There are so many routes heading south – but which one should you choose?
Maybe you’re sitting with Google Maps right now, trying to figure out which route is shortest and which one is the most scenic?
We’ve driven through Europe many times, and each time, we’ve planned the route in advance and booked hotels ahead of time, so we wouldn’t have to deal with that on the road. Of course, it depends on where you’re going, but if Switzerland is an option along the way, we can highly recommend including it in your route.
That said, there are a few things that might speak against driving through Switzerland.
Here are some common objections:
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The country is too expensive when it comes to fuel, food, and accommodation
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There’s too much mountain driving
And yes, it is expensive to drive through Switzerland, and you’ll need to buy a motorway vignette (driving pass) before entering the country. On the other hand, you won’t have to deal with individual toll payments on the highways afterwards.
Personally, I get nervous driving in the mountains – but the drive through Switzerland isn’t bad. You usually pass through mountain tunnels or drive alongside the mountains, so they become part of the scenic view rather than something you have to climb.
Just to clarify: we’ve driven both the Basel–Lugano and Basel–Aosta routes, so our experiences are based on those two.
Now, here comes the first reason why we recommend driving through Switzerland!
1. The drive through Switzerland is breathtaking
We’ve always started our journeys through Switzerland via Basel. We do this because it fits perfectly with two overnight stops on our way to the ferry to Corsica. Of course, you can enter Switzerland through many other border crossings. Anyway, our entry has always quickly turned into something beautiful and truly breathtaking.
When driving through Switzerland, we’ve passed some of the most stunning areas filled with lakes and mountains. The lakes have sometimes been turquoise blue, surrounded by quaint villages and mountains in the background.
Bjergene i Schweiz er utrolig smukke at køre igennem Bjerghytterne ligger spredt som perler ud på bjergene ved siden af motorvejen
Some mountains have been green, while others have appeared gray-black, almost bluish in the mist, towering up into the clouds. Some mountains felt eerily huge – kind of like the mountains of Knight Kato from Mio my son (book, written by Astrid Lindgren). But maybe that’s just because I’m not used to big mountains back home in Denmark. Beautiful they definitely are, though.
2. You can get a good rest in Basel
We’ve varied where we make our first stop on our journey down through Europe. Sometimes we’ve stopped in France (Strasbourg or Bergheim), and only once did we make it all the way to Basel in a single day. Basel is just across the border from France and Germany, and it can be a great first rest stop on your trip south.
Basel is a bit more expensive for accommodation than staying on the German side of the border. Basel looks interesting, but after a long day of driving, we’ve often been too tired to explore the city. One time, we stayed at a hotel in Basel that had direct access to a water park. Taking a swim during a long road trip isn’t so bad – it was especially fun for Sebastian, but it was also great relief for our sore backs and bodies after hours of driving.
3. Have breakfast in Lucerne
If you’re staying overnight in Switzerland and have some extra time, it’s a great idea to have breakfast outside the hotel. On our first trip through Switzerland, we decided to take a detour to see the beautiful city of Lucerne, which lies by one of Switzerland’s many lakes.
Of course, this requires that you have the time to take a detour from your route. On this particular trip, we thought we had plenty of time to reach Genoa. But in the end, we didn’t. Traffic jams on the highway, a flat tire, and a GPS that miscalculated the timing meant we arrived in Genoa very late.
When it’s the second day of traveling with kids – and you need to get up early on day three to catch a ferry – it can feel a bit stressful. It’s important to give yourself and your family enough time and not to rush. But while it’s one thing to aim for plenty of time, it’s another to make reality fit your plans.
The time we spent in Lucerne was wonderfully refreshing and served as a happy teaser that one day we want to return and truly experience Switzerland.
4. Stop in the beautiful city of Lausanne
As we got closer to the major mountain passes further south in Switzerland, the mountains grew bigger and more rugged. But we also encountered some very beautiful and almost “poetic” views and towns where we stopped, such as the city of Lausanne.
