Tour the top highlights of Switzerland, from its cities to mighty alpine region, on this 10-day road trip. You’ll journey at your own pace, spending your days as you wish whether immersed in the Swiss culture or nature. Along the way you’re sure to be awed by the dramatic natural landscape of the Alps, with its lush valleys, crystal-clear lakes, and snow-capped peaks.
Just a few of the majestic sights you’ll take in during your trip.
A day-by-day plan to guide your journey.
After landing in Zurich, make your way to your accommodation in the city centre. You could opt to take a taxi or use public transport, but for a more direct and comfortable ride, we will be happy to organise a private airport transfer for you.
If you arrive early, spend the day exploring Switzerland’s largest city at your leisure. You could stroll around the Old Town with its cobblestone streets and charming architecture. It is home to many historic churches including Grossmünster and Fraumünster. You could also immerse yourself in art and history at local museums. Or head up the Lindenhof hill to enjoy views over the city centre and the river Limmat.
Spend the night in Zurich.
Today you start your road trip around Switzerland! Pick up your rental car and head for Bern, the small yet charming Swiss capital. Before you set off for Bern, we recommend a detour north to the magnificent Rhine Falls, by the border with Germany. Pass by the town of Stein am Rhein before stopping at the falls, which are some of the most powerful ones in Europe.
In Bern, you will find a city full of cultural and historical landmarks, with a heritage dating back to the 12th century. The medieval Old Town, or “Altstadt”, is well-preserved and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a stroll here and you could spot the Parliament Building, Clock Tower (“Zytglogge”) and Gothic Cathedral of Bern.
Spend the night in Bern.
Driving distance: 122 km / 75 miles
Driving distance including the detour: 242 km / 150 miles
After breakfast, drive to the scenic Lake Geneva, or as the locals call it “Lac Léman”, the home of the modern Olympics. You will be able to pass the charming town of Neuchâtel along the way, often referred to as the centre of the Swiss watch industry. Then stop in Creux du Van, the rocky ravine at the heart of this nature reserve formed during the ice age periods. It is really impressive with its 150-metre (500-foot) cliff face and width of 1,400 metres (4,600 feet).
Later, you’ll arrive in the French-speaking city of Lausanne, where you will spend the night. You’ll find the historic centre very walkable and full of cobblestone streets and colourful buildings. Make sure to check out the 12th-century Gothic cathedral. If you decide to walk the 224 steps up the bell tower, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the city, with the lake and mountains as a backdrop.
Spend the night in Lausanne.
Driving distance: 145 km / 90 miles
Today you leave the scenic Lake Geneva behind to drive into the Alps. You will first journey through the tranquil town of Montreux, where you could visit the medieval Château de Chillon castle. Then drive through the beautiful Rhone Valley heading towards the town of Sion, with its 2 hilltop fortresses. After a stop to admire the historic buildings and green scenery, you will continue to Zermatt and get your first glimpse of the Matterhorn, the symbol of Switzerland.
Spend the night in Zermatt area.
Driving distance: 171 km / 106 miles
This is the perfect day to explore the spectacular surroundings of Zermatt. Why not hop on a gondola ride to take in the best views of the Matterhorn? Another fun adventure is the 30-minute cog railway up the 3,000-metre (nearly 10,000-foot) Gornergrat peak. It offers unforgettable views of the Matterhorn and here you’ll find plenty of hiking trails to enjoy and you can even ski 365 days a year.
Spend another night in Zermatt area.
Continue your drive through the Alps today all the way to Grindelwald. En route you can stop at charming towns in the Thurnersee (Lake Thun) region like Spiez, Thun and Sigriswil. Then cross Interlaken to arrive at the alpine village of Grindelwald, from where you’ll have a view of the notorious Mt. Eiger as well as the higher peaks of Mönch and Jungfrau. This is an ideal area to wander along trails, either in the town or in the mountains.
Spend the night in the Interlaken/Grindelwald area.
