Switzerland by Van: From Neuchâtel to Bern

Day 1: Neuchâtel – Fribourg via Lake Morat – 58 km

In Neuchâtel, don’t forget to visit the Laténium. Located in a dreamy setting on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, the Laténium is Switzerland’s main archaeology museum. Its modern and attractive exhibition traces a period from Neanderthal man to the Middle Ages.

The camper van journey from Lake Neuchâtel to Lake Morat via Mont-Vully has everything to make you happy. You’ll start by crossing the Canal de la Broye: keep an eye out for boats leaving Lake Neuchâtel here, as you might see them again later at the entrance to Lake Morat. Take time to enjoy the road that climbs up to Vully, from where you’ll discover a superb view of the Three Lakes. On the other side, the landscape becomes wonderfully romantic: admire the picturesque and charming wine-growing villages on the slopes of Mont-Vully, whose irresistible cellars await you for a small tasting.

Upon arriving at Lake Morat, treat yourself to a short break in the medieval town of Morat, an ideal place to relax, feast your eyes, and delight your palate. Winding alleys of the old center, pretty arcades, picturesque taverns set in gardens, and fresh air blowing from the lake make this town a must-visit. From the ramparts, almost entirely intact and the only ones accessible in all of Switzerland, there is a breathtaking view of the roofs of the old center. But don’t leave too quickly; the sunsets with a view of Lake Morat towards Mont-Vully and the Jura are one of the most enchanting spectacles awaiting you in this region.

A small detour to Avenches before heading back to Fribourg will allow you to discover a town of 20,000 inhabitants, featuring an amphitheater, several temples, and more than 5 kilometers of ramparts that can reach 7 meters high and are equipped with 70 towers. The capital of Roman Helvetia 2,000 years ago, it was called Aventicum. The town has remained proud of its remains and other witnesses to its ancient past.

Fribourg, city of the dukes of Zähringen. The picturesque medieval old center of Fribourg extends over three levels and sits atop a rocky spur enclosed by a bend in the Sarine River. Fribourg is proud of its 200 Gothic façades and its cathedral, whose 74-meter tower offers an unobstructed view of the superb surrounding countryside.

In addition to these historical treasures, there is also a modern heritage, with true institutions such as the Tinguely Museum, which occupies a former tram depot. A university town, Fribourg has the peculiarity of being located right on the famous Röstigraben, the supposed divide separating French-speaking Switzerland from German-speaking Switzerland. Bilingualism is part of everyday life here.

Day 2: Fribourg – Gstaad via Gruyère 85 km via Romon – 72 km directly via Bulle)

If you choose to go through Romont, the journey in a camper van will be 13 km longer.

Romont is home to the Vitromusée, which displays the world’s largest collection of stained glass and reverse glass paintings. Glass painting is an art craft going well beyond simple church stained glass: since the Middle Ages, artists have fixed their most beautiful images on glass to illuminate them.

Before reaching Gruyère, a stop is essential in Broc to visit Maison Cailler, the famous Swiss chocolatier. Smell, learn, discover, and taste: the interactive tour offered by Maison Cailler appeals to both the imagination and the intellect. It brings history to life, enhances the present, and offers visitors a journey through time that is poetic, sensual, and bittersweet.

The small town of Gruyère is so beautiful that it almost feels like a movie set. It sits majestically on its rocky spur, dominated by its castle and dotted with excellent restaurants. And if its neat appearance and flowers in the windows seem a bit too quaint for you, push open the door of the small St. Germain Castle in the pedestrian zone: this place houses an exhibition dedicated to the fantastic art of H.R. Giger, the father of Alien, who won an Oscar for special effects in 1980. You can also admire the Tibet Museum, which contains more than 300 Buddhist sculptures. The Pringy cheese factory, finally, will reveal almost all the secrets of the famous “Gruyère AOP.” Also unmissable, the Gruyère Meringue accompanied by double cream is simply unique.

A few cable lengths from the town of Gruyère is Moléson, considered the most beautiful mountain in the Fribourg region. The clear view to the west means that its sunsets are among the most beautiful. But the panorama is also worth a detour during the day: it extends to the Bernese Alps and Mont Blanc. Moléson also offers numerous attractions.

We hit the road again in a camper van to Gstaad in the Bernese Oberland. With its magnificent chalets, chic boutiques, and rustic charm, Gstaad is a popular holiday resort. Many stars and celebrities own chalets here. The region offers them, in addition to the legendary discretion of its inhabitants, a perfectly intact setting. See Lauenensee, which seems to have run aground in the setting of a high-altitude marsh and which a song by the Bernese rock-folk group Span has immortalized. Or the Arnensee, which also has the power to inspire poets. Locals often speak of a “little Canada,” alluding to its romantic and wild surroundings. Because in the Saanenland, true luxury is simplicity and authenticity.

