Grand Tour of Switzerland
Switzerland offers an enormous variety of experiences and a breathtaking landscape: Admire the reflection of the unique Alpine panorama in turquoise-blue lakes. Overlook Switzerland from above on pass heights and peaks. Marvel at museums, trade fairs and world-famous buildings in cities. Follow in the footsteps of countless records. Get to know the most spectacular accommodation and transport options in the country. Experience pure nature. Immerse yourself in the secrets of the most famous Swiss traditions and enjoy a variety of culinary delicacies.
Tradition and history
In hardly any other country are scenic highlights and numerous sights as close together as in Switzerland. The Grand Tour of Switzerland combines the highlights on one route. The route connects all tourist regions in Switzerland. The impressive route combines 45 highlights of Switzerland on a journey over five Alpine passes, past 22 lakes and 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites. The tour offers a meaningful connection between the Alpine region and cities, tradition and history, nature and culture, art and architecture, the known and the unknown, the calm and the adventure. It inspires the guests, guarantees unforgettable experiences, makes the journey a pleasure and the tour a travel destination.
The ideal touring country
Thanks to its high density of experiences, the cultural and scenic diversity and the well-developed roads, Switzerland is the ideal touring country. There are countless beautiful routes and locations that are suitable for touring. When determining the route, it was all about tourist attractiveness - and the most impressive and spectacular route possible in between.
The Grand Tour of Switzerland makes it possible to experience:
The highlights of Switzerland on the most scenic route. Motorways are mostly avoided on the Grand Tour and are only travelled on when it makes sense from a traffic point of view.
Highlights 45 top attractions, including twelve UNESCO World Heritage Sites and two biospheres.
Lakes 22 lakes larger than 0.5 km² along the route
Recommended summer travel time (April – October)
Length
Core route: 1,643 km
Entry stage Basel - Neuchâtel: 165 km
Entry stage Geneva - Saint-George: 53 km
Entry stage Chiasso - Bellinzona: 109 km
Highest/lowest point of the Grand Tour
Furkapass, 2,429 m above M./Lago Maggiore, 193 m above M.
Highlights
From Neuchâtel to Lake Zurich
Main route - Part 1
Murten
The small medieval town of Murten is located on the lake of the same name and has retained its original face with the picturesque old town streets and cozy arcades. It surrounds the only almost completely preserved and walkable curtain wall of Switzerland.
Thanks to its idyllic location on a small hill, the 800-year-old Zähringer town in the canton of Friborg has developed into a popular excursion destination.
The city on the German-French language border has a beautiful lake promenade with a wide range of water sports and offers a lot of culture and excursions. In the evening you shouldn't miss the sunset with a magnificent view over Lake Murten towards Mont Vully and Jura.
Old town of Bern
Thanks to the largely unchanged medieval townscape, Bern was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1983.
The old town of Bern is surrounded by the Aare loop and enjoys the view of the overwhelming alpine panorama. The romantic capital owes its charm to the unity of the cityscape.
6 km of arcades, figure fountains from the Renaissance, the cathedral, largely preserved sandstone facades and a unique roof landscape characterize the image of the city, founded in 1191, which is one of the greatest examples of medieval urban planning in Europe.
Lucerne and Lake Lucerne
In Central Switzerland, the city of Lucerne with 82,000 residents is located on the shores of the beautiful Lake Lucerne. The 650 year old Chapel Bridge with its octagonal water tower is world famous. Visit the baroque Jesuit church and the imposing congress and cultural center (KKL), which one could also assume to be in London or New York.
From the Fronalpstock (1922m), which can be reached on foot and by chairlift, you have an impressive vantage point and enjoy an impressive panoramic view of ten lakes, vertically down to Brunnen and the Rütli, to Pilatus, Rigi, Säntis, the high Alps and the Mittelland to the Jura.
From the village of Schlattli, the world's steepest funicular goes 734 m up to the Stoos plateau. From here the whole family can go hiking and admire the unique panorama.
Einsiedeln Monastery
Einsiedeln Abbey is the largest pilgrimage site in Switzerland and an important stop on the Way of St. James. The Black Madonna of Einsiedeln in the Chapel of Grace attracts around 800,000 pilgrims and tourists every year. The community of Benedictine monks has around 60 members.
Einsiedeln Abbey was built in the 18th century as a baroque building with four inner courtyards. Before that, Romanesque and Gothic buildings dominated the hermitage, which was founded in 835 by the Benedictine monk Meinrad. In the monastery church, the Chapel of Grace made of black marble stands under a frescoed vault. Inside is the famous Black Madonna from the 15th century.
From Lake Zurich to the Tremola Pass Road
Main route - Part 2
Zurich
Zurich is a lively and dynamic small metropolis. Over 400,000 people from Zurich live in the largest Swiss city.
The cosmopolitan city on the water combines creative city life with wonderful nature. With countless events, diverse museums, its own food festival and the liveliest nightlife in Switzerland, Zurich pulsates day and night.
With its unique location on Lake Zurich, the Alps on the horizon, the numerous local recreation areas and its urban diversity, the city offers an attractive whole.
