The most beautiful car excursion destinations

We have long been aware that Switzerland has countless picturesque corners. Nevertheless, sometimes the inspiration for a nice day trip is missing. We want to remedy this and therefore present you with excursion destinations that you can easily reach by car.

Each region has its own beautiful excursion destinations to offer - whether indoors or outdoors in nature. That's why we asked you on Facebook where your favorite destinations are – and put together a few of the excursion tips we received to inspire you for your next Swiss road trip.

Nostalgia in the Lower Engadine: Guarda & Tarasp Castle

"Guarda" is Rhaeto-Romanic and means "to see" – a fitting name, because the village is definitely something to be proud of. The small town in the Lower Engadine is located high on a sun terrace and therefore scores with a great panorama. The villagescape is characterised by beautiful Engadine houses. One of them is probably one of the most famous in Switzerland: it is the home of Schellen-Ursli. So you can not only visit one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland, but also immerse yourself in the history of Ursli and his bell again with the children. In the matching museum, even various scenes of history are brought to life.

Just under half an hour's drive from Guarda is another highlight of the Lower Engadine: Tarasp Castle. In the castle, which was built in 1040, guided tours for young and old are regularly offered. Art lovers will also get their money's worth: In the castle you can marvel at an art collection by the Engadine artist and castle owner Not Vital.

The fastest way to reach the Lower Engadine from Chur is via Prättigau and the Vereina car transport in around 1.5 hours.

• Excursion type: Culture, Nature
• Suitable for Knight, art and bell Ursli fans!
• Special: If you like to drive winding pass roads, it is best to take the slightly longer route to Davos and over the Flüela Pass to get to the Lower Engadine.

High up in the Appenzell Alps

The Säntis is considered the landmark of the Lake Constance region. Its valley station is located at the top of the Schwägalp Pass. The Schwägalp is located in a moor landscape, through which a themed trail leads. A footbridge takes you to the heart of the mythical moors and along the way you get to know the flora and fauna of the Schwägalp. The themed trail is almost two kilometres long and is also suitable for children.

After a walk through the moor landscape, a ride on the suspension railway to the Säntis is definitely worthwhile: the 2,503-metre-high mountain offers a unique view over six countries and Lake Constance.

Parking is available at the valley station of the Säntis suspension railway.

• Excursion type: View, Nature, Mountain Passes
• Suitable for nature lovers with a head for heights.
• Special: The route over the Schwägalp Pass is also suitable for a great motorbike tour.

Down into the Zug underworld: Höllgrotten Baar

In the Lorzentobel in the canton of Zug, you can descend into the underworld - or at least into the mystical Höllgrotten. The 3,000-year-old stalactite caves fascinate with underground lakes, numerous stalagmites and stalactites as well as beautiful light shows.

After visiting the cave, it is worth taking a walk along the Lorze: the river meanders through a wild ravine, where numerous fireplaces invite you to barbecue.

The Höllgrotten are easily accessible by car. From Zug, it takes just under 20 minutes. Parking is available free of charge at the caves.

• Excursion type: Nature, Picnic/Barbecue
• Suitable for Adventurous people who finally want to learn the difference between stalagmites and stalactites.
• Special: A constant temperature of around 10 °C prevails in the caves - so if you are looking to cool off on hot days, you will find it here!

Over the Gurnigel and the Gäggersteg in the canton of Bern

If you want to decorate your trip with a beautiful pass ride, this day trip is for you. In one hour you can reach the top of the Gurnigel pass from Bern. At around 1,600 meters above sea level, you can enjoy a beautiful view over the Fribourg Alps. Just a 30-minute drive from the top of the pass, another adventure for the whole family awaits: The Gäggersteg in Rüschegg zigzags through and over the forest - in some places it rises up to eight metres in height and thus allows a view over the treetops. On the 3-kilometer circular trail you will also learn interesting facts about the biodiversity in the forest reserve.

You will find public parking spaces at the refuge and below the Schwarzenbühl restaurant - but the number is limited.

• Excursion type: Nature, Forest Reserve
• Suitable for anyone who has ever wanted to walk between the treetops.
• Special: On the Gäggersteg there are various puzzles to solve and clues to look for - a scavenger hunt that is not only fun for the little ones.

Excursion into the Fribourg world of legends: Schwarzsee

In about 40 minutes by car you can reach the Schwarzsee from Fribourg. During a walk around the lake (approx. 4.4 km) you can immerse yourself in the world of legends and myths from the Schwarzsee-Senseland on the "Häxewääg". For example, did you know where the lake got its name from? According to legend, it became the Schwarzsee because a giant washed his feet in it and thus "polluted" the water. The "Häxewääg" is an adventure for young and old and can also be comfortably mastered with a stroller. In addition to the lake, the circular trail also passes a beautiful waterfall. If you need to cool off after the walk, you can take a dip in the cool water of the Schwarzsee and then warm up in the sun on the beaches at the Gypsera or the Staldenmotta.

