My (Mini) Grand Tour of Switzerland

The Grand Tour of Switzerland – a new 1,000-mile self-driving route – was launched over the summer by Switzerland Tourism to share the best the Swiss have to offer and highlight “must-see” sights and attractions across the country’s four language regions and along its most scenic roads. The route takes in five Alpine passes, 22 lakes, and 11 UNESCO World Heritage Sites while steering clear of motorways wherever possible in preference of country roads and rural byways.

Based on my own recent mini-Grand Tour visit to the cantons of Vaud and Fribourg, any excuse or amount of time you might have to explore any part of Switzerland is worth taking. It’s easy enough and super quick to get there from the UK, especially London. And even if you don’t want to drive, you’ve got one of the world’s most efficient and beautifully situated rail networks as well as safe and affordable public transport to help you access whatever it is you hope to see.

My tour started with a few nights keeping lovely Lausanne as my base before hitting the road to enjoy the fresh air of the Fribourg Region. I loved everything I experienced along the way! Lausanne was a delightful little city to explore, and Fribourg Region was wonderful too – I fell especially hard for the rustic charm of Gruyerés and its surroundings. In fact, it’s taken so long for me to get round to writing about the trip because I’ve been too busy trying to figure out how I can get back there – to return to Fribourg Region and to see other parts of the country as well.

I’ll be chronicling my trip in a few Grand Tour posts to follow soon. Until then, have a look at this list of practicalities to help you make the most of your visit to Switzerland.

Addison Lee

My Grand Tour of Switzerland began bright and early with a hassle-free ride with Addison from my London home to City Airport and ended with an equally pleasant pickup from Heathrow. Yep, another awesome trip made easy by a couple of taps of the Addison Lee app! I’ve relied on the app a number of times before and have yet to encounter issues or less than exemplary service. Find out more at addisonlee.com.

Swiss International Air Lines

UK to Zurich: SWISS offers up to 110 weekly flights from London Heathrow, London City, Birmingham and Manchester to Zurich. Fares start from £63* one-way. Our fares include all airport taxes: one piece hold luggage and free ski carriage (exclude “hand luggage only” fare). (*Note this is a leading fare and is subject to change, availability and may not be available on all flights. Terms and conditions apply.)

UK & Ireland to Switzerland: SWISS operates up to 200 weekly flights to Switzerland from London Heathrow, London City, London Gatwick (seasonal during winter), Manchester, Birmingham and Dublin from as little as £38 one-way* (Geneva Economy Light Fare only includes hand luggage). The all-inclusive fares start from £63 one-way*, including all airport taxes. (*Note this is a leading fare and is subject to change, availability and may not be available on all flights. Terms and conditions apply.)

For reservations call 0845 6010956 or visit swiss.com.

Swiss Travel System

The Swiss Travel System provides a dedicated range of travel passes and tickets exclusively for visitors from abroad. The Swiss Transfer Ticket covers a round-trip between the airport/Swiss border and your destination. Prices are £104 in second class and £167 in first class. Speak with a Swiss rail specialist by calling Switzerland Travel Centre on 0080010020030 or visit swisstravelsystem.co.uk.

More Grand Tour Tips

The Grand Tour can be accessed quickly from the border towns of Basel, Geneva and Chiasso. Switzerland Tourism recommends driving it in a clockwise direction and allowing eight days to experience the complete route. There are 115 hotels and guesthouses selected by Switzerland Tourism as ideal Grand Tour accommodations based on their location and facilities. Bookable packages are available; a selection can be viewed and booked at MySwitzerland.com/grandtour.

Keep an eye out for more posts in my Grand Tour miniseries about my visit to Switzerland.