Day 3: Gstaad – Interlaken: 71 km. If detour through the valley of waterfalls and Jungfraujoch add 26 km more.

On the way to Interlaken, you will arrive at the shores of Lake Thun, still in the Bernese Oberland.

Due to the many monuments that dot its shores, Lake Thun is often nicknamed “the lake of castles.” The most elegant way to discover it is to take a vintage steamboat. You will make a stop at the famous St. Beatus Caves, where this itinerant monk from Ireland is said to have slain the dragon that haunted the region.

The village of Spiez is also an excellent starting point for your excursions, for example to Lake Oeschinen with its sparkling waters, or to the fabulous Blue Lake in the Kander Valley. Near Adelboden, don’t miss the Choleren Gorge or the impressive Engstligen Falls.

A small detour through the Lauterbrunnen Valley is a must. With its 72 thundering waterfalls, verdant alpine meadows, and isolated inns, the valley of waterfalls is one of Switzerland’s most spectacular nature reserves. In spring, when the meltwater gushes from the rock, prepare yourself for a deafening concert. The same atmosphere and noise can be found at the Trümmelbach Falls, about ten of them, which carry up to 20,000 liters of water per second.

The last mandatory stop on your camper van journey is the Jungfraujoch. What feats the railway pioneers were capable of a century ago! The cogwheel train that climbs to the Jungfraujoch is one of Switzerland’s main tourist attractions. Expect to have your breath taken away by the stunning view of the sea of ice, the north face of the Eiger, the Aletsch Glacier, and the peaks.

Return to Interlaken: this resort located between Lakes Brienz and Thun is a little piece of paradise. Countless mountain trains, cable cars, and chairlifts take you to an extensive network of hiking trails, to Schilthorn (James Bond’s Piz Gloria), or to the mythical Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau massif, not to mention the Harder, the local panoramic summit.

Before hitting the road in a camper van towards Thun, take a small detour to Lake Brienz. With its steep shores, turquoise waters, and majestic peaks on the horizon, Lake Brienz is a true concentration of charm. A short cruise aboard a paddle steamer allows you to admire this spectacle from the front row. With the wind in your hair, facing the sun, see how the wonders of nature unfold before your eyes.

The Giessbach Falls, for example, where water cascades 500 meters in a wild setting to fall into the lake. But the journey aboard Switzerland’s oldest cogwheel train is also worth the detour. It will take you to Rothorn, from where you’ll discover a dazzling panorama of the lake and the Alpine peaks. It’s one of the last two steam cogwheel trains in Switzerland, and it faces the ascent of a summit every day. Well-seated in a panoramic car, passengers admire the view of Lake Brienz and the Grimsel massif. At the summit, you discover a 360° panorama of the mountains.

Day 4: Interlaken – Thun via the Seestrasse: 25 km

It’s the most impressive way to discover the famous mountain panorama of the Bernese Oberland.

The road starts from Untersee and heads towards the sun and the peaks, with a shimmering lake between you and them. It’s worth parking your camper van against the cliff and soaking in this sublime view.

After a somewhat austere passage, you discover the Bay of St. Beatus, from where a funicular leads to Niederhorn, in the front row to admire Lake Thun. Small ports such as Merligen add touches of color. And at Oberhofen, a magnificent beach promises a welcome moment of freshness before going to discover the town of Thun.

You can also visit Oberhofen Castle (13th century), which houses a museum dedicated to housing and has one of the most sumptuous parks in the Alpine region.

You will then arrive in Thun, a superb town in the Bernese Oberland. The powerful castle and St. Maurice Church proudly tower over the medieval old center, as if to remind visitors of the strategic importance the town once had. Today, Thun serves as the gateway to the Bernese Oberland, offering visitors a magnificent foretaste in the form of an unobstructed view of the lake and the peaks of the Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. The town is also known for the warm atmosphere of its cafes and restaurants lining the Aare, for the shops on Obere Hauptgasse with its characteristic high sidewalks, and for the “Thun Panorama” in Schadaupark: this circular painting, the largest in the world, shows the town as it was around 1810.

Day 5: Thun – Bern: 30 km via Allmendstrasse

The federal capital, Bern, proudly sits in a bend of the Aare River, gazing towards the Alps.

Its old center, a World Heritage site, enchants visitors with its secret corners, pretty squares, warm atmosphere, and numerous cultural venues.

Walk through the picturesque alleys to the Zytglogge, a famous clock adorned with animated bears. The animal, emblem of Bern, also exists in real life in the park by the Aare. Add 6 kilometers of shaded arcades, a famous cathedral, and tile roofs as far as the eye can see, and you’ll understand why Bern is one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe.

Not to be missed, the Paul Klee Center. The discovery of this treasure begins with its setting. The museum building was designed by the famous Italian architect Renzo Piano. It houses the world’s largest collection of works by Paul Klee, one of the great names in 20th-century art, but also hosts concerts and conferences. There’s even a children’s museum: Creaviva.