Switzerland road trip – An ultimate 6 Days Itinerary

About Switzerland

From snowy mountains to scenic trains, Switzerland brings you the best images of vacationing among its fantastic architecture, history and culture. The mesmerizing cities of Switzerland have compelled multiple movie scenes that have caused people worldwide to visit these cities in person. 

Switzerland’s pictures and videos can make anyone excited to have a vacation there. When I researched places to stay and explore in Switzerland. To spend less time travelling but more touring, I browsed maps and looked for the attractions near our hotel; we would book. 

Made a list of things to do, located at a centre point where we would drive and explore the city on foot. 

And after finishing our trip, I can say it with ease. It was entirely worth road-tripping in Switzerland. 

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Table of content

1] Why is a road trip to Switzerland is a good idea

2] How to explore Switzerland

3] To mom travellers exploring Switzerland

4] How to rent a car in Switzerland

5] Our 6 Days Itinerary to Switzerland road trip

Why is a road trip to Switzerland is a good idea

You already know how convenient and epic a journey becomes with a simple plan if you like road trips. Driving around Switzerland is convenient due to the country’s relatively small size and primarily east/west orientation. 

The accessibility of cities in Switzerland is very much doable by car due to the city’s closeness to each other. Though many people opt for the train journey in Switzerland due to its scenic villages on the way. We drove around the country, which saved us time and money.

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We got a great mix of cold, rain and sunny weather in Switzerland. There is tremendous nature, many adorable villages, and a scenic drive overlooking the white snow Alps at a distance through the green landscape. Vast farms, clean lakes, and clear blue skies. 

How to explore Switzerland

So this is how we planned our road trip: Switzerland’s cities are pretty easy to explore. You need to find a centre point or a district with the most things around that district to see. 

Like in Zurich, District 1 has the most places around to visit. 

Geneva has an old town area that makes walking around the city centre quite convenient. 

Even in Gstaad, Bern, Interlaken and Thun, we drove to the city centre and saw the city on foot. 

To mom travellers exploring Switzerland

We were lucky to have done it smoothly, and that too with our 10 months old baby. Mommies out there will know what I am talking about. Sometimes getting your kids out of their comfort zone causes many unexpected or upsetting consequences. But I suggest you go for it. Kids love moving around. And for most babies, cars can be more comfortable than train journeys due to their habit of being in a car seat for most of their trip. In Switzerland, of course, you don’t have to worry about bumpy roads; I’m sure the Swiss don’t know what that word means. You will also find excellent gas stations attached to stores that offer washrooms and eatables.

How to rent a car in Switzerland

We rented a car from Europcar in Downtown Geneva. The rental is a few walks away from the railway station. In case you came via train from France or anywhere. We had reserved an Audi sports hatchback online. Still, due to non-availability, they offered us Wolksvagen Passat estate, an upgrade, which was very convenient with the enormous boot space that we got in the Passat. It cost us around 500 CHF for 6 days, including some extra costs for the baby seat. We also had a drop-off location in Zurich and basic insurance cover. 

How to reach Switzerland from France

Keep in mind the different stations and their distance. Depending on this, consider some time in between your connections. Our journey started from Tours, and we took an early morning TGV train from Tours to Paris Montparnasse to Paris Gare de Lyon and changed the train to reach Geneva. 

The train’s facility is relatively smooth. Economy class TGV is as comfortable. The train also has a pantry if you want to have some snacks or drinks.

Our 6 Days Itinerary to Switzerland road trip

Day 1, Geneva

Day 2, Lausanne and Gstaad

Day 3, Gstaad and Bern

Day 4, Lauterbrunnen, Interlaken and Unterseen

Day 5, Thun and Lucerne

Day 6, Zurich. And fly out from Zurich the following evening (Or extend your stay and visit the Italian part which we couldn’t)

If touring only in Switzerland, you can start with Zurich or Geneva. Switzerland was the next holiday destination in our 15 days France – Swiss Vacation. The Switzerland road trip began in Geneva, where we arrived from Paris by train. 

