Alps & Black Forest - 5 Days

Swiss Alps & German Black Forest Road Trip

This road trip to the Alps gives you the opportunity to experience some of the greatest driving roads in Europe, over what is essentially an extended weekend trip, making this the perfect road trip in Europe if you have a limited amount of time to visit. 

From the UK, you will drive directly to Zurich, which takes around 7,5hrs from Calais, where you will make the first overnight.  Thankfully after such a long drive, you can unwind at the hotel's spa, with a rooftop pool and views of the Alps.

The following morning you will be on your way to the Alps - your scenic Road Trip can begin!  The first drive, takes you south, around Lake Zurich, and into the heart of the central Swiss Alps, crossing three Cat 1 Passes (2000M+) the Susten, Grimsel, and Furka, before making an overnight in the Andermatt, often referred to as the center of the Alps.  The next day, you will continue your loop around the passes, crossing a further three passes, the Gotthard, the Nuffenen, and Grimsel, before heading back through the Swiss Lakes to Zurich.  The next tour will take you across the Rhine, into Germany, and you spend a full day driving the fast and sweeping forest trails of the Black Forest, before making a final evening in Baden Baden.  After a night to refresh, drive directly back to the UK the following morning - drive to Calais from Baden is approximately 6hrs.  

This trip really is the best way to make a Road Trip to the Alps if your time is quite limited - if you do have more available time and wanted to extend the drive to also include St Moritz, Stelvio, and the Austrian Alps, check out our Grand Tour of the Alps

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Road Trip to the Swiss Alps & Black Forest

Day 1 - Arrive in Zurich

Arrive at Zurich and check into the Boutique Motel One, set directly in the heart of the city, within an easy walk of the old town and Lake of Zurich.  We suggest you spend the afternoon exploring the cafes and boutiques of Zurich's old town or take a stroll along the world-famous luxury shopping street, Bahnhofstrasse, and up to the lake, for a fantastic uninterrupted view to the Alps.

Spend the evening in the city, where you can visit one of the coolest clubs in Zurich, or spend a more relaxed and romantic evening at the Terrasse Restaurant and Lounge Bar overlooking the River Limmat.

Overnight: Motel One Boutique Hotel, Zurich

Day 2 - First Drive into the Central Swiss Alps

From Zurich, head south around Lake Luzern - stopping for a coffee at the lakeside town of Vitznau. Later continue south onto the heart of the Alps, crossing the spectacular Susten Pass carved into the granite-like sides of the valley and breathtaking to drive. 

After a visit to the Stein Glacier, lunch is taken at the end of the mountain pass. Now continue onto the Grimsel Pass, before heading onto the 007 Furka Pass, past the Rhone Glacier, and down to the ski resort of Andermatt where you will be based for the evening. 

Overnight: Radisson Blu Design Hotel, Andermatt

Day 3 - Return to Zurich via the Alps

Your return journey back to Zurich takes you back into the heart of the central Swiss Alps, where you will head south, crossing the beautiful Gotthard Pass, including the historic Tremola stretch (cobbled road), before crossing what is our favorite pass in Switzerland, the often overlooked and deserted Nufenen.  From here, re-cross Grimsel, taking lunch at the summit of the pass at the Grimsel Hospiz, before continuing your journey north, around the shores of Lake Zug, then back to Zurich for the second evening in the city. 

Overnight: Motel One Boutique Hotel, Zurich

Day 4 - The Black Forest

For the final scenic drive of this road trip, you will head north from Zurich to the Rhine (natural border between Switzerland and German) where you cross the border at the beautiful village of Kaisersthul (castles on either side of the river). You now burst into the southern Black Forest with a run-up one of sweeping lower mountain passes, up and around Mount Feldberg (the highest peak in the forest) then up to the town of Triberg. At Triberg you will stop for lunch and a visit to the Triberg Falls, the highest waterfall in Germany, that cascade down to the village some 300M below.

From here continue your driving tour into the northern Black Forest, along several panorama strasses, picking up Route 500 / The Schwarzwald Hochstrasse - probably the greatest "drivers" road in the black forest, set high above the forest with views down to the Rhine Valley, it's the perfect way to complete the tour.

The road then takes you directly down into the spa town of Baden Baden where you will be based for the evening at the Aqua Auleria, adjacent to the Baden Baden spa. 

Overnight: 4 Star Superior, Aqua Auleria All-Suite Hotel, Baden Baden

Day 5 - back to the UK

After an evening in the spa town of Baden Baden, drive back to the UK directly.  Alternatively, you can break up the drive with an extra overnight in the Champagne region, please ask our team for more details and options

To ask us a question about our 'Alps & Black Forest - 5 Days' justdrive holiday, please fill out this simple form below. One of our experienced staff members will be in touch within 24 hours.

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