Driving in Switzerland
Checklist
The following important regulations must be observed before driving on Swiss roads:
- Valid driver license and vehicle documents
- Drive on the right
- Headlights must always be switched on (also during the day)
- Use of seat belts is mandatory
- Observe the speed limit (violating this regulation quickly becomes expensive)
- Vignette (freeway tax sticker) is mandatory
- Blood alcohol concentration limit of 0.05%
- Vehicle must carry a warning triangle
The following speed limits apply in Switzerland:
| Freeway (Autobahn) | 120 km/h (approx. 75 mph) |
| Expressway (Autostrasse) | 100 km/h (approx. 60 mph) |
| Rural areas | 80 km/h (approx. 50 mph) |
| Urban areas | 50 km/h, increasingly also 30 km/h (approx. 30 mph/approx. 20 mph) |
Getting to and Parking in Zurich
Zurich can be easily reached from all directions via the well-developed Swiss national roads. It is recommended that you park your car in one of the many parking garages during your stay. These are situated in central locations throughout the city. The City of Zurich’s parking guidance system directs drivers to the nearest available parking garage. Prices vary depending on the location and time of day.
Grand Tour of Switzerland
The Grand Tour of Switzerland is a 1,600-kilometer (1,000 mile) route through the most beautiful regions of Switzerland. From picturesque mountain valleys, along glittering lakes, and through buzzing cities, this journey reveals the incomparable diversity of Switzerland’s landscape. Part of the route also passes through the canton of Zurich.
