Go to main content

The benefits of ACSI Eurocampings

  • More than 9400 campsites in 33 countries Inspected by ACSI every year

  • Safe and simple to book Pitches and rental accommodation

  • Search more than 250 amenities More than 300,000 reliable campsite reviews

Camping in Switzerland: high mountains, green valleys and blue lakes

There is probably not a single European country with a landscape that is more impressive than Switzerland. The landscape will already enthrall you while on your way to your campsite in Switzerland: breath-taking and extremely varied, inaccessible or very charming, with icy peaks and frozen glaciers but also sun-drenched, green slopes and lovely lakes in the valleys.

Nature at a high level

Nature lovers can indulge in their passion in Switzerland. The Alpine landscape, perfectly accessible from campsites, is particularly interesting for those who love camping. The lower sections are perfectly fine for the inexperienced hiker, but it is also possible to get to the top in comfort by taking a mountain lift to have a look at the view. The most photogenic mountain top of Europe is located in Switzerland: the Matterhorn. Take the cable car to the top of the mountain facing it, the Klein Matterhorn (or Little Matterhorn), where the highest cable car station in the Alps is located, and admire the fantastic view of the characteristic mountain.

Camping holiday by a lake

If you prefer to camp by water, there is much to choose from in Switzerland. Along the Swiss banks of Lake Constance, it is possible to explore the beautiful city of Constance and the flower island of Mainau. Take a boat across Lake Geneva and see the Jet d’eau (Water Jet), the landmark of the city of Geneva. Follow the footsteps of William Tell at Lake Lucerne in the cities Lucerne and Küssnacht. The lake at Neuchâtel and the Walensee (Lake Walen) also offer a great deal of water fun with sailing, fishing, swimming, surfing and paddling.

A camping holiday in Switzerland becomes even more impressive if you cross one of the elevated Alpine passes, for example, the Great St Bernard Pass, the Furka Pass or the Grimsel Pass. Much less well-known, but certainly just as beautiful, is the green and charming low mountain range in the west: the Swiss Jura Mountains. Most campsites also offer winter camping.

Switzerland for the true connoisseurs

Switzerland is famous for its cheeses, like the Emmentaler, Appenzeller or Raclette. At the Emmentaler cheese dairy, you can learn everything there is to know about the history and the production of this Swiss speciality. A good glass of wine from one of the Swiss wine regions goes well with a good piece of cheese. For those who enjoy sweets, Swiss chocolate is an absolute high point.

Important information for your trip to Switzerland:

Petrol (Super 95 and Super Plus 98) and diesel (gazole) are readily available. LPG is reasonably available. When filling up with LPG, some petrol stations use the European connection (acme) and other the Italian (dish) connection.
Petrol stations are often usually open from 8:00 to 18:00. In cities and along motorways, they are often open from 7:00 to 20:00, and along motorways from 6:00 to 23:00. In addition, most petrol stations have a night machine that allows you to fill up using a credit/debit card.

There are plenty of public charging stations in Switzerland, many of which are along the motorways. In Switzerland, the rates for charging can differ significantly and can be very high at times. This has made charging for free very popular in Switzerland, and companies like IKEA and supermarkets provide the opportunity to charge for free. This means that there are, relatively speaking, many charging stations in Switzerland that are free. It is advisable to make use of these to make your holiday in Switzerland less expensive.

Low beam lights (or daytime running lamps) are mandatory during the day. At equivalent crossings, traffic from the right has right of way. Trams always have right of way. Traffic on the roundabout has right of way if so indicated by traffic signs. Uphill traffic in the mountains has priority over downhill traffic. On narrow roads, a heavier vehicle has priority over a lighter vehicle. Drivers may only call handsfree. Children younger than 12 years of age or shorter than 1.50 metres must be in a child’s seat. Speed camera warnings are prohibited; if necessary, remove Swiss speed camera location from your navigation software. Winter tyres are strongly advised under winter conditions (snow chains may be made mandatory by means of a sign).

Switzerland has ‘Bergpoststrassen’ (mountain post roads, indicated by blue signs with a yellow PostBus horn), on which regular buses and the PostBus always have right of way.
If traffic jams form, keep to the right or left as far as possible so that a free lane (Rettungsgasse) is created in the middle for emergency vehicles.
Parking is prohibited at locations with yellow stripes and crosses on the road surface. A load may not stick out on the sides, and bicycles may only stick out a maximum of 20 centimetres.

