Grand Tour of Switzerland – a road trip guide

Switzerland (a destination our readers voted as one of the most beautiful countries in the world) has an incredible range of experiences packed into a small area. 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.

What is the Grand Tour of Switzerland?

The Grand Tour of Switzerland is a road trip that links together the country’s most scenic landscapes and cultural highlights. It was created in 2015.

The route includes 46 main attractions. Along the way you’ll cross five Alpine passes, visit thirteen UNESCO World Heritage Sites, pass two biospheres, and drive by twenty-two lakes. You also move through all four of Switzerland’s language regions, so you’ll hear German in Zürich, French in Geneva, Italian in Lugano, and Romansh in Graubünden.

It’s divided into eight sections with more than 650 signs to guide you. Altogether the drive covers 1,021 miles (1,643 km). The road climbs as high as the Furka Pass at 7,970 feet (2,429 m) and drops as low as Lake Maggiore at 633 feet (193 m). Along the way, you’ll pass through major cities like Zürich and Geneva, lakeside towns in Ticino, and mountain scenery around the Matterhorn.

The Grand Tour is also set up for electric vehicles, with more than 300 charging stations along the route.

 How long does it take to drive the Grand Tour of Switzerland?

You can complete the Grand Tour in seven days if you keep to at least five hours of driving each day, though that leaves little time for exploring.

Most people take 10 to 14 days. That gives you time to stop for meals, short hikes, and side trips. The route is designed to flow clockwise, though you can begin at any point, which makes it easy to start from a border crossing.

If you want a slower trip, plan for two to three weeks. That way you can stay overnight in smaller towns and add activities like boat rides or museum visits. Since the route is circular, you can also split it up and drive different sections on separate trips.

Several factors shape how long it takes:

• Season: April to October is the best window, since high passes often close in winter.
• Driving pace: The route follows scenic roads rather than highways, so you naturally move slower.
• Photo stops: There are more than 65 official Grand Tour frames for photos, and they’re hard to pass without stopping.
• Cities: Places like Zürich, Lucerne, Geneva, and Bern need at least half a day each if you want to look around properly, and you could easily spend more time in each.
• Mountain passes: Weather and traffic on the five high passes can add time to your drive.
   

1st stage — Zürich to Appenzel

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,

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.

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.

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.  

2nd stage — Appenzell to St Moritz

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.

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.

3rd stage — St Moritz to Lugano

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 220 miles (350 km) 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.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.

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.

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.
 

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. 

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.   
 

5th stage — Zermatt to Lausanne

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.

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, one of the best things to do in Switzerland in summer.

6th stage — Lausanne to Neuchatel

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.

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.

7th stage — Neuchatel to Bern
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. 
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.  
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. 
 

8th stage — Bern to Zürich
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.  
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.

How many miles or kilometers does the Grand Tour of Switzerland cover?

The Grand Tour of Switzerland runs for about 1,021 miles (1,643 km). The route is divided into eight sections, making it easier to break down into shorter trips if you don’t want to drive the whole distance at once. Since the road often winds through mountain passes and scenic valleys, it takes longer than you might expect to cover the mileage.

What is the begin- and endpoint?

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.

You can join it at any point, whether you’re arriving from another country or starting in a Swiss city. The road is signposted to be driven clockwise, which makes navigating through towns and motorway exits simpler. Because of its loop design, you can also split it into regional sections, turning one long trip into a series of shorter journeys.
 

Alternatives: start or end in Geneva, Basel or Chiasso

Many people begin in Zürich. But you could really start in any Swiss city. Many choose to start in Geneva, or Basel, since those cities have major airports and good transport connections.

Geneva

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.

Basel

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.

Chiasso

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.

Best photo spots on the Grand Tour of Switzerland

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 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.
• 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. 
   

Tips for a road trip in Switzerland

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

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.