I'm in the very initial stages of planning a driving trip through Switzerland. Plan is to start in Zurich and make stops in Luzern, Lugano (or thereabouts), Bern, Montreux/Lausanne and fly back out of Geneva. Time is not an issue. From first glances through this forum it seems there are lots of posters with much experience in the country. I notice that many favor using the railways. We normally prefer to drive at our leisure rather than be dependent on schedules and schlepping luggage onboard. Am I being ambitious with this plan? Too much criss crossing involved?
Would appreciate advice from anyone who has done this.

I'm not sure a plan can be "too ambitious" if "time is not an issue." But you don't say what time of year this trip will be.... If you develop a good driving route, there shouldn't be much, if any, criss-crossing. It just requires studying maps.

I don't see any time in the mountains. The trip is very city-centric which is OK if that's what you like, but most people want to spend at least a few days seeing the Alps and mountain valleys. But it's up to you...

I'm thinking next September. Favorite/must see mountain towns?

Favorite/must see mountain towns?

Too many to list, but most first-time visitors head to the Berner Oberland - Jungfrau, Schilthorn, etc.

Do keep in mind that some alpine villages in the BO are car free, so you'd need to park the car in Lauterbrunnen.

We toyed with renting a car in Switzerland once, but never have. The transport system is just too good to pass up.

Keep in mind that the price of petrol might surprise you and it's expensive to park. You'll also need a vignette.

https://www.myswissalps.com/motorwayvignette

Car can make sense if you plan to go to the mountains, especially if driving to remote places. But as a first timer you hardly will do this and visit the famous mountain towns instead. For cities as you listed a car is a nuisance, train the way to go.

If time is not an issue - can you spend four weeks or more in Switzerland? This would allow you to visit all four culturally different (languages: Swiss-German, French, Italian, Rumansch) regions and dedicate enough time to each so you don't just scratch the surface.

I'm another fan of Switzerland's incredibly comfortable and convenient public transportation! And the opportunity for all involved to treasure every scenic image, without having to require that a driver watch the road.

I hate to disagree with Ingo (and his expertise), but even with a month, I felt I just scratched the surface of Switzerland's fascinating different regions. It was worth it, though!

Here's my trip report, LoonCall. I changed hotels frequently because that's my preference; one could have easily used bases to cover the same territory. Also, my routing was rather circuitous because of some timing issues that were specific to the time of year I traveled and some particular interests that I had (e.g., specific exhibitions). Despite those caveats, you might find some information of value in there. I did spend some time in each of the country's four regions and included a mix of cities and mountains.
https://www.fodors.com/community/eur...thanks-983126/

I've done both and love both. OK, not so much fun if you're the DRIVER, only because you must pay attention to the roads (and they are wonderful roads, so well maintained!), but magnificent as a passenger. Is this your first trip to Switzerland? Just asking, because Lugano is the only part of your plan I'd reconsider for this trip. I actually never found it a problem with either driving, or parking in the larger cities. Other than the expense.

If it were me planning, I'd probably land in Zurich, spend some time there, then take the train to Luzern (a 45 minute train ride), hang out in Luzern for vast amounts of time, then hire a car and continue on. However, if you want the car from Zurich, I'd certainly stop in Zug a day or two (on the Zugersee, of course!), then continue back up and around to Luzern. From Luzern, head onto Bern, but with stops in Interlaken and Thug, or if you have the time, from Interlaken, head up to Grindelwald (lovely in winter for skiing, or summer where you can ride the cable cars up the mountain or have fun on the luge, or hike). An easy and fun mountain adventure!

From Thug (gorgeous town!) to Bern, where (if it's still nice and warm when you visit), you can float down the Aare river. Yes! You can do this on little rafts, or even just holding a floaty!

From Bern, head straight on down to Montreux (a little over an hour's drive). Settle down in Montreux or Vevey, or Lausanne. All have access to Lac Leman and the boats that travel from one place to the other, or you can take the train or the bus from one town to another. So you would be able to experience the train if you want!

Again, it's just as easy by train and not as difficult with luggage as you think. My husband carries kitchen sink size luggage, and is fine with it. Even my mom, who was 84 the last time we train traveled in Switzerland, was able to manage. Just remember, Swiss trains are ON TIME. And if you decide not to take the train, DO stop in at the train stations, especially the one in Luzern, which still has the beautiful entry (although the main part is modern). I think the only train station that there's an "issue" in terms of lugging heavy luggage is the one in Montreux because the station is located on the hillside. In that case, take a taxi to where you are staying.

