Escape the Ordinary on the Road Trip in Switzerland via Furka Pass

Switzerland is a heavenly country with breathtaking sceneries, fascinating attractions and amazing history. It has easy-to-drive and accessible roadways making it a prime destination for road trips along the world-renowned mountains and valleys and in the quaint and lovely cities. Get your Avis car rental in Switzerland from Zurich Airport and drive to Lucerne, to begin the wondrous road trip in Switzerland passing through interesting milestones of Bern, Interlaken, Furka Pass all the way to Andermatt.

Overview

Route: Lucerne – Bern -Interlaken – Furka pass – Andermatt

Distance: 400 km

Drive Time: 6 hours and 30 minutes

Local Language: French, Italian, German, Romansh

General Driving Requirements for a road trip in Switzerland:

 License requirements: A full valid driver’s license is required for a minimum of 1 year.

Age restrictions: Generally 21 years but it can differ for different locations.

General Driving Rules

• Vehicles drive on the right-hand side of the road.
• Always give way to pedestrians on pedestrian crossings.
• All occupants in a vehicle must wear a seat belt.
• Mobile Phones are not permitted while driving
• Always carry a valid drivers licence, registration documents and insurance documents.

Driving speed: 50 km/hr in cities and towns | 80 km/hr outside | 120 km/hr on a motorway.

Details of the road trip  in Switzerland via Furka Pass

Hire a car in Switzerland from the Zürich Airport and let the roads take your warm and comfortable Avis rental car through the pristine views of the white-capped Alps and the placid Lake Lucerne. Then head towards the bustling capital city of Bern offering sweeping views. Next stop is Interlaken. Expect many incredible historical and cultural charms along the way. Travel to Rhone Glacier & Furka Pass from Interlaken. This route is for the brave-hearted. The final stop will lead you to Andermatt, a traditional Swiss Alpine village that is sure to win your heart.

LUCERNE

Lucerne is situated on the Lake Lucerne and forms the gateway to central Switzerland. Your rental car for the road trip in Switzerland from Avis will take you past impressive panoramic views enough to make hearts skip a beat. Thanks to its beautiful lakeside setting, attractions, souvenir & watch shops, and excursions on mountains like Rigi, Pilatus and Stanserhorn, the town seems very inviting to tourists from all over the world. Due to its innovative design full of town squares and churches mingling tradition and modernity with ease, Lucerne has earned a reputation of being a city of delights.

Tourist Attractions in Lucerne

• Chapel Bridge– Old Town and New Town division in Lucerne are connected by the world’s oldest covered wooden bridge and a landmark of Lucerne – The Chapel Bridge. It dates back to the year 1332. It was faithfully restored to its original design after a serious fire.
• Swiss Museum of Transport – It is the most visited museum showcasing the past, present and future of mobility with interactive and varied exhibitions. Its unique attractions like the film theatre, planetarium, Swiss Chocolate Adventure and Media World, are just waiting to be discovered.
• Lake Lucerne– It is surrounded by popular excursion mountains offering the greatest scenic variety in every season in the country. Boat cruises include historic paddlewheel steamers and elegant salon motor vessels are things to do in Lucerne.
• Pilatus, Rigi, Stanserhorn – The excursion mountains have been made accessible by cableways, where you can find picture-book panoramas of the regions that are sure to leave you breathless.

These are some of the best places to visit in Lucerne.

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BERN

Unlike other cities, Bern, the capital of Switzerland has managed to retain its historic features successfully. The old town of Bern falls under the UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its 6 km of the arcade. The fountains, narrow streets, sandstone facades and historic towers lend it a medieval feel which are best explored in your rental car in Switzerland from Avis. Its boutiques, cabaret stages, bars of an old town and small street cafes manage to attract tourists as well as locals. Be prepared for even more thrilling destinations on the road trip in Switzerland via Furka Pass.

