cliff faces. 

Other highlights along the Bernese Oberland road trip route include Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Taking a paddle steamer cruise is the perfect way to soak up their splendour.  

Lake Thun © 9MOT/Shutterstock

On arrival in Bern , take an evening stroll around its UNESCO-protected Old Town to view the Zytglogge clock-tower, and find an atmospheric dinner spot. 

Of all Swiss cities, Bern is arguably the most immediately charming. Tucked into a peninsula of the River Aare and surrounded by wooded hills, the views over its Old Town roofs are spectacular. 

Alongside exploring the Old Town and Münster cathedral , art-lovers will want to visit Zentrum Paul Klee . To the east,  Bären Park  (Bear Park) is another Bern highlight. Bears have lived in a pit at this hilly beauty spot for centuries, with three of them currently residing in a new park.  

Best places to stay in Bern

• Best for history buffs:  Hotel Landhaus . The most attractive budget rooms in town.
• Best for character:  Hotel Marthahaus . A friendly, well-run hotel-pension.
• Best for budget travellers:  Bern Backpackers/Hotel Glocke . An Old Town fixture with excellent facilities.

Browse more of the best places to stay in Bern .  

Bern © Shutterstock

Further along this stage, you’ll want to stop off in Lucerne’s wondrous Wild West. Namely, the  UNESCO Biosphere Entlebuch  — an unspoilt, romantic reserve of Alpine pastures, moorland and karst landscapes.

Lucerne itself is Switzerland’s geographical and spiritual heart— steeped in history, and a gateway to Central Switzerland . Lucerne is also the ultimate slow travel destination .

From the city’s medieval squares, ancient guildhalls, and lakeshore, it’s easy to explore Lucerne’s magnificent regional mountains – the Pilatus and Rigi — en route to Zürich. And so our Grand Tour of Switzerland comes full circle.

Best places to stay in Lucerne

• Best for romantics:  Art Deco Hotel Montana . With its own funicular, this is among Switzerland’s best four-stars.
• Best for families:  Seehotel Kastanienbaum . In a village outside the city, this has a lakeside terrace.
• Best for budget travellers:  Backpackers . A laidback hostel on the lakeshore.

Explore more  places to stay in Lucerne .  

Pilatus, Lucerne © Swiss Tourism

One of the beauties of taking the Grand Tour of Switzerland is that it’s a circuit. This means there’s flexibility around where you start your road trip of a lifetime , with awe-inspiring access road trip routes to follow, too. 

You could choose to begin your Grand Tour of Switzerland in Geneva . Compact and cosmopolitan, the iconic Jet d’Eau fountain sits at the city's heart.

Our tip — explore Geneva's Italianate Carouge area for innovative artists’ workshops and excellent cafés. 

From Geneva, the route continues to Nyon, with its historic Old Town and easy-access to walking through wine country. It then leads to Saint-George and Neuchatal.

Alternatively, you could start your Grand Tour of Switzerland in Basel and work your way down to Neuchatal. 

Located on the Rhine, Basel boasts around 40 museums. It also has masses of medieval charm, with two Old Town squares and countless leafy courtyards overlooked by the majestic Münster cathedral.

If you’re keen to explore Switzerland’s Ticino region, consider kicking off your Grand Tour of Switzerland in Chiasso, which lies on the southern border with Italy. 

After exploring the town’s museums and taking a trip to the breath-taking Breggia Gorges, the route winds to Lugano, Locarno and Bellinzona.

Lugano in the Swiss canton of Ticino © Shutterstock

While it’s nigh impossible to pick the best photo spots on the Grand Tour of Switzerland, here are a few of our favourites.

• Best for epic nature: head to the Rhine Falls to capture the cascading, crashing waters of Europe’s largest waterfall backed by a fairy tale castle. Magic. 
• Best for adventurers: head to the  Gotthard Pass along the Tremola to snap snaking hairpin bends. 
• Best for culture vultures: Bellinzona’s Montebello Castle  is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site that offers mighty fine views of the region.

View of Castelgrande from Montebello Castle, Bellinzona © elesi/Shutterstock

• Best for winter wonderland fans: it goes without saying that the majestic Matterhorn offers countless opportunities to take sensational scenic shots.
• Best for bookworms: fans of children’s literature (and rustic charm) will take inspiration from their photos of Heidi House . 

For more inspiration, read up on the best photo spots on the Grand Tour of Switzerland that are marked along the route.

If you’re considering going on a Grand Tour of Switzerland road trip, you’ll want to arm yourself with rules and regulations of the road. 

Switzerland’s minimum driving age is 18 and third-party insurance is compulsory. It’s also compulsory to carry a red warning triangle, and the vehicle registration documents.  

If you plan to drive on Swiss motorways, you must stick a vignette inside your windscreen. Buy it from the customs officials when you first cross the border, or at post offices and petrol stations. 

Switzerland and Liechtenstein drive on the right, seatbelts are compulsory for all, and penalties for drink driving are tough. One glass of beer has you on or over the limit. 

Speed limits are 120kph (75mph) on motorways, 80kph (50mph) on main roads, 50kph (30mph) in urban areas, and 30kph (18mph) or less on residential streets. There are dozens of cameras, radars and laser traps to catch speeders, with spot fines levied. 

Trams and buses have priority on Switzerland's roads © MrinaD_37/Shutterstock

At junctions, yellow diamonds painted on the road show who has priority. If in doubt, let trams and buses go first, and give way to traffic coming from your right. On gradients, vehicles heading uphill have priority over those coming down. 

If you hear a loud horn or klaxon sounding on country lanes or twisting mountain roads, it means a postbus is approaching. This always has priority.

In winter, signs indicate where snow-chains are necessary — practise fitting and removing them beforehand.

Switzerland's mountains make a stunning backdrop for road trips © 4kclips/Shutterstock

Want to know more before planning your Grand Tour of Switzerland road trip? Get your hands on a copy of The Rough Guide to Switzerland  and read up on things not to miss in Switzerland .

Our  Switzerland travel tips and guide to accommodation in Switzerland will also help you plan your trip.

Not a fan of planning? You could book a hassle-free tailor-made trip to Switzerland, with customisable itineraries covering the likes of  unforgettable highlights of Switzerland , and touring the Grand Circle .  

This article is brought to you in partnership with  My Switzerland .

We may earn commission when you click on links in this article, but this doesn’t influence our editorial standards. We only recommend services we genuinely believe will enhance your travel experiences .

Joanne is a Pembrokeshire-born writer with a passion for the nature, cultures and histories of the Caribbean region, especially Dominica. Also passionate about inspiring a love of adventure in young people, she’s the author of several books for children and young adults, hosts international writing workshops, and has written articles on the Caribbean and inspirational community initiatives for Rough Guides. Follow her @JoanneOwen on Twitter and @joanneowenwrites on Instagram.

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The Grand Tour of Switzerland

14 day itinerary by car, the grand tour is a scenic route made up of 25 different sections (or legs), which highlights the best of switzerland.  in most cases it is possible to cover more than one leg each day..

Starting off in Basel , moving onto Neuchatel on day two and sightseeing in Bern for day 3. Some highlights being Laufen, La Chaux-de-Fonds, Gstaad, Interlaken and Thun.

Moving onto Lucerne on Day 4 where you'll spend some time taking in the sights and then onto Zurich for more sightseeing. Highlights: Schaffhausen and Rhine Falls and Einsiedeln.

From Zurich, it's off to Appenzell , followed by St. Moritz and then to Lugano . Highlights on the route: Heidi’s village in Maienfeld and St. Gotthard Pass.

