Grand Tour of Switzerland

What should you know before visiting Grand Tour of Switzerland?

Tolls and vignettes for a car: about €30 (France). Mountain passes: Col du Galibier (2,642 m, usually open June–October).

• The route is marked with about 650 road signs. Entry points exist from abroad too, for example in Ticino.
• Cantons and municipalities regulate wild camping. It is banned in nature reserves and the Swiss National Park; elsewhere local signs and municipal rules apply.
• Motorhomes up to 3.5 t follow the same parking rules as other vehicles. Where a night in a car park is tolerated, chairs, tables and awnings are generally not allowed.

The drive

The circuit is 1,643 km long, has eight stages and leads to 46 top attractions. It crosses five Alpine passes, including Klausen, Oberalp and Furka, and touches 22 lakes. Sources give twelve or thirteen UNESCO sites along the way. Switzerland Tourism also offers a planning app. High passes are usually open only in the summer half-year; check road conditions beforehand.

Camping

There is no uniform national rule. Many cantons ban wild camping; Obwalden allows a single overnight stay under conditions, and Aargau allows it on public car parks without a prohibition sign. Overnight stays in car parks are reportedly not allowed in Valais, Ticino or Fribourg. Sources partly disagree, so ask the municipality or police on site and, when in doubt, choose a campsite or motorhome stopover.

Planning

Swiss motorways generally require a vignette; check details and vehicle classes on the customs administration's official pages. Tunnels, mountain roads and narrow villages slow large motorhomes, so heed height and weight signs on site. The best time depends on the weather. In high summer lakes and well-known places are crowded; spring and autumn are quieter but have more closed passes.

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