The picturesque streets of the old town on both sides of the Limmat are testimonies to the city's pre-medieval history. Promenades like the Limmatquai follow the river to the 17th century town hall.
One of the most important buildings is the Grossmünster and is one of Zurich's most famous landmarks. The Romanesque church that still exists today was built around 1100 and has since been rebuilt and renovated several times.
Rhine Falls Schaffhausen
Muottas Muragl panoramic mountain
Here you have a wonderful view of the Engadine with St. Moritz at your feet.
The Muottas Muragl can be reached on foot or with a funicular from Punt Muragl (between Samedan and Pontresina). The Muottas Muragl-Bahn (MMB) funicular has a length of 2199 m and overcomes an altitude of 709 m.
Three castles of Bellinzona
The three castles of Bellinzona (Castelgrande, Castello di Montebello and Castello di Sasso Corbaro) are among the main attractions in Ticino, are unique in the Alpine region and have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. With its castles, walls, towers, battlements and gates, this imposing fortification causes astonishment in the viewer.
The Tremola
Tremolastrasse is the longest road construction monument in Switzerland. The world-famous serpentine road was created with the construction of the Gotthard pass road. In the most spectacular section, the road overcomes a length of four kilometers, 300 meters in altitude in 24 bends, which even have their own names. The pass road between Göschenen and Airolo was built between 1827 and 1832 according to plans by the Ticino engineer Francesco Meschini, after the access roads from Basel and Chiasso had been continuously expanded since the 1810s.
From the highest mountains back to the Rhine
Main route - Part 3
UNESCO World Heritage Jungfrau-Aletsch
The largest glacier on mainland Europe is located here. With a length of 23km, an average width of 1800m and an area of around 100km2, the Aletsch Glacier comprises an impressive 27 billion tons of ice. The ice masses stretch from the northern flanks of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau down into the Valais, the water of which flows through the wild Massa Gorge into the Rhone. The Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch region was added to the Unesco World Heritage List in 2001 as a landscape of extraordinary beauty.
The Matterhorn
One of the most famous mountains in the world is in the Valais Alps between Zermatt and Breuil-Cervinia. The east, north and west walls are on Swiss territory, the south wall on Italian territory.
In 1865, the first ascent of the Matterhorn, which cost four out of seven alpinists their lives, changed the previously very secluded region forever. The Matterhorn became world-famous and a destination for ambitious mountaineers.
One has a fantastic view of the most photographed mountain in the world from the Klein Matterhorn (Matterhorn glacier paradise), which is only separated from the Matterhorn by the Theodul pass and glacier. It is accessible from Zermatt with cable cars, the mountain station at 3820 meters above sea level is the highest cable car station in the Alps. Other vantage points are the Gornergrat or the Rothorn. The first electric cogwheel railway in Switzerland reaches the Gornergrat in around 30 minutes from Zermatt. The viewing platform is open all year round.
The mountain village of Grimentz
The well-preserved, car-free town center of Grimentz is worth seeing with numerous sun-burned historic wooden houses typical of the region with the fiery red geraniums in front of the windows. The burger house, built in 1550, remained in the hands of the community until 1904 and is still the center of the village today.
Lausanne and Lake Geneva
Lausanne, the second largest city on Lake Geneva, combines a dynamic business city with the location of a holiday resort. The capital of the canton of Vaud is also a lively university and popular congress city.
Various world sports federations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), have their headquarters in Lausanne. Since 1994 the city has had the official title of "Olympic Capital". In 1993 the Olympic Museum was also opened there.
City of culture Basel
The cultural city for connoisseurs has 40 museums, the highest density of museums in the country. In addition, Basel has a beautiful old town, modern architecture and the Rhine, which invites you to linger.
The municipal art museum exhibits what is generally considered to be the most important public art collection in Switzerland. With the “Amerbach-Kabinett” acquired by the city in 1661, the collection is considered to be the oldest public art museum in the world.
Year after year, people from near and far make the pilgrimage to Riehen to immerse themselves in the art world of Hildy and Ernst Beyeler. You come to the collection of works from the classical modern period or to one of the sensational exhibitions. But Renzo Piano's building and the associated park are also worth the trip.
Other museums, such as the Museum of Cultures, are just as attractive as numerous galleries and small theaters.
Notes on signposting, direction of travel and travel duration
The Grand Tour can be skied in both directions, but Switzerland Tourism recommends clockwise travel. This is particularly important in cities with one-way streets or motorway entrances.
The Grand Tour is signposted with official signposts. The signage is limited to the clockwise direction of travel on the core route and to the core route on the entry stages from abroad.
With a driving time of at least five hours a day, it is recommended to plan at least seven days for the core route. Depending on the entry from the border, more time is required. The effective travel time depends on whether you take it easy or take time for the many sights along the route. You can enjoy the route extensively with the motorhome.
Grand Tour of Switzerland Main Route
Route guidance with parking space information
You will find an overview map of the sights as well as the entry routes in our "Explorer Map".
This information is a service offer from ALPINE in cooperation with FERIENSTRASSEN.INFO 
Switzerland Tourismus
Mendelssohnstraße 87
D - 60325 Frankfurt am Main
Grand Tour of Switzerland