The last few days will be spent in Zermatt and Lausanne with a full day sightseeing around Lake Geneva . Head back to Neuchatel on day 14. Highlights: Bettmeralp, St-Maurice and Montreux .

We also have an alternative itinerary that includes visits to major cities and smaller towns, mountain and lakeside locations and some of the country’s most popular attractions.

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Grand Tour of Switzerland by motorhome

Author: Freeontour / Tarja Prüss, Header image: Switzerland Tourism / Mattias Nutt Photography

Switzerland is a stunning, versatile travel destination with so much to offer campers. The Grand Tour of Switzerland demonstrates this impressively along 1,643 km where you'll be able to discover five Alpine passes, 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites and 22 lakes. Freeontour presents the best places, attractions and camping options for your next Swiss adventure.

What is the Grand Tour of Switzerland?

The Grand Tour of Switzerland is a circular tour of Switzerland in 25 stages. It was developed by the Switzerland Tourism organisation to promote the most scenic routes in the country, which they have also marked with signposts along the way. Accordingly, this road trip is not so much about the destination, but rather about travelling itself. You'll rarely see a motorway, instead it's a leisurely, winding journey through valleys and over mountains from north to south and back again. To avoid closed passes – winter closure or snowfall – the best time for a trip around Switzerland is between May/June and October. If you start in Zurich, you'll first go past Lake Constance to Appenzell and St Moritz, then to Lugano, Zermatt and Lausanne in the south and finally to Neuchâtel and Bern. But you can also set off from Basel, from where it's about 165 km to Neuchâtel. You should, ideally, plan at least eight days for the entire journey by car to make sure that you have enough time for sightseeing, hiking or cycling. At least ten days are recommended if you are doing the tour in a motorhome due to the longer travel times. If you only have a week, expect to drive an average of six hours per day, maybe only managing half the tour and taking the motorway back. Freeontour presents the tour for campervans and motorhomes in eight stages, which should be spread over ten or more days depending on your interests and activities. You'll experience more than 2,000 metres in altitude when you consider that the highest point of the Grand Tour is the Furka Pass at 2,429 m above sea level and the lowest point Lake Maggiore at 193 m above sea level.

Alpine passes and motorhome restrictions along the Grand Tour

The Grand Tour of Switzerland goes over five Alpine passes that are at least 2,000 m above sea level: 1. Flüela Pass Length: 27 km, max. gradient: 10%, usually closed in winter from January to April/May, no restrictions for motorhomes, bypass: Vereina car shuttle station from Klosters Selfranga to Sagliains 2. Julier Pass Length: 16 km, max. gradient: 12%, accessible all year round (winter equipment is compulsory in the winter months), no restrictions for motorhomes 3. San Bernardino Pass Length: 17 km, max. gradient: 9.7%, usually closed in winter from November to May, max. vehicle width: 2.30 m, max. weight: 18 t, bypass: San Bernardino Tunnel (vignette required) from Hinterrhein to San Bernardino. Please note: in the summer of 2023, the tunnel will be closed occasionally at night during the week due to renovation work 4. Gotthard Pass (Tremola) Length: 24 km, max. gradient: 9%, usually closed in winter from October/November to May, the old Tremola road is only accessible for vehicles up to 3.5 t, bypass: new pass road (A2) or the Gotthard Road Tunnel from Airolo to Göschenen 5. Furka Pass Length: 29 km, max. gradient: 11%, usually closed in winter from October/November to May/June, bypass: car train from Realp to Oberwald Vehicles heavier than 3.5 t face one more restriction on the Grand Tour of Switzerland from Treyvaux to La Roche. They can take the alternative route via Serbache.

An overview of the stages

Stage #1: From Zurich to Appenzell, approx. 150 km Stage #2: From Appenzell to St Moritz, approx. 160 km Stage #3: From St Moritz to Bellinzona, approx. 160 km Stage #4: From Bellinzona to Zermatt, approx. 196 km Stage #5: From Täsch/Zermatt to Lausanne, approx. 175 km Stage #6: From Lausanne to Neuchâtel, approx. 165 km Stage #7: From Neuchâtel to Bern, approx. 240 km Stage #8: From Bern to Zurich, approx. 320 km

Alpine passes, lakes, panoramic routes - route suggestion for a round trip through Switzerland away from the motorways in a mobile home or camper van in 10 days. Those who take more time can enjoy the

This text was automatically translated using Google Translate and may be inaccurate.

Stage #1: From Zurich to Appenzell, approx. 150 km

Zurich is a business hub, university city and trendy town all in one. It lies at the northern end of Lake Zurich and on the Limmat River. Its landmark is the Grossmünster – built around 1100, it was the starting point of the Reformation led by Ulrich Zwingli. Ulrich, actually Huldrych Zwingli, was the Martin Luther of Switzerland, a radical reformer whose theses paved the way for the Swiss Reformation. It's only a few metres from the Grossmünster to the Fraumünster church with the world-famous Chagall windows. Also worth seeing is the Kunsthaus, the largest art museum in Switzerland, which houses one of the largest art collections in Switzerland. The main shopping street is Bahnhofstrasse, known for its exclusive shops, jewellers and banks. You can explore Lake Zurich either on an excursion boat or in one of the many Badis , as the locals affectionately call their public swimming baths. What else is a must when in Zurich? The classic: Züri-Gschnätzlets (ragout).

Stopover at the Rhine Falls

The route then continues for around 40 kilometres through the Zurich area to the Rhine Falls, the largest waterfall in Europe. Several hundred cubic metres of water thunder down 23 metres every second across a width of 150 metres. You can experience the waterfall close up by standing on a platform, some of which protrude over the Rhine. The best way to get there is via Laufen Castle where an interactive exhibition at the visitor centre provides a lot of interesting information on the Rhine Falls. The new adventure trail with a dual lift system and the Belvedere Trail make the Rhine Falls easy to access. The large P4 car park at the waterfall is suitable for motorhomes and you can park there for up to 17 hours. It's not too far from here to the banks of the Rhine where the many excursion boats can either ferry you to the other bank or take you on a small trip to the Rhine Falls. If you feel like walking, you can also hike for about one hour across the bridge to the observation platform at the Rhine Falls. Our tip: if you want to avoid the crowds, it's best to come early in the morning or late in the afternoon.

There are more motorhome pitches about one kilometre away outside of Neuhausen with supply and disposal facilities.

Along the shore of Lake Constance to St Gallen

The road from Neuhausen will take you along the shore of Lake Constance to St Gallen, the historic city of books and textiles. The city's landmark is the St Gallen Abbey District with its Baroque cathedral and impressive library, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and houses 170,000 books. 50,000 of these are on display in the beautiful Baroque hall where you can also admire the 2,700-year-old Egyptian mummy of Schepenese.

Activities in Appenzell

After experiencing so much culture and history, it makes a welcome change to end the day in rural Appenzell, which is incidentally the smallest Swiss canton with around 7,000 inhabitants. You can stroll through small streets with ornate houses in the car-free centre of the village of Appenzell. And when you venture out of the village and suddenly find yourself surrounded by massive rock formations rising 2,500 metres and more, you might just start wondering how it's even possible that hilly landscapes can change into the rocky Alpine world here so abruptly like nowhere else. Appenzell has a particularly dense network of hiking trails, including adventure trails such as the barefoot trail near Gonten, a nature adventure trail and the chapel circular hiking trails. You can take the cable car from Wasserauen to the Ebenalp (1,644 m) and then hike for about 15 minutes to the wild chapel caves (Wildkirchli) clinging dramatically on to the rocks. Even more spectacular is the location of the Berggasthaus Aescher guesthouse, depicted thousands of times on postcards. The Ebenalp is also the starting point for hikes to the summit of the Säntis. However, if you don't want to sweat too much, take the suspension railway from Schwägalp up to the Säntis. Appenzell is perfect for a day of activities if you aren't pressed for time.

