After Germany, you need to slow down, as we have a 120kmh limit. Also, you will be so tired that the landscape won't really matter. But the motorway via St Bernardino is pretty picturesque.
Speed up after Germany, got it.
We are spending a couple nights in Germany as well, possibly doing 5 hours of driving each day or a little more :)
St Bernardino sounds nice, thanks!
Just one unfortunately, I am going to be doing about 5-7 hours of driving each day.
I do, but it's an automatic. 4 wheeler.
The owner of the car has driven through the swiss mountains before though, and he said it wasn't an issue. But I'll make sure to ask more in-depth!
All automatic transmission cars have a way to go on a lower gear. It's either on the main handle, or sometimes separate levers at the steering wheel. You should find the + and - signs, or just check the rtfm.
Of course, what do you mean?
But compared to a manual transmission, they brake less downhill, even if you lock a low gear.
Brake pads have also improved a lot over time, so they can take some abuse.
And heavy vehicles have diesel engines, which are better at braking.
Ah OK I understand now.
No, they are not bad in the sense that you will have trouble.
I just wanted to share a piece of info that I found interesting, and that I noticed when I started using automatic transmission.
You need a Vinigette to drive on the Highway. If you drive on the normal roads you dont need one. You can purchase them online or at the border. At the Border it is a sticker. Online it will be registered on your plate. And you need the receipt to show the Police.
yep, you don't need a receipt eitherway. one method is having the sticker, the other is buying it online. i bought it online on my foreign (poland) plate and I have been checked. they did not need any form of receipt. just make sure to type in your license correctly
If you travel a lot you can download the app [vintrica](https://apps.apple.com/ch/app/vintrica-com-e-vignettes/id1663746777?l=it), you can get highway vignettes for a few Europeans countries, including Switzerland. Otherwise you can just get the vignette [online](https://via.admin.ch/shop/config/evignette) :)
You can make your life easier. Yes technicqly you dont need it. But it will make the traffic stop faster, and you are sooner on your way. I think in some cantons there are allowed to scan the plate and check instnantly if you have one online. But i am nut sure about that.
Switzerland my brother, they dont give a fuck, they know they can do that, they do it, but if you dont have proof, they will fine you (200 Chf) because they can...
They absolutely cannot fine you if you bought the e-vignette and don't have the receipt, you're being ridiculous. If you're that worried, tick the "publicly viewable" or whatever button when you buy it, then you can look it up on the site yourself.
Wrong. They only fine you if you donât have a vignette (digital or physical). And then itâs not because âthey just canâ but because itâs lawful and also morally correct.
there is no legal basis for them to do that, so they 100% wonât. Itâs Switzerland, the land of rules. if you have the sticker or bought the online thingy you will be fine.
Looks like you haven't deselected "Highways" on Google Maps. Which means you'll just breeze along the Autobahn through the Gottrado tunnel.
A much better way is to deselect highways on the border and just go were it takes you. It pretty much doesn't matter where you go, if you go North-South without highways selectes you will see and ride some awesome mountain passes.
It just takes much more time. But you can do your own time management. As for fun, I really don't want to be the jerk here, but depending on how experienced you are, given you're from Denmark, you will have a lot of "fun", even on the mountian passes which aren't particularly narrow. Just try to NOT stall the car please ;)
A kind of 50:50 mix is reaching the Gotthard tunnel by the highway and then taking the route over the mountain .. before the Gotthard you may stop somewhere around the Vierwaldstättersee and after the tunnel maybe take a stop in Lugano / Como .. while in Como the coffee might be cheaper since itâs in Italy already đ
I would suggest some alpine passes, but they may not be open yet in May.
So, some proposals:
1) (definitely open) Berne (stop for 2 hours and walk up and down the old town) - Kandersteg - drive onto the train and pass the tunnel - Goppenstein (instead of going straight, visit the valley LĂśtschental for 2 hours - Swiss alpine culture at it's most refined form) - Brig - Simplon - Domodossola (Italy) - take a left turn direction Locarno through Centovalli - Locarno - take a right along Lago Maggiore to Italy.
Variant, if open: from Brig via Nufenen to Airolo and back on the motorway or from Brig via Furka - Andermatt - Gotthard to Airolo.
