Switzerland is home to beautiful lakes, breathtaking mountains, and chocolate.
The country might look tiny on a map, but every inch of it is gorgeous. While flying is fast and economical, there is something about driving to a specific location.
Read on to find out the best places to visit in Switzerland by car.
Best Places To Visit In Switzerland By Car
Switzerland is packed with mountains, lakes, medieval castles, old villages, and beautiful towns.
If you are planning to explore Switzerland by car, here is a list of the best places to visit.
1. Lake Lucerne
Lake Lucerne is a glacial lake that was formed about 12 000 years ago. It is surrounded by four cantons Usi, Schwyz, Unterwalden, and Lucerne.
The lake is about 44 square miles and 702 feet deep.
Lake Lucerne has 9 bays and each one of them is breathtaking:
- Bay of Lucerne
- Bay of Weggis
- Bay of Gersau
- Kreuztrichter
- Bay of Stands
- Lake Alpnach
- Bay of Horw
- Lake Kussnacht
- Lake Uri
To visit Lake Lucerne by car, start at the city of Lucerne and drive to Burgenstock. It is a 30-minute drive.
From there you can go to Rutli which is about 40 minutes further.
To finish the Lake Lucerne road trip, head over to Meggenhorn which is about 2 hours away.
With a total of 3 hours drive, you will be able to visit all of the Lake Lucerne bays and enjoy the breathtaking view.
2. Lake Geneva
Lake Geneva is located between southwest Switzerland and Southeast France.
The lake is 134 square miles on the Swiss side and about 90 square miles on the French side.
Lake Geneva is 151 miles away from Zurich, 145 miles from Lucerne, and about 10 miles from Geneva.
To get the best out of the road trip around Lake Geneva, visit these places:
- Lake Geneva Public Library
- Blacktoft (Lakefront estate)
- Flowerside Inn (beautiful estate with a view of the lake)
- Glen Annie (A famous house with a view of the lake)
- Cedar Point Park (Beautiful park with access points to the lake)
- Congress Club (Vacation spot founded by Chicago families)
- Yerkes Observatory (It is the largest refracting telescope in the world)
3. Grindelwald
Grindelwald is a mountain village 3,392 feet above sea level.
It is located in the Interlaken-Oberhasli administrative district (canton of Berne).
Grindelwald is 85 miles away from Zurich, 53 miles from Lucerne, and about 46 miles from Berne.
Grindelwald is also known as a hiker’s paradise. The cliff walk built into the side of the rocky mountain offers a breathtaking view of an alpine lake.
Apart from hiking you can hop on a zip line, ride a cart downhill, or pedal a Trottbike scooter down the mountain.
The activities in Grindelwald cost:
- Cable car: 32 CHF (Swiss Franc) per person
- Zip Line: 31 CHF
- Cart: 12 CHF
- Trottbike scooter: 21 CHF
4. Interlaken
Interlaken is also known as the oldest and most popular summer holiday resort in Switzerland.
The first visitors came in the 17th century, and more and more people are visiting the place since.
Interlaken is 35 miles away from Bern, 42 miles away from Lucerne, and about 73 miles from Zurich.
There are six lakes around Interlaken: Lake Thun, Brienzersee, Blausee, Bachalpsee, Oeschinensee, and Engstelensee, each one more beautiful than the previous.
While in Interlaken, you can hike the Schynige Platte trail, visit the St. Beatus cave and waterfalls, paraglide, cruise the lakes, or kayak on lake Brienzersee.
Best Viewpoints in Interlaken include:
- Harder Kulm (altitude 4337 feet)
- Sigriswil Panorama Bridge (altitude of 1000 feet)
Guide for Women & Men
5. St. Moritz
St. Moritz is located in Engadine, Switzerland, and it is a high Alpine resort town.
With an elevation of 5,910 feet above sea level, St. Moritz is a skiers’ paradise. St. Moritz is 126 miles away from Zurich, 140 miles away from Lucerne, and about 200 miles away from Berne.
It is reachable by car, but you have to make sure that you have winter tires and chains if visiting in winter.
Once you get to St. Moritz, there are a lot of fun activities to do, including:
- Skiing and winter sports
- Take a cabin cable car to Corviglia station
- Ride in the Glacier Express (from St. Moritz to Zermatt)
- Hike around the St. Moritz Lake
- Enjoy water sports in the nearby lakes
7. Lauterbrunnen Valley
Lauterbrunnen is a small village in the canton of Bern, Switzerland.
The Lauterbrunnen valley is one of the most beautiful valleys located in between gigantic rocks and numerous mountain peaks.
There are a whopping 72 waterfalls throughout the Lauterbrunnen valley which makes the place seem surreal.
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The Lauterbrunnen valley is reachable by car and is 41 miles away from Berne, 49 miles away from Lucerne, and 80 miles from Zurich.
Here are some cool things to do in Lauterbrunnen valley:
- Hike the famous Lauterbrunnen – Muren Trail
- Visit Staubbach Falls (the largest free-fall waterfall in Europe)
- Enjoy the alpine views from Wengen
- Visit the Sphinx Observatory (highest altitude structure in Europe)
- Explore Trummelbach Falls
8. Gstaad
Gstaad is a famous place for hiking and walking trails.
It is a small town located in the Canton of Bern and is 127 miles away from Zurich, 85 miles away from Lucerne, and 53 miles from Berne.
Gstaad is known for winter sports, hiking, outdoor pools, and beautiful lakes.
Here are some fun activities to do while in Gstaad, Switzerland:
- Visit Mount Eggli by a cable car
- See Mirage Gstaad (a beautiful mirror house on the mountain)
- Dine at the luxury hotel The Alpina Gstaad
- Treat yourself at the Spa center at Le Grand Bellevue
- Visit Le Petit Chalet (a cozy log cabin that serves delicious Swiss specialties)
- Ski at Glacier3000
9. Engelberg
Engelberg is a village resort located in Obwalden Canton, Switzerland.
It is a great place to visit by car and it is 83 miles away from Berne, 22 miles away from Lucerne, and about 53 miles from Zurich.
Before becoming a village resort, Engelberg was a medical monastery.
Here are some fun things to do in Engelberg, Switzerland:
- Visit Engelberg Abbey (Benedictine Monastery)
- Visit Mount Tiltis by gondola
- Cross the 100-meter-long bridge on Mount Tiltis
- Enjoy skiing and snowboarding
- Hike the slopes of Mount Brunni
- Hike around the Truebsee Lake (elevation of 4000 feet)
10. Ticino
Ticino is a Canton located in the south of Switzerland.
Mainly, Ticino is known for Swiss wine, but it also has beautiful lakes, beaches with palms, medieval monasteries, and delicious cuisine.
By car, Ticino is 134 miles away from Zurich, 111 miles from Lucerne, and 178 miles from Berne.
Here are some cool things to do in Ticino, Switzerland:
- Explore Locarno (a town located on Lake Maggiore)
- Sail to the botanical garden
- Get to the top of the mountain by a cable car
- Explore the Maggia Valley by bike
- Walk along the Maggia River
In Conclusion
Switzerland is known for its mountains, beautiful lakes, chocolate, and winter sports. What is best about Switzerland is that all of its beautiful places are reachable by car.
Book your hotel on Booking.com and start exploring Switzerland by car.
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