An eleven-night loop from Geneva, inspired by the Grand Tour of Switzerland: Lake Geneva and the Lavaux vineyards, Zermatt at the foot of the Matterhorn, Italian-speaking Ticino, then the Furka, Grimsel and Susten passes before Interlaken, Lucerne and Zurich. It can be driven from mid-June to mid-October, when the passes are open, with a CHF 40 motorway vignette and a car left in Täsch to go up to car-free Zermatt.
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
Mid-June to mid-October: in 2026, the Furka and Grimsel reopened on 29 May, the Susten in June, and they are due to close on 27 October. In winter, these passes and the Gotthard are closed: use the Furka and Lötschberg car trains or the Gotthard tunnel, on winter tyres.
🚗 102 km · 1h20 of driving from Geneva
A1 motorway to Lausanne, then the Route de la Corniche through the Lavaux vineyards, via Epesses and Chexbres: narrow and slow.
🚗 144 km · 2h of driving from Montreux
A9 along the Rhône valley to Visp, then the Mattertal (St. Niklaus valley) to Täsch. Car in the car park, 12-minute rail shuttle.
🚗 148 km · 2h45 of driving from Zermatt
Simplon Pass, open all year, Domodossola in Italy, then the Vigezzo valley and Centovalli: narrow, very winding road. Bring ID.
🚗 104 km · 1h30 of driving from Locarno
A2 via Bellinzona to Airolo, then the Gotthard Pass road; the old cobbled Tremola as an option. Pass closed in winter: motorway tunnel.
🚗 98 km · 1h40 of driving from Andermatt
Furka Pass (2,429 m) past the Rhône Glacier, Gletsch, Grimsel Pass (2,164 m), Innertkirchen and Lake Brienz.
🚗 144 km · 2h10 of driving from Interlaken
Innertkirchen, Susten Pass past the Steingletscher, Wassen, then the A2 via Altdorf and the Seelisberg tunnel.
🚗 51 km · 40 min of driving from Lucerne
A14 then A4 motorways, one hour. Possible detour via Zug and its lake.
🚗 278 km · 3h15 of driving from Zurich
Skip Ticino, Andermatt, Lucerne and Zurich: Geneva (1 night), Montreux (1), Zermatt (2), then Interlaken (2) via the Goms valley and the Grimsel. If the Grimsel is closed, take the Lötschberg car train (Goppenstein-Kandersteg). Back to Geneva via Bern.
| All categories, July | ≈ €65 a day |
|---|---|
| All categories, November | ≈ €35 a day |
| Small car, annual average | ≈ €44 a day (Kayak, Geneva airport, Sept. 2026) |
| Driver under 25, extra | CHF 18 to 20 a day |
| Vehicle | A compact is enough: the passes are paved and two-lane. Winter tyres: CHF 9 a day at Europcar, often included. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | Geneva airport, Swiss sector. The French sector rents French-registered cars for less, without the Swiss vignette. |
| Insurance | Excess depends on the category; can be reduced to CHF 0, windows, tyres and wheels excluded. 20% airport surcharge at Europcar. |
| Age | Minimum 19 to 21 depending on company and category; under 25, CHF 18 to 20 in fees a day. |
| Italy | The Simplon stage crosses Piedmont via Domodossola: check that the contract allows Italy. |
⚠️ Car hired on the French side of Geneva airport: no vignette. Buy the e-vignette (CHF 40) before the first motorway, or face a CHF 200 fine.
Enough for a tourist stay, with no International Driving Permit: the categories are written in Latin characters. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required.
As in mainland Europe. Headlights compulsory by day, even in fine weather, since 2014.
100 on semi-motorways. Beyond fixed-penalty fines, at least CHF 400; classed as a reckless speeder from 60 km/h over the limit outside built-up areas.
0.1 g/l for new drivers (probationary licence), professional drivers and learner drivers.
Electronic (e-vignette.ch, linked to the plate) or sticker. Valid until 31 January 2027. Without a vignette: CHF 200.
Detectors confiscated, plus a fine. Turn off speed camera alerts in your GPS or navigation app.
Coaches and lorries go first. On a postal road (yellow horn on a blue background), the PostBus has priority.
Matterhorn Terminal car park in Täsch, CHF 17 a day online; 12-minute shuttle, CHF 8.60 one way.
During a peak, only vehicles with an authorised sticker may drive in the centre of the canton, 06:00 to 22:00.
≈ CHF 2.14 (€2.28) a litre of unleaded 95, CHF 2.46 (€2.62) for diesel
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Check it before you go.
⛽ 1,069 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €170 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
TCS survey of 19 September 2026, prices close to the record. Fill up in the valleys before the passes.
| Motorway vignette 2026 | CHF 40, valid from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027 |
|---|---|
| Gotthard road tunnel | Included in the vignette; frequent queues on summer weekends |
| Furka, Grimsel, Susten and Gotthard passes | Free |
| Matterhorn Terminal car park, Täsch | CHF 17 a day online |
| Täsch-Zermatt shuttle | CHF 8.60 one way, CHF 17.20 return |
| Furka car train (Realp-Oberwald) | CHF 33 per car, 20 minutes, all year |
| Lötschberg car train (Kandersteg-Goppenstein) | CHF 26 to 31 per car, 15 minutes |
| Furka Pass | Due to close on 27 October 2026; Realp-Oberwald car train |
|---|---|
| Grimsel Pass | Usually closed from November to late May or June |
| Susten Pass | Usually closed from November to June |
| Gotthard Pass | Closed from November to May; motorway tunnel open all year |
| Simplon Pass | Open all year; winter equipment compulsory, chains sometimes required |
| Nufenen Pass (alternative route to Ticino) | Reopened on 29 May 2026, due to close on 27 October |
Allow 10 to 12 days for this loop of 8 stages and 11 nights from Geneva, via Lavaux, Zermatt, Ticino, the Furka, Grimsel and Susten passes, Interlaken, Lucerne and Zurich. In 7 days, stick to Lake Geneva, Zermatt and the Bernese Oberland. Distances are short, but pass roads are slow.
In July, car hire comes to about €65 a day, nearly €780 for 12 days (Kayak, Geneva airport). Add the vignette (CHF 40), CHF 34 of parking and CHF 17.20 of shuttle per person at Täsch, and petrol at CHF 2.14 a litre (September 2026) over just over 1,000 km. In November, about €35 a day.
On the official e-vignette.ch portal (Via, Federal Office for Customs and Border Security): CHF 40, linked to the plate, valid from 1 December 2025 to 31 January 2027. There is no short-term vignette. The sticker vignette is still sold at petrol stations, post offices and customs posts. Driving without a vignette costs a CHF 200 fine, plus the vignette.
No, Zermatt is closed to cars. Park at the Matterhorn Terminal in Täsch (2,100 covered spaces, CHF 17 a day online), then a rail shuttle reaches the centre of Zermatt in 12 minutes every 20 minutes, for CHF 8.60 one way or CHF 17.20 return.
The Furka, Grimsel and Nufenen usually open in late May or June (29 May in 2026) and close in late October or November. The Susten opens later, around mid-June. Out of season, the Furka car train (CHF 33) links Uri and Valais, and the Gotthard tunnel replaces the pass.
Not with an EU licence: it is enough for a tourist stay, as its categories are written in Latin characters. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required. Europcar Switzerland refuses an International Driving Permit on its own and digital licences. Expect a minimum age of 19 to 21 depending on the company, and CHF 18 to 20 in fees a day under 25.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/switzerland · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026
