Grand Tour of Switzerland
You leave Zurich at lake-light, the water still holding last night's wind. Ten short driving days follow the Grand Tour: painted Appenzell, the Julier opening onto the Engadine, Ticino heat after the Bernina, and the Matterhorn by train from Täsch. Five high passes are the holiday, not a reason to empty the battery.
Season: Julier, Bernina, the Gotthard Tremola, and Furka are typically open June–October. Check alpen-paesse.ch the morning you climb; a closed col is a tunnel day, not a ruined holiday.
You leave Zurich at lake-light, the water still holding last night's wind. Ten short driving days follow the Grand Tour: painted Appenzell, the Julier opening onto the Engadine, Ticino heat after the Bernina, and the Matterhorn by train from Täsch. Five high passes are the holiday, not a reason to empty the battery.
Day by day
Zurich
Bahnhofstrasse spills into the lake. Walk until the water turns pewter, then sleep in the city; at first light you peel north to the Rhine Falls, a white roar before the road turns east.
Why stop hereAccess: walk, train or ferry from the overnight — leave the car.
Appenzell
The square is painted eaves and cowbells. Take the rest day here — a slow coffee under the woodwork — because tomorrow the road climbs toward Graubünden and the air thins.
St. Moritz
Julier Pass at 2284 m is a long, honest climb, then the Engadine lakes lie still at about 1800 m. Walk the shore at St. Moritz before the altitude night.
Why stop hereAccess: walk, train or ferry from the overnight — leave the car.
Bellinzona
Bernina and the Maloja drop you into another country of palms and stone. Three UNESCO castles watch the Ticino valley; you overnight under Castelgrande.
Why stop hereCharge nearby: Ionity (Ionity Bellinzona) — typical arrival 18%, about 26 min to 80%. Short driving day: charge in the overnight town and keep the climbs honest.
Täsch
Park in Täsch and let the train finish the job: Zermatt is car-free, the Matterhorn a pyramid at the end of the street. The Gotthard Tremola cobbles may be closed; the tunnel is the unsentimental backup.
Why stop hereAccess: walk, train or ferry from the overnight — leave the car.
Lausanne
The Valais vineyards step down toward Lac Léman. Lausanne is steep, the Olympic Museum by the water, the lake wide enough to slow the holiday down.
Bern
The old town is arcades and the Aare looping like a moat. A slow Mittelland day: no passes, just the capital taking the evening seriously.
Lucerne
Chapel Bridge, the water tower, a steamer if the weather holds. Tomorrow is a short hop; tonight belongs to the lake.
Zurich
The last morning follows the water home. Zurich again, but the lake looks different after ten days of mountains.
Where this trip charges
- Tesla Supercharger in Schaffhausen — arrive around 28%, about 22 min to 80%.
- Ionity in Chur — arrive around 19%, about 28 min to 82%.
- Ionity in Bellinzona — arrive around 18%, about 26 min to 80%.
- Tesla Supercharger in Andermatt — arrive around 16%, about 30 min to 85%.
- Ionity in Sion — arrive around 21%, about 24 min to 80%.