Campsites and RV parks in Appenzell

There are two campsites in Appenzell: Camping Jakobsbad and Camping Eischen . Or you could spend the night at one of the various RV parks in the region, e.g. at Gasthaus Rössli, on Brauereiplatz, in Appenzell-Schlatt near Zistlis or in Wasserauen on Schwendetalstraße.

At a glance: travelling around Switzerland by caravan and motorhome

What you need to know for your trip to Switzerland: interesting facts, traffic rules and practical tips

Stage #2: From Appenzell to St Moritz, approx. 160 km

You'll come upon an impressive illustration of the formation of the Alps on the road from Appenzell to St Moritz – the UNESCO World Heritage Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona between the Murgsee lake, Pizol mountain and Martin's Hole near Elm, where layers of rock have piled up high over millions and millions of years. Glaciers, wind and weather have shaped the top layer of the valleys, uncovering evidence of the continental plate shift. What makes it so unique is that the mountains are upside down, i.e. the mountain peaks that are visible today are actually older than the underlying rock, whereas it's usually the opposite.

A flying visit to Maienfeld, the Heidi Village

Maienfeld is a must for Heidi fans. The Heidi Village has a Heidi Trail that will take you through the idyllic mountain landscape to the Heidi House and the Heidi Alp. In fact, it was here in Maienfeld that the poet Johanna Spyri (1827-1901) was inspired by the landscape to write her children's classic book Heidi.

History stroll through the oldest city in Switzerland

After visiting Heidi's world in Maienfeld, we continue to Chur , with its 5,000-year history making it the oldest city in Switzerland. Stroll through the car-free Old Town with its winding streets and historic buildings surrounded by imposing mountains. Red signs guide you through the city, pointing the way to the most beautiful sights, squares and alleys. Make sure you visit the Bishop's Palace, the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary and as many of the restored buildings in the Old Town as you can. If you have some time to spare, go on a trip with the Glacier Express, operated by the Rhaetian Railway, from Chur and discover the spectacular railway line through the Swiss mountains, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This will give you a completely different view of the landscape than travelling by motorhome alone. It's also worth seeing the  Swiss Grand Canyon:  a gorge in the Anterior Rhine Valley created 10,000 years ago when 100 billion cubic metres of rock thundered down into the valley. The Rhine Gorge boasts a raging river and steep white walls. Down in the gorge, gentle sandbanks alternate between wild rapids. But you'll also find tranquil lakes, rare birds and even orchids in this small paradise. The gorge can easily be explored on foot, by bike, on the water and by public transport.

Over the Flüela Pass to St Moritz

The Grand Tour of Switzerland now goes over the Flüela Pass to St Moritz via Davos and Klosters. 27 kilometres full of bends and fascinating mountain panoramas await you, therefore expect the journey to take a little longer. The destination of this stage is St Moritz in the Upper Engadine – the site of two Olympic Winter Games and a summer health resort thanks to its mineral springs. Today, St Moritz is primarily known as a luxurious holiday spot for the global upper-class. Gourmet temples, luxury hotels and international congresses have put St Moritz on the map. Sights such as the leaning tower, remains of the Saint Mauritius Church from around 1500 or the Segantini Museum offer a change from luxury and the jet set. The Ludains artificial ice rink is also open to ice skaters throughout the summer, and there are 17 climbing gardens with different levels of difficulty for climbing enthusiasts. Relax at the end of the day by taking a leisurely stroll along the lake and enjoying the panorama.

Campsites and RV parks near St Moritz

The St Moritz campsite lies at 1,800 m above sea level. It usually opens in mid-May and has a designated area for motorhomes at the Caravan Village. You can park overnight in the Via Sela car park, but it has no water, electricity or disposal facilities. There are motorhome pitches in Rona and in Dinvei Stierva, both around 30 km from St Moritz.

Stage #3: From St Moritz to Bellinzona, approx. 160 km

This stage of the Grand Tour takes you to Mediterranean climes and includes two Alpine passes, which is why you could also think about splitting this stage into two days and staying somewhere overnight roughly halfway. It starts at the Julier Pass, just after Lake Silvaplana on the wide lake plateau of the Upper Engadin. You'll have completed most of the ascents and serpentine roads by the time you get to the ski resort of Bivio. The road is consistently wider than 5 metres and manageable for motorhomes. Make a stop at Parc Ela behind the pass road. It's the largest nature park in Switzerland and perfect for hiking. Discover rugged mountain ranges, steep gorges and hilly mountain meadows on foot or by mountain bike. This region also has an exciting mix of cultures as it's the only canton with three official languages – German, Romansh and Italian.

Along the Hinterrhein River and over the San Bernardino Pass

The journey continues on a country road, past the turn-off down into Albula Valley to Thusis and then along the Hinterrhein River to Andeer. Shortly after Andeer, a serpentine road takes you into the Rofla Gorge where you can visit a waterfall and rock gallery. Road 13 will take you along the Hinterrhein to the village of Sufers and past Crestawald Fortress on to Splügen and Nufenen. The ascent to the San Bernardino Pass, which connects the Hinterrhein Valley with Ticino, begins just behind the Hinterrhein. In general, motorhomes shouldn't have any problems using the pass road, but there are a few narrow hairpin bends, which is why overtaking is prohibited on that section of the route.

Embrace la dolce vita in Bellinzona

After two Alpine passes and what feels like never-ending serpentine roads, the day ends with some dolce vita in Bellinzona. Not only can you enjoy some espresso and ice cream on the traffic-calmed Piazza Collegiata, but also beautiful Renaissance buildings and a market at the weekend. The capital of Ticino lies like a funnel in the narrow valley where a number of passes converge. The main attractions in Bellinzona are three recently restored castles: Castelgrande, Montebello and Sasso Corbaro were built to control access to the Alpine passes as well as the trade in goods to and from the Gotthard Pass. Leave your car or motorhome at the campsite or RV park and you'll appreciate the comfortable ride in the small tourist train from the Old Town of Bellinzona to Castello Montebello and Castello di Sasso Corbaro. You can hop on and off at the most important sights and historic places along the way. The round trip takes about an hour. You can buy tickets either at the train station just before the train departs or at the Bellinzona Tourist Office.

Where to stay in Bellinzona

You can spend the night in Bellinzona at the Camping Bellinzona campsite on the banks of the Ticino River or at the RV park on  Via Brunari , both of which are within walking distance of the Old Town. If you drive about 20 km further south towards Locarno or Vira, you can also spend the night right by Lake Maggiore.

Stage #4: From Bellinzona to Zermatt, approx. 196 km

We now get to the stage of the Grand Tour of Switzerland with the most hairpin bends. The Tremola winds its way from Airolo up to the Gotthard Pass. The most spectacular section of the tour is where this road climbs 300 metres in altitude over four kilometres with 24 hairpin bends, which even have their own names. Considered to be the longest monument in Switzerland, this road is, however, only accessible for motorhomes up to 3.5 t. If your motorhome is heavier, you'll have to use the new pass road or the Gotthard Tunnel – or treat yourself to a ride in the post coach, still pulled up the Tremola by five horses. Book in advance as it's very popular. Today, the Gotthard Pass and the Gotthard Tunnel are the most important north-south connections. In 1882, the famous Gotthard Rail Tunnel – and with it the Gotthard railway – was opened, followed almost 100 years later by the A2 motorway tunnel.

