The Greatest Drive in Europe: Switzerland

When my family and I lived in Europe, we drove everywhere. Not only was Prague (our home) a central location for most of Europe, but for 5 people (3 children), hopping in the car with a GPS and a map was far more economical than taking a train or airplane. (10 Tips for Traveling Europe on a Budget) In our four years in Europe, we drove everywhere — but one drive in particular was spectacular.

5 Countries in 1 Day

Czech Republic – Germany – Austria – Switzerland – Italy

The drive passes through former Soviet lands through the hops country of Bavaria and into the most beautiful drive I’ve ever taken — through Switzerland, top to bottom.

How to get there: from Prague, Czech Republic, drive southwest to Munich, Germany, and continue southwest into the northwest corner of Austria and into Switzerland. Then the drive turns from pretty to incredibly beautiful. You can even stop by Liechtenstein for coffee or their famous blood sausage and add in another country on the way toward Lake Como, Italy.

Luckily, my husband loves to drive, even the hairpin turns that descend the steep roads through Switzerland. So I kept my camera close and captured some of the stunning views.

Once you’ve traveled south through Switzerland past Chur, you encounter switchbacks in the road. They are quite the engineering feats, traversing the edge of a towering mountain peak.

One last thing to consider before you drive through Switzerland is to remember to buy a vignette before entering the country. Like most European countries, you’ll need to buy it before you cross the border, usually easy to find at a petrol station. The vignette for Switzerland has a steep price, but the drive and the scenery are worth it — they’re unforgettable.