A warning triangle is mandatory in the car.

A motorhome or car-caravan combination may be a maximum of 4 metres high, 2.55 metres wide and 18.75 metres long (the caravan itself may be a maximum of 12 metres long).
You may not drive with your caravan (nor with a motorhome > 3.5 tonnes) in the leftmost lane on motorways with at least three lanes going in the same direction.
You are advised to take along wheel chocks to secure the wheels of your caravan when on a (minor) slant.

A bicycle helmet is only mandatory if you cycle faster than 20 km/hour. Calling or texting while cycling is prohibited. Children up to 6 years of age may only cycle on the road if accompanied by a person at least 16 years of age. Children may be transported by someone 16 years or older on a bicycle in a child’s seat with leg guards. Cyclists may only cycle side-by-side on bicycle paths or bicycle lanes.

All Swiss motorways require a vignette.
Caution! A second vignette is required for caravans and trailers. The vignette is (and costs) the same for cars, caravans, trailers and motorhomes up to a combined weight of 3.5 tonnes and is valid for one year. If the vignette is lacking, you risk a considerable fine.
Before you start your journey, it is a good idea to order the vignette online through, for example, tolltickets.com. This means less time waiting at the border.
For vehicles (including motorhomes) over 3.5 tonnes, a ‘Schwerverkehrsabgabe’ (lump-sum heavy vehicle charge, PSVA) must be purchased. You can report to the customs at the border for this.
For more information: ezv.admin.ch (look for ‘PSVA’).
You cannot pass the border post Basel-Weil (on the E35, German A5, Swiss A2) without a vignette.

The Geneva canton has implemented an environmental zone for several municipalities as from January 2020. You must have an environmental sticker to enter this zone.

There are two tunnels for which you must pay a separate toll: the Great St. Bernard Tunnel and the Munt La Schera Tunnel. The Munt La Schera Tunnel has only one lane, so you can only go through the tunnel at fixed times.
For more information: letunnel.com, livigno.eu/en/tunnel-munt-la-schera and ekwstrom.ch. You can also take the car train through several tunnels.

Place your warning triangle on the motorway at least 100 metres (elsewhere 50 metres) behind the car if it is not properly visible to other traffic. All passengers are advised to wear a safety vest.
If you have had a breakdown, call the alarm number of your breakdown assistance insurer. You can also call a Swiss emergency breakdown service: +41 44 2833377 (ACS) or 800 140140 (TCS). On major roads and along mountain passes, you can also call breakdown assistance using an emergency telephone. Towing on the motorway is permitted up to the first exit.

Most camping sites in Switzerland are located by lakes. The campsites in mountainous areas are often small with only basic amenities for tent campers.
In the west of Switzerland, campsites often have many fixed pitches.
Free camping (outside of campsites) is generally prohibited. It is only permitted with prior permission from the land owner or the local police.

Many Swiss campsites are also open in the winter, especially in Berner Oberland and Graubünden.
When camping in the mountains, it is wise to keep an eye on the weather.
Swiss campsites are very strict on the use of gas. It is very possible that you will have to complete a questionnaire on the reliability of your equipment.
Staying overnight in a caravan, motorhome or car outside of pitches is only permitted for one night in parking spaces along the motorways if you are simply passing through. Apart from local exceptions, staying along the public road elsewhere overnight is prohibited.

Driving in the Swiss mountains demands some experience when travelling with a caravan.
The Alps have gradients of 6 to 15 percent and more. Almost all mountain roads are secured on the side of the ravine.
Mountain passes in Switzerland, Austria and Italy can be closed temporarily, difficult to negotiate or even permanently prohibited for cars with a caravan or trailer. Check on this before you start your journey.
For more information: alpenpaesse.de (in German).
Additional costs for items such as tourist tax and environmental tax may turn out to be rather high.
If you plan to call on your mobile or use the internet, check beforehand if Switzerland is included in your EU package.

Themes


Get great tips and special offers

Our newsletter is full of tips, news, ACSI offers and advertisements from carefully selected partners. You will receive the newsletter no more often than once a week.

Your details are secure and will not be shared with third parties