Renting car in Switzerland, good idea?

Drove from Varenna in a rented car to Lauterbrunnen where we parked our car in a garage there and trained for the 5-6 days that we were in Lauterbrunnen…..the roads were fine. The trains there are amazing……so easy and always on time.

If the price of the train is equal to the rental rate, then the train wins, because you have to add gasoline (2x the US price) and parking.
Plus, both Zermatt and Wengen are car-free anyway, and lake Como traffic can be a bit of a nightmare.
Last but not least, speed cameras are ubiquitous in Switzerland. I go there for work often and I refuse to drive for that reason (even though it would be convenient sometimes), all of my colleagues who drive end up getting fined at some point.

This being said, the final "verdict" depends on your route. You could mix-and-match: train part of the way, car for a few days. Road condition is good. A van can feel big on some roads (e.g. Albula pass), but most roads are 2-lane even in the mountains.

Switzerland is one of the very last countries in Europe where I would think to rent a car. The public transit system is so good that it is not just a way from a to b, but something of a destination on its own.

The car will be of no use in the Berner Oberland area. You can’t even get to Wengen by car - you must take a train. You will park in Lauterbrunnen.

To get to the places with the best views, you need to go up, either by train or gondola. These are covered by some train passes. So you will either pay for individual tickets or train passes, in addition to the cost of the car.

When we stayed 5 nights in Wengen over the summer, it was in the middle of a 3 week road trip. We were 6 people in a full size van. We parked in Lauterbrunnen and didn’t get in the car again for 6 days. We bought the Half Fare Card plus the BO Pass and went everywhere by train. The trains are so easy, no traffic, everyone enjoys the views, and you don’t have to think about where to park. The roads in Switzerland are fine, but we experienced lots of traffic and construction delays in the summer as we were driving to/from Lauterbrunnen.

You mention 4 adults. We are a family of 4 and have rented many times in Europe. Get the smallest car you can. I recommend an estate car vs a van. Slightly smaller to make parking a little easier. If you have never rented in Europe, parking can be extremely tight. Not to mention the very narrow roads you are sure to experience. You’ll be pulling in your side mirrors and saying some prayers. Get the zero deductible insurance if you end up renting.

No need to rent a car in Switzerland. Their train system is fabulous. Download the SBB app and research your routes. Then determine which Swiss rail pass is the most economical. For us, it was the Half fare card and the BO Pass. As mentioned previously, Wengen is car free.

It's hard to say without knowing your planned itinerary, but the answer is most likely no, it's not a good idea. The public transportation network is excellent and Wengen and Zermatt are both car free. And Lauterbrunnen and Grindelwald are both much easier to visit by train.

Driving has many advantages over trains in Switzerland. Most importantly, you can go wherever you want, whenever you want, and stop at whatever beautiful lake or village you pass by. The price of the car is the price of the car; the price of the train is multiplied by however many people in your car.

Driving is very easy and fun in Switzerland. Wengen and Zermatt I don't think you can get to by car; and I've never been to Grindelwald. Lauterbrunnen has very ample and convenient parking underneath the train station. Another great place to park is the Schilthornbahn parking lot near Stechelberg, but only useful if you are going to Murren, Gimmelwald or the Schilthorn.

Lake Como falls entirely within Italian territory. I've never stayed in a lakeside accommodation in Italy or Switzerland, but I wouldn't be surprised if costs are somewhat lower on the Italian side of the border.