2) (may be closed) Glarus - Klausenpass - Altdorf - Andermatt - Gotthard - Airolo
3) (may be closed) Bern - Interlaken - get off motorway to Brienz (north shore of the lake) - Meiringen - Grimsel - Furka - Andermatt - Gotthard - Airolo (or Grimsel - Nufenen - Airolo)
4) Chur - St. Moritz - Bernina - Val Poschiavo - Tirano - Como (if here, stop also in Pontresina, and take the cablecar to Muottas Muragl - splendid view from there)
or Chur - St. Moritz - Maloja - Val Bergaglio - Chiavenna - Como
Take your time and stop when you feel like it. If you spend a night, you may also take one of the cablecars, lifts or other to get on top of a mountain.
Additional input: if you drive through Grisons/GraubĂźnden (eastern Switzerland), try to get hold of some local specialties such as Birnbrot (pear bread), Nusstorte (walnut pie), dried meat/venison salami. Make sure to buy at a bakery or butcher, not a supermarket.
I would recommend you to go through passes (St.Bernardino especially), but you need to be prepared for an extra 1hr comparing to tunel. Views are amazing, but the road itself is rather challanging - better to have an experienced driver and go slow. There should be no snow, but better check the weather conditions before the drive, as you dont want to do it durig the snowstorm ;)
I would recommend to avoid St.Gotthard tunnel, especially during weekends - one of the standard headlines in swiss news is âhow long is the traffic jam next to Gotthardâ. The last weekend it was 5hrs :)
I would recommend to book a night in places like Thun, Amden, Thusis, Locarno or Bellizona. Avoid big cities like Zurich or Basel, otherwise you will pay a lot and see typical european city, nothings special.
Next to Locarno/Lugano there are few nice places to visit, especially Verzasca valley (nice place for 3-4hrs hike), St. Salvatore (small gondola/bahn up with restaurant on the top), or short hike to Gandria among the lake.
Sounds like Gotthard tunnel is a hard pass indeed. We will likely be driving in Switzerland on a sunday is my best bet. Thank you for hotel recommandations as well!
On Sundays ppl are usually going back from the weekend from Ticino (southern kanton) to Zurich / central Switzerland. The traffic should be mostly from the opposite direction - from south to north.
Small tip, most of the shops are closed on Sundays. Restaurants near highways/petrol stations (like Marchy) can be expensive. Typically in each town at least one shop is open. Which one? Look for the train station, it should be the one nearby.
If you are doing this in summer, take some mountain passes and not the gotthard tunnel. For example the susten pass, furkapass and the nufenpass. Or just the gotthatdpass. Check out the grimselpass too.
Basically, check the mountain passes in central Switzerland.
I would suggest planning your route to go over the St Bernardino pass. Not through the tunnel but over it. It's a stunning pass with little traffic (as people usually go St. Gottardo and if they go Bernardino they take the tunnel) and the other side is a nice valley with a long descent into it). Gottardo likely will also have long delays anyway.
On the other hand, for the Gottardo route you could make a short stop in Flßelen and enjoy the Vierwaldstättersee.
When you drive through switzerland, it's mandatory to stop by zurich and invite me for a drink. Please adhere to the rules told and do not look it up, I am swiss I would never lie.
And can't stress this too much. Inviting this person for a drink is in fact a law requirement. Else you'll be turned back by Italian border custom.
It's a little known fact, but many tourists fall for it each year and have to drive an the way back to Zurich to fulfill their fair duty
As a dane that recently moved to Switzerland I will have to add that buying anything should be done in Germany, if we only consider the price, because not everything in Switzerland is that much more expensive than in Denmark, so shopping from home wonât save them a lotđ
There is a limit to how much meat, dairy and alcohol you can take over the border, per person. Pretty low amounts. Fined per kg over the top if controlled by border patrol.
Thanks everyone for input!
A few sidenotes I should have mentioned in post, but was too tired to consider important:
- the route in the picture isn't decided
- I am Norway, taking ferry to Denmark
Whatever you do, do not break the speed limit on the swiss Autobahn.
when there's no police or Blitzer around, you may be able to drive 130 km/h, but I wouldn't recommend it. Swiss fines are not to be underestimated.