Tourist Attractions in Bern

• Arcades– Thanks to its six kilometres of arcades, Bern has a reputation of being one of the longest covered shopping promenades in Europe. It is one of the most entertaining things to do in Bern.
• Zentrum Paul Klee– Housing the biggest collection of artist Paul Klee’s work worldwide, it has a cultural centre designed by an Italian architect Renzo Piano. It consists of three wave-shaped building sections.
• Kunstmuseum Bern– This neoclassical structure is Switzerland’s oldest museum of fine arts, and inaugurated in 1879. Works from Pablo Picasso, Paul Klee, Ferdinand Hodler and Meret Oppenheim have given it a world-class reputation.
• Bear Park – Since 1513 bears have been at home in Bern. Watch the popular family of bears frolicking at Bear Park.
• Seat of Government– The Houses of Parliament forms Bern’s major landmark and a seat of the government. A stroll through the weekly market in Bern on the “Bundesplatz” parliament square almost possesses a political touch.

INTERLAKEN

Interlaken is a vacation destination between Lake Thun and Lake Brienz lying in Bernese Oberland in your road trip in Switzerland. Encompassed by three mighty mountains namely Monch, Eiger and JungFrau, it gets tourists excited with its range of action-packed activities. Interlaken is an ideal starting point for countless excursions. With over 45 mountain railways, chair lifts, cable cars, and ski lifts leading to a dense network of hiking trails are among the many things to do in Interlaken. Excursion ships, including historic paddle steamers, grace the waters of Lake Brienz and Lake Thun. Your Avis car rental in Interlaken will give you a plethora of opportunities to explore this city with no conditions.

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Tourist attractions in Interlaken

• Schynige Platte near Wilderswil– Offers hiking possibilities and fascinating views of Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau. This great experience allows you to step into the open coaches of the nostalgic cog railway and witness the beauty of 500 plant species in the Alpine garden.

• Harder Kulm– The short journey from Interlaken to the Harder Kulm, Interlaken’s local mountain, takes only ten minutes by cable car and is well worth the trip.  The Alpine wild animal park near the valley station is an experience for children.
• Heimwehfluh– The Heimwehfluh has lots of activities to offer for both children and adults that range from a vintage funicular to a toboggan run and adventure playground.
• Beatus Caves– There are lit limestone caves with stalagmites, impressive waterfalls and halls which is one kilometre long that can be accessed by car on the historic pilgrim’s way.
• Magic ice-skating experience – The best season to witness a winter wonderland in Interlaken is from mid-December to late February. Lead your rental car in Switzerland towards the best place for snow and ice adventure activities.

Furka Pass

The Furka Pass is a high mountain pass reaching a height of nearly 2500 meters above sea level presenting the views of the Majestic and glorious Alps. Always covered in snow, this pass connects Gletsh in Valais with the town of Realp in Uri. It has a reputation of being an iconic road trip route. The reason being James Bond in Goldfinger who drives past exhilarating turns in a memorable car chase.

You can relive this scene in your Avis car rental in Switzerland but be very cautious while doing so. Take your Avis rental car during your road trip in Switzerland along the pass beginning at Gletsh with a few switchbacks before the route turns into a magnificent long path with breathtaking scenic views. This drive is definitely not for the faint-hearted due to hair-raising steep drops, narrow roads and endless panoramas on the east side of the mountain ridge. The next stop is a quaint and marvellous village of Andermatt where you can relish good food and find great accommodations.

Andermatt

Your final stop in the road trip in your Avis car rental in Switzerland via Furka Pass is Andermatt. Andermatt is the largest of three villages in the heart of Switzerland’s Alpine passes. The variety of touring options surrounding Alpine passes is unique worldwide. There are four water sources that spring from the Gotthard massif mountain range in Alps– Rhine, Reuss, Ticino and Rhone. It forms an extremely attractive and varied four-source path with hiking options connecting the sources.

Tourist attractions in Andermatt

• Gemsstock- A 1500-meter climb from Andermatt leads to the Gemsstock at 3000 meters above the sea. Soak in the 360° view over half of Switzerland standing at the heart of the Swiss Alps.

