Driving tips for Switzerland

Driving tips for Switzerland

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georgefreeman918

Original Poster:

724 posts

114 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Appreciate there is a wealth of knowledge on the internet already, but does anybody have any recommendations / hacks for driving to and in Switzerland.

Will be making the journey from Calais to Interlaken.

br d

8,934 posts

241 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Get the vignette.
Drive to the same speeds as the locals, they know where you can push it and where you can't.
If there's no one else about be very careful. You can still have fun in the mountains but look ahead, they love to set up those roadside stops with a mobile camera and you don't want to get caught doing 40 over the limit in Switzerland!

Gary C

13,811 posts

194 months

Thursday
quotequote all
DO NOT SPEED !

They don't like it and you can end up getting locked up got 30mph above posted limit !.


50km/h or more (speed limit up to 50km/h) 60km/h or more (speed limit from 60km/h)
Serious speeding offence
Criminal charge, imprisonment or fine

Edited by Gary C on Thursday 17th July 12:52

SuperPav

1,163 posts

140 months

Thursday
quotequote all
georgefreeman918 said:
Appreciate there is a wealth of knowledge on the internet already, but does anybody have any recommendations / hacks for driving to and in Switzerland.

Will be making the journey from Calais to Interlaken.
1 tip: Speed matters. Drive slowly.

Honestly, of all the places in the world. Don't speed. The scenery is stunning so just enjoy it.

Davie

5,579 posts

230 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Yup, speeding is a bit of a touchy subject but aside for that it's pretty much as you were with regards to driving in Europe. I came back through Switzerland en route back from Rome, dodgy old Volvo estate and a couple of mates and we ended up at a check point within a huge mountain tunnel manned by two blondes with guns. My mate assumed we'd arrived at the pearly gates. The bizarre thing was we never saw vehicle for what felt like a long, long time so genuinely wondered if we'd hung a left by mistake and ended up at the front door of some military bunker. Turns out we hadn't and we ended up at our hastily booked lodgings for the night which were described as being "2kms from Lake Geneva" and on arrival, we realised they meant 2kms higher as it was pretty much deserted ski resort... all we could find was a bag of Paprika crisps to share in a pub where we were then charged about £350 for 3 pints of lager.

Good times

SJfW

165 posts

98 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Charlie Croker said:
Just remember this, in this country, they drive on the wrong side of the road
As already mentioned, they have very little sense of humour for speeding so just enjoy the scenery and fine road surfaces.

Ussrcossack

788 posts

57 months

Thursday
quotequote all
I did it last year, just be super sensible.

They don't like horns being sounded even as a warning I got some abuse in Interlaken for do such a thing

Vignette is only if you are using Motorways, but at the border or on line official site, it lasts for a whole year, if on line you don't have anything to display so make sure you have the email

Pachydermus

1,068 posts

127 months

Thursday
quotequote all
br d said:
Get the vignette.
can be done online now, no window disc needed.

Other than that and sticking to speed limits there's nothing really to be concerned about presuming you're going in summer.

Krikkit

27,446 posts

196 months

Thursday
quotequote all
br d said:
Get the vignette.
Drive to the same speeds as the locals, they know where you can push it and where you can't.
If there's no one else about be very careful. You can still have fun in the mountains but look ahead, they love to set up those roadside stops with a mobile camera and you don't want to get caught doing 40 over the limit in Switzerland!
100% this.

If there isn't a local in front of you, slow down until you're sure about the speed limit!

swamp

1,006 posts

204 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Pachydermus said:
can be done online now, no window disc needed.
Beware of scam sites selling vignettes. There's only one official site and they charge 40 CHF for the year.

littleredrooster

5,947 posts

211 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Make sure your insurance covers Switzerland - it's not an EU country, my last policy didn't cover Switzerland or Andorra.

Pachydermus

1,068 posts

127 months

Thursday
quotequote all
littleredrooster said:
Make sure your insurance covers Switzerland - it's not an EU country, my last policy didn't cover Switzerland or Andorra.
that reminds me of something - check if your phone company offers free roaming to switzerland. Not all do - surprisingly for me Lebara is one of them.

Gary C

13,811 posts

194 months

Thursday
quotequote all
I did drive across Switzerland once in my EVO V at warp speed

It was only afterwards I found out about their disapprobation

br d

8,934 posts

241 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Gary C said:
I did drive across Switzerland once in my EVO V at warp speed

It was only afterwards I found out about their disapprobation
Yeah, despite my warnings of good behaviour in this thread I generally drive like a hooligan in Switzerland and just take the chance.

I wouldn't recommend it though.

Merry

1,437 posts

203 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Pachydermus said:
that reminds me of something - check if your phone company offers free roaming to switzerland. Not all do - surprisingly for me Lebara is one of them.
iD Mobile too.

As I found out in Zurich last year.

br d

8,934 posts

241 months

Thursday
quotequote all
And Giff Gaff.
I had 3 in the car this year and it was fine.

RGG

681 posts

32 months

Thursday
quotequote all



Look out for large blocks of cheese.

They are Speed Cameras.

dcb

5,983 posts

280 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Davie said:
on arrival, we realised they meant 2kms higher as it was pretty much deserted ski resort... all we could find was a bag of Paprika crisps to share in a pub where we were then charged about £350 for 3 pints of lager.
That cheap ?

If you are visiting Switzerland, make sure you overnite in another country.
It doesn't matter which one, they are all much cheaper.

Probably the most punitive country in Europe for speeding.
If you are a keen driver, strongly recommend avoid.



Bluerange39

669 posts

174 months

Thursday
quotequote all
Just arrived in Andermatt this afternoon. I stayed behind the locals as others have suggested. Probs no more than 5-10kmh over the limit.

Vignette bought online

Off to do the triple of Furka, Grimsell and Sisten tomorrow before a big old day back in Saturday.

Oh, and my ID mobile doesn’t include Switzerland which killed my CarPlay and Spotify 😢


200Plus Club

11,971 posts

293 months

Thursday
quotequote all
We were there 2 weeks ago, absolutely loved everything about the scenery and driving the passes.
I bought the vignette at a petrol station for 47 and then 500 yards later at the actual border is a lane where you can buy it at 40!
Super unleaded is plentiful at all the small village self service credit card type pumps, and was actually cheaper than in Germany which surprised me.
We stuck to every limit in every village with just the odd blast on the visibly clear passes and when doubling back on roads just done in the remote empty roads. Otherwise just enjoy the scenery as mentioned.
Food and drink is pricey generally 50 for 2 snack lunches, but not so expensive you don't enjoy it all.
Well worth the effort and a trip to remember for us.
If you can then also go up the Matterhorn Glacier if you have time to do a day in Zermatt.