One of the most popular day trips from Zurich is also the perfect first stop on your Zurich road trip. Just over an hour’s drive from our campervan hire depot is Lake Walensee.
Walensee is a prime example of Switzerland’s natural beauty — a large, fjord-like lake with bright blue water bordered by stunning mountain ranges. We hope you remembered to pack your trainers!
Close to your campsite there’s a ferry terminal, and you can rely on the highly efficient ferries across the lake — this is Switzerland, after all. Head to Quinten and follow the walking trail towards Betlis, admiring the vistas along the way.
The highlight of this route is the cascading Seerenbach Falls, the country’s tallest free-standing waterfall. After working your way up this fairly moderate walk, your reward is a cold beer and a bratwurst or two with a view.
From there, simply grab the next ferry back to Murg and rest up for tomorrow’s adventure.
Next on this Zurich road trip is the Alpine city of Chur, the oldest settlement in Switzerland, dating back over 5,000 years. It’s historic Altstadt (Old Town) is one of the best preserved in the country, though now completely car-free.
Leave the campervan behind at lakeside Camp Au Chur, make use of the city’s public transport, and explore on foot.
The Old Town’s winding cobbled streets give way to pretty pastel buildings and lovely, open squares dotted with outdoor cafés. Chur itself looks like a work of art, but if you’d like to see some actual paintings, the spectacular Bündner Kunstmuseum is the place to go.
While in town, catch a glimpse of the iconic red Bernina Express as it departs Chur bound for the Italian border. For a better vantage point, take the Brambrüesch cable car up and enjoy panoramic views over the surrounding ski slopes and mountain ranges.
Heading south from Chur is a scenic stretch of road that Zurich road trip dreams are made of. Try to keep your eyes on the road, but enjoy passing snow-covered mountain ranges and pretty little villages as you make your way into southern Switzerland’s canton of Ticino.
We hope you’ve brushed up on your Italian!
You’ll find that glacial Lake Lugano attracts a certain glitterati, not unlike its Clooney-approved Italian neighbour, Como. Stay the night and enjoy the luxe Mediterranean vibes while sipping espresso al fresco and strolling the palm-lined promenade.
Next on this road trip itinerary, head north to Locarno, also known as the sunniest town in Switzerland. Its art-filled Catholic sanctuary offers stunning panoramic views of Lake Maggiore and the surrounding Alps.
On your third day in Ticino, head to the regional capital, Bellinzona, and spend the day exploring its three iconic medieval castles before driving on to the next stop on your Zurich road trip itinerary.
After exploring the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, arriving in Lucerne marks your return to a place that feels distinctly Swiss.
This lakeside town sits among snow-capped mountain ranges, boasting beautifully preserved medieval architecture and a colourful Old Town.
Feel free to leave your campervan at the lakeside campsite and use the efficient ferry service to cross Lake Lucerne and explore the town on foot.
For a truly Instagram-worthy photo, head to Kapellbrücke (Chapel Bridge) to snap the iconic wooden footbridge and its stone water tower, with the medieval Old Town and mountains beyond.
No Zurich road trip that includes Lucerne is complete without a trip up to the top of Pilatus, the steadfast peak that has stood guard over the city for centuries.
You could hike or take a modern cable car, but our preferred way up is by vintage train, along the steepest cogwheel railway in the world. Don't look down!
