May 04, 2023

Switzerland Road Trip – An Alpine Adventure!

Switzerland may be an expensive choice of destination, but then again, don’t you get what you pay for?! There are the lakes, mountains, art museums, old towns, natural history, jazz, magic theatre and so much more. Fly into Zurich and hire a car from Zurich airport where you’ll then drive 11km into the city centre. This is handy because Zurich is the first point of call on your Switzerland road trip and you can allow yourself just as long as you like to take in this fascinating city.

Zurich

Lake Zurich

There is a very convenient promenade that allows you to stroll in style at the banks of this beautiful lake. En route you will be able to take advantage of the parks, bathing facilities and beaches, and if you fancy a nosh or a tipple visit the lakeside restaurants and bars.

ZVV offer a variety of lake cruises where you can hop on and off from any of the 31 picturesque ports of call. And along the way, enjoy a delicious savoury snack or meal in the floating restaurant. Another attraction of Lake Zurich is to take in a dip into its clean and crystal clear waters which the locals do at the first sign of summer (it may be a bit choppy at first!)

Recommended restaurant and bars include Rosaly’s (high-class but not over-priced), Sternen Grill (their sausages get 5*), Fonduetram (which is what it says on the tin – a romantic ride consuming the best fondue in the city), Bernhard Bar Cafe (with apparently delicious  creamy Alsacian flammekueche), and Kronenhalle (reputed for “Zuricher Geschnetzeltes with Roesti”, a Zurich speciality of veal slices in tasty sauce and with Roesti).

Uetliberg

This mountain offers spectacular views of the city and is easily accessible by train and a short, if demanding, hike. At the top you can improve the vista by visiting the Aussichtsturm for a small fee.

Museum of Art

While for culture vultures Kunsthaus Zurich has a collection of around 4,000 paintings and sculptures and 95,000 graphic works, from the 13th century to the present day and around 1,000 works are on permanent display. Until July 2023 you will find REORIENTATIONS – Europe and the Islamic Arts, 1851 to the Present as the temporary exhibition.

Old Town

Locally known as Alstadt this region offers treasures both old and new. There are the historical churches of Grossmunster (with its twin towers) and Fraumunster (renowned for its stained glass windows). While the streets of Niederdorf and Limmatquai are ideal to shop till you drop by day or let your hair down in its lively nightlife.

And if you are looking for family fun to please the kids Zurich Zoo lets you discover over 380 animal species in nature-like habitats such as the Lewa Savana, Masoala Rainforest and Kaeng Krachan Elephant Park and learn how to protect them and their natural habitats.

Lucerne (52km, 40 mins)

Golden Round Trip The Golden Round Trip starts off in Lucerne from where you take a boat to the base of the Pilatus mountain. Getting off the boat at Alpnachstad you then take the cogwheel train to the summit of Mt Pilatus. Here you will find observation points and restaurants as well as the option to take a hike to explore the area. Next up is a cable car down to Frakmüntegg, where you’ll find the alpine slide and ropes course. When you have had enough adventure it is time for a smooth gondola to  Kriens and bus back to Lucerne. What a day!

Lugano (170km, 2hrs)

Lake Lugano

If you fancy a bit of natural history then Lake Lugano is the place for you. It is rich in fossils especially at Monte San Giorgio where for the last 200 years fossils have been found that are around 220 million years old, from the mid-Triassic era. Or then you could use its waters for a tad of swimming, sailing or cruising.

Zermatt (164km, 3hr 17 min)

Matterhorn

At the peak of the Matterhorn you will find a glacier palace with ice sculptures, dining facilities, a luscious cinema and even snow tubing.

Interlaken (110km, 2hr 12mins)

Schynige Platte Railway

This scenic railway goes from Wilderswil to Schynige Platte. The cogwheel takes to on a 7km route up to the vantage point at 1,430metres. On the way are verdant forests, Alpine pastures, fantastic vistas onto Lakes Thun and Brienz as well as the three peaks of the Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.

Bern (56km, 46mins)

Clock Tower

The Zytglogge (clock tower) attracts tourists from all over the world to see its prominent place in the city. It fits in perfectly with the authentic Bernese streets and buildings which are full of history.

Rosengarten

The rose garden is worth a visit for its beauty only but also offers roofscape views of the old town.

Minster

Being the highest church tower in Switzerland, the Bern Minster is one of the main landmarks in the federal city. The wonderful views of the old town right across to the mountain peaks of the Bernese Oberland is definitely deserving of the 344-step climb to the viewing platform.

Old Town

The old town of Bern has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. It is entirely endearing with its distinguished sandstone buildings and with their unique appeal. The small alleys and the six-kilometre-long arcades are also typical of Bern.

Montreux(91km, 1hr 1min)

Jazz Festival

For two weeks every summer Montreux is taken over by the Jazz Festival on the shores of Lake Geneva. Originated in 1967 by Claude Nobs it has become a legendary event with fantastic performances from the world’s leading jazz musicians. It attracts some 250,000 visitors and has become renowned for its diversity as well as its excellence.

Geneva (97km, 1hr 17mins)

Lake Geneva

The Lake Shore Path is some 21 miles of lovely views and takes in landmarks such as the Abbey Resort and Fontana Spa plus local eateries. And you can keep the kids amused with the Tristan Crist Magic Theatre features award-winning magic, comedy and illusion performances.

Chocolate Flavours Tour

Then as a final farewell to this sensational country take this tour of its chocolate culture in all its tradition and history.

Then you have the choice to fly back from Geneva (or indeed hire a car at Geneva from the offset!) or return to Zurich. Either way handing in the key to the Indigo car hire may bring a tear to the eyes but nevertheless this will have been a superb road trip never to be forgotten. And where next Columbus?! Look through the Indigo for your next port of call!

With Switzerland’s mountainous geography, relying on public transport can be difficult! Thankfully here at Indigo Car Hire we can arrange the perfect rental for you. Check out our main Switzerland car hire page and look at some of the services we offer there, including:

• Debit Card Car Hire
• Low Deposit Car Hire
• Young Driver Car Hire
• Senior Driver Card Hire

If you have any questions at all though of course we are always available to contact here, and we will do our utmost to ensure you have the smoothest holiday possible. Feel free to take a look at some of our other road trip ideas for further inspiration too:

• Terrific Turkey Road Trip!
• Road Trip to the Wonders of Israel
• Vineyards in South Africa: Which Ones Should I Visit?