8-day ultimate Swiss pass roads driving tour 

Day 1: Zurich-Lucerne-Meiringen via the Brünig Pass: 100 km, 1h20

Your driving tour starts in Zurich, although you can pick other starting points such as Basel too.

You’ll head south for Lucerne, where you’ll see the mountains surrounding Lake Lucerne. Drive further south over the Brünig Pass to your destination. It’s the town of Meiringen, surrounded by steep rock walls.

Side trips

• Explore Zurich before heading off.
• Explore Lucerne, make a boat ride over the lake, or visit a mountain top such as Pilatus or Rigi. Find all suggestions here.
• After arrival in Brienz at the southern end of the Brünig Pass, enjoy the steam train ride up to the Brienzer Rothorn or relax during a boat trip on Lake Brienz.
• Visit the Ballenberg open-air museum between Brienz and Meiringen.
• Visit the Aare Gorge or the Reichenbach Falls near Meiringen.

Hotels in Meiringen

• I suggest the 4-star Parkhotel du Sauvage, which is close to the rail Meiringen rail station. It has parking facilities and a restaurant.
• Check more options here.

Day 2: Meiringen-Andermatt crossing the Grimsel and Furka Pass: 69 km, 1h40

Meiringen is close to some of Switzerland’s most spectacular pass roads. If you spend an extra day in Meiringen, you can make a round trip combining the Grimsel, Furka, and Susten Pass all in one.

But my itinerary suggests you drive to Andermatt using the Grimsel and Furka Pass roads:

• The Grimsel Pass starts in Meiringen and then leads to Guttannen and Gletsch. In Roman times this was an important alpine traverse between northern and southern regions. Nowadays, the Grimsel Pass with its hairpin curves is a spectacular road.
• From Gletsch, you’ll enter the Furka Pass. It connects the Valais to the Gotthard Pass and Andermatt. Don’t forget to get out at the parking lot near Hotel Belvédère for a spectacular view of the Rhone Glacier. Continue to Realp, Hospental, and your destination Andermatt.

Route alternatives

• You can instead use the Susten Pass to Andermatt, which starts in Meiringen as well (62 km, 1h15). This is a beautiful route too. It passes the villages of Gadmen, Wassen and Göschenen. Wassen’s catholic church is famous: the Gotthard Panorama Express trains pass it three times as they spiral next to it through tunnels and loops.

Side trip tips

• If you pick the Susten Pass route, you can board the Gelmerbahn for a ride on Europe’s steepest funicular from Handegg to the Gelmersee (“Gelmer Lake”). Don’t forget the suspension bridge near Handegg.
• Have lunch at Grimsel Hospiz on the Grimselsee (“Grimsel Lake”).
• From Andermatt, you can take a 30-minute hike to the Teufelsbrücke (“Devil’s Bridge”) in the Schöllenen Gorge over the river Reuss. Or visit the Gemsstock mountain by cable car.

Hotels

• I recommend the 3-star Hotel Sonne. It’s very close to the Gemsstock cable car station, and at a 7-minute walk from Andermatt’s rail station.
• Search for other hotels in Andermatt here.

Day 3: Andermatt-St. Moritz over the Oberalp and Albula Pass: 164 km, 3h40

Today’s driving distance is a bit longer. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views from two mountain passes. First up is the Oberalp Pass between Andermatt and Disentis. After a steep ascent from Andermatt, the rest of the mountain road is pretty easy.

In Disentis, you’ve entered northern Graubünden. Rhaeto-Romanic is still spoken in parts of this canton. Follow the valley further east as far as Domat-Ems. There you’ll bend south to the Albula Valley.

The most spectacular pass of this entire trip starts here: the Albula Pass. The road is narrow and curvy. After a landscape consisting of grass, tiny lakes and rocks, you’ll descend to the village La Punt-Chamues-ch in the Engadine Valley. Today’s destination is St. Moritz or a nearby town.

Route alternatives

• Take the less challenging Julier Pass from Albula to Silvaplana west of St. Moritz, instead of the Albula Pass to La Punt-Chamues-ch (158 km, 3h10).

Shortcut options to Brig

• From Andermatt, you can cross over to Brig (the destination of day 5) using the Gotthard Pass between Andermatt and Airolo. There’s the option of either the pass road (99 km, 2h10), or the car tunnel (113 km, 2h40).
• Another option is to drive from Andermatt back to Gletsch. Then descend to Oberwald and Brig in the Upper Rhone Valley (80 km, 2h00).

Excursion ideas

• Find a good spot to get out along the Rhine between Ilanz and Reichenau, referred to as the “Swiss Grand Canyon”.
• Explore Chur.
• Explore St. Moritz or one of its nearby mountain tops such as Corvatsch, Piz Nair, Muottas Muragl, or the Signalbahn. Find more tips here.