The Furka Pass and Rhône Glacier

The old Gotthard Pass road meets the new A2 pass road just before Hospental. If you've had enough bends for the day, choose a campsite or RV park in the area around Hospental or Andermatt and enjoy the mountain panorama either by hiking or relaxing for the rest of the day. But there's one more Alpine pass waiting for you on your way to Zermatt: the Furka Pass. It's the last major Alpine pass on the Grand Tour of Switzerland. Between Realp and Oberwald, it connects the Urseren Valley (canton of Uri) with the district of Goms (canton of Valais). You can access the end of the Rhône Glacier on the west side of the pass from the 19th-century Hotel Belvédère, which has been closed since 2015. If you park your motorhome at the former hotel, you first have to walk about 200 metres before arriving at the entrance to an ice grotto with a 100-metre-long ice tunnel that is drilled anew every year. The panorama platform offers a fascinating view of the glacier. Incidentally, a new glacial lake is being formed at the end of the glacier between the melting front of the Rhône Glacier and a striking rock ledge, which will also be given its own panorama platform in the next few years.

Zermatt and the Matterhorn panorama

On to the next highlight of the Grand Tour of Switzerland: the Matterhorn. This huge, pyramid-shaped mountain is considered to be the most photographed mountain in the world, with its characteristic, unmistakable shape bearing responsibility for this claim to fame. In the shadow of this giant lies the small, car-free town of Zermatt, which can only be reached on foot, by mountain bike or by train from Täsch. The last campsites before Zermatt are also in Täsch. Another option is to leave your motorhome or campervan on one of the outdoor parking spaces at the Matterhorn Terminal Täsch, from where there is a regular shuttle train service to Zermatt. You can choose which type of mountain railway you want to take from Zermatt to get the best view of the Matterhorn, e.g. from the Klein Matterhorn (Matterhorn Glacier Paradise). You can take a cable car from Zermatt to the mountain station at 3,820 m above sea level, the highest cable car station in the Alps. Other observation points include the Gornergrat or the Rothorn. The first electric rack railway in Switzerland takes about 30 minutes to get to the Gornergrat from Zermatt. The viewing platform is open all year round.

Where to stay in Zermatt

You can spend the night with all the usual comforts at the Camping Alphubel campsite in Täsch. There's also an RV park at  Taxi Christophe .

Stage #5: From Täsch/Zermatt to Lausanne, approx. 175 km

After so many Alpine passes and high peaks on the first part of the tour, culture and relaxation are now on the agenda. Starting in Visp, the route goes west through the Rhône Valley (canton of Valais) along the Rhône the entire time. The first stop before Lake Geneva is the small town of Saint-Maurice. It lies on a very narrow part of the Rhône, which is why the Romans settled here. The oldest abbey in Switzerland was founded here around 515 AD and houses one of the oldest church treasures in Europe – a must on your itinerary.

Chillon Castle on Lake Geneva

We continue along the Rhône to Lake Geneva where the next historic highlight awaits. Chillon Castle lies on a rock on the shore of Lake Geneva near Veytaux. For almost four centuries, Chillon was the home and profitable customs station of the Counts of Savoy. More than 400,000 visitors a year come to Chillon Castle to see its murals from the 14th century, the underground vaults, formal great halls and the original bedroom from the Bernese period. The entire complex consists of 25 buildings and three courtyards protected by two ring walls. So plan some time here for a sightseeing break and preferably reserve tickets in advance to avoid having to stand in a long queue.

Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, a World Heritage Site

Just before Lausanne you'll pass by the Lavaux Vineyard Terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with magnificent views of the surrounding area. The first terraces were laid out by monks on the steep slopes of Lake Geneva as early as the 11th century. This wine-growing region stretches over 40 kilometres, making it one of the largest wine-producing regions in Switzerland. You can explore it comfortably in the blue and yellow Train des Vignes , a tourist train that winds its way from Vevey through the vines up to Puidoux-Chexbres. You can taste what grows here in the small towns: practically every cellar offers wine tastings. Narrow streets and typical winegrowers' houses dominate villages such as Saint-Saphorin with the Auberge de l'Onde brasserie. And to really acquire a taste for it, visit one of the charming inns – after preferably parking your motorhome at Camping de la Pichette or Camping de Moratel .

Sightseeing and culture in Lausanne

The second largest city on Lake Geneva, Lausanne is best known as the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee. The Savoy Alps rise impressively on the French shores opposite. The beautiful Old Town is mainly car-free and the only Swiss city to have a metro. The medieval town centre is full of small alleys with cafés and boutiques, overtowered by the cathedral in the middle. After all, Lausanne was a diocese for more than 1,000 years. Also worth seeing are the Mediterranean-style parks, the art district and magnificent palace hotels such as the Hôtel de l'Angleterre where Lord Byron once stayed. If you want to try some local cuisine, Papet Vaudois (leeks and potatoes with sausages) is a popular regional speciality.

Where to stay in Lausanne

The Camping de Vidy campsite is located very centrally and also offers motorhome pitches in the outdoor area for anyone passing through. It's a great base for exploring most sights on foot or by bike. The  TCS Camping Morges  campsite lies directly on Lake Geneva and is about eleven kilometres from Lausanne.

Stage #6: From Lausanne to Neuchâtel, approx. 165 km

We continue from Lake Geneva into the hilly landscape of the Jura Vaudois Nature Park, which stretches from the La Dôle summit to the medieval monastery town of Romainmôtier. In the park you'll find the Orbe and Nozon Gorges, the Jura crest between Col de la Givrine and Col du Mollendruz mountain passes/Dent de Vaulion mountain, the southern foot of the Jura, the Mont Risoux massif and the Vallée de Joux. Lonely forests, mystical moors, rugged karst rocks, clearings and pasture landscapes surrounded by typical dry stone walls with the equally typical chalets (alpine huts) offer a lot of space for hikers and mountain bikers. If you want to be physically active, you'll be spoiled for choice. And even if you just want to make a quick stop with your motorhome, you'll frequently be able to enjoy sweeping panoramas from the Jura mountains and the southern foot of the Jura over Lake Geneva to the highest Alps.

Watchmaking in the Vallée de Joux

The Vallée de Joux lies at an altitude of about 1,000 m in the north of the Jura Vaudois Nature Park. It's a small world of its own, nestled along with Lac de Joux and a long watchmaking tradition between two Jura mountains. You can enjoy a fantastic panorama from Mont Tendre – at 1,679 m the highest peak in the Swiss Jura – over Lake Geneva and the Savoy Alps to the Bernese Oberland. The Lac de Joux at 1,000 m altitude is the largest body of water in the Jura massif. A regional railway line runs along the lake and through pine forests and Jura moorland from Vallorbe to Le Sentier and Le Brassus – two villages that have been the centre of the Swiss watch industry for almost 300 years and worth visiting, if only to admire this handicraft.

Relaxing at Lake Neuchâtel

38 km long and 8 km wide, Lake Neuchâtel is the largest lake in Switzerland. And on its northwestern shore lies the largest city in the region – Neuchâtel, known for its yellow sandstone buildings. The medieval town centre has many cafés and restaurants, shopping opportunities, theatres and museums, while the beach promenade is perfect for taking a stroll. The city's landmarks, visible from afar, include the Castle and the Collegiate church, a Gothic reformed church from the Middle Ages. The Laténium is the largest archaeological museum in Switzerland, with more than 50,000 years of regional history on display. You should also visit the Place des Halles (Market Place) and the L'Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall). If you're interested in art and literature, head to the Centre Dürrenmatt where the permanent exhibition showcases the paintings of the writer Friedrich Dürrenmatt in relation to his literary works.