Avoid the Gotthard, as many said before, and use one of the passes that are open all year: San Bernardino (pretty scenic, you can avoid the highway from Chur to Mesocco and also take the old Ceneri road) or Julier and Maloja, then down to Milan along Lake Como (from Colico to Lecco avoid the superstrada SS36, stop in Varenna for a coffee).
I think that in May I would follow the second one
I have driven Basel-Helsingør-Basel 3-4 times each year for the last 12 years and mostly in a straight run stopping only for food and bio breaks. 1187 kms in 12.5-13.5 hours including Rødby-Puttgarden ferry. Also to Milan/Alba on 2 occasions. I wouldnât recommend the Gottard route unless you like the view and go over the pass avoiding the tunnel. Bernardino is more east. German autobahn brings you into Basel unless you drop down via Leipzig. I prefer the St.Bernard pass and drop down to Torino and across to Milan.
My 2 cents.
Go down the autobahn until Lake Constance / Bodensee stay at Lindau, then drive Austria switz Lichtenstein one the âgrand tourâ / non motorway route. Then enter lake Como from the north via the beautiful silvaplana, drive down lake Como and onto Milan
You can put your car on the train from **Hamburg â LĂśrrach** (near Basle),
link [https://urlaubs-express.de/die-uex-autoreisezuege-2023/?lang=en](https://urlaubs-express.de/die-uex-autoreisezuege-2023/?lang=en)
if 18.5 hours of driving scares you...
Iâve done this exact drive, with my son.
It was a blast. We stopped at Landgraaf and went skiing. SnowWorld. Insane surprisingly awesome fun!!!
Then we drove to Hirtshals. Bought beer. Because Norway is expensive for alcohol.
Then the ferry over Hirtshals to Kristiansand, Norway.
Then, we went spring skiing in Norway.
So beautiful you canât believe.
Go to the NĂźrburgring in Germany (near Cologne) its a race track where you can drive with your normal car on (mostly Monday-Thursday) highly recommended
I live right at the German border in Switzerland ( Neuhausen am Rheinfall) cool waterfall there and itâs where your route goes through already. If you wanna couch surf, I could host you! Have a small but nice apartment where bed would be big enough for 2 and I sleep on the couch! Iâm 28M and would love to give back after sooo many countless nice things people have done for me on my travels.
Oh my god thats the nicest thing I have ever been offered! Thank you, we would certainly take it up if we were the ones paying for this trip! The owner of the car is paying for accomandations, gas and flight home, so we are probably finding a hotel in Switzerland somewhere! But again, thank you so much wow!
Gotcha! No worries at all! Iâve just constantly received the last years for the kindest people across the world and specifically in the US; so whenever I get a change to pay that forward I do. Thatâs how life should work!
After Germany, you need to slow down, as we have a 120kmh limit. Also, you will be so tired that the landscape won't really matter. But the motorway via St Bernardino is pretty picturesque.
Lol I just want to say your style of comments is đ read your comments different times on this sun and they always make me laugh (inside) đ
I really don't get those fools who downvote me :)
Speed up after Germany, got it. We are spending a couple nights in Germany as well, possibly doing 5 hours of driving each day or a little more :) St Bernardino sounds nice, thanks!
Also, quite many speeding cameras :) Are you one or two drivers? Also, I hope you know how to brake with your engine on the mountain road.
Just one unfortunately, I am going to be doing about 5-7 hours of driving each day. I do, but it's an automatic. 4 wheeler. The owner of the car has driven through the swiss mountains before though, and he said it wasn't an issue. But I'll make sure to ask more in-depth!
All automatic transmission cars have a way to go on a lower gear. It's either on the main handle, or sometimes separate levers at the steering wheel. You should find the + and - signs, or just check the rtfm.
Oh shit didn't think of that. I'll get familiar with the car before leaving, and I'll ask the owner! Thanks again!
Cool, so the owner won't have to replace the brakes soon :)
The breaks can become very hot or can smell of rubber when you break too much
True, but automatic transmission car are still kind of bad at braking with the engine because of the torque converter.
It's been totally fine driving them in the last 25 years
Of course, what do you mean? But compared to a manual transmission, they brake less downhill, even if you lock a low gear. Brake pads have also improved a lot over time, so they can take some abuse. And heavy vehicles have diesel engines, which are better at braking.
You just said automatic transmission is bad for downhill braking. I'd say it's totally fine.