Driving distance: 129 km / 80 miles
You have the whole day to explore more of the thrilling Grindelwald area. There are so many opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors. Hike up to the Rosenlaui glacier gorge. From here you could take a cable car or train up to one of the various mountaintops, such as the Jungfraujoch – known as the “Top of Europe”. You’ll be at 3,454 metres (more than 11,000 feet) above sea level with a view of the longest alpine glacier.
A visit to the Lauterbrunnen valley will offer you a chance to see the majestic 300-metre-high (1,000-foot-high) Staubbach waterfall. Or you can take a cable car to the top of Schlithorn mountain, offering great views of the Bernese Alps.
Spend another night in the Interlaken/Grindelwald area.
Today you drive to Lucerne, a picturesque city set on the shore of Lake Lucerne. Here you can spend your afternoon strolling around the city, enjoying its stunning medieval architecture. Don’t miss Kapellbrücke (“Chapel Bridge”), the landmark wooden bridge built in 1333, connecting the Old Town to the other side of the river. Other highlights include the Musegg city wall with its 9 towers, the Jesuit Church and the Lion Monument. This sculpture was carved into rock by Icelandic artist Bertel Thorvaldsen and dedicated to the Swiss Guards who died during the French Revolution.
Spend the night in Lucerne.
Driving distance: 86 km / 53 miles
Before you head back to Zurich, you have one last option for yet another gorgeous alpine view. Head to Kriens to take the gondola and cable car to the top of Mount Pilatus, at more than 2,000 metres (7,000 feet) above sea level. You’ll glide up the mountain enjoying sweeping views over the Alps.
Then you’ll follow the scenic drive along the shores of Lake Lucerne, taking you to small villages with a backdrop of green hillsides. You could also hop on a boat tour on the lake to give you a different perspective of the charming surroundings. Your road trip ends on your return to Zurich, where you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure.
Spend the night in Zurich
Driving distance: 53 km / 32 miles
Today your adventure in Switzerland comes to an end. To reach the airport, hop in a taxi or the train from the city centre in time for your departure flight. We could also arrange a private transfer for your convenience.
If you fly later in the day, spend your last few moments enjoying Zurich. You could go shopping, buy some last-minute souvenirs, relax in a café or visit one more sight in the city.
Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.
Don’t worry, we’ve got this covered.
Everything you need to know about this tour before you book
We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this self-drive tour in Switzerland. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here, so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Alps Travel Guide.
On a self-drive tour, Nordic Visitor supplies you with a quality rental car and a detailed personal itinerary. You act as your own tour guide and driver, and you get to pick the road trip music!
All your services will be pre-booked by your personal travel consultant at Nordic Visitor. This includes your rental car and accommodation in Switzerland, along with planned activities, as specified in the itinerary.
And rest assured that we’re with you every step of the way. Upon your arrival, you’ll receive personalised information including an itinerary, map and Switzerland Travel Guide.
You’ll also have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.
During your self-drive tour, you’ll stay in accommodation hand-picked by our local Switzerland travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.
In Switzerland you can choose from single, double and triple rooms. Please note that in Switzerland room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.
For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.
If you're travelling with children and need multiple rooms, please note that we can't guarantee family rooms or interconnecting rooms at all accommodation. You may even have rooms on different floors.
If you have anything specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options.
You must be at least 20 years old and have held a valid licence for at least one year to hire a rental car in Switzerland. There may be a small additional fee for drivers under 25 years old.
Travelling with your kids? No problem! You'll be able to enter your children's ages during the booking process. This lets us know whether to arrange either a baby cot or roll-away bed for your trip.
If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. It's also possible to book this directly with the car rental agency. This will incur a small, extra cost.
The roads across Switzerland are usually in good condition year-round and are renowned for their beauty.
You’ll be driving on the right side of the road and the left side of the car. Most rural roads in Switzerland are 2-lane, but they can be narrow and winding. This is especially true when navigating mountain passes.
Due to the altitude of some roads, the risk of storms, rain, snow and ice can cause adverse conditions. We recommend checking weather forecasts daily and not taking any risks when it comes to driving.
