# Road trips in Switzerland

> 15 road trips and 45 hand-picked places in Switzerland, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/roadtrips/switzerland/

15 road trips and 45 hand-picked places in Switzerland, with routes, stops and practical tips for driving and camping.

## Road trips through Switzerland

- [Swiss Alpine passes from Lucerne](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/swiss-passes/): A covered bridge, the Furka hairpins and a valley of waterfalls.
- [Lake Geneva, Lavaux and Gruyères](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/lake-geneva-gruyere/): Vineyard terraces, Chillon Castle and a cheese village below the Fribourg Alps, on the way to Bern.
- [Ticino: Swiss lakes, Italian style](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/ticino/): Palm trees on Lake Lugano, Locarno and the emerald water of the Verzasca valley.
- [Along the Glacier Express](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/glacier-express-road/): Zermatt’s car-free valley to St. Moritz by road, over the Furka and Oberalp passes.
- [Swiss Jura: Doubs gorges and the Creux du Van](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b4-swiss-jura/): A medieval river town, the horse country of the Franches-Montagnes, watchmaking La Chaux-de-Fonds and a rock amphitheatre above Neuchâtel.
- [Emmental cheese country to Lake Lucerne](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b4-emmental-entlebuch/): Covered bridges, huge farmhouses and a show dairy in the Emmental, then through the Entlebuch biosphere to Lucerne.
- [Lakes Thun and Brienz to the Grimsel Pass](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b4-thun-brienz-grimsel/): Lakeside castles and caves, Giessbach’s cascades, the Aare Gorge and a granite pass high above the Haslital.
- [Valais: vineyards, spas and the Aletsch Glacier](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b4-valais-rhone/): Up the Rhône valley from Martigny past Sion’s castle hills to the thermal springs of Leukerbad, car-free Saas-Fee and the Alps’ longest glacier.
- [Albula Pass and the Lower Engadine](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b4-albula-lower-engadine/): Over the Albula into the Engadine, then through the Swiss National Park area to painted villages and Tarasp Castle.
- [Rhine Falls to the Säntis](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b4-rhine-falls-appenzell/): Europe’s mightiest waterfall, painted Stein am Rhein, St. Gallen’s abbey library and the green hills of Appenzell below the Alpstein.
- [Lake Lucerne, Rigi and the Klausen Pass](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b14-lucerne-klausen/): Two cog railways to Lucerne’s mountains, then along the lake past Schwyz and William Tell’s Altdorf, and over the Klausen Pass to Glarus.
- [Gotthard and Susten: the Tremola and the Devil’s Bridge](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b14-gotthard-susten/): Up the cobbled hairpins of the Tremola, down the Schöllenen Gorge and over the Susten Pass to the waterfall of Sherlock Holmes.
- [Rhine Gorge, Viamala and San Bernardino to Bellinzona](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b14-viamala-san-bernardino/): A turquoise forest lake, the white cliffs of the Rhine Gorge, the Viamala’s narrow chasm and the San Bernardino Pass down to Bellinzona’s castles.
- [Valais side valleys: St Bernard, Dixence and Anniviers](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/b14-valais-side-valleys/): The monks and dogs of the Great St Bernard, the earth pyramids of Euseigne, the world’s tallest gravity dam and a turquoise reservoir above Grimentz.
- [Stelvio and Bernina: two giants of the Alps](https://camping-spirit.com/guides/stelvio-bernina/): Forty-eight hairpins over the Stelvio, duty-free Livigno, St. Moritz and down the Bernina pass to Tirano.