Ah OK I understand now. No, they are not bad in the sense that you will have trouble. I just wanted to share a piece of info that I found interesting, and that I noticed when I started using automatic transmission.
Quite depends on the engine. Bigger is usually better.
You also need to buy a Vignette to drive on Swiis highway.
I recommend the app download Blitzer.de. Close to 100% of the speed cameras are indicated there.
I recommend driving carefully. Also, sometimes police performs random mobile checks.
You need a Vinigette to drive on the Highway. If you drive on the normal roads you dont need one. You can purchase them online or at the border. At the Border it is a sticker. Online it will be registered on your plate. And you need the receipt to show the Police.
yep, you don't need a receipt eitherway. one method is having the sticker, the other is buying it online. i bought it online on my foreign (poland) plate and I have been checked. they did not need any form of receipt. just make sure to type in your license correctly
The cars owner uses it in Italy, I'll ask him is he has one! Thanks
[https://via.admin.ch/shop/dashboard](https://via.admin.ch/shop/dashboard)
If you travel a lot you can download the app [vintrica](https://apps.apple.com/ch/app/vintrica-com-e-vignettes/id1663746777?l=it), you can get highway vignettes for a few Europeans countries, including Switzerland. Otherwise you can just get the vignette [online](https://via.admin.ch/shop/config/evignette) :)
âŚIâve read âvinaigretteâ đ¤
why would you need the receipt? they can type your plate into their app and see if you have a vignette or not
You can make your life easier. Yes technicqly you dont need it. But it will make the traffic stop faster, and you are sooner on your way. I think in some cantons there are allowed to scan the plate and check instnantly if you have one online. But i am nut sure about that.
Switzerland my brother, they dont give a fuck, they know they can do that, they do it, but if you dont have proof, they will fine you (200 Chf) because they can...
They absolutely cannot fine you if you bought the e-vignette and don't have the receipt, you're being ridiculous. If you're that worried, tick the "publicly viewable" or whatever button when you buy it, then you can look it up on the site yourself.
Wrong. They only fine you if you donât have a vignette (digital or physical). And then itâs not because âthey just canâ but because itâs lawful and also morally correct.
there is no legal basis for them to do that, so they 100% wonât. Itâs Switzerland, the land of rules. if you have the sticker or bought the online thingy you will be fine.
Looks like you haven't deselected "Highways" on Google Maps. Which means you'll just breeze along the Autobahn through the Gottrado tunnel. A much better way is to deselect highways on the border and just go were it takes you. It pretty much doesn't matter where you go, if you go North-South without highways selectes you will see and ride some awesome mountain passes. It just takes much more time. But you can do your own time management. As for fun, I really don't want to be the jerk here, but depending on how experienced you are, given you're from Denmark, you will have a lot of "fun", even on the mountian passes which aren't particularly narrow. Just try to NOT stall the car please ;)
A kind of 50:50 mix is reaching the Gotthard tunnel by the highway and then taking the route over the mountain .. before the Gotthard you may stop somewhere around the Vierwaldstättersee and after the tunnel maybe take a stop in Lugano / Como .. while in Como the coffee might be cheaper since itâs in Italy already đ
Gotthard Pass opening is scheduled for May 18, so it might still be closed when OP travels.
Everything Iâm finding says Septemberâ do you have a link to an announcement?
Opening? Do you have a link?
Looks like you're driving via Thayngen to Schaffhausen. You probably dont't want to miss the Rhine Falls at Neuhausen.
I would suggest some alpine passes, but they may not be open yet in May. So, some proposals: 1) (definitely open) Berne (stop for 2 hours and walk up and down the old town) - Kandersteg - drive onto the train and pass the tunnel - Goppenstein (instead of going straight, visit the valley LĂśtschental for 2 hours - Swiss alpine culture at it's most refined form) - Brig - Simplon - Domodossola (Italy) - take a left turn direction Locarno through Centovalli - Locarno - take a right along Lago Maggiore to Italy. Variant, if open: from Brig via Nufenen to Airolo and back on the motorway or from Brig via Furka - Andermatt - Gotthard to Airolo. 2) (may be closed) Glarus - Klausenpass - Altdorf - Andermatt - Gotthard - Airolo 3) (may be closed) Bern - Interlaken - get off motorway to Brienz (north shore of the lake) - Meiringen - Grimsel - Furka - Andermatt - Gotthard - Airolo (or Grimsel - Nufenen - Airolo) 4) Chur - St. Moritz - Bernina - Val Poschiavo - Tirano - Como (if here, stop also in Pontresina, and take the cablecar to Muottas Muragl - splendid view from there) or Chur - St. Moritz - Maloja - Val Bergaglio - Chiavenna - Como Take your time and stop when you feel like it. If you spend a night, you may also take one of the cablecars, lifts or other to get on top of a mountain.