It’s also a good idea to plan how you will navigate around Switzerland ahead of time. Your travel consultant will prepare a detailed hand-annotated map of your route to help you stay on track.
We also recommend using navigation apps on your phone, such as Google Maps. Make sure to download the route ahead of time, in case you don’t have signal in the more rural areas.
During your tour of Switzerland, you’ll be travelling through both lowland and high-altitude regions. As you might expect, the temperatures can differ between these regions.
In the city of Zürich, the average temperature in summer is around 19°C (66°F). While in the mountain region of Zermatt, the average temperatures are closer to 15°C (59°F). It’s worth noting that these are average temperatures, and the highs can reach mid-20s in some regions.
Many regions of Switzerland are famed for their many days of sunshine, especially Visp and the Rhône valley. But that doesn’t guarantee there won’t be any rain on your trip! And you’ll need to be prepared for chillier weather when you’re boarding mountain gondolas.
As you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors exploring the mountains, it’s a good idea to come prepared for a combination of weather conditions.
Here is a recommended packing list for a summer trip:
On your Swiss road trip, you should budget for petrol costs of around ₣1.40–1.80 per litre.
As for meals, your breakfast is included at all your accommodation in Switzerland. For the rest of your food, your spending money will depend on the standard of restaurants you decide to go to.
Budget between ₣20–30 per person for each day’s lunch. Dinners at casual restaurants might cost between ₣25–35. Meanwhile at upscale restaurants, you can expect to pay ₣45-65 or more. This does not include the cost of alcoholic beverages.
Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades.
If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.
If you are planning on arriving in Geneva, let us know. You could add on an extra night in Geneva to visit Switzerland’s second largest city. Or you could book a direct train from Geneva to Zürich to start your road trip.
Please contact your travel consultant for further details.
Switzerland uses the Swiss franc (CHF, ₣) as its currency. The neighbouring country of Liechtenstein also uses the Swiss franc, while other surrounding countries use the Euro.
In Switzerland tipping is not mandatory but welcomed. It’s usually based on the quality of service. Locals often add around 10% or simply round up their bill.
In hotels it’s common to tip concierges for hiring a taxi or making dinner reservations. As for porters, about ₣2 per bag is standard.
There are limited laundry facilities in rural areas, but you’ll find launderettes in major cities such as Zürich. Some hotels offer dry cleaning for an additional cost.
While Switzerland is not part of the European Union (EU), it is part of the Schengen area. This means that if you’re visiting from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or an EU state, you won’t need a visa to enter.
If you’re visiting from another country, you can find the complete list of countries whose nationals require visas to enter Switzerland via the State Secretariat for Migration website.
Your passport needs to be valid for the entirety of your stay in Switzerland, and for at least 6 months after your departure date. It’s a good idea to check your passport expiry date early, in case you need to renew it.
By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.
For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline.
During your tour, there will always be a Munich-based travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.
It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking.
Nordic Visitor offers 10–20% deposits so you can reserve your trip as early as it’s convenient for you. The remaining balance is due 30 days before you travel.
Many tours are also open for the following year if you like to plan well ahead. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us.
After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip.
At that time, they’ll confirm the availability of your tour. Then the booking process starts, which may take a few weeks. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. You will also receive more information about what to expect during your trip.
After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll email you copies of your travel documents.
Upon your arrival in Zürich, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, accommodation and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Switzerland Travel Guide, and more.
No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.
Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund.
So when do you check in? And what can you expect upon landing in Zürich?
After picking up your luggage, make your way to your accommodation in the city centre. The airport has excellent public transportation connections operated by SBB (Swiss Federal Railways). Or if you’d prefer, we can arrange a private transfer for an additional fee.
Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM. You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel if you have to wait.
Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your arrival if you’d like an early check-in.
When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.
You will need to check out from your room, but will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before catching public transport or a taxi to the airport.
All bookings are billed in Euro (EUR).
Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.
These should tide you over until you’re in Switzerland to take your own pictures.
Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.
Enjoy your road trip with a free GPS and Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) to reduce liability.
Our best price per person when booking for two.
Whether you have a single question or a special request, we're here for you.