Hotels

• Hotels at lower prices can be found in the villages near St. Moritz. A good option is the Laagers Hotel Garni in Samedan.
• If you want to stay in St. Moritz, mind that most hotels offer paid parking only. I recommend the 3-star Hotel Hauser: an environmentally friendly hotel in the town center.
• A cheaper option is the 2-star hotel Casa Franco in the outskirts of St. Moritz, near the lake.
• Annika has listed more suggestions for hotels in and near St. Moritz here.

Day 4: St. Moritz-Locarno via the Maloja, Splügen and San Bernardino Pass: 178 km, 3h20

Today you’ll leave Switzerland’s German-speaking regions and enter its Italian-speaking areas. This varied ride includes three mountain passes.

First, drive along the lakes of the Upper Engadine to Maloja, where the road makes a steep descent into the romantic Bregaglia (or “Bergell Valley”). Cross the Swiss-Italian border and drive to Chiavenna.

Then head north to enter Switzerland again over the Splügen Pass. In Splügen, turn southwest to follow part of the San Bernardino Pass. Travel via the towns of Mesocco and Bellinzona. You’ll then reach your destination Locarno on Lake Maggiore.

Route alternatives

• Drive the Maloja Pass to Chiavenna. Instead of heading north to the San Bernardino pass, turn southwest and drive to Locarno, via Menaggio (on Lake Como) and via Lugano (164 km, 3h20).
• Skip the Maloja Pass. Instead drive to Tiefencastel and Thusis in the north to enjoy the entire San Bernardino Pass (175 km, 2h40).
• Drive over the Bernina Pass, famous for the Bernina Express train ride, to Tirano on the Swiss-Italian border. Then head west for Locarno through Italy, via Sondrio and Lugano. This is the same route as the bus section of the Bernina Express ride (219 km, 4h00).

Side excursions

• Get out in one of the lovely villages of the Bregaglia Valley for a short hike.
• There are several spots at the Bernina Pass where you can stop and enjoy the views over the Lago Bianco. A circular hike, based on routes such as Ospizio Bernina-Alp Grüm, is recommended too.
• Explore the vibrant city of Lugano, or the medieval castles of Bellinzona.
• Take your time in Locarno after arrival. You could take the short ride to the Madonna del Sasso church for example. Find more suggestions for nearby activities here.

Hotels

• The 3-star Hotel Du Lac is close to the rail station of Locarno and to the lake.
• More options for hotels in Locarno can be found here.

Day 5: Locarno-Brig along the Centovalli route and over the Simplon Pass: 106 km, 2h00

Today’s destination is Brig, located in the Upper Rhone Valley in the Valais. This area is home to the Matterhorn and other spectacular mountains. You’ll get there by crossing a part of Italy.

From Locarno, drive west to the Italian town of Domodossola, roughly following the route of the Centovalli Railway.

Then enter the Simplon Pass, which gets you back to Switzerland and ultimately to the Rhone Valley and Brig.

Route alternatives

• Drive from Locarno to Airolo and cross the Nufenen Pass there. You’ll enter the Upper Rhone Valley in the village of Ulrichen. This is a short drive away from Brig (155 km, 2h40).
• If want to skip the Simplon Pass, board the car train in Iselle instead.

Side trips

• Brig is worth your time. It has a nice town center with a beautiful castle.
• If you arrive in Brig early, you shouldn’t miss a side trip to Saas-Fee or to Zermatt. Park in Täsch if you want to visit Zermatt.
• Pay a visit to Bettmerhorn or Eggishorn for a view of the Aletsch Glacier.

Hotels

• Look into the comfortable 4-star Hotel Ambassador, just outside the town center of Brig.
• Hotel Europe, a 3-star hotel right across the rail station, is located very centrally.
• Find other hotels in Brig here.

Day 6: Brig-Montreux via the Lötschberg car train and the Simmen Valley: 182 km, 3h40

There’s a simple road from Brig to Montreux through the Rhone Valley, but the route I suggest offers much more diversity.

You’ll first drive up to the entry of the Lötschberg car train in Goppenstein. After a 20-minute ride through the Lötschberg Tunnel, you’ll get out in Kandersteg in the Kander Valley, part of the Bernese Oberland.

Drive north towards Spiez on Lake Thun. Then bend west to Zweisimmen in the Simmen Valley. You’re now following part of the GoldenPass train route. Move on towards Gstaad.

The GoldenPass trains head for Montbovon, but you’ll drive south to Gsteig and Ormont-Dessus. You’ll be back at the bottom of the Rhone Valley in Aigle. From there, it’s only a short drive to Montreux on Lake Geneva.

Route alternatives

• A much shorter ride from Brig to Montreux can be made through the Rhone Valley (121 km, 1h35). This is recommended if you prefer more time near Brig or in Montreux.