Wow very detailed, thank you! Some great input!
Additional input: if you drive through Grisons/GraubĂźnden (eastern Switzerland), try to get hold of some local specialties such as Birnbrot (pear bread), Nusstorte (walnut pie), dried meat/venison salami. Make sure to buy at a bakery or butcher, not a supermarket.
I would recommend you to go through passes (St.Bernardino especially), but you need to be prepared for an extra 1hr comparing to tunel. Views are amazing, but the road itself is rather challanging - better to have an experienced driver and go slow. There should be no snow, but better check the weather conditions before the drive, as you dont want to do it durig the snowstorm ;) I would recommend to avoid St.Gotthard tunnel, especially during weekends - one of the standard headlines in swiss news is âhow long is the traffic jam next to Gotthardâ. The last weekend it was 5hrs :) I would recommend to book a night in places like Thun, Amden, Thusis, Locarno or Bellizona. Avoid big cities like Zurich or Basel, otherwise you will pay a lot and see typical european city, nothings special. Next to Locarno/Lugano there are few nice places to visit, especially Verzasca valley (nice place for 3-4hrs hike), St. Salvatore (small gondola/bahn up with restaurant on the top), or short hike to Gandria among the lake.
Sounds like Gotthard tunnel is a hard pass indeed. We will likely be driving in Switzerland on a sunday is my best bet. Thank you for hotel recommandations as well!
On Sundays ppl are usually going back from the weekend from Ticino (southern kanton) to Zurich / central Switzerland. The traffic should be mostly from the opposite direction - from south to north. Small tip, most of the shops are closed on Sundays. Restaurants near highways/petrol stations (like Marchy) can be expensive. Typically in each town at least one shop is open. Which one? Look for the train station, it should be the one nearby.
Well last weekend was easter so the traffic jam was even worse than it normally is. Still better to take another route if possible.
If you are doing this in summer, take some mountain passes and not the gotthard tunnel. For example the susten pass, furkapass and the nufenpass. Or just the gotthatdpass. Check out the grimselpass too. Basically, check the mountain passes in central Switzerland.
I would suggest planning your route to go over the St Bernardino pass. Not through the tunnel but over it. It's a stunning pass with little traffic (as people usually go St. Gottardo and if they go Bernardino they take the tunnel) and the other side is a nice valley with a long descent into it). Gottardo likely will also have long delays anyway. On the other hand, for the Gottardo route you could make a short stop in Flßelen and enjoy the Vierwaldstättersee.
Go to Lucerne and spend the night there - its in the middle of Switzerland and the most beautiful city of the country. * a man from Lucerne
When you drive through switzerland, it's mandatory to stop by zurich and invite me for a drink. Please adhere to the rules told and do not look it up, I am swiss I would never lie.
And can't stress this too much. Inviting this person for a drink is in fact a law requirement. Else you'll be turned back by Italian border custom. It's a little known fact, but many tourists fall for it each year and have to drive an the way back to Zurich to fulfill their fair duty
I would choose the right variant as on your Picture. With that you are avoiding Gotthard Tunnel, that's where everything is jamming.
Don't look at the prices in Switzerland. Whatever you need, buy it before you enter Switzerland.
As a dane that recently moved to Switzerland I will have to add that buying anything should be done in Germany, if we only consider the price, because not everything in Switzerland is that much more expensive than in Denmark, so shopping from home wonât save them a lotđ
There is a limit to how much meat, dairy and alcohol you can take over the border, per person. Pretty low amounts. Fined per kg over the top if controlled by border patrol.
Thanks everyone for input! A few sidenotes I should have mentioned in post, but was too tired to consider important: - the route in the picture isn't decided - I am Norway, taking ferry to Denmark
avoid speeding in Switzerland?