Camping and parking in Neuchâtel

Vineyards dominate the northern shore of the lake. There are campsites outside of Neuchâtel, roughly 15 minutes from the city, e.g.  Camping Paradis-Plage in Colombier to the west of Neuchatel or  Camping La Tène  to the east at the foot of the Chaumont mountain and right by Lake Neuchâtel. There are motorhome pitches at Euro-Relais at the port of Saint-Blaise  and just  outside of Neuchâtel  above the city at the  Hotel-Restaurant La Croisée  in Boudevilliers.

Stage #7: From Neuchâtel to Bern, approx. 240 km

This is the stage where Switzerland shows its abundance of water and medieval buildings. The route goes from Lake Neuchâtel to Lake Murten, Lake Schiffenen, Lake of Gruyère, Lake Thun, Lake Brienz and finally along the Aare to the capital Bern. But our first stopover is at the small, medieval town of Murten on the southeastern shore of the lake of the same name. Located on the border between German-speaking and French-speaking Switzerland, this city has retained its original character with its picturesque Old Town streets, cosy arcades and wonderful lakeside promenade. After a stroll through the city, why not take to the lake – you can even go on a trip through canals to Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Biel. If you're feeling active, there are 170 km of bike trails and 90 km of slopes for inline skaters to take advantage of. A popular bike tour around Lake Murten takes a good two hours. And if that's not enough, you can admire tropical plants and animals in the Papiliorama and Nocturama gardens nearby.

The Gothic period and Middle Ages in Fribourg and Gruyères

If you want to surround yourself with amazing medieval architecture, head to Fribourg. It's one of the largest medieval cities in Switzerland and you'll find more than 200 unique Gothic façades from the 15th century in its Old Town. The most impressive building, however, is the Cathedral of Fribourg with its beautiful stained glass windows and 74-metre-high tower, from which you can enjoy a beautiful panoramic view. An old funicular railway will take you from the Neuveville district (Lower Town) to the pedestrianised areas in the Upper Town. The town of Gruyères doesn't seem to have changed since the Middle Ages. The fortified Castle of Gruyères from the 13th century alone is impressive with its magnificent exhibitions, knight's hall, towers, battlements, defensive walls, garden and stunning panorama of the foothills of the Alps. And the small, car-free town itself offers one photo spot after another, after which you can treat yourself to a delicious cheese fondue or another cheese speciality for lunch.

A scenic road and the St Beatus Caves on Lake Thun

We continune from Gruyères via Zweisimmen to Spiez on Lake Thun where fantastic panoramas on the journey along the lakeside road await you. Make sure your camera is always within reach. Another highlight: high above Lake Thun near Interlaken lies a unique cave system in the St Beatus Caves. A well-developed and illuminated path lets you explore about one kilometre of the Niederhorn massif with stalactites and stalagmites formed over millions of years. There's also a cave museum that you can visit. The temperature is a constant 8-10 °C all year round, so make sure you take a warm jacket with you. There's paid parking near the bus stop close to the St Beatus Caves. If you're staying nearby, it's best to take the 21 bus to the St Beatus Caves (Beatushöhlen) stop . Then it's just a short walk through the forest and across some bridges before you can start taking photos of a waterfall from inside the cave.

A medieval finale in Bern

Founded in 1191, the capital Bern is the final stop of this stage. You'll find miles of arcades, Renaissance fountains with statues, a cathedral, largely preserved sandstone façades and a unique roofscape here. This town is one of the greatest testimonies to medieval town planning in Europe and a positive example of how a medieval urban structure can be preserved and yet adapted to also serve contemporary needs and functions.

Campsites near Bern

You can stay at the TCS Camping Bern Eymatt  campsite or at the more centrally located Camping Eichholz  campsite.

Stage #8: From Bern to Zurich, approx. 320 km

The world-famous Emmental Valley is a must on any trip across Switzerland – as is the cheese produced there. Many tourists like to visit the dairy centre with cheesemaking demonstrations. If it's too crowded, you can stop off at any of the villages and towns along the road through the Emmental Valley and treat yourself to some delicious cheese. The tour continues through the Emmental Valley and then through Entlebuch, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, which has amazing huge moor landscapes, rugged karst fields and wild mountain streams. If you want to stretch your legs, choose one of the numerous hiking trails and go for it. Or you can drive a little further until just before Seengen and visit Hallwyl Castle, one of the most beautiful moated castles in Switzerland whose imposing castle complex is spread over three islands on Lake Hallwil.

Stopover in Lucerne on Lake Lucerne

Or you can continue straight on to the town of Lucerne on Lake Lucerne. This city is regarded as the gateway to Central Switzerland and has so much to offer that you could easily spend several days here exploring it all. A popular photo spot is the covered, medieval Chapel Bridge with gable paintings, which is considered to be one of the oldest covered wooden bridges in Europe. Another landmark is the Musegg Wall (Museggmauer), which apart from one tower has been preserved in its original fortified form. Moreover, historic houses decorated with frescoes in the car-free Old Town surround picturesque squares such as the Weinmarkt (Wine Market). The dying lion, carved into a rock in a small park to commemorate the Swiss Guards who fell in the Tuileries Palace in Paris in 1792, is one of Switzerland's most famous monuments. And stretching 112 m, the Bourbaki Panorama in Lucerne is one of the few surviving monumental circular panoramic paintings in the world. We don't want to forget Lucerne's local mountain, the Pilatus, which can offer a panoramic view of 73 Alpine peaks when the weather's good. You can get to the mountain from Lucerne by gondola and cable car or from Alpnachstad by the steepest cog railway in the world. So you can tour the area by paddle steamer, cog railway, cable car and bus, and even combine any of these options with a hike – it might just be a good idea to plan more time here to enjoy as many modes of transport as possible.

Campsites near Lucerne

You can spend the night at the  Camping International Lido Luzern  campsite or at the  TCS Camping Luzern  campsite in Horw.

Swiss Myths – The Rütli Meadow and Tell Chapel

Two of the best-known Swiss tourist attractions can be found right at the end of the Grand Tour of Switzerland. You could also think about taking an excursion boat from Lucerne to get there, therefore, avoiding the stress of looking for a parking space as well as not having to take the not-so-cheap car ferry from Gersau to Beckenried where a motorhome with just one person costs as much as CHF 30. Anyway, our next stopover is at Rütliwiese (Rütli Meadow). This takes us back to the founding of Switzerland because this is where the oath of allegiance forming the Swiss Confederation is said to have been taken in 1291. A one-hour hike on the Swiss Path  will take you from Seelisberg to the Rütli Meadow; you'll need to be somewhat fit as the trail is steep and strenuous. The last stop on the Grand Tour of Switzerland is the Tell Chapel near Sisikon, which was built in 1879/80 and is decorated with four magnificent frescoes by the painter Ernst Stückelberg from Basel. The frescoes depict the Rütli Oath , the Shooting of the Apple , Tell's Leap and Gessler's Death in Hohle Gasse . The chapel here on Lake Uri marks the site where William Tell is said to have leapt out of Gessler's boat to save himself from the bailiff. You can get to the Tell Chapel by boat or on foot from the car park at Hotel Tellsplatte. Incidentally, the largest glockenspiel in Switzerland can be found above the Tell Chapel where it chimes on the hour, heralding the end of our Grand Tour of Switzerland as our journey now takes us back to Zurich where our trip started.

