Episode 45: The Grand Tour of Switzerland
If you’re a regular listener of the podcast, you’ll be aware of Switzerland’s fantastic public transport network as there have been numerous episodes about the benefits of travelling around Switzerland by train.
But there is an alternative way to travel. Renting a car and doing a road trip!
Having your own car allows you to stop wherever you like and for as long as you like. With your own car, there are no more timetables to adhere to and your itinerary can be as flexible as you want it to be.
Regardless of whether you prefer to have your entire itinerary planned in advance or are more of a ‘go-where-the-wind-takes-you’ style of traveller, renting a car in Switzerland offers so many advantages.
My husband and I have rented a car in Switzerland on many occasions and have enjoyed the freedom and flexibility that having a car offers.
So if driving is your preferred mode of transport but you’re struggling to come up with the perfect itinerary, I’ve got the solution for you.
In today’s episode I’m welcoming back Livio Goetz, Director of Switzerland Tourism Australia and New Zealand, to chat to him about the Grand Tour of Switzerland.
The Grand Tour of Switzerland is a scenic route made up of 25 different sections (or legs), which highlights the best of Switzerland. It covers much of the country and visits 44 of Switzerland’s top attractions, crosses five mountain passes, visits cities and alpine villages, and passes 22 lakes. It really is the perfect road trip.
So, if you need the roadtrip of a lifetime, you need Switzerland.
As always, I’d like to thank Livio and his colleagues from Switzerland Tourism for sponsoring the podcast. You can find out more about the Grand Tour and lots more Swiss travel information and inspiration on myswitzerland.com.
Click the green button below to listen:
[This post may contain compensated links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.]
Show Notes
In this episode, we discuss:
- What is the Grand Tour of Switzerland?
- How long should visitors allow to drive the entire Grand Tour route?
- The highlights of the Grand Tour
- Why visitors should consider a driving vacation and do their own Grand Tour
- Where to find information about the different legs and the driving distances
- Navigating around the Grand Tour of Switzerland
- Scenic photo spots along the route
- Is the Grand Tour suitable for all vehicle types?
- Tips for driving over mountain passes
- Swiss road rules
Grand Tour of Switzerland information mentioned in this episode
The Grand Tour of Switzerland is a 1600 kilometre scenic route around Switzerland comprising 25 legs (or sections). It visits 44 top attractions, including 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, passes 22 lakes and crosses five mountain passes.
Lucerne >> the medieval city with its famous Chapel Bridge is one of the many highlights of the Grand Tour of Switzerland.
Jungfrau Region >> home to the Jungfrau and Schilthorn peaks, this region is one of the most popular destinations in Switzerland.
Rhine Falls >> the most powerful waterfall in Europe is located near Schaffhausen in the north of the country.
Furka Pass >> a mountain pass with an elevation of 2,429 m at its highest point, the Furka Pass was featured in the 1964 James Bond movie, Goldfinger.
Legs 4 & 5 >> Connecting Zurich and St. Gallen, legs 4 and 5 are perfect for those who fancy a day or overnight trip visiting Schaffhausen, Rhine Falls and Stein am Rhein en-route.
Legs 6, 7 & 8 >> Starting in the idyllic paradise that is Appenzell, these sections of the Grand Tour continue on to St. Moritz via Maienfeld, famous as the ‘home’ of the children’s storybook character, Heidi.
Legs 22, 23 & 24 >> Featuring many must-visit tourist destinations, these legs of the route connect Neuchatel with Interlaken and travel through Murten, Fribourg, Gruyeres and Gstaad.
The e-Grand Tour >> designed with electric vehicles in mind, the E-Grand Tour is the world’s first road trip for electric vehicles and features a dense network of charging stations.
Grand Tour Photo Spots >> special photo frames are located at the most scenic locations along the route so you can capture the perfect image.
Useful Resource
For further details and an interactive map of the Grand Tour of Switzerland visit the official website. You can also book your package – of either the Classic Grand Tour of the E-Grand Tour – on this page. Scroll down until you see the Grand Tour Offers.
Other useful Grand Tour of Switzerland links:
Map information can be found at myswitzerland.com/grandtourmap
You can learn more about the Grand Tour of Switzerland app (available from 9 May, 2022) at myswitzerland.com/grandtourapp and find out where the Grand Tour Photo Spots are located at myswitzerland.com/photospots.
To purchase the Grand Tour of Switzerland travel guide (including map), click here or > here.
Watch the Switzerland Tourism campaign featuring Roger Federer and Anne Hathaway below.
More helpful articles:
- Grand Tour of Switzerland | 14 day Switzerland itinerary by car
- Driving in Switzerland Guide (includes road rules, license requirements, speed limits, and more)
and if you missed Livio chatting about Swiss traditions, customs and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in a previous episode of the podcast, you can listen to it > here.
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This episode is sponsored by Switzerland Tourism
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