Lausanne sits by the large lake, Lac Léman, which is shared by the border with France, just slipping in beneath Switzerland.
It had rained quite a bit during our trip through Switzerland. In Lausanne, the rain had stopped, but clouds hung low over the towering mountains. The mist was thick – but not so thick that we couldn’t see; rather, it wrapped the lake and mountains in a quiet, magical atmosphere. We promised each other that one day we would return to Lausanne and fully explore this beautiful area.
5. Switzerland has rest stops you’ll actually want to pull over at
It’s not just the sunshine and warm weather that can cheer up a tired kid (or adult) on a drive through Switzerland. The rest stops can do that too. Well, most of them anyway.
Most of the rest stops we visited were tidy, clean, and offered fantastic opportunities to enjoy healthy and delicious food (albeit pricey). Their toilets were also clean (and expensive).
On top of that, we experienced several rest stops that genuinely woke us up with their beautiful locations and views. In particular, we stopped at a rest area along a stunning river. The river was beautiful and icy cold – but wonderfully refreshing to pause by and dip our tired driving feet into.
6. The mountain pass to Italy is worth the whole road trip
The further south we went – especially on our route toward the Italian town of Aosta – the higher the mountains became, and the more we could feel ourselves climbing in altitude. It also started to rain more, and heavy gray clouds hung over the increasingly darker mountains.
The drive through the pass toward Aosta was the most beautiful and dramatic route we have experienced so far on our journeys through Switzerland.
7. The roads are excellent
The roads in Switzerland are well maintained – at least the ones we drove on. The tunnels are clean and also seem to be well cared for. You really notice the difference when you cross the border into Italy. One moment you’re driving through spotless, well-kept tunnels, and the next you’re in old, worn tunnels covered with black mold – in classic Italian style.
We’re not going to lie – we think it’s pretty great when the roads actually work well during a road trip. At one point, our car got a flat tire while driving through Switzerland, but it didn’t take long before roadside assistance arrived, and we were well taken care of and helped on our way (read about it here: Road trip – when things go wrong – what do you do).
8. The Swiss drive properly
And yes, the Swiss aren’t just generally punctual – they also drive properly on the roads. Whether it’s because of all the large, beautiful, new cars most people drive, I can’t say. But they do drive well. They follow the rules and are courteous drivers who give way and merge with great finesse. When ambulances need to get through in highway traffic jams, the cars spread out perfectly into a zipper formation so that emergency vehicles can pass. Thumbs up from us!
9. You don’t have to pay tolls here and there
Most southern European countries have motorway exits where you have to stop and pay to use the highway. This can get expensive – and it’s often something you didn’t factor into your travel budget. Plus, it’s a bit annoying because you never really know how much you’ll have to pay along the way, and you always need to have cash or cards ready.
In Switzerland, you do have to pay to use the motorways and tunnels. But here, you buy a motorway vignette (sticker) in advance and stick it on your windshield. It’s one of the first things they check when you cross the border into Switzerland. If you don’t have the vignette, you’ll be asked to buy one. We’ve always made sure to buy the motorway vignette before the trip, and that solution works perfectly for us.
Those are the 9 reasons to drive through Switzerland. But what about you?
What’s your route when you drive south?
We’ve talked to lots of people about how they plan their route going south. Some have several overnight stops along the way, some drive through the night, some take turns driving – and yes, there are many ways to travel south.
But we’re also curious to hear how you travel south: Do you have a specific route you always take? Is there a favorite country you always drive through? Is there a particular route you’d recommend?
Please write to us in the comments! We look forward to hearing from you!
Tips for your trip through Switzerland
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The Swiss drive properly – Italians don’t necessarily
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Remember the Swiss motorway vignette
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Google Maps calculates the route in hours, but be aware it’s mountainous terrain and our experience is it often takes a couple of hours longer than estimated
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Bring a packed lunch from home, but also bring plenty of cash for the rest stops in Switzerland (you won’t regret it)
Our journey through Switzerland