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Inspiration Calendar

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• Around the Churfirsten This moderately challenging loop takes you to the Wildhaus ski resort along a minor, little-known road and skirts magnificent Lake Walen. Learn more
• Donkey trekking The first item on this special walk is “donkey knowledge” before everybody prepares their “own” donkey. Learn more
• La Gruyère The Gruyère region, with its rolling green landscape and the peaks of the Fribourg Pre-Alps, is home to the world-famous Gruyère cheese. Learn more
• HR Giger Museum As tourists savor a fondue outside on the square, the surreal works of H.R. Giger come alive inside the Château St. Germain castle. Learn more
• Fribourg Region The Pays de Fribourg is somewhat a world turned upside down: cold, limestone summits are found in the south and mild, even Mediterranean-like lakesides in the north. Learn more
• Viamala Gorge The Viamala is full of history and stories. 2000 years ago, the Romans passed through the gorge. Learn more
• Canyoning in the Viamala Gorge The tour is led by experienced guides who assist the visitors with this nature adventure.
• CabriO Stanserhorn Enjoying the wind in one’s face and the perfect view. Learn more
• Mountain railways The journey to the top is an attraction in itself, be it onboard a cogwheel train, a cable car or the world’s steepest funicular. Learn more
• Hiking and Äscher cliff restaurant Nowhere else in Switzerland is the change from the hilly landscape of Central Switzerland to the craggy alpine scenery so abrupt or impressive as in the Alpstein area. Learn more
• Ebenalp and Wildkirchli Already Neanderthal men were here where today a cableway sweeps visitors up. Learn more
• Montreux Riviera The town of Montreux nestles in a sheltered Lake Geneva bay, surrounded by vineyards and against the breathtaking backdrop of snow-covered Alps. Learn more
• Bern Cathedral The Bern Münster Cathedral of St. Vincent is the most impressive late-Gothic building in the city. Learn more
• City breaks City breaks are a brief escape from everyday life – and our Swiss Boutique Towns are perfect for the occasion. Learn more
• Bern Not many cities have managed to retain their historic features quite as successfully as Bern, the capital of Switzerland. Learn more
• Dream route Airolo - Gletsch From Airolo, the historic pass road snakes around hairpin bends up to the Gotthard. Learn more
• Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch The Jungfrau-Aletsch Region was chosen as the first Alpine UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site in 2001. Learn more
• Glaciers Venture out onto eternal ice and explore our country’s many glaciers. Learn more
• Oberhofen Castle - Living Museum and Park The castle, which dates back to the early 13th century, houses a living museum. Learn more
• Lake Thun Lake Thun is especially popular amongst sailors and windsurfers who appreciate the prevailing light breeze. Learn more
• Swimming in the Rhine through the historic old town Thousands of people cool off by leaping into the refreshing water during the warmer months of the year. Learn more
• Basel Home to 40 museums, the city of culture for connoisseurs has the highest concentration of museums in the country. Learn more
• Nationalpark Bike-Marathon In four one-day stages you experience the unique countryside on the National Park bike marathon route. Learn more
• Swiss parcs The Swiss parks are not just great spots for rest and relaxation, but also play a key role in the preservation of natural habitats. Learn more
• Geneva With its humanitarian tradition and cosmopolitan flair, the European seat of the UNO and headquarters of the Red Cross is known as the «capital of peace». Learn more
• Jet d'Eau In Geneva harbour, known as “La Rade”, this water jet up to 140 metres high is a real eye-catcher. Learn more
• Appenzell The village of Appenzell and the Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden are situated in a singularly beautiful landscape of rolling hills. Learn more
• Appenzeller® Cheese The country’s spiciest cheese has been made by hand in the same way for more than 700 years. Learn more
• Alpine Panorama Route The Alpine Panorama Route crosses the northern Alpine foreland with its many passes and gorges, tradition-rich culture, settlements and mountain farms. Learn more
• Hallwilersee Like the Baldeggersee lake a little further south, Lake Hallwil is located in the Seetal, a north-south valley that leads from the Lucerne hinterland to Lenzburg. Learn more
• Monte Generoso At the southern end of Lake Lugano is the 1,701 metre high Monte Generoso. Learn more
• Via Albula/Bernina Through moorland and Alpine pastures to the Berninapass. One highlight follows another. Learn more
• Autumn The forests reveal a wonderful palette of colours, leaves crunch underfoot and you can already imagine the wonderful seasonal dishes that await. Learn more
• Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces The natural, cultural and culinary highlights of this area are definitely well worth a visit. Learn more
• Jura Crest Trail The undisputed highlight of this tour across an extensive grazing area is Mont Tendre, the highest point in the Swiss Jura. Learn more
• Zug Zyt Tower, which offers a magnificent view of the Old Town, the Zug Mountain and Lake Zug, is the city's landmark. Learn more
• Zug Castle Museum With its many nooks and crannies, Zug Castle has been home to the museum of cultural history for the city and the Canton of Zug since 1983. Learn more
• Creux du Van – Natural Spectacle Impressive 160 meter high vertical rock faces surround a four kilometer long and over one kilometer wide valley basin. Learn more
• Val de Travers The Val de Tavers is characterised by the watch industry and extends from Lake Neuenburg across the Jura all the way to the French border. Learn more
• LAC Arte e Cultura The building by Ticino architect Ivano Gianola offers visitors art across 2500 square metres Learn more
• Lugano With Mediterranean flair, Lugano offers all the advantages of a world-class city, combined with the cachet of a small town. Learn more
• Art & culture Switzerland is brimming with cultural surprises. Learn more
• Fribourg / Freiburg Over 200 unique Gothic facades from the 15th century impart incomparable medieval charm to the Old Town. Learn more
• Cathedral of St. Nicholas Climb the 368 steps and you will be rewarded with an unforgettable view of the town of Fribourg. Learn more
• Val Calnègia It can only be reached on foot, but the reward in the form of a submerged creek, unusual buildings and spectacular scenery is well worth the effort. Learn more
• Rochers-de-Naye: mountain with a view No two worlds could contrast more than those at the beginning and the end of the thrilling train ride from lively, sophisticated Montreux to the austere summit of Rochers-de-Naye.
• Schwarzsee The vacation region around the Black Lake and in the Eastern Freiburg Pre-Alps (Voralpen) is well-known for its authenticity and its wild, romantic natural landscape. Learn more
• Zurich The cosmopolitan city by the water combines creative urban life with nature in all its glory. Learn more
• Zürich West In the last 10 years the industrial wasteland to the west of Zurich has grown into a new bright lights district. Learn more
• Patinoire du Flon Lausanne The ice rink in Flon is a great place for outdoor ice skating. Learn more
• Europe’s highest suspension bridge The suspension bridge stretches spectacularly from one rock face to the other. Learn more
• Hikes to suspension bridges Thrills over the abyss Learn more
• Freestyle Academy In Europe’s first Freestyle Indoor Base, jumps and tricks can now be practiced all year. Learn more
• rockresort From bed to board. Learn more
• Panorama view Sweeping views extend from part of Lake Lucerne as far as the Black Forest. Learn more
• Gstaad Gstaad attracts a charming mix of visitors. Learn more
• Gstaad Saanenland ... ... a highlight on the Grand Tour of Switzerland. Learn more
• Snow and piste report Daily updated information on 250 winter sports stations. Learn more
• Matterhorn – Symbol for Switzerland The Matterhorn and Switzerland are inseparably linked to each other. Learn more
• Zermatt The vacation destination is a car-free zone and has preserved its original character. Learn more
• Bernina Express Fresh mountain air and stunning views from the Albula and Bernina rail lines. Learn more
• Train, Bus, Boat – Grand Train Tour The way of travelling that is as exciting as it is relaxing. Learn more
• St. Gallen The compact metropolis of eastern Switzerland between Lake Constance and Appenzellerland with a charming, traffic-free old town. Learn more
• St. Gallen Abbey District In St. Gallen you'll find history at every turn. Learn more
• Saas-Fee 13 four thousand meter peaks surround the glacier village, which is located at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level. Learn more
• Jungfraujoch On the Top of Europe: A visit to the Jungfraujoch puts a jewel in the crown of any visit to Switzerland. Learn more
• Crans-Montana Sun-drenched plateau high above the Rhone Valley. Learn more
• Albert Heim Hut The views of the Galenstock and the crystalline rock-climbing routes are stunning.
• Rigi Kaltbad Swiss Quality Hotel Enjoy the hospitality in an inspiring alpine setting. Learn more
• Highland hike from Rigi-Kaltbad to Urmiberg The highland tour from Kaltbad via the Scheidegg to Urmiberg can only be described as absolute top!
• Lucerne Gateway to central Switzerland. Learn more
• Switzerland’s cities ... ... want to seduce you into discovering something new or experiencing something old in a new way. Learn more
• Chapel Bridge and Water Tower At the outflow of the river Reuss, a historic needle dam, built in 1860, regulates the water level of the lake. Learn more
• Giessbach Falls The Giessbach brook tumbles in 14 stages, over a length of 500 meters and out of the high valleys of the Faulhorn area down to Lake Brienz. Learn more
• Waterfalls You can feel the sheer force of the water as it thunders down into the depths. Learn more
• Swiss Historic Hotels Unique accommodation options from an unpretentious historic guesthouse to the luxurious grand hotel. Learn more
• Emmentaler AOP The king of Swiss cheese. Learn more
• Scenic nature Thanks to its unique geographical location at the heart of Europe, Switzerland is endowed with an extraordinary variety of scenic countryside. Learn more
• Rhine falls circular route The Rhine Falls are the centrepiece of this circular hike. Learn more
• The Rhine Falls By ship one can reach castles, the Rhine Falls Basin and even the mighty rock in the midst of the waterfall. Learn more
• Oeschinensee – gondola rail One of the most attractive and imposing mountain lakes, namely Oeschinensee, is reached by gondola rail from Kandersteg. Learn more
• Kandersteg Kandersteg is located at 1,200 meters in the Bernese Oberland and offers a fantastic view of the Blümlisalp Massif. Learn more
• Rivers and lakes Discover the most beautiful lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls and gorges in our country. Learn more
• Chäserrugg – and the Churfirsten From Chäserrugg, the mightiest of the seven peaks of the Churfirsten mountain range, you can enjoy unsurpassed views into six countries.
• Wildhaus Nestled between the mighty Säntis massif and the seven Churfirsten peaks, the resorts of Alt St. Johann, Unterwasser and Wildhaus are among the highest-lying municipalities in Toggenburg. Learn more
• Ruinaulta - Switzerland's Grand Canyon 10,000 years ago, 10 billion cubic metres of rock thundered into the valley. Learn more
• On a raft through the Swiss Grand Canyon The Rhine gorge is among Switzerland’s most beautiful locations for rafting. Learn more
• Brissago The lowest and oldest part of the village is clustered around the beautiful Renaissance church of St. Peter and Paul, surrounded by centuries-old cypresses. Learn more
• Brissago - Ronco - Ascona Strong fragrance of mimosas, well-tended Palm Gardens and simply unsurpassable views of the deep-blue Lago (Lake) Maggiore.