Surfergirl, you mentioned it twice, but do you mean Thun rather than Thug?

Re: the luggage: Swiss Rail has some great options for luggage forwarding, in addition to having both manned and unmanned (locker) luggage storage options at many stations. Here's a link to some of the information on luggage delivery:
https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-servic...e/luggage.html

SWITZERLAND BY CAR
It's perfectly possible to visit tons of gems in Switzerland by car, without boarding any train (between June and October, when all mountain roads are open).But if you want to visit Switzerland by car, don’t choose just the places that can NOT be reached by car (like Muerren, Gimmelwald, Wengen, Schynige Platte, Schilthorn, First, Kleine Scheidegg, Maennlichen, Rigi, Pilatus, Bettmeralp, Zermatt, Braunwald, etc). Otherwise you will have to pay for both: car rental, fuel AND mountain railways.There are tons of beautiful places in the Swiss Alps which can be reached by car.
Some suggestions:
Drive from Martigny to Col de la Gueulaz on Lake Emosson (2000m/6600ft). You are then just in front of the Northern side of Mont Blanc, the highest mountain chain of Western Europe. The glaciers of Trient, Tour, Argentiere as well as the peaks of Aiguille d'Argentiere (3900m/13000fr), Aiguille Verte (4120m/13500ft), Grandes Jorasse (4210m/13800ft), Mont Blanc (4810m/15800ft) ar jus a few miles away.
Drive from Martigny to Grand St Bernard Pass (2470m/8100ft) and hike in 1 hr to La Chenalette (2800m/9200ft). From there, you have a stupendous view to the Southern side of Mont Blanc (A Neuve Glacier, Dolent Glacier, Pre de Bar Glacier, Triolet Glacier as well as a lot of 3800 to 4800m / 13000 to 15800ft high peaks). In the South, but farther away, you see the glaciers and peaks of the Gran Paradiso chain.A easy, but very scenic 6hrs circular hike goes from Col du Gd St-Bernard via Col des Chevaux - Lake Petit Le - Col de Bastillon to the 3 blue mountain lakes of Fenetre and then over the Col de Fenetre de Ferret back to Col du Gd St-Bernard.
Drive from Sion to Col du Sanetsch (2250m/7400ft) and hike in about 2 hrs to Refuge/Restaurant La Quille du Diable on Tsanfleuron Glacier (2900m/9500ft). You are there on the top of a perpendicular cliff and can look down to Lake Derborence, just 1500m/5000ft below your feet. Stupendous view to Mont Blanc chain, Grand Combin, Mont Collon and tons of other peaks.

Drive from Sierre to Grimentz and then up to the end of the road on Lake Moiry (2250m/7400ft) and hike then in aobut 1 hr to Moiry hut (Swiss Alpine club) and Moiry Glacier.

Drive from Brig to Ried-Moerel, go by gondola to Riederalp (5 CHF/one way), hike in 1/2 hr to Riederfurka (2070m/6800ft), visit the visitor's centre/museum of the Jungfrau-Aletsch Nature reserve, walk through the Aletsch Forest and have a look at the Aletsch Glacier (longest glacier of Europe) just below and in front of you.
Drive to Breuil-Cervinia (Italian neighbourhood, 2000m/6500ft) and go by cableway to Plateau Rosa (28 EUR/35 USD roundtrip). Plateau Rosa (3500m/11500ft) is close to Matterhorn Paradise/Kleinmatterhorn (1 mile away, same panorama). The roundtrip ticket from Taesch Parking to Matterhorn Paradise would cost about 107 CHF/112 USD
Drive to Grimsel Pass (2200m/7200ft) and hike in about 1 1/2 hr to Sidelhorn (2800m/9200ft). Panoramic views to Unteraar Glacier, Oberaar Glacier, 6 mountain lakes around Grimsel Pass, Finsteraarhorn (4300m/14100ft) and dozens of other peaks. You may also hike from Grimsel Pass to Lake Oberaar (1 hr) and along this lake to Oberaar Glacier (another hr).
Drive then from Grimsel Pass to Furka Belvedere and visit the Ice cave in the Rhone Glacier.Another road in the same area goes to Nufenenpass/Griessee. The hike from the end of the road to Lake Griessee - Gries Pass - Gries Glacier takes about 1 1/2 hrs.
Drive from Davos or St. Moritz to Stelvio Pass (2800m/9200ft). Hike to the glaciers (1 hr or so) or enjoy the view to them from Piz da las Trais Linguas (3 languages peak; 2850m/9400ft).