Our 6 Days Itinerary to Switzerland road trip

Day 1 – Geneva 

Upon disembarking at the train station in Geneva, we stepped right into downtown Geneva. Where many branded shops and Hotels are lined up. 

Walking on the pavement, we reached the car rental from the station and picked up our car. After checking in to our hotel, we discovered the city.

Geneva is a financial centre for Switzerland and a worldwide centre for diplomacy. Because of several international organizations, including the headquarters of many agencies of the United Nations and the Red Cross. 

The city has the most french influence in Switzerland, as it lies on the border. The town is surrounded by the Jura mountain range and many beautiful parks and touches the south-western end of Lake Geneva, also known as Lake Leman. We spent something around half a day in Geneva and called it off by spending our evening around the old town and having dinner at Brasserie Lipp Restaurant with our friends. 

 

started with the old town’s Saint Pierre 12th Century Catholic Church has a mesmerising structure from outside and inside. Brunswick Monument, a small monument in the Jardin des Alpes in Geneva, to honour Charles II, Duke of Brunswick is next to the main road.  

Jet D’Eau is an enormous fountain on the lake Geneva. Stroll along Shopping street Rue Du Rhone is right across the Mont Blanc bridge where you can look for the High-end fashion brands and watch showrooms.  We walked around the shore of Lake Geneva and Park Pavillon Rustique attached to the bank. 

The next day we drove to our next destination through Ariana Park to see the enormous Broken chair. The Sculpture which is a symbol and reminder for the opposition of landmines and cluster bombs for human safety. There’s a square of the fountains behind the Broken chair, where you can spend some time playing with fountains. The Arians park’s surrounding area is also full of many attractions. You can easily walk around and cover most of the things to do over there.

WHERE WE STAYED:

Four Seasons Des Bergues a century-plus old hotel and a landmark on Lake Geneva. 

Day 2

Gstaad was our next destination. 

Stayed for a night in Geneva, we drove for Gstaad the next day. But we decided to go through Lausanne on our way. Going with the scenery of Nyon city and clear roads, we reached Lausanne.

Lausanne

It took us around an hour from A1 Route from Geneva to Lausanne. The busy commercial city is full of life and boisterous traffic. Finding parking shouldn’t be a problem. We also took some rest and fed our baby at Starbucks, we saw close to St. François Church. Lausanne is a city on Lake Geneva. It houses the International Olympic Committee headquarters, the Olympic Museum and lakeshore Olympic Park. Off the lake, the old hilly town has some medieval, shop-lined lanes and a 12th-century Medieval cathedral with an ornate facade. Also, you will find many hotels around. 

We spent an hour or so at the centre of Lausanne and drove for another 1 hour 30 mins to reach Gstaad. 

Gstaad 

A charismatic town in Switzerland, Gstaad is a beloved destination amongst elite and celebrities. Known for its ski and upscale resorts, Gstaad’s winter hiking trails and cross-country slopes are one of the favourite things to do. The town has beautiful views of the snow-capped mountains, as it is located in the Bernese Oberland region of the Swiss Alps. Cowbells echos up to the room, leaving a vibe of an authentic Swiss village. The summer also has a minimum of 12 degrees chilling weather. Still, snowfall can be seen at the top of the mountains in the daytime.

While strolling in the village, the spectacle of high-end branded shops like Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Prada, Ralph Lauren and smaller boutique brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Dior and many more shows why the village is so famous. Apart from upscale shops and restaurants & Bars, you also find the usual supermarkets in the town. We did some shopping in the supermarket here, which was a different feeling altogether. If you like to go for some souvenirs and magnets. It is cheap here. Things you can do in Gstaad is you can take a day tour to Gruyères Castle. Or Walk to explore the village out. Also, you can do Ski or Hiking if you love to do that. 

WHERE WE STAYED:

Hotel Spitzhorn – One of the best three-star hotels in Gstaad. The hotel’s wooden interior, spacious room with balcony is a cosy shell to enjoy the night. The owners run the hotel themselves and are very warm and friendly with all of their guests. 