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• Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park
• Wasserauen Ebenalp
• Aletsch Arena
• Monte Generoso and Valle di Muggio
• Albulatal / Bergün
• Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
• Jura & Three-Lakes
• Fribourg / Freiburg
• Stoos – Fronalpstock

Jungfraujoch

• Crans-Montana
• Neuhausen am Rheinfall
• Unterwasser
• Brissago Island
• Wildhaus Wildhaus
• Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park
• Viamala Viamala
• Stans Stans
• Wasserauen Ebenalp Wasserauen Ebenalp
• Montreux Montreux
• Airolo Airolo
• Aletsch Arena Aletsch Arena
• Basel Basel
• Zernez Zernez
• Geneva Geneva
• Appenzell Appenzell
• Seengen Seengen
• Monte Generoso and Valle di Muggio Monte Generoso and Valle di Muggio
• Albulatal / Bergün Albulatal / Bergün
• Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
• Jura & Three-Lakes Jura & Three-Lakes
• Noiraigue Noiraigue
• Lugano Lugano
• Fribourg / Freiburg Fribourg / Freiburg
• S. Carlo S. Carlo
• Veytaux Veytaux
• Schwarzsee Schwarzsee
• Zurich Zurich
• Lausanne Lausanne
• Engelberg Engelberg
• Stoos – Fronalpstock Stoos – Fronalpstock
• Gstaad Gstaad
• Zermatt Zermatt
• Engadin Engadin
• St. Gallen St. Gallen
• Saas-Fee Saas-Fee
• Jungfraujoch Jungfraujoch
• Crans-Montana Crans-Montana
• Andermatt Andermatt
• Lucerne Lucerne
• Brienz Brienz
• Emmental Emmental
• Neuhausen am Rheinfall Neuhausen am Rheinfall
• Kandersteg Kandersteg
• Unterwasser Unterwasser
• Flims Flims
• Brissago Island Brissago Island
• Jun Wildhaus
• Jun Gruyère Pays-d'Enhaut Regional Nature Park
• Jun Viamala
• Jul Wasserauen Ebenalp
• Jul Montreux
• Aug Aletsch Arena
• Sep Appenzell
• Sep Seengen
• Sep Monte Generoso and Valle di Muggio
• Oct Albulatal / Bergün
• Oct Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces
• Oct Jura & Three-Lakes
• Nov Noiraigue
• Nov Fribourg / Freiburg
• Nov S. Carlo
• Dec Veytaux
• Dec Schwarzsee
• Dec Lausanne
• Jan Engelberg
• Jan Stoos – Fronalpstock
• Feb Zermatt
• Feb Engadin
• Feb St. Gallen
• Feb Saas-Fee
• Mar Jungfraujoch
• Mar Crans-Montana
• Mar Andermatt
• Apr Lucerne
• Apr Emmental
• Apr Neuhausen am Rheinfall
• May Kandersteg
• May Unterwasser
• May Brissago Island

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• Hallwyl Castle (Schloss Hallwyl)

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Recommendation winter, winter holidays, wellness & spa hotels, winter sports resorts, premium panorama trains, winter in the city, matterhorn (4,478 a.s.l.) - symbol for switzerland.

The Matterhorn and Switzerland are inseparably linked to each other. The pyramid shaped colossus of a mountain, which is very difficult to climb, is said to be the most-photographed mountain in the world. The Klein-Matterhorn ("Little Matterhorn"), which can be reached via a funicular, lies adjacent to the Matterhorn.

The Rhine Falls

To stand high above Europe's largest waterfall, feeling the roar and vibration of the water over one's entire body - this can be experienced at the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen. By ship one can reach castles, the Rhine Falls Basin and even the mighty rock in the midst of the waterfall.

On the Top of Europe: A visit to the Jungfraujoch puts a jewel in the crown of any visit to Switzerland.

Château de Chillon

Chillon Castle is located on a rock on the banks of Lake Geneva. The water castle is the most visited historic building in Switzerland. For nearly four centuries Chillon was the residence and profitable toll station of the Counts of Savoy.

