Overland Switzerland Travel
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Contents
- 1 Visiting Switzerland
- 2 Entering Switzerland with a Car or Motorbike
- 3 Driving in Switzerland
- 4 Gas price in Switzerland and Diesel price in Switzerland
- 5 Safety and Security Considerations
- 6 Camping in Switzerland
- 7 Navigation
- 8 Special Overland Travel interests
- 9 Vehicle Maintenance
- 10 Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Switzerland
- 11 References
- 12 Helpful External links
Visiting Switzerland
Entering the country via land: The below information assumes a visitor is entering by road therefore from a EC country (Germany, France, Austria or Italy) Entering the country and travelling in Switzerland is pretty straightforward. Main border stations (eg. entries via motorways) are manned 24h. Smaller border stations on minor might not be manned at all. If a visitor needs a visa in this case he/she would need a Shengen visa which is also valid in Switzerland.
Safety Switzerland is considered very safe. Robberies, break-ins in vehicles or any violent crimes are very rare and if it would occur it would be in a larger city at night in a dubious neighborhood . Sometimes organized events with very many visitors might attract pick-pockets.
What to visit in Switzerland The country is basically divided in three regions: The Alps Many of the famous sights are found in this region: The Matterhorn, Jungfraujoch, Grindelwald, Interlaken, St. Moritz, Zermatt, Interlaken, etc. If you like walking there are 60'000 km marked hiking trails crisscrossing the country in all directions. the use of it is free and along many of the trails you'll find simple restaurant and accommandation. The website www.schweizmobil.ch provides incredible information about where to go and how to organize a small or extended trip. Various means of transport carry visitors high of into the mountains if walking is not your thing. The cost can be rather high though. A place not to be missed if you are interested in Swiss counrtry side culture and history is the Ballenberg openair museum abobe Lake Brienz (near Interlaken) Here farmhouses from all regions show the variety of architecture and lifestyle of the past.
The "Mittelland" This is the relatively flat and low lying area between the alps and the Jura mountains. Most historic cities are located in this area (from east to west these are: St. Gallen, Zürich, Luzern, Aarau, Bern, Thun, Aarberg, Murten, Neuchatel, Fribourg Lausanne and Geneva) There are also a number of lakes in this region yet shores are unfortunately not always easily accessable.
The Jura mountains From Zürich to Geneva runs a mountain range with elevations between 800 and 1600 masl. Although not as mighty as the alps they are far less visited and it is the least populated area of Switzerland (beside the high country in the alps) It is a great area for hiking and to get away from the crowds. Highlights are the city of Basel, the Chasseral and Weissenstein with excellent view to the alps on a clear day, the watch capital La Chaux de Fonds with its impressive watch museum. Little towns like Saint Ursanne are pleasant and quite places. Many natural sights, canyons like "Gorge d'Areuse", the amphitheater "Creuz du Van", are well worth a visit if you like great landscapes.
Entering Switzerland with a Car or Motorbike
Correct as of: (date last confirmed correct)
Required Paperwork
(To check if you need a travel Visa for Switzerland, application instructions and fees see: Switzerland Visa online application at VisaHQ.com)
List the paperwork required to enter with a vehicle, including number of copies
Process at border
Briefly describe the process at the border to enter with a vehicle
Cost of entry
State the cost for a vehicle to enter
Permitted length of stay
State the permitted length of entry for the vehicle
Extension of stay
Describe the process to extend the permitted length of entry for the vehicle, if possible.
Storing a vehicle and temporarily leaving the country
Describe if/how a vehicle can be stored, and for how long.
Also mention if the owner / temporary importer can leave the country while the vehicle is in storage.
Exiting with a vehicle
Describe the paperwork requirements and process at the border to exit.
Driving in Switzerland
Recommended books for Overlanding in Switzerland
Travel insurance for Switzerland
World Nomads offer the most flexible Travel Insurance at the best prices for multi-country / multi-year trips. You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home.
Vehicle insurance requirements
3rd party liability insurance is mandatory. Switzerland is one of the Green Card countries. European insurance will normally cover Switzerland. Check with your insurance company if you have one already
Cost of vehicle insurance
State the price of insurance and a time period.
Where to purchase vehicle insurance
Describe where insurance can be purchased.
Driving license
State the kind of driving licenses required. i.e. International Driving Permit.
Driving side of road
Right.
RHD vehicles can be driven in Switzerland.
Mandatory items in vehicle
safety triangle is mandatory and must be ready available (eg not in boot)
Roads
General Road quality
Give a brief description of the general road quality. Mention if one way streets are common.
Road signs
Briefly describe the overall quality & existence of road signs for directions and hazards.
