Switzerland is beautiful place! The best way to get to know it is on a road trip through nature and its picturesque villages! On this two-day trip we started from Zurich, renting a hybrid car through Carjet.com, at a cost of €130 for two days, including full insurance.
In total, we traveled 400 kilometers and spent only 28€ on fuel. I consider it an economical and environmentally friendly choice. We also did not pay any tolls, thanks to the vignette that the car already had.
💡 What is a vignette?
In Switzerland, instead of paying tolls, you need to buy an annual vignette (around 40 CHF). It is a sticker (or electronic card) that you stick on your windshield. It is mandatory for all motorways. In rental cars, it is most often already included.
Day 1: Zurich – Bern – Blausee – Kandersteg
1st stop: Bern – The Medieval Capital
Bern, although not the largest city in Switzerland, is the official capital and is full of surprises. The capital of Switzerland welcomed us with its atmospheric old town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Its Old Town (Altstadt), with its characteristic arcades (Lauben) 6 kilometers long, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is ideal for strolling, coffee and shopping with a medieval atmosphere.
Among the attractions, the Zytglogge stands out, a medieval tower with a 15th-century astronomical clock. Next to it, the federal parliament (Bundeshaus) offers a view of the Aare River where free guided tours are also organized. Albert Einstein lived here for couple of years, while you can visit the Einstein Museum, which was his apartment.
The city is small, spotlessly clean, quiet and ideal for walking. Even the center of town is almost free of cars.
🍽️ Food
- Restaurant Della Casa – traditional Swiss cuisine in a retro environment
- Lorenzini –Italian atmosphere with a beautiful courtyard
🖼️ Μουσεία
- Einstein Museum – in the house where he lived and worked
- Kunstmuseum Bern – art gallery with works by Paul Klee, Picasso, etc.
🎯 Activities
- Stroll along the Aare River
- Picnic in the Rosengarten overlooking the Old Town
2nd stop: Blausee
The “blue lake” is one of the most fairytale landscapes in Switzerland. Crystal clear, turquoise waters in a dense forest, a stop that looks like it came out of a postcard. The route there is equally enchanting, passing through small villages and green valleys. To access the lake you must pay an entrance fee: 9 – 13 CHF for adults and 5 – 9 CHF for children, depending on the day and time you visit. More information about public hours can be found here.
🍽️Food
- The restaurant inside the lake park offers fresh salmon from a fish farm
🎯 Activities
- Short hike around the lake and photos from the wooden bridges
- You can go glass-bottom boating (if it’s season time)
3rd stop: Overnight stay in Kandersteg
We stayed for a night at the Hotel Alpina in Kandersteg, a quiet mountain village at the roots of the Alps. The room costed 120€ and included a rich breakfast with local products. The sense of tranquility that the village exudes is ideal for relaxing after a busy day.
🍽️ Food
- Restaurant Hotel Des Alpes – τοπικά πιάτα σε φιλόξενο περιβάλλον
🎯 Activities
- If you have time, take the cable car to Oeschinensee: Wonderful alpine lake (ideal spring-summer).
Day 2: Lauterbrunnen – Iseltwald – Lucerne – Zurich
1st stop: Lauterbrunnen
The Road Trip in Switzerland continues on day 2 with a stop in the Lauterbrunnen Valley. Undoubtedly one of the most impressive landscapes in Switzerland. The Lauterbrunnen Valley is famous for the waterfalls that fall from each side of the rocks, Staubbach being the most famous. It is like a setting from a fairy tale or from “The Lord of the Rings”.
🍽️ Food
- Airtime Café – cozy cafe with sweets and sandwiches
🎯 Activities
- Hiking to the Staubbach waterfall
- Take the cable car to Mürren or Wengen
2nd stop: Iseltwald
A small, quiet village on the shores of Lake Brienz. Also known from the popular series “Crash Landing on You”, this place impresses with its tranquility and wooden houses with the Alps in the background. A perfect stop for a leisurely walk by the lake.
🍽️ Food
- Restaurant Seegarten – dining with a view of Lake Brienz
🎯 Activites
- Photo at the pier where “Crash Landing on You” was filmed
- Quiet walk around the village – ideal for couples
3rd stop: Lucerne – Between the Lake and the Alps
Before we return to Zurich, The Road Trip in Switzerland concludes by dedicating a few hours to Lucerne. A city that combines historical beauty with water and mountains. The wooden Kapellbrücke bridge, medieval towers and Lake Lucerne create one of the most romantic landscapes in Europe.
Lucerne is a fairytale city built on the shores of Lake Lucerne, with the imposing Alps as a background. Its landmark is the Kapellbrücke, the oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe (built in 1333), with its characteristic stone water tower (Wasserturm). The interior of the bridge is decorated with 17th-century paintings.
The Old Town (Altstadt) is full of painted facades, small squares and fountains, while one of the most moving spots is the Lion of Lucerne (Löwendenkmal), a sculpture dedicated to the Swiss guards who were killed in the French Revolution.
If you have time, you can take a cable car to the nearby Pilatus mountain or a mini cruise on the lake, experiences that offer incredible views.
🍽️ Food
- Wirtshaus Galliker – local cuisine & retro vibe
- Mill’Feuille – modern, by the lake for brunch or coffee
🖼️ Museums
- Verkehrshaus (Swiss Museum of Transport) – perfect for kids too
- Sammlung Rosengart – works by Picasso, Klee and modern art
🎯 Acitivities
- Walking to Kapellbrücke and the Old Town
- Mini cruise on the lake or cable car ride to Pilatus
Tips for a Road Trip in Switzerland
- Rent a hybrid car, as you will save a lot on fuel.
- Buy lots of snacks from the supermarket (Coop/Migros) for the road.
- Bring hiking shoes with you.
- If you find a room in Hotel Alpina with mountain view, book it!
- Swiss nature is worth every euro, and every photo! Don’t forget your professional camera and definitely a power bank.
See more about the Road Trip to Switzerland in the highlight stories #ROAD TRIP SWITZERLAND on Ιnstagram
Also read the travel guide we have posted for Zurich.