Creux du Van

"Creux du Van", a natural rock arena of immense proportions, is located at the border of the cantons of Neuenburg and Vaud. Impressive 160 meter high vertical rock faces surround a four kilometer long and over one kilometer wide valley basin.

Aletsch - the Largest Alpine Glacier

Incredibly immense, incredibly beautiful: the Large Aletsch Glacier is the Alps' mightiest ice flow. And the most popular, for it is easily accessible and is ideally situated for extensive hikes, winter sports and special nature excursions.

Swiss Museum of Transportation

Switzerland’s most visited museum showcases the past, present and future of mobility with interactive and varied exhibits. In addition to the museum, unique attractions found nowhere else in Switzerland, such as the film theatre, planetarium, Swiss Chocolate Adventure and Media World, are just waiting to be discovered.

10,000 years ago, 100 billion cubic metres of rock thundered into the valley. Known as the Flims Rockslide, this event created the Ruinaulta, a canyon-like gorge in the Anterior Rhine Valley that can be reached on foot, over water, by train or by bike.

Zurich – for inquisitive urban explorers

Expert tips, waterside hikes.

What could be lovelier than a hike to a lake, along a river or even near a glacier? Water is a constant companion on these nine hikes. Immerse yourself.

Bicycle tours by water

What could be better than letting your gaze wander over the water while you pedal? With its many lakes and rivers, our country offers various routes where you can be sure that the refreshment you long for is just a stone's throw away.

Swiss mountain railways take visitors to magnificent views as well as delightful and relaxing stays.

Switzerland is a paradise for hikes. Here you will find inspiration and information on the many hiking options.

Switzerland’s waterfalls

We not only have fascinating lakes and rivers, but impressive waterfalls as well – one of which is the biggest in Europe, the Rhine Falls. You can feel the sheer force of the water as it thunders down into the depths.

Open airs, festivals and parties in summer

Open airs, festivals and parties in the Swiss summer are a mix of top international acts, up-coming artists and a unique experience amid picturesque backdrops. From electronic music to rock and pop to jazz and folk, Swiss festivals offer something for every taste.

• 8 Jun Biel's Running Days Biel / Bienne, 08.06.2024
• until 9 Jun World Heritage Days 08.06. - 09.06.2024
• until 9 Jun 11. Lenzerheide Motor Classics 2024 Lenzerheide, 07.06. - 09.06.2024
• until 9 Jun «Heirassa Festival» Weggis, 06.06. - 09.06.2024
• until 6 Jul Botanica
• until 16 Jun International Sculpture Symposium Morges, 05.06. - 16.06.2024
• 9 Jun Roman Day Vindonissa Windisch, 09.06.2024
• From 9 Jun Tour de Suisse 09.06. - 18.06.2024

Scuol Biking holidays National Park Bike-Marathon

Price per person in double room valid: 08.06.2024 - 31.12.2024

Hôtel des Horlogers, Le Brassus Treat yourself to a break

Price per double room valid: 08.06.2024 - 31.10.2024

Casinotheater, Winterthur Seminar package

Without overnight stay valid: 08.06.2024 - 31.12.2024

Hotel Restaurant Baseltor, Solothurn Discover Solothurn

per single room valid: 08.06.2024 - 30.08.2024

Hotel Chesa Rosatsch, Celerina Intensive Autumnal colours

Price per person in double room valid: 27.10.2024 - 27.11.2024

Montreux Cycling holidays: Lakes Route Lake Geneva - Lucern

Basel cycling holidays jura-route, tschuggen grand hotel, arosa stay for 4 nights, pay for 3.

Price per double room valid: 28.06.2024 - 08.09.2024

Dorfhus Gupf, Rehetobel 3 for 2

Price per person in double room valid: 08.06.2024 - 31.08.2024

Schloss Wartegg, Rorschacherberg Pleasure-packet Grand Tour

Price per person in superior room valid: 08.06.2024 - 31.07.2024

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Thun Old Town

Welcome to Switzerland Travel Centre! You are welcome to contact us by e-mail or by phone on +44 207 420 4900 .

Grand Tour of Switzerland - Wellness

4 days / 3 nights.

Embark on a relaxing drive along the Grand Tour of Switzerland route and experience an extraordinary 4-day wellness journey. From a luxury wellness oasis high above Lake Geneva the route takes your through the beautiful Simmental into the Bernese Oberland and on to Lake Thun.  

• 5-star luxury spa with stunning views
• Recreation & relaxation on Lake Thun

«Wellness & nostalgia - these two regions could not be more different. Nevertheless, you will find plenty of relaxation in both places. »

Your itinerary.

• In the vineyards of Vevey
• Thun on Lake Thun
• Biel in summer

Arrival Vevey

Arrival at the 5* Spa Hotel Mirador Kempsinki high above Vevey. Combine your arrival with a visit to the Charlie Chaplin Museum or a visit to a winery in Lavaux. Overnight stay in Vevey

Highlights:  Unesco World Heritage Lavaux, free activities with Montreux Riviera Card, Charlie Chaplin Museum, wine tasting

Vevey - Thun

Enjoy the unique view over Lac Leman and let yourself be pampered in the spa. On the short stage to the Bernese Oberland, it is worth stopping in Gruyere, Broc and Gstaad. Overnight stay in Thun.

Highlights:  Gruyère Castle, Maison Cailler in Broc, Gstaad, Simmental

Relax in the spa of your hotel Deltapark near Thun or during a boat trip on Lake Thun in the direction of Thun or Interlaken. Do you want to go higher? Then the Niesen is close by or the majestic mountains of the Jungfrau Region. Overnight stay in Thun.

Highlights:  Deltapark Vitalresort, boat trips on Lake Thun, mountain excursions to the Niesen or Jungfrau region, Beatus Caves

Departure Thun

An extra day to relax and unwind, with a view of Lake Thun. No matter which direction you set off in, the routes along Lake Thun and Lake Brienz offer a unique backdrop.

Highlights:  Nature pictures from the region

• Overnight stays including breakfast in Montreux/Vevey and in Thun
• “Grand Tour of Switzerland” Road map of Hallwag
• “Grand Tour of Switzerland” guidebook
• Swiss Coupon Pass  with "Eat and Experience" - 2 for 1 offers with a total value of up to CHF 4,500
• Flights not included – see Flight Options 
• Car rental not included – add during online booking process 
• From price applies per person in a 3-star double room, exluding flights & car rental
• Booking period: all year round
• Travel period: 01.04. - 28.10.2024
• Price example calculated on 01.09.2023 for 01.04.2024

Good to know

• Travel documents are sent by email and in exceptional cases by post.
• Additional nights bookable in Montreux/Vevey and Thun
• Additional activities bookable
• Where applicable hotel parking charges are payable locally 
• If you use your own car, a highway vignette is required. This can be purchased directly  online  as an e-vignette.
• Car rental can be added during the online booking process  
• Recommended travel time:  May - October
• Would you like to make someone happy? Why not offer them the trip as a gift ? 

Flight Options

Our in-house flights experts will be happy to offer advice and to book the most convenient flight for your trip.

Your flights will be covered by our package booking conditions and will be protected under our ATOL license. We will charge £35 per person for this flight booking service. 

Alternatively book your flights directly with Swiss - our preferred partner for flights to Switzerland.

Speak to an expert

We are both the official and largest tour operator for holidays to Switzerland and have been in operation for over 30 years with ABTA and ATOL protection. Please give us a call and we will be happy to go through your plans. Call  +44 207 420 4900  to speak with us or send us your travel request via  [email protected] .

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