Grand Tour of Switzerland Self-Drive

A clockwise self-drive journey through four language regions, crossing high mountain passes to connect snow-capped peaks, lakes, and historic old towns.

Follow the official Grand Tour of Switzerland in a clockwise direction, driving through famous mountain passes like Flüela, San Bernardino, Gotthard, and Furka. This route loops together the Engadin, Ticino, Valais, Lake Geneva, and the Bernese Oberland. While the official route suggests 10 days, this itinerary adds full days for the Aletsch Glacier and mountain peaks. The Neuchâtel section is replaced with Murten. Perfect for drivers with mountain road experience who want the freedom to stop whenever they like.

The Furka Pass is open from approximately late May to late October; check pass road conditions in early summer and late autumn.

Day by day

Day 1 · Explore Zurich Old Town Before Car Rental

Zurich（Lindenhof、Fraumünster、Grossmünster、Lake Zurich）

Take the train from the airport to the city center for a walking tour of the Old Town and lakeside. Pick up your rental car the next morning.

Stay: Old Town and Niederdorf

Day 2 · Rhine Falls to St. Gallen

Zurich（Rhine Falls） → St. Gallen（Abbey Library of St. Gall、St. Gallen Old Town & Oriel Windows） → St. Gallen（Appenzell）

After picking up your car, drive north to the Rhine Falls, then head east to St. Gallen and Appenzell (approx. 175 km).

Stay: Appenzell

Day 3 · Over Flüela Pass to the Engadin

Davos & Klosters（Klosters & Gotschna、Flüela Pass） → St. Moritz（Lake St. Moritz）

Drive through the Rhine Valley and Klosters, crossing the Flüela Pass to St. Moritz (approx. 200 km, 4.5 hours).

Stay: Pontresina

Day 4 · Upper Engadin Glaciers & Lakes

St. Moritz（Diavolezza、Morteratsch Glacier、Sils Maria & Nietzsche-Haus、Lake Sils）

Drive to Diavolezza to ride the cable car, then drive west along the lakes to Sils and back in the afternoon.

Stay: Pontresina

Day 5 · Viamala Gorge to Ticino

Chur（Viamala Gorge） → Lugano（Castles of Bellinzona、Piazza della Riforma）

Cross the Julier Pass, pass through Thusis, and head south via San Bernardino and Bellinzona to Lugano (approx. 5 hours).

Stay: Paradiso

Day 6 · Lake Lugano Relaxation Day

Lugano（Lake Lugano Boat Trips、Morcote、Monte San Salvatore）

Leave your car at the hotel, take a boat to Morcote, and ride the funicular up Mount San Salvatore in the afternoon.

Stay: Paradiso

Day 7 · Tremola Old Road to Andermatt

Andermatt（Gotthard Pass & National Gotthard Museum、Devil's Bridge & Schöllenen Gorge、Andermatt Village & St. Peter and Paul Church）

Drive north along the Leventina Valley, taking the historic Tremola cobblestone road over the Gotthard Pass to Andermatt (approx. 2.5 hours).

Stay: Andermatt Village

Day 8 · Furka Pass to Aletsch Arena

Andermatt（Furka Pass） → Aletsch Arena & Brig（Rhône Glacier Ice Grotto、Bettmeralp）

Cross the Furka Pass down into the Rhone Valley. Park at Betten and take the cable car up to Bettmeralp (approx. 2.5 hours driving).

Stay: Bettmeralp

Day 9 · Aletsch Glacier, Transfer to Zermatt

Aletsch Arena & Brig（Bettmerhorn、Great Aletsch Glacier） → Zermatt & Matterhorn（Zermatt Old Village (Hinterdorf)）

Take the cable car to the viewpoint in the morning. Descend and drive about 1.5 hours to Täsch, then take the shuttle train into Zermatt.

Zermatt is car-free; all vehicles must be parked in Täsch.

Stay: Zermatt Village Center

Day 10 · Full Day in Zermatt

Zermatt & Matterhorn（Gornergrat、Riffelsee、Sunnegga / Leisee）

Take the cogwheel train up to Gornergrat, and get off at Rotenboden on the way back for the Riffelsee hike.

Stay: Zermatt Village Center

Day 11 · Rhone Valley to Lake Geneva

Vevey & Montreux（Château de Chillon、Lavaux Vineyard Terraces） → Lausanne（Ouchy Waterfront）

Retrieve your car in Täsch and drive west along the valley to Chillon Castle, then continue past Lavaux to Lausanne (approx. 180 km, 2.5 hours).

Stay: Ouchy Lakeside

Day 12 · Gruyères & Murten

Vevey & Montreux（Gruyères & Gruyères Castle、Maison Cailler） → Bern（Murten / Morat、Old City of Bern & Arcades）

Drive from Lausanne to Gruyères (approx. 1 hour), then continue via Murten to Bern (approx. 1.5 hours).

Stay: Bern Old Town

Day 13 · Lake Thun to Grindelwald

Interlaken & Jungfrau Region（Thun Castle & Old Town、Interlaken Town & Höheweg、Grindelwald）

Take the highway to Thun, drive along the lake to Interlaken, and head up to Grindelwald (approx. 1.5 hours driving).

Stay: Grindelwald

Day 14 · Jungfraujoch Mountain Day

Interlaken & Jungfrau Region（Eiger Express、Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe、Kleine Scheidegg）

Leave your car in Grindelwald. Take the Eiger Express and cogwheel train to Jungfraujoch, and descend via Kleine Scheidegg in the afternoon.