•  Furka steam railway From Oberwald: Realp- The Furka steam railway mountain route takes visitors back to the nostalgic golden age of rack and pinion steam railway in Switzerland.

• Museum Sasso San Gottardo- Two museums in one and a once-in-a-lifetime experience that will allow you to walk through the heart of the Alps along kilometres of tunnels excavated during World War II.

• Activities like Cross-country skiing Snowshoeing Tobogganing, Horse sleigh rides, Ice climbing and

skating are available in and around Andermatt. Enjoy action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled activities or relaxing and romantic rides on a horse sleigh.

PLACES TO STAY during your road trip in Switzerland

Casita: Your Home in Bern Guest house

Schwalbenweg 6a, Langgasse-Felsenau, 3012 Bern, Switzerland –

It features a terrace, a suite including a sofa, flat-screen TV, kitchen facilities with cooking appliances. The closest restaurant and grocery shop at walking distance from Casita. You can easily visit Bern railway station, airport and clock tower from here in your Avis rental car in Switzerland.

Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa

Höheweg 41, 3800 Interlaken, Switzerland

Take your rental car in Switzerland to this Hotel and Spa gifted with a privileged location in Interlaken, between two mesmerizing lakes at the foot of snow-capped Jungfrau.

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The exclusive Victoria Jungfrau Spa holds a pool, a sauna and a steam room. It provides body and face treatments and features a Sensai Select Spa. Fitness, sports and health coaching are also offered. You can also find some of the best restaurants in Interlaken serving authentic Swiss food around this place.

The Chedi Andermatt

Gotthardstrasse 4, 6490 Andermatt, Switzerland

Located amidst the beautiful nature of the Swiss Alps, 850 m from the Gemsstockbahn Cable Car Station. This hotel is an amalgamation of Swiss hospitality tradition with Asian elegance. It features a  wellness and spa area, along with a fitness centre, a hot tub, a steam bath and a sauna. Massages are available on request. The pool area is fitted with padded day beds.

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Great places to eat during your road trip in Switzerland

Mill’Feuille

Mühlenplatz 6, Lucerne, Switzerland

Mill’Feuille is one of the best places to visit during your road trip in Switzerland for its food. Breakfast features items like quark with a goji berry compote and muesli alongside traditional breakfast comprising of bread, homemade jam and hazelnut spread. You can also go for the baked egg with multiple toppings. The signature dish here is “Mill’Feuille” steak tartare. It is best relished on a roof terrace with the river flowing by. You can travel around this area in your Avis rental car in Switzerland. 

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DELLA CASA

Schauplatzgasse 16, 3011 Bern, Switzerland

Della Casa has been a favourite since it opened in 1892. Though slightly expensive, Della Casa offers an atmosphere of Swiss authenticity, and its location makes it a handy option for those visiting the city centre. Known as ‘Delli’ to the locals, the restaurant prides itself on its friendly atmosphere and adherence to tradition. With seating on the ground and first floors, the menu features Swiss wines and ‘Delli’ favourites, such as veal liver and Bratwurst.

Restaurant in The Chedi Andermatt

Gotthardstrasse 4, 6490 Andermatt, Switzerland

The chic restaurant in The Chedi is located on the hotel’s ground floor, serves an amalgamation of central Swiss, European and Asian cuisine. At the ‘Theatre kitchens’ guests can view their dish being prepared and cooked. You can choose from three dining rooms and chef’s communal tables. The Chedi also houses a Japanese Restaurant by Hide Yamamoto, where the skilled Japanese chefs do their speciality show of preparing their delicacies of spectacular sushi, sashimi and tempura right in front of you.

We’ve given you a whole new world to explore in the Best Alpine road trip in Switzerland via Furka Pass. So, why wait? Plan a trip easily with Avis and feel the wind in your air as you drive past mind-blowing valleys and mountains. To know the 22 best road trips around the world check out our blog here.

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