There are numerous parking spaces directly at the lake, for example at the Gypsera valley station.

• Excursion type: Nature, Family walk
• Suitable for Legend lovers and water rats.
• Special: In winter, the Schwarzsee regularly freezes over and invites visitors to go ice skating.

For connoisseurs: Cheese and chocolate tasting in the canton of Fribourg

Around 30 minutes' drive from Fribourg, one of the most famous Swiss cheeses is at home – in the small village of Gruyères. Find out in the show dairy what it takes for the cheese to land on your table. Afterwards, a short walk to the village, which is a little elevated on a hill, is a good idea. The medieval, traffic-free village invites you to stroll. Knight fans can travel back to the 13th century at Gruyères Castle, while film and fantasy lovers can immerse themselves in the world of aliens at the museum of artist and Oscar winner H.R. Giger.

Zum Dessert lohnt sich ein Abstecher ins zehn Minuten entfernte Broc: Im Maison Cailler lernst du die Geschichte der Schokolade kennen und kannst diese bei einer Degustation gleich selber geniessen.

Parkplätze gibt es sowohl bei der Schaukäserei in Gruyères als auch beim Maison Cailler.

• Ausflugstyp: Kulinarisches, Historisches
• Geeignet für salzige und süsse Feinschmecker.
• Besonderes: Gruyère ist nicht gleich Gruyère! Je nachdem, wie lange der Käse reift, hat er einen ganz anderen Geschmack – von mild und sanft bis hin zu würzig rezent.

Einmal um den Stausee im Wallis: Lac du Tseuzier

Beim Lac du Tseuzier handelt es sich um einen Stausee, der durch den Bau des Rawyl Staudamms in den 1950er Jahren entstanden ist. Du erreichst den See in rund 40 Autominuten von Sion aus, Parkmöglichkeiten sind direkt beim Staudamm verfügbar. Von dort führt ein Rundweg um den See. Die leichte Wanderung von 4.6 km eignet sich auch für Familien. Dank der vielfältigen Natur durchstreifst du dabei Wiesen und Wälder und erblickst den ein oder anderen Wasserfall.

Der Weg führt zudem am Ursprung der Bisse de Sion vorbei. Dieser historische Bewässerungskanal – Suone genannt – sorgt dafür, dass genügend Wasser zu den Reben und Hängen gelangt. Wer sich für die Geschichte der Suonen interessiert, sollte auf dem Rückweg nach Sion einen Stopp beim Walliser Suonen-Museum in Botyre einlegen.

• Ausflugstyp: Natur, Historisches
• Geeignet für alle, die einmal einen Staudamm von Nahem sehen wollen.
• Besonderes: Die Bisse d’Ayent – die Suone, welche vom Stausee bis nach Ayent führt – ist auf der 100-Franken-Note abgebildet.

Neuenburg: Abschalten im kältesten Hochtal der Schweiz

Ein bisschen Abkühlung gefällig? Dann empfehlen wir einen Besuch im Sibirien der Schweiz! In La Brévine im Kanton Neuenburg wurde die tiefste je gemessene Temperatur der Schweiz registriert – mit -41.8 °C! Aber keine Angst, im Sommer wird es schon ein bisschen wärmer. Du erreichst das Vallée de la Brévine in einer halben Stunde von La Chaux-de-Fonds aus. Das Tal ist ideal für alle, die abschalten möchten und sich von idyllischen Landschaften verzaubern lassen wollen. Dichte Tannenwälder, Hochmoore, weite Weiden und der tiefblaue Lac de Taillères laden zum spazieren und picknicken ein.

Parkmöglichkeiten gibt es in La Brévine oder direkt am See.

• Excursion type: Nature, Relaxation
• Suitable for Nature lovers who long for a quiet break.
• Special: La Brévine is also a sight to behold in winter – so you can explore nature on cross-country skis or snowshoes. Don't forget to dress warmly!

Natural spectacle in French-speaking Switzerland: Creux du Van

The breathtaking rocky scenery in the Swiss Jura should be familiar to every Swiss. On Switzerland's Grand Canyon, you can look down at a depth of around 200 metres – and marvel at lakes, Alps and Jura valleys. For sporty people, we recommend the hike from Noiraigue (parking at the train station). The 14-kilometer climb is divided by 14 hairpin bends and leads mostly through the forest. If you like it easy, you can also reach the Creux du Van by car: from St-Aubin, Couvet or Travers, a road leads to the Soliat restaurant. From there you can easily reach the rocky backdrop in about 300 meters on foot.

• Excursion type: Nature, View, Hike
• Suitable for very sporty or very leisurely people - depending on whether you hike or drive to the rocky backdrop.
• Special: If you're lucky, you'll see ibex, chamois or marmots.

Additional tip for all those who travel by electric car: On this map you will find all public charging stations for your vehicle, also near our excursion tips. So nothing stands in the way of a successful day trip.