Day 3

We woke up at around 5:30 am in Gstaad and enjoyed the morning views of the village along with delicious Rosti, Bircher muesli, traditional cheeses and slices of yummy bread for breakfast at our hotel. 

After the breakfast, we left to check-in to our hotel in Unterseen, where we rested for some time and then moved out to visit Bern.

Bern

Driving through the scenic roads alongside Swiss alps and blue lakes, we reached Bern in 1 hour from A6 route.

Bern is the capital of Switzerland, but, it doesn’t have the looks of a busy capital city. Instead, it’s surprisingly quiet and slow. We drove straight to the city centre where most of the attractions are within a short walk away. 

It is remarkable how well the city’s historical sites are kept. The city’s history dates back to the 12th Century. We started with the Bern-Munster Cathedral; it is the tallest Cathedral in Switzerland built in the 15th Century. Behind the church take a walk to the Munster Platform, a high platform of the Cathedral, to get the best views of River Aare and the old city of Bern. Take a stroll through Lauben – The longest weather-sheltered shopping promenades in Europe. 

Zytglogge (Bern-kramgasse) The medieval clock tower is in the centre of the old town. Admire The Old Town’s 16th-century fountains located close to many famous attractions, like Schützenbrunnen.

The old town can be easily visited on foot. We spent our day exploring the city’s history. And later spent our evening at Risolto restaurant enjoying Fondue and some dinner. There are many types of fondues available at various restaurants in Switzerland do not miss it, please!

WHERE WE STAYED:

Neuhaus Golf Club Unterseen is located right on the south bank of Thunersaree Lake, which makes it extremely convenient for several reasons. Beautiful lawns, view of the lake from the terrace along with a backdrop of the Alps made it a highlight of our swiss trip. 

Day 4

As we were staying in Unterseen, we had easy access to Interlaken and other nearby villages. 

We decided to go on a trip to the Jungfraujoch. For which we drove to Lauterbrunnen and bought tickets for the tour. 

After spending 7 hours making this trip, in the evening, we went to the city centre of Interlaken.

Interlaken 

Interlaken is famous for its amusing snowy glaciers and eye-popping landscapes. Most of the people like to stay in Interlaken for its beautiful location. The city is in between the lake Thun and lake Brienz, The river Aare flows in the middle of the town. 

It seemed like a perfect summer day when we reached here. We saw kids playing in the open garden, which seemed like the main shopping and hang-out destination for the entire town. Paragliders who jumped off from the nearby hills would descend down to this open space. In Interlaken, you can indulge in sports like skiing, hiking, Paragliding and so on all year round. Hoheweg is a lively street parallel to the River Aare’s stream from Lake Brienz to Lake Thun. And the other side is the upscale hotels and resorts with cafes and bars also you can see Interlaken Casino. A string of high-class hotels interspersed with boutiques, bars and restaurants, as well as Interlaken’s casino.

Bollywood fans would want to visit a statue of Yash Chopra here. 

Day 5

Thun

Our next stop was Thun. Located in the distance of 30 minutes from Unterseen-Interlaken, Thun is a small, fascinating town adjacent to Lake Thun. You can see the river Aare streaming from the centre of the city. On both sides of the river’s bank, you can visit restaurants and shops lined up. The turquoise water of the River Aare is refreshing and also the flower-decorated bridge on the river is impressive. If you come here in summers, then you will find some locals enjoying the speeding stream of Lake Aare close to the bridge of Thun by the surf in the lake.

Few things to do in Thun are Townhall Square, The Castle of Thun which provides some brilliant views of the Alps and the city, including the lake Thunersee’s view. Locals call it Schloss Thun. An Old Town Church is Just a walk across the castle of Thun, you will find this old town protestant church. It’s an elementary looking church with some great views of the city from its balcony. Descending from the Castle of Thun, a quaint shopping street appears called Obere Hauptgasse, a fanciful lane with Bars, boutiques and cafes. 

We spent 2 hours here and left for our final swiss destination, Zurich. On the way, we stopped over in Lucerne.

