With this 2-week road trip you’ll be able to soak up the culture and natural beauty of Switzerland. You’ll drive through all the different regions, including German, French and Italian-speaking parts, not forgetting the incredible Swiss Alps. Take in the breathtaking heights of the snow-covered peaks, drive through scenic mountain passes and eat all the chocolate and cheese you want. Switzerland is a true treasure trove of travel experiences!
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.
Spend the night in Lausanne.
Driving distance: 145 km / 90 miles
Spend the day exploring the elegant city of Lausanne. You’ll find the historic centre is 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 up the 224 steps of the bell tower, you’ll be rewarded with stunning views of the city, with the lake and mountains as a backdrop.
You could also learn more about the Olympics since Lausanne is home to the International Olympic Committee’s headquarters. Closer to the lake shore, you’ll find the Olympic Museum with permanent exhibitions on the history of the games, the athletes, sporting gear, and more.
You could also take your chance to visit Geneva, Switzerland’s second largest city. The quickest way is to drive straight from Lausanne, but for the scenic option hop on a 4-hour boat ride on Lac Léman.
Spend another night in Lausanne.
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 day is perfect 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 the area. You can take a cable car or train up to one of the various mountaintops nearby. Our recommendation is 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. If you would like to stay at lower heights, there are multiple hiking and walking routes in the area to enjoy a day in nature.
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
You have a day of alpine lakes and mountains ahead of you so keep your camera at the ready. Drive from Lucerne to the town of Locarno. First you’ll follow Lake Lucerne, going through scenic villages like Andermatt, before taking on Gotthard Pass. This is a 24-kilometre (15-mile) mountain pass on which you’ll reach heights over 2,100 metres (nearly 7,000 feet). You can then drive to charming Locarno, a sunny spot stitting on the banks of Lake Maggiore south of the Alps.
Spend the night in Locarno.
Driving distance: 193 km / 120 miles
After yesterday’s adventurous drive over mountain passes and through alpine valleys, you spend today exploring or relaxing in beautiful Locarno. Walk through the narrow streets of the old town or enjoy ambling along the Locarno Promenade. Located on the shore of Lake Maggiore, this panoramic route gives you a sneak peak of the Italian way of life in Switzerland.
You could also hike up to the Sacred Mount Madonna del Sasso sanctuary for spectacular views and interesting history. To add another highlight to your adventure, why not take the short drive to Lugano? This city by the Italian border is known for combining Swiss and Mediterranean cultures.
Spend another night in Locarno.
You’ve had a taste of the Italian part of Switzerland and now you head to the country’s largest “canton” (region), Grisons or “Graubünden”. This is the only region in Switzerland with 3 official languages. En route you will drive past charming towns like Bellinzona, known for its 3 medieval castles. Then you take on another impressive mountain pass, the 17-kilometre-long (10-mile-long) San Bernardino Pass. You’ll reach an altitude of over 2,000 metres (6562 feet) with incredible views of the lakes below and Swiss Alps. Then arrive in the city of Chur.
Spend the night in Chur.
Driving distance: 141 km / 88 miles
This is the last day of your road trip as you head back to Zurich. You’ll drive through scenic mountain valleys and villages like Bad Ragaz. This area calls itself “Heidiland” after the beloved children’s book Heidi, based in the Swiss Alps.
You will also have the chance to visit the microstate of Liechtenstein, Europe’s 4th smallest country. Then you continue your drive towards Appenzell, a picturesque Swiss town with colourful houses and a historic village square. 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: 174 km / 108 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.
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.
We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking your tour. The following will give you more details about what the tour includes, your accommodation, driving in Switzerland and other useful information for your travels.
ABOUT OUR SELF-DRIVE TOURS
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 as well as any activities specified in the itinerary.
As it is a self-drive tour, you get to pick when and where you want to stop based on your own interests. The highlights listed are suggestion, but you‘re in charge of your trip!
Rest assured that we’re with you every step of the way. You’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, map, and our very own Switzerland Travel Guide. Plus, you’ll have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.
ACCOMMODATION
For your self-drive package, 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.
DRIVING IN SWITZERLAND
The Swiss drive on the right side of the road. In general, you‘ll find that the roads here are of a high standard and well-maintained. Rural roads are almost all 2 lanes, but they can be narrow and winding, particularly in mountainous areas.
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE FROM GENEVA
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. You could also or instead book a direct train from Geneva to Zurich to start your road trip. Please contact your travel consultant for further details.
CURRENCY RATE
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.
AFTER BOOKING WITH NORDIC VISITOR
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.
CARBON OFFSETTING YOUR TOUR
Nordic Visitor is 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.
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