Toll roads
The only roads (no tolls for tunnels, bridges, etc.) with toll are the motorways (Nationalstrassen) The sign posting is with GREEN signposts. There is a annual fee of 40 CHF. You will get a sticker valid for the current year including January of the following year. Stickers are available at any border station if you enter the country via motorway. Otherwise most gas stations sell them too. DO NOT drive on motorways without it the fine is 200 CHF plus the 40 CHF for a sticker!
Bribery in Switzerland
Travellers will NOT meet any bribery
Checkpoints
There are only rarely routine check on the road and if the police checks technical condition of the vehicle and/or breath testing the driver. More often the are mobile speed checks. Fines are hefty
Traveling with pets
List the entry requirements and anything else required to travel with a pet.
Gas price in Switzerland and Diesel price in Switzerland
Last updated: October 2012
Currency and unit to display:
| Gasoline Grade | Price |
|---|---|
| Unleaded | €1.55 EUR per Liter[1] |
| Diesel | €1.62 EUR per Liter[1] |
Use this link to get a general overview of actual fuel prices and comparison with neighboring countries: https://www.globalpetrolprices.com/
Gas and Diesel Availability / Frequency
Gasoline and diesel is always available without restrictions. Be aware that most gas stations are self-service. Means of payment are credit and debit cards (check first if your card works in Switzerland) and bills. Fuel along motorways tend to be more expensive than other stations.
Gas and Diesel Quality
Gasoline and diesel are generally of high quality (European standards)
Safety and Security Considerations
Driving at night
No particular danger when driving at night needs to be considered. Avoid night driving in snowy conditions in areas with little traffic
Vehicle parking
Discuss if vehicles can be parked on the street, if they are considered "safe" at night. If vehicles can not be parked on the street, list the other options that exist.
Special driving considerations
Be aware of speed/redlight traps in certain regions and in particular in larger cities. Fines are hefty
Security advisories and information
- Country Specific Information - U.S. Department of State
- Travel Reports and Warnings - Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada
- Travel advice by country - Foreign and Commonwealth office (U.K.)
- Travel Advice for Switzerland - Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Camping in Switzerland
Describe if organized "pay" camping is common. List the facilities commonly found at these campsites.
List the approximate average price range of camping in organized campgrounds.
Also discuss the possibility of "wild" or "roadside" camping. How common is it? Is it considered safe, or a bad idea.
Camping guide books
List and link to books specifically for camping.
Online listing of official Swiss campgrounds: https://en.camping.info/switzerland/campsites (incl. some price indications) https://www.camping.ch/cgi/home/home.pl?lang=de
Drinking water
Tapwater is always safe and mostly of very high quality. Even water of public fountains is of drinking quality (if not there will be a sign)
Paper maps
Reise Know-How are amoung the best paper maps. Purchase paper maps before arriving in Switzerland
![Europe Executive [tubed] (national Geographic Referenc...](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51Jfc-L6AgL._SL160_.jpg)
GPS Maps of Switzerland
Review different GPS companies, quality and coverage (Tomtom, Garmin, OSM, Tracks4Africa). (with links to each).
Switzerland is covered in most TomTom and Garmin map packages covering central Europe. No particular Swiss map is available
OSM maps of Switzerland are very detailed and reliable including walking trails
For outdoor sports the following online topo map is very informative: https://www.schweizmobil.ch/en/summer.html (sections of it can be saved for offline use or printing)
GPS co-ordinates for camping, propane, gas, repairs, etc. in Switzerland
- iOverlander is a website and iPhone application designed by Overlanders, for Overlanders. It contains GPS co-ordinates and reviews for camping, hotels, propane, water, mechanics, borders and much more.
Link to sites that have a list of GPS co-ordinates (or directions) for camping locations (including "wild" campsites), propane filling, gas stations, repair shops, places of interest, etc.
Special Overland Travel interests
List any special items / places that are popular with Overlanders
Vehicle Maintenance
Dealers
4x4s / Trucks
- Toyota Global Dealer Locator
- Land Rover International Dealer Locator
- Mercedes Benz International (select country on bottom right)
- Jeep International site locator
Motorbikes
Local Garages
Add known good mechanics here.
Buy or sell a car or motorbike in Switzerland
Buy
Describe how a foreigner can buy a vehicle.
List any difficulties or limitations on where the vehicle can be driven.
Sell
Describe how a foreigner can sell a foreign-plated vehicle, or list not possible.'
References
Links to the source of any information - blogs or discussion forums, etc.
Helpful External links
Add any helpful external links here.
- Switzerland: Visa and Passport requirements | World Travel Guide
- Health Information for Travelers to Switzerland - Center for Disease Control and Prevention
- Switzerland travel guides at wikivoyage
- Switzerland - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