Lucerne

Lucerne is a famous lakeside city in Switzerland. The beautiful mix of mountain and river on the other side makes an incredible combination. People mostly stop in this city to go for their other day tours like the hikes to Mount Rigi or Mount Pilatus or Mount Titlis and many other mountain peaks. 

We visited a couple of monuments in the city and had lunch right by the side of the River Reuss. 

The bridges over River Reuss provide a few tremendous picturesque spots. At one side of the river Reuss, you have government buildings and church, and some restaurants. You can also admire the views of the river and bridges while enjoying a meal at one of the many open-air restaurants or hotels lined up along the river banks on either side. You may explore the town walking on the narrow paths that take you to the boutiques and shops. We had an early dinner at Opus restaurant next to the Jesuit Church. A Catholic Church, The Jesuit Church, was the first large Baroque church built in Switzerland. The green dome is unmissable even from far. The Lion Monument was the first monument we visited while driving from Thun. The Lion monument is of a wounded Lion sculpted in honour of Swiss Guards massacred in the 17th Century during the French Revolution. 

Connected to the Lion monument is the Glacier Garden of Lucerne, city’s history museum with a natural forest garden. Luzern Chapel Bridge (Kappelbrücke) is a medieval covered bridge that connects the town over the River Reuss. The bridge’s remarkable interior showcases several paintings dated from the 17th Century. Walking around the old city, you may spot Lucerne old town hall and clock.

From Lucerne, it took us almost 2 hours to reach Zurich. We checked-in to our hotel and explored the city the next day. 

Day 6

Zurich

Zurich is an enjoyable city of history with the beauty of surrounded Alps and lake Zurich. After a scrumptious breakfast at our hotel, we walked through the medieval old town spread on either side of the Limmat River of Zurich. 

The nearest landmark from our hotel was the Zurich Hauptbahnhof railway station, it is the largest railway station in Switzerland. From the station, we walked further to the Bahnhofstrasse, Zurich’s main downtown street and one of the world’s most expensive and exclusive shopping avenues. The day time is full of people on the streets from the many offices and multinational corporations’ headquarters. Lake Zurich is surrounded by parks and small gardens. You get a different perspective of the city and the lake by getting on the lake cruise which departs every hour. 

Zurich being the last stop of our 2-week journey, we took the time to just sit by the lake for a couple of hours. We enjoyed our lunch having some takeaway instead of a proper restaurant. It felt relaxing to sit and absorb as much of nature’s beauty and the snowy mountains, and we didn’t want to leave. Exploring the city on foot, we crossed the bridge over lake Limmat River, walked through the crowded lanes and vegetable market we reached to see Grossmunster is a 12th Century beautiful cathedral, where you can climb upstairs for panoramic city views. 

Across the bridge from Grossmunster, the green tower of the church lurked us into this site named Fraumunster church. 

WHERE WE STAYED:

We checked-in to our Hotel Motel One and explored the city the next day. 

BEST TIME TO VISIT SWITZERLAND 

Right from my heart, I loved our decision to visit the country right at the start of the summer. And totally enjoyed wearing my dresses and boots in the pleasant weather of Switzerland. I would suggest visiting Switzerland during spring or summer months if you are not looking for any winter sports. Another advantage is that these seasons are capable of providing most access to the mountains, hiking trips and you can also enjoy the beautiful landscape and Alps view without getting too much of whiteouts. Definitely, the summer months are most popular hence more on the expensive side where ever you go. Whereas the Low or winter season will get you better deals even though the country is generally costly. 

Tourist SIM card for Switzerland Road Trip

Buy a tourist SIM Card, we bought Bouygues Sim cards for both the countries France and Switzerland and the coverage was pretty stable everywhere we went. Make sure to get enough data depending on the length of your trip so you are not relying on free wifi and are can independently work with the Map apps on your phone in case the car doesn’t have GPS. 

Ah! that is a long road trip itinerary. I hope you get some ideas to make your trip better with this information.

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Happy Road Tripping!