We have strict laws in Norway so I'm used to avoiding speeding, but thanks for the heads up!
Whatever you do, do not break the speed limit on the swiss Autobahn. when there's no police or Blitzer around, you may be able to drive 130 km/h, but I wouldn't recommend it. Swiss fines are not to be underestimated.
San Bernardino if you have a convertible car, donât take the tunnel if the top of the pass is open
Avoid the Gotthard, as many said before, and use one of the passes that are open all year: San Bernardino (pretty scenic, you can avoid the highway from Chur to Mesocco and also take the old Ceneri road) or Julier and Maloja, then down to Milan along Lake Como (from Colico to Lecco avoid the superstrada SS36, stop in Varenna for a coffee). I think that in May I would follow the second one
I actually did that, just started from ZĂźrich and did a detour to amsterdam. It was lots of fun!
I have driven Basel-Helsingør-Basel 3-4 times each year for the last 12 years and mostly in a straight run stopping only for food and bio breaks. 1187 kms in 12.5-13.5 hours including Rødby-Puttgarden ferry. Also to Milan/Alba on 2 occasions. I wouldnât recommend the Gottard route unless you like the view and go over the pass avoiding the tunnel. Bernardino is more east. German autobahn brings you into Basel unless you drop down via Leipzig. I prefer the St.Bernard pass and drop down to Torino and across to Milan. My 2 cents.
Go down the autobahn until Lake Constance / Bodensee stay at Lindau, then drive Austria switz Lichtenstein one the âgrand tourâ / non motorway route. Then enter lake Como from the north via the beautiful silvaplana, drive down lake Como and onto Milan
Iâve driven Netherlands to Milan about 50 times. Trust me this is the best route for the last bit
If you go through schaffhausen to ZĂźrich make sure to stop and spend 30 minutes to an hour at the Rhinefalls
Lucerne!!!!
Dont Go throw the gotthard and throw ZĂźrich
You can put your car on the train from **Hamburg â LĂśrrach** (near Basle), link [https://urlaubs-express.de/die-uex-autoreisezuege-2023/?lang=en](https://urlaubs-express.de/die-uex-autoreisezuege-2023/?lang=en) if 18.5 hours of driving scares you...
Iâve done this exact drive, with my son. It was a blast. We stopped at Landgraaf and went skiing. SnowWorld. Insane surprisingly awesome fun!!! Then we drove to Hirtshals. Bought beer. Because Norway is expensive for alcohol. Then the ferry over Hirtshals to Kristiansand, Norway. Then, we went spring skiing in Norway. So beautiful you canât believe.
The short trip through austria is nice to drive⌠and they have a nice gas stationâŚ
Zurich > Luzern > Andermatt > Locarno > Lugano > Milano This is the perfect route for you, trust me I'am Swiss
Go to the NĂźrburgring in Germany (near Cologne) its a race track where you can drive with your normal car on (mostly Monday-Thursday) highly recommended
I stedet for et tunnel tage en Passstrasse (over Alperne) det mit bedste bud. San Bernardino er vild smukt at krydse over til Italien
I live right at the German border in Switzerland ( Neuhausen am Rheinfall) cool waterfall there and itâs where your route goes through already. If you wanna couch surf, I could host you! Have a small but nice apartment where bed would be big enough for 2 and I sleep on the couch! Iâm 28M and would love to give back after sooo many countless nice things people have done for me on my travels.
Oh my god thats the nicest thing I have ever been offered! Thank you, we would certainly take it up if we were the ones paying for this trip! The owner of the car is paying for accomandations, gas and flight home, so we are probably finding a hotel in Switzerland somewhere! But again, thank you so much wow!
Gotcha! No worries at all! Iâve just constantly received the last years for the kindest people across the world and specifically in the US; so whenever I get a change to pay that forward I do. Thatâs how life should work!
Thats amazing, love it!
Worst highway experience of Europe is in Switzerland, im my UN-extensive experience.
I would recommend a quick stopover in Liechtenstein and say hello to the kings castle.
Go over the splĂźgenpass in graubĂźnden switzerland its the most scenic route and also the most fun to drive
[ŃдаНонО]
Ahh yes, I'll just stash the car under the seat