Lausanne © Keitma/Shutterstock
The road trip route from Lausanne leads to Jura Vaudois Nature Park — a magical landscape of forests, marshland and meadows. It also takes in the breath-taking Creux du Van rock formation, around which a nature reserve protects animals and arctic-alpine flora.
Southeast of Creux du Van, the route leads to Neuchâtel, home to Switzerland’s largest archaeological museum. With a charming lakefront promenade and enchanting 12th- century core, Neuchâtel inspires wonder as it transports visitors back in time.
7th stage — Neuchatel to Bern
From Lake Neuchâtel, the wateriest leg of the Grand Tour of Switzerland road trip leads you through the magnificent lake region.
Along the way you won’t want to miss spending time in Fribourg. With its medieval Old Town set on a forested peninsula, this is one of Switzerland’s most magical spots.
Best places to stay in Fribourg
- Best for affordability: Hotel du Faucon. An excellent-value little hotel in the Old Town.
- Best for couples: Hotel de la Rose. Cosy, comfortable and housed in a seventeenth-century building.
- Best for foodies: Le Sauvage. A sixteenth-century townhouse with a fine restaurant.
Find more places to stay in Fribourg.
Largely thanks to its fairy-tale castle, Gruyères is also a place of enchantment, with a strong tradition of cheese and chocolate-making.
As you route through the Bernese Oberland, opportunities for adventure present themselves. Gstaad, for example, is a mecca for celebrity winter-sports aficionados. Meanwhile, friendly outlying villages offer affordable family-oriented accommodation.
Then there’s the mighty Jungfraujoch. The Jungfrau railway has been taking travellers to the highest station in Europe for over a century. This also happens to be one of the top grand tour of Switzerland photo spots.
The same is true of the Lauterbrunnen valley, where a whopping 72 waterfalls rush from vertical cliff faces.
Other highlights along the Bernese Oberland road trip route include Lake Thun and Lake Brienz. Taking a paddle steamer cruise is the perfect way to soak up their splendour.