Options for side excursions

• Take a trip to the Saas Valley or Zermatt before heading off.
• Visit the Niesen from Mülenen before arriving in Spiez.
• Spiez is a beautiful town for a break. If you drive down to the little harbor, you can enjoy lunch or a coffee in one of the restaurants with views over the lake and the castle of Spiez.
• Visit the Stockhorn from Erlenbach in the Simmen Valley.
• Get out in Gstaad and explore this classy resort.
• Between Gsteig and Ormont-Dessus, you can get out at Col-du-Pillon and board the cable car to Glacier 3000.
• Explore Montreux, take a boat trip over the lake or get up to Rochers-de-Naye. More tips can be found here.

Hotels

• You can spend the night in the wonderful 3-star Villa Toscane, located just north of the center and with an underground car park.
• Find other hotels in Montreux here.

Day 7: Montreux-Neuchâtel via Bulle and Fribourg: 102 km, 1h30

You have already crossed the German-, Rhaeto-Romanic- and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland. Now it’s time to explore its French-speaking area.

This easy ride takes you from Montreux to the picturesque town of Neuchâtel in the Three Lakes region, via Bulle and Fribourg. The scenery consists of rolling green hills and pretty lakes.

Route alternatives

• Enjoy longer rides along the shores of Lake Geneva and Lake Neuchâtel by first heading west towards Lausanne. Then travel north to Yverdon-les-Bains and Neuchâtel (99 km, 1h10).

Side trip ideas

• Visit the medieval town of Gruyères. You can include a visit to the nearby show dairy and to the chocolate factory in Broc.
• Explore the town of Fribourg.
• Explore the old town center of Neuchâtel and its surroundings. If you arrive in time, you can enjoy a boat trip over the three lakes of Murten (“Morat” in French), Neuchâtel, and Biel (“Bienne” in French).

Hotels

• The 3-star Hotel Touring au Lac is worth considering. It’s right on the lake, and within walking distance from Neuchâtel’s town center and railway station. The hotel does not have its own parking facilities though.
• Another lakeside option is the 4-star Best Western Premier Hotel Beaulac, with a paid parking garage.
• If you want to browse more hotels in Neuchâtel, have a look here.

Day 8: Neuchatel-Zurich over the Glaubenbielen panoramic road: 225 km, 3h40

Today you’ll return to Zurich. This pretty route winds its way through Switzerland’s northern hills and farmlands.

From Neuchâtel, drive to the federal capital city Bern. Move on to Langnau and Schüpfheim. There you’ll enter the panoramic road of the Glaubenbielen Pass, which ends in Giswil. You’ll travel back to Zurich via Sarnen and Lucerne, just as you started your trip.

Route alternatives

• If you want to see some other interesting cities along the way, you can also travel from Neuchâtel to Zurich via Biel, Solothurn and Aarau (151 km, 1h55).

Side trips

• Get out in Bern and explore this attractive city.
• Get out in Trubschachen and pay a visit to the Kambly cookie factory and outlet store, or make a hike in the Emmental (“Emmen Valley”).
• If you didn’t have time to explore Lucerne or Zurich on day 1, you can do so now.

Hotels

• I recommend avoiding the busy town center of Zurich and finding accommodation in a nearby village. The Sedartis Swiss Quality Hotel in Thalwil, about 15 minutes from Zurich and on the lake, offers comfortable and modern rooms. There’s a restaurant and terrace with lake views, plus underground parking for guests.
• If you prefer another hotel in Zurich, please find the options here.
• Will you be flying out from Zurich? In that case, you can look into hotels near the airport.

How to use and adjust this itinerary

• You can adjust this itinerary in every respect: shorten it (refer to the shortcut presented on day 3 for example), extend it, or change the order of the route segments.
• It’s recommended to add nights in the towns you’re most interested in and to take your time in their surroundings. This way, you can turn this itinerary into a 2- or even 3-week Switzerland holiday.
• I made sure that the travel times per day are relatively short. This means you can take breaks along the way and make side excursions.
• This route can be done in the reverse direction too.

Planning and preparation tips

Estimated versus actual travel times

The suggested travel times are estimates. They assume you don’t take any breaks and that there’s no delay due to traffic jams or road works. When planning, assume you’ll be driving longer than the indicated times.

Designed for experienced drivers

I created this route for experienced drivers, who feel confident on mountain routes and who drive carefully and safely. If you haven’t driven in Europe or on pass roads before, a train itinerary will be safer and more relaxed.

Preparation tips and tools

Prepare for your driving tour with these tools:

• See the entire route on the map on this page.
• Find up-to-date traffic information here.
• Check weather forecasts each day before hitting the road. In case of heavy rain, thunderstorms, strong wind, or summer snow, driving in the mountains can be dangerous, especially if you’re not skilled. Adjust your route to avoid mountain passes if necessary.
• Study Swiss traffic rules and find out how to safely drive in the mountains.

Parking facilities of your hotels

The hotels I suggest are car-friendly. They can well be reached and most have parking facilities. If you look for other hotels, make sure they have enough parking space. If they don’t, you’ll have to rely on public parking near the hotel.

Map of the driving route