Best Swiss border towns to travel (near Zurich)?
A traveler named Qaphsiel is excited about their upcoming trip to Switzerland, landing in Zurich with their 67-year-old mom in September. They are looking for an easy-to-reach cross-border town within 1.5 hours of driving from Zurich, as their mom has mild arthritis and they will be self-driving. They're considering Fislis in France but want alternate recommendations.
- Consider visiting Konstanz, a charming town that is mostly flat and accessible for easier mobility.
- If you choose Konstanz, take a short ferry ride to Meersburg for a lovely experience but be mindful of steep streets.
- Look into a car itinerary that includes historical Swiss towns and lakes for a scenic route.
- The Swiss Travel Pass can offer great value if you plan to use public transport or visit multiple attractions.
AI-generated summary-
Hi!
I am truly happy to have found this group.
I am even more excited that I will be landing Zurich in September, from Malaysia. Planning a trip with my 67yo mom can be overwhelming. My mom has mild arthritis. We couldn’t visit spots that require long walking. Hence I’ll be self-driving for the entire trip.
Immediately after landing, I plan to drive cross-country to visit a town nearby the Swiss border for 2-3 days. A travel influencer recommended Fislis in France. It’s quiet, beautiful and residential town. But it seems too distant from other places.
Can you recommend another cross-border town we can go to, maybe within 1hr30 mins of driving from Zurich?
Thanks a million!
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Hi Qaphsiel,
Welcome to MySwissAlps.
From Zurich (https://www.myswissalps.com/zurich) you can easily drive to Konstanz in Germany via Meersburg. Konstanz is a big city but Meersburg is a charming little town across the German border. You can reach it via a short trip on a ferry.
If you’re interested in exploring medieval and historic towns, you can find them aplenty across Switzerland. Some suggestions here: http://www.myswissalps.com/wheretogo/towns
Also if this is your first time driving in Switzerland, you might find the information on this page useful: http://www.myswissalps.com/car
Hope this gets you started.
Regards,
Anna
Hi,
I’d also recommend Konstanz. It is a very pretty town with a lot to see and it is pretty flat. Pro Tipp – don’t stand behind the statue of the six legged horse at the Kaiser Fountain in the Market Square – I’ll let you find out why. You can also visit Mainau which is called the “Flower Island”. It is essentially a botanical garden with wonderful topiary sculptures and a butterfly house. Historical Meersburg is a short ferry trip away, but the streets leading up from the habour are quite steep and may be a bit of a challenge for someone not fully mobile.
Konstanz is actually part of Germany even though it is on the Swiss side of the Rhine. If you are driving from Zurich, you first drive to the Swiss city of Kreuzlingen before crossing the border which separates Kreuzlingen from Konstanz.
I hope this helps
Have fun!
Alan
Hi Qpashiel,
Just thought I’d bring this car itinerary in northern Switzerland to your attention: http://www.myswissalps.com/plantrip/doityourself/sampleitineraries/allseasondrivingtour. Whether segments of it are doable for you, depends on the base town you pick. But it’s full of charming historical Swiss towns and pretty lakes, so it might give you some ideas for possible destinations in Switzerland.
Thank you for replying and being the first friend of mine in this forum!
Konstanz looks charming.
But my next stop after a cross-border stay would be Interlaken. I am trying to avoid driving Zurich – Konstanz (Germany) – Zurich – then Interlaken.
I am thinking is there a cross-border town in between north/south Zurich and Interlaken?
Hi Alan,
Love your pro tipp. Your beautiful writing makes me want to visit Mainau and Konstanz immediately.
My next stop is Interlaken. I am considering if I should drive to Konstanz and then come back to Interlaken.
I might plan again my trip since both of you recommended Konstanz .
Thank you so much!
Warmly,
Qaphsiel
Hi Arno,
The itineraries are very useful! Massive thanks to you.
Warmly,
Qaphsiel
It’s not that far to drive between Zurich/Konstanz and then tto Interlaken. (I concur with Meersburg – lovely place – beautiful Hotel Romantik that has great food and balconies overlooking the lake too) Take the ferry from Konstanz to Meersburg, it’s only around 20-25 minutes.
We’eve done the Zurich Konstanz frequently for the afternoon.
Thank you for your suggestion Blig!
I would love to visit Konstanz.
Is there another town you would recommend to drop by between Konstanz and Interlaken?
Hi Qaphsiel,
Interlaken is not located anywhere near the border so it is difficult to plan a cross-border trip without making switchbacks. Alternative to Konstanz would be to drive from Zurich to Basel (which is right at the French and German border), then Basel to Interlaken.
Hope this gives you more options to consider for your itinerary.
regards,
Anna
I would take the road through Luzern, lovely city with history. Then go via Saarnen over the Brunigpass and past Brienz to Interlaken.
Don’t forget the other side of Interlaken is the Thunersee with Thun and Spiez. A drive round the lake can be done leisurely in a day taking in both places and a boat ride. A trip up to Kandersteg and the Blausee via Frutigen is also a nice day trip.
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