Here we present campsites and pitches in Switzerland - from luxury campsites near big cities to simple lakeside campsites. We also offer personalised tips on things to see and do nearby, while you're on the road. We list the pitches and campsites from north to south. Fasten your seatbelts because we're leaving!

Why camp in Switzerland?

There are many campsites in Switzerland that are beautifully situated by lakes or mountains. There aren't as many pitches, but if you want to visit a city, you can usually stay at a campsite just outside, and then take a bus into town. In Switzerland, you can experience breathtaking natural beauty and indulge in chocolate and cheese.

Campsites and pitches in Switzerland - from north to south

Camping Appenzell

Appenzell - Camping Jacobath

  • DescriptionA simple grassy campsite in an idyllic location by the beautiful Alps and a short distance (by car) to Appenzell. 
  • Service: Service house, water, rubbish collection and electricity. Not staffed after about 19:00 in the evening, but staff can be reached by phone.
  • Price: 215 SEK/day in August 2018.
  • Find hereLaufteggstrasse 1, 9108 Jakobsbad.
  • See and do in the neighbourhood: The village of Appenzell and the Hoher Kasten mountain.
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Camping Sempach Luzern

Lucerne - TCS Camping Sempach

  • DescriptionLarge and well-maintained campsite, with a nice location by a lake. You can get to Lucerne relatively easily by train.
  • Service: Service house, electricity, water, beach catering, bicycles for rent and WiFi to three units at no extra cost.
  • Price: 590 SEK/day in August 2018.
  • Find hereSeelandstrasse 6, 6204 Sempach.
  • See and do in the neighbourhood: The wooden bridges of Lucerne, boat trip on Lake Lucerne and train up Mount Pilatus.
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Camping i Bern

Bern - Camping TCS Bern-Eymatt

  • DescriptionLarge and well-maintained campsite with excellent pitches, located next to the river Aare.
  • Service: Fresh service houses, electricity, water, emptying, WiFi included in the price and restaurant.
  • Price: 550 SEK/day in August 2018.
  • Find hereWohlenstrasse 62c, 3032 Hinterkappelen.
  • See and do in the neighbourhood: Zytglogge clock tower and Albert Einstein's house.
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Camping Brienz

Brienz, Interlaken - Family campsite Aaregg

  • DescriptionNice and well-maintained campsite with a fantastic scenic location on Lake Brienz.
  • Service: Fresh service house, electricity, water, WiFi included in the price and restaurant.
  • Price: xx per day in July 2018.
  • Find hereSeestrasse 22, 855 Brienz.
  • See and do in the neighbourhood: Hang gliding and boat trip on Lake Brienz.
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camping de la Pichette

City of Vevey, Lavaux Camping de la Pichette

  • DescriptionA simple campsite in a pleasant location on Lake Geneva. Some of the pitches are on grass, others on tarmac.
  • Service: Service centre, electricity, water, drainage and a small restaurant.
  • Price: 220 SEK/day in August 2018.
  • Find here: Chemin de la Paix 37, 1802 Corseaux.
  • See and do in the neighbourhood: Wineries with local wine and Chaplin's World. Continue to Gruyere and Broc for cheese and chocolate.
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Ställplatser i Schweiz - Camping Geneve

Geneva - TSC Camping Geneva Vésenaz

  • DescriptionA nice and well-maintained campsite located on Lake Geneva, just outside Geneva. You can easily reach the city by bus.
  • Service: Service house, electricity, water, emptying, washing machines, restaurant, fresh breakfast bread and WiFi included in the price.
  • Price: 625 SEK/day in August 2018.
  • Find hereChemin de la Bise, 1222 Vésenaz.
  • See and do in the neighbourhood: Geneva with the Old Town, the Red Cross Museum and more.
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Hotell Giessbach
Peter and Helena Bergström in Switzerland, the travel magazine FREEDOMtravel

Read more about Switzerland

Utsikt Schweiz

Travelling to Switzerland - your guide to Switzerland's best destinations

Click here for even more tips on travelling in Switzerland. Here you will find tips on interesting places, sights, activities and experiences.

To the pearls of Switzerland

Car and camping in Switzerland

  • CountrySwitzerland has 26 cantons, similar to counties in Sweden, with their own government and laws.
  • Language: German, French, Italian and Rhaeto-Romanic.
  • Residents: 8.5 million inhabitants (2016)
  • Currency: Swiss franc (CHF)
  • Price mode: Expensive (more expensive than Sweden)
  • El: Like Sweden
  • Water: Drinkable
  • Religion: Christianity and some more Catholics than Protestants

Driving to Switzerland

  • Ferry Gothenburg-Kiel with Stena Line takes 14 h 30 min. drive A81 and A7 to Zurich and it takes 9 h 25 min and it's 963 km.
  • When you enter Switzerland, you buy a debit card at the nearest petrol station that costs about 400 Swiss francs, and you drive on all roads for a year.

Roads and driving in Switzerland

  • Roads: The roads are of a good standard, but you should be aware that some roads can be very steep. The long Gotthard tunnel can cause long queues, especially during the high season. For an extra scenic drive around the country, feel free to travel around Grand Tour of Switzerland.
  • Road tolls: To drive on motorways you have to buy a sticker, a vignette, which you attach to your windscreen. The sticker is available at petrol stations, currently costs CHF 40 and is valid for one calendar year. If you have a caravan in tow, you must buy two stickers. If you have a motorhome or other heavy vehicle over 3.5 tonnes, you must pay one tax per day (CHF 3.25/day, but always at least CHF 25). Report to customs at the border or at a post office.
  • Environmental zones: Zermatt is a completely car-free town, but there is camping outside the town.
  • Speed limits: Passenger cars and camper vans under 3.5 tonnes can drive 120 km/h on motorways, 100 km/h on expressways and 80 km/h on roads. Motorhomes over 3.5 tonnes may drive 100 on motorways and cars with trailers may drive 80 on motorways.
  • Per mille limit: 0.5 (0.1 for professional drivers and new licence holders)
  • Traffic rules: Talking on a handheld phone and sending text messages while driving is prohibited. On steep and winding roads in the Alps, the person driving uphill has the right of way. Buses always have the right of way regardless of the direction of travel.
  • Words in traffic: 'Transit' means bypass for through traffic. If you want to get to the centre of a city instead, follow the signs pointing to 'Altstadt', 'Stadtmitte' or 'Central ville'.
  • Fuel: Diesel Auto is for passenger cars, Diesel Camion is for heavy vehicles and Biodiesel 100 is pure rapeseed oil that requires an adapted engine. Make sure you have plenty of diesel or petrol in your tank if you're heading up the steep Alpine roads.
  • Parking rules:  Parking squares with a white border mean that you have to pay a fee at the machine. Parking squares with a blue border mean that parking is free, but limited in time.
  • Security: Make sure you have Roadside Assistance, so that you can get help on the spot in case of an accident. The emergency number for the country's emergency services is 112.

Rules on camping and pitches in Switzerland

  • There are plenty of campsites and even some caravan sites in Switzerland. 
  • Free camping is only allowed with the permission of the landowner. The rules for free camping are relatively restrictive, especially in the canton of Ticino, but occasional overnight stays with a motorhome in more uninhabited areas should not be a problem.

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