## Places worth the detour in Switzerland

- [Lauterbrunnental](https://camping-spirit.com/places/lauterbrunnen/): A glacial valley with dozens of waterfalls, including Staubbach Falls beside the village.
- [Lavaux vineyard terraces](https://camping-spirit.com/places/lavaux/): Terraced vineyards stepping down to Lake Geneva. Walk between the wine villages and taste in the cellars.
- [Valle Verzasca](https://camping-spirit.com/places/verzasca/): Emerald water under the double-arched Ponte dei Salti. Swim only where the current is calm.
- [Étang de la Gruère](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-etang-de-la-gruere/): A dark peat-bog lake ringed by spruce and birch, with a path around it of about an hour. Keep to the trail: the bog is protected.
- [Creux du Van](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-creux-du-van/): A rock amphitheatre 160 m deep and over 1 km wide in the Jura, home to ibex. A narrow road leads to a mountain farm near the rim; the classic hike climbs from Noiraigue.
- [Emmental Show Dairy](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-emmental-show-dairy/): Watch cheesemakers turn milk into the famous holey wheels, see an old alpine cheese hut and taste in the shop. The large car park suits motorhomes.
- [Oberhofen Castle](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-oberhofen-castle/): A castle whose slender tower stands in Lake Thun, surrounded by a lakeside park. The tower against the Alps is the classic photo.
- [Giessbach Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-giessbach-falls/): Fourteen cascades tumble through the forest to Lake Brienz beside a grand old hotel, and a path leads behind one of them. The road from Brienz is narrow; the lake boat is the easy alternative.
- [Aare Gorge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-aare-gorge/): Walkways cling to the walls of a 1.4 km limestone gorge, barely a metre wide in places. A small train links the entrances at each end.
- [Grimsel Pass](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-grimsel-pass/): A 2,164 m pass of polished granite and reservoirs between the Bernese Oberland and the Valais. The road is usually open from June to October.
- [Valère Basilica](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-valere-basilica/): A fortified church on a hill above Sion, home to one of the world’s oldest playable organs. The ruined Tourbillon castle crowns the neighbouring hill.
- [Aletsch Glacier from the Eggishorn](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-aletsch-eggishorn/): The longest glacier in the Alps seen from above, reached by cable car from Fiesch. Park at the valley station and go early on a clear morning.
- [Swiss National Park at Il Fuorn](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-swiss-national-park/): Switzerland’s only national park, strictly protected since 1914. Leave the car at the numbered car parks on the Ofen Pass road and walk in; red deer are easiest to spot at dawn.
- [Tarasp Castle](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-tarasp-castle/): A white castle on a rocky knoll above the Lower Engadine, one of the most striking in the Alps. Guided tours run in summer; the walk up from the village takes about ten minutes.
- [Rhine Falls](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-rhine-falls/): Europe’s most powerful waterfall by volume, 23 m high and 150 m wide. Platforms below Laufen Castle reach almost into the spray, and boats run out to the rock in the middle.
- [Abbey Library of St. Gallen](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-abbey-library-st-gallen/): A Rococo library hall with inlaid wooden floors (felt slippers provided) and manuscripts more than a thousand years old, part of the UNESCO-listed abbey precinct.
- [Seealpsee](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-seealpsee/): A mountain lake beneath the Alpstein cliffs, about an hour’s walk from Wasserauen, or downhill from the Ebenalp cable car past the Wildkirchli caves.
- [Pilatus](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-pilatus/): Lucerne’s rugged home mountain, 2,128 m, reached by the world’s steepest cog railway from Alpnachstad (May to November) or by gondola and cable car from Kriens. Short paths lead to viewpoints over the lake.
- [Rigi Kulm](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-rigi-kulm/): The 1,797 m top of the Rigi, looking over Lake Lucerne and a long line of Alpine peaks. Take the cable car from Weggis or the cog railway from Vitznau or Arth-Goldau; no roads go up.
- [Gotthard Pass and the Tremola](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-gotthard-tremola/): The old cobbled Tremola road climbs from Airolo in 24 hairpins to the 2,106 m Gotthard Pass, with a hospice and a national museum by the lakes. Open roughly June to October; large vehicles should use the modern road.
- [Susten Pass](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-susten-pass/): A 2,224 m pass on road 11, built in the 1940s with tunnels and wide curves, looking over the Stein Glacier and its lake. Open roughly June to October; car parks at the summit tunnel and at Steingletscher.