Drive from Brig to Saas Fee and go then by gondola to the revolving glacier restaurant at Mittelalallin.
Drive from Brig over the scenic Simplon Pass to Domodossola and then to the picturesque mountain village of Macugnaga from where you can go by gondola either to Monte Moro Pass or to Belvedere Glacier.
Drive on panoramic roads around Val d’Anniviers and Val d’Herens:Sierre – Vissoie – St-Luc – Zinal – Grimentz – Vercorin – Erdesson - Nax – Vernamiege – St-Martin – Evolene – Arolla – Euseigne – Gde Dixence Dam – Heremence – Thyon – Nendaz - Aproz/Sion.
Explore the panoramic roads from mountain village to mountain village north of the Rhone river :Visp – Gampel – Bratsch – Erschmatt – Feschel – Guttet – Albinen – Leukerbad – Inden – Varen – Sierre – Montana – Crans – Anzere – Chandolin s/Saviese – Daillen – Aven – Ardon – Ovronnaz – Saillon-les-Bains – Martigny. etc. etc.
But if you prefer to ride with Glacier Express, Bernina Express, Golden Pass Panoramic, etc. and if you want to visit Gornergrat and Jungfraujoch, you better look after rail passes. You may have a look at
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/home
htmlhttp://www.swisstravelsystem.ch/en/SBB: Online timetable.

Jean, OMG, I was watching the news in LA as I wrote that, mea culpa! Thanks for noticing! Yes, Thun, not Thug. I've never seen any thugs in Switzerland!

We did a roadtrip this summer, for +3 weeks. The Grand Tour of Switzerland (see www) gave me excellent ideas. We combined with the Italian Lakes (Garda and Maggiore). We started our tour in Luzern, then Livigno (for budget reasons), Lake Garda, Lago Maggiore and Saas Fee. Still have to see the area around Lake Geneva.
Switzerland is a small country and we daytripped from either location, mostly trips in the mountains or near lakes as it was so hot in June.
We drove a lot of kms (had to get to Switzerland from Belgium and back), but that's what we like.

Trains aren't just a means of transportation in Switzerland--they actually made the country what it is, and are one of the sights that any visitor to Switzerland should see. The Swiss rail system is fantastic, and incredibly flexible, particularly if you opt for an unlimited travel pass. I'm not some anti-automobile person by any stretch, but, in Switzerland, while there is a lot you can do by car, there's a lot that you can't do except by train or lift. If you do opt for a car, only do it for part of the trip. Going to Switzerland without riding the trains is sort of like going to Arizona and not visiting the Grand Canyon--sure, there are other things you can see, but you're missing an obvious one if you forego the trains.

Silly I suppose but my biggest issue with the trains is dealing with luggage. Try as I might I’ve never been able to live out of a carryon for any length of time. Is it difficult to manage if we had an additional large size suitcase. Besides I need extra space to bring home massive amounts of chocolate.

We do it all the time. No need to live out of a carry on. We've been visiting Switzerland on a pretty regular basis for years and we always travel by train and bus, and travel with luggage. I've recently downsized to a 24" suitcase with wheels and just spent a month in Switzerland with it. Worked a treat. I'm now considering downsizing to a 22".

I pack for a week and do laundry as I go (laundry is the bigger issue, as it can be expensive and hard to find laundromats in Switzerland, but we stay in apartments with washer access). Once you decide on an itinerary I might be able to point you towards a few laundromats. We also usually visit in the winter, take hiking boots and hiking poles, etc.

There are overhead shelves, luggage storage units at the end of some carriages, bike carriages, and gaps between seats where you can usually stash a larger bag. My husband's suitcase is at least 28" and he was able to slide it between the seat gaps, laying flat.

I find traveling with luggage in Switzerland much easier than in Germany and Austria. Many of the trains have an extension thing that makes the carriage platform level, and many of the buses lower to ground level, so you can just roll aboard. Fewer steps to deal with than in Germany for instance.

I'm also a chocolate fiend. Just brought back a boatload from Switzerland. The trick is to buy it at your last stop so you don't have to haul it around while you travel - just buy what you can eat as you go and load up at the end.

Melnq8 and Neckervd provide excellent advice!

Huggy