My husband and I are planning a September 2014 Switzerland vacation. We are thinking of renting a car so we can stop and take photos and take our time just "looking" and browsing. The freedom on a car appeals to us however, I have read all the forum comments it it appears most people are deciding on the train. Last year we drove from Munich to Prague to Budapest to Salzburg to Munich and loved it.
is there a downside to renting a car that I may not be aware of? We have been to Zurich and Lucerne and prefer to explore rural countryside and small villages rather than big cities.
Any comments are appreciated.
Posted by
Long Beach, California, USA
3398 posts
We spent 3 weeks in Switzerland this summer and did it entirely by car. You can certainly use trains in Switzerland with the advantage that the trains go through some areas of the alps that are not accessible by car. They are clean, smooth, and always on time! That said, a car gives you the freedom to quickly and easily get to small villages, valleys, and passes that are difficult via train. I think that you can see a lot more with a car because you don't have to live by a train schedule and you don't have to stick to things that right are on the train lines. We were able to visit some incredibly remote and rugged passes, tucked-away villages, and castle ruins in Switzerland because of the fact that we had a car. You can even drive up through many ski runs during the summer and early fall on surprisingly well-kept dirt roads that deposit you at the top. In true Swiss style, you will find the obligatory restaurant/cafe at the top where you can park, have a bite, and watch the paragliders sailing in the air below you with incredible views of the surrounding alpine mountains...all reached from the comfort of your car!
We found driving in Switzerland to be very easy...the roads are very well posted, in excellent condition in most areas, and traffic is light outside of the major cities.
The only thing to be aware of is that in Switzerland you will see very few "traffic cops". That's because many roadways are monitored by speed cameras. If you go too far beyond the posted speed limit you'll simply get a ticket in the mail later via your rental company. Because of this people are very good about following the posted speeds! We learned, while we were there, that Swiss citizens get tickets that are based not only on the specific violation but also on a percentage of their income. Pretty ingenious if you ask me!
Posted by
Henderson
48 posts
We rented a car in Lucerne for a week and drove all through CH. I can't speak for the trains, but travel by car is so much more in your control and to be able to stop when you want. Only thing I'd say is don't rent from Hertz in Lucerne - complete torture and confusion. You just can't beat seeing their fantastic countryside by car and being able to stop and take it all in.
Posted by
Germany, Germany
813 posts
We enjoy driving in Switzerland. True, beware of the speed limit. One of my favorite sights is between Lucerne and Interlaken, we just did it last August. Just up the mountain from Lungern there's a few small spaces to pull out of traffic to view the valley and lakes below towards Lucerne. It's so breathtaking it almost made me cry, honestly! My kids even thought it was awesome. If you're comfortable driving there, I say go for it.
Posted by
Knoxville, TN, USA
7209 posts
If you like driving then drive. Other than super expensive petrol, super expensive insurance to cover everything at 0 deductible, finding a place to park, paying to park, buying vignettes to legally drive in certain countries, dealing with speed traps and, heaven forbid accidents, there's absolutely nothing wrong with renting a car.
There are some places where cars make sense, Castles Linderhof and Neuschwanstein come to mind. And then there are places to not have cars like London, Paris, Prague. Do whatever "flips your trigger".