Car Rental Switzerland

Switzerland is completely landlocked, sharing borders with France, Italy, Germany and Austria. It's a fact that explains the modern and superbly maintained road network, one that was planned in conjunction with the Swiss military and makes road trips a breeze.

The wise use of military precision mixes with the natural beauty of Switzerland to make this a gorgeous country to explore by car. It’s a place of roads that sweep through the Alps, pass glistening lakes and open out into idyllic countryside vistas.

In such a mountainous country, it’s little surprise that there are tunnels galore in the hillsides – over 200 of them, in fact – and combining them with twisting but safe mountain passes means this is a truly exciting place to drive.

Make sure you take the time to visit some of the most iconic tunnels including the Belchem, complete with rumored hauntings, and the Gotthard, staggering in scale at over 10 miles in length.

The major cities – Bern, Zurich, Geneva, Basel, Lucerne – are all well-connected, most notably by the A1, A2 and A3 highways. The A1 runs from the south-west, up past Lenzburg to Baden and Zurich, then on to St. Gallen close to the eastern border.

Geneva is in the very south-west of the country, close to its own handsome lake, and can be reached on the A1 and then the A9 from Bern.

Basel, in the north-west, lies close to the borders of both Germany and France and is an ideal starting point for a multi-country trip that lets you explore three different cultures in one day. From here, the 18 route takes you to the country’s south-west, the A2 to the south and the A3 to the east.

Speed limits vary from 50km/h (just over 30mph) in built-up areas to 120km/h (74mph) on major highways. Seat belts must be worn by everyone in the vehicle, and dipped headlights or daytime running lights must be used during the day.

During winter, certain mountain passes will close due to the weather, so it’s best to check your route before you head out.

In the classic film The Third Man, Harry Lime – played by Orson Welles at his very best – delivers a speech downplaying the role of Swiss culture, saying that 500 years of democracy and peace only gave birth to the cuckoo clock.

It won’t take you long to realize that this flippant take on Swiss culture is a long way from the truth. This is a country of sophistication, but also modernity, with neat, forward-looking cities packing in an array of great places to eat, wonderful chocolate to try and a delightful design flair.

There’s plenty of Alpine activity too, of course, making this the ideal location for those who want to take to the slopes.

Style on the slopes

The mountains, glaciers and valleys of Switzerland make it a veritable playground for those who love outdoor pursuits. Skiing, snowboarding and more are all incredible here, with powdery snow and views that will linger long in the memory.

There are numerous resorts and levels to choose from, including Laax and Nendaz, Les Collons and Thyon, Verbier and the glitz and glamor of St. Moritz.

Zermatt attracts not just skiers but climbers too, keen to tackle the 4,478 meters of the imposing Matterhorn, a jagged peak that reaches for the stars.

Apres-ski is important too – snuggle up in log cabins with a bowl of fondue and a cup of rich, steaming hot chocolate; more than enough to take the chill out of your bones and prepare you for another day descending the slopes.

Life on the lake

Geneva oozes a style and sophistication that is unequivocally Swiss. The eponymous lake it harbors is as pretty a stretch of water as you’ll ever see, its fringes dotted with places to relax while you watch the swans send out ripples.

It’s a thoroughly cosmopolitan place, famed for its part in the political past, but also for the CERN laboratory that houses the famous Large Hadron Collider. Reserve spots well in advance online if you’d like to tour this hugely popular attraction.

There are also plenty of fine museums here, pretty botanical gardens to explore and the must-see Jet d’eau, a fabulous fountain firing water 140 meters up into the air.

Eating opportunities in the city are rich and varied, from warming comfort food to over a dozen restaurants boasting Michelin stars.

Perhaps the best of all is just a short way out of town. The two-star Domaine de Chateauvieux is perched in the mountains with Rhone valley views to add the finishing touch to a truly luxurious experience.

Shredded lobster with caviar and saffron wafer, swiss veal with morels and a spectacular blown sugar dessert filled with orange mousse and Campari are among the delights on offer.

The ancient and modern

Few places better epitomize Switzerland’s juxtaposition of the old and the new than Zurich. Perched next to a lake, it has a fine old town with characterful lanes and sweet churches, but it’s also completely contemporary.

As one of the main financial centers, it has benefited from extensive investment, with warehouses and factories converted into museums and hip lofts for living. 

See the best of the old by visiting Fraumunster, a church fitted with stunning 20^th-century windows by Chagall in a church dating from the 13^th.

Compare the rose window by Augusto Giacometti here with the trademark stick figure sculptures of his relative Alberto Giacometti at the Kunsthaus Gallery. The modern art will drag you right back up to date.

As tempting as these locations are, they’re only scratching the surface of Switzerland, with its many gorgeous, picture-perfect towns and cantons to explore.

Discover it all with car rental in Switzerland from Hertz.