impressive // A road trip celebrates its birthday

The Grand Tour of Switzerland celebrates its tenth anniversary... Experience the most beautiful parts of Switzerland on fantastic tours. We show you four of the most popular routes.

Anyone who was anyone in the 18th century took the "Grand Tour" through Europe: a kind of educational trip for aristocrats to the most beautiful places on our continent. Even back then, Switzerland with its beautiful Alpine landscapes was one of the top destinations and this has not changed to this day. Following in the footsteps of that time, today there is the most scenic route for a round trip through Switzerland by car or motorcycle. Experience the Grand Tour of Switzerland...

The alpine road trip covers 1643 kilometers on eight stages through four language regions over five passes, along 22 lakes and 13 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The route is also accessible by electric car thanks to numerous charging stations.

Historic pass road from Airolo to Gletsch
The almost 40-kilometre section is part of the fourth and most winding stage of the Grand Tour. The Tremola route winds its way from Airolo up to the Gotthard Pass. In its most breathtaking section, the route climbs 300 meters in 24 hairpin bends over a length of just four kilometers. The original granite paving of the pass road, which was built between 1827 and 1832 and reconstructed in 1951, has been largely preserved. If you want to find out more about the history of the Gotthard Pass, visit the Museo Nazionale del San Gottardo, the highest museum in Switzerland. From the Gotthard, the route descends into the green Urseren Valley to Realp and then - following in the footsteps of James Bond in the movie "Goldfinger" - back up to the Furka. At 2429 meters, the Furka Pass is the highest point of the Grand Tour.

Along Lake Lugano from Melide to Montagnola
Summer and lightness are in the air on this 10-kilometre section along Lake Lugano on the access road to the Grand Tour of Switzerland from Chiasso in Italy via Lugano to Bellinzona. The route starts in the village of Melide, where Swissminiatur is a famous park with famous Swiss sights scaled down 25 times. From there, the route continues with a recommended stop in the former fishing village of Morcote with its arcades and cafés by the lake. Shortly after leaving the village, the magnificent Parco Scherrer invites you to take a short stroll through the Mediterranean and Asian gardens. Those who would like to take a detour can visit the church in Agra in the middle of the vineyards before following in the footsteps of Hermann Hesse to Montagnola. The poet spent his last 40 years in Montagnola.

Through the Lavaux from Corseaux to Lutry 
The terraced vineyards of Lavaux are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and stage five of the Grand Tour of Switzerland leads through the heart of the 800-hectare wine-growing region. Overlooking the glistening waters of Lake Geneva, this fantastic 13-kilometre section of the route runs from Corseaux just past Vevey to the medieval town of Lutry, right on the shores of Lake Geneva. Along the way, wineries and wine-growing villages invite you to make a longer stopover. From Chexbres, the Lavaux-Panoramic, a small special train, takes guests from Lavaux to wine cellars in Saint-Saphorin or Chardonne. In Cully, you can also simply spend the night in a small winegrower's house called "La Capite" in the middle of the vines. Savoir vivre in Switzerland!

Over the Jura heights from Vich to Le Brassus in the Vallée de Joux'
A leisurely ride along the lonely roads of the Jura heights: The dream route from Vich to Le Brassus is part of the seventh stage of the Grand Tour from Lausanne to Neuchâtel. It leads for almost 30 kilometers past the Jura Vaudois Nature Park into the west of Switzerland. The climb shortly after Vich on Lake Geneva leads through the romantic wine village of Begnins and on to St. George. From the Marchairuz pass, travelers enjoy a spectacular view of the Vaud region with Lake Geneva and the Alps as far as Mont Blanc. In the Vallée de Joux clock valley, you can immerse yourself in lush green landscapes, slow down and cool off in Lac du Joux on warm days.