Switzerland packs an extraordinary number of highlights into a small area: thundering waterfalls, historic mountain passes and lakes wedged between steep rock faces. Many of these spots lie right along the Nationalstrassen, others are worth a short, scenic detour, and with your vignette on your number plate, every stop below combines easily with a trip through Switzerland.
From the Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen to the historic Alpine passes towards Ticino: these are five highlights of Switzerland that combine well with a road trip via the A2, A4 or A13: sometimes right along the motorway, sometimes with a short detour that's well worth it.
Europe's largest waterfall by water flow: 150 metres wide and 23 metres high, with viewpoints on both sides of the river and boats that sail right up alongside the falling water.
The historic mountain route over the Gotthard, with the cobbled hairpin bends of the Tremola and the famous Devil's Bridge (Teufelsbrücke) near Andermatt, used as an Alpine crossing since the 13th century.
One of the most beautiful stretches of motorway in Switzerland: between Brunnen and Altdorf, the A2 runs wedged between Lake Lucerne and steep rock faces, with views stretching far across the water.
Europe's oldest covered wooden bridge (14th century), the centrepiece of a compact, atmospheric old town on Lake Lucerne.
The quieter alternative to the Gotthard route between Bellinzona and Chur, with a 6.6 km tunnel that stays open year-round and an impressive mountain pass above it in summer.
This selection is just a starting point. Combine it with the prices and validity of the Swiss vignette to complete your route.
Sight photos (all Wikimedia Commons, commercially reusable): Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen: Ziko (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Tremola / Gotthard Pass: Paebi (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Lake Lucerne near Brunnen: Plattens (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Kapellbrücke Lucerne: Koustav Kumar Dutta (CC BY-SA 4.0) · San Bernardino Pass: Moramora11 (CC BY-SA 4.0)
