Switzerland might look tiny on paper, but with most of its land gobbled up by the Alps, this little European nation packs in a lot of elevated space.
Neatly wrapping it all up is the big one β the 1,km 1,mile Grand Tour of Switzerland β an epic, efficiently signposted lap of the country that links 12 UNESCO World Heritage sites and shows off the Alpine nation from its most flattering angles.
Short on time? Best road trip for glaciers and mountain peaks ObergomsβAndermatt; 35km 22 miles. The wows never leave your lips, and the Alps never leave your rear-view mirror on this astonishingly steep, snaking, stop-the-car-and-grab-the-camera drive from the remote valley of the Goms in Valais to mountain-encrusted Andermatt in Uri. Planning tip: Drive the Furka Pass west to east for full-on, hairpin-riddled drama and views of austere peaks and glaciers that will draw constant gasps.
Open roughly from June to October, the best time to go is the summer, as the road closes when the snow arrives. Check conditions before heading out. Best road trip for rural Switzerland AppenzellβSt Moritz; km miles. A week? Two weeks? Storybook Engadine villages with fountains and frescoed houses like Guarda and Zernez entice you into the nature-gone-wild Swiss National Park before your drive south to St Moritz , where sky-high peaks are ripe for Alpine adventures. Planning tip: Factor in time to break from the wheel and stretch your legs with a properly wild hike in the Swiss National Park.
The national park visitor centre in Zernez can hook you up with rangers. Best road trip for mountain scenery LuganoβZermatt; km miles. The Alps are your constant companion on this ravishing drive through the high mountains of southern Switzerland, which takes in both the Gotthard and Furka passes. You'll want to allow at least a week to do it justice. The language flicks from Italian to German as you power north into the Alps proper and Airolo at the foot of the Gotthard Pass.