- [Caumasee](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-caumasee/): A turquoise lake in the forest below Flims, warm enough for swimming in summer. Walk 20 minutes from the Flims Waldhaus car parks; a lift runs down to the lido, which charges entry in season.
- [Viamala Gorge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-viamala/): A deep, narrow gorge of the Hinterrhein on the old road south of Thusis, explored on 321 steps and bridges. Paid entry, open April to October, with parking by the kiosk at the top.
- [Castelgrande, Bellinzona](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-castelgrande/): The largest of Bellinzona’s three UNESCO-listed castles, on a rock in the town centre with walls running down into the valley. A lift from Piazza del Sole goes up; the courtyards are free.
- [Great St Bernard Hospice](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-great-st-bernard/): A hospice at 2,469 m run by Augustinian canons since the 11th century, beside a lake on the Italian border, with St Bernard dogs in summer. The pass road is open roughly June to October; the tunnel below is toll.
- [Grande Dixence Dam](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-grande-dixence/): At 285 m, the tallest gravity dam in the world, closing the end of the Val des Dix. Drive to Le Chargeur, then walk or take the cable car to the crest; the road is open summer only.
- [Furkapass](https://camping-spirit.com/places/furka/): A 2,429 m pass with hairpins above the Rhône Glacier. Usually open June to October.
- [Kapellbrücke](https://camping-spirit.com/places/kapellbruecke/): A covered wooden bridge with painted panels and a stone water tower, crossing the Reuss.
- [Bernina Pass](https://camping-spirit.com/places/bernina/): A 2,328 m pass with glaciers on one side and turquoise lakes on the other, shared with the red Bernina railway.
- [Chillon Castle](https://camping-spirit.com/places/chillon/): A medieval castle on a rock in Lake Geneva, made famous by Lord Byron.
- [Oberalp Pass](https://camping-spirit.com/places/oberalp/): A 2,044 m pass with a lighthouse near the source of the Rhine.
- [Saut du Doubs](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-saut-du-doubs/): A 27 m waterfall where the Doubs spills out of a gorge lake on the French border. Walk along the lake from Les Brenets in about an hour, or take the boat.
- [Hasle-Rüegsau wooden bridge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-hasle-bridge/): One of Europe’s longest single-span covered wooden bridges, built in 1839 across the Emme. Park in the village and walk over.
- [Lueg viewpoint](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-lueg/): A hilltop memorial with one of the widest views in the Emmental, from rolling farmland to the Bernese Alps. A narrow road climbs almost to the top.
- [St. Beatus Caves](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-st-beatus-caves/): Caves above Lake Thun where legend says St. Beatus drove out a dragon, with waterfalls at the entrance and lit halls inside. Parking is on the lake road below.
- [Albula Pass](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-albula-pass/): A quiet 2,312 m pass between Bergün and the Engadine, while the Albula railway tunnels far below. The road is narrow and winding, closed in winter, with marmots on the high meadows.
- [Säntis from Schwägalp](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b4-saentis/): A cable car from the Schwägalp pass climbs to the 2,502 m Säntis summit, with views over six countries on a clear day. The pass road itself is a fine drive.
- [Klausen Pass](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-klausen-pass/): A 1,948 m pass on road 17 between Uri and Glarus, with waterfalls on the Uri side and big cliffs above. Closed in winter, usually from about November to May; lay-bys at the top.
- [Urnerboden](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-urnerboden/): One of the largest alpine pastures in Switzerland, a flat green valley below limestone walls where hundreds of cows spend the summer. The Klausen road crosses it; small parking areas by the hamlet.
- [Devil’s Bridge, Schöllenen Gorge](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b14-devils-bridge/): Stone bridges over the Reuss in the Schöllenen Gorge, with a monument to the Russian army that fought here in 1799. Park in the lay-by on the Andermatt side and walk down to the old bridge.

## FAQs

**What are the best road trips in Switzerland?**
Popular routes include Swiss Alpine passes from Lucerne, Lake Geneva, Lavaux and Gruyères, Ticino: Swiss lakes, Italian style and Along the Glacier Express. CampingSpirit has 15 trip guides that pass through Switzerland, each with a stop-by-stop itinerary and a route map.

**Which places in Switzerland are worth a detour?**
Our editors recommend Lauterbrunnental, Lavaux vineyard terraces, Valle Verzasca, Étang de la Gruère, Creux du Van and Emmental Show Dairy.

**Do you need a vignette or pay tolls in Switzerland?**
Vignette needed for motorways. Vehicles over 3.5 t pay the heavy vehicle charge instead of the vignette. Rules and prices change. Check official sources before you travel.

**What is the motorway speed limit in Switzerland?**
120 km/h on motorways for cars, unless signs show otherwise.

**Are there low-emission zones in Switzerland?**
Few or none.