What do I need to know if I want to rent a luxury car in Switzerland?

Located between France, Italy, Germany, Liechtenstein and Austria, Switzerland is a small, mountainous country in the heart of Europe. Although it is twice the size of the state of New Jersey and has roughly the same population, Switzerland is an immensely interesting place characterized by the Alps, beautiful nature, long tradition, rich history and a strong economy. Switzerland is the center of the banking and investment industry, global corporations and niche industries such as watchmaking and various luxury goods. Above all, however, Switzerland is a cosmopolitan place where almost all European nations live in perfect harmony, the citizens speak four official languages and the government is proud of its sovereignty and military neutrality.

So it’s easy to see why this is one of the top tourist destinations in Europe. Whether you’re traveling to Switzerland for business, pleasure, a ski weekend or a shopping spree, you’ll be blown away by the sights, the food, the sheer beauty and the overall experience. However, although Switzerland is known for its impeccable public transportation system, the only real way to see and enjoy the country to the fullest is by car. Renting a luxury car will give you the freedom to go anywhere, see everything, cruise through the charming boulevards of Swiss cities and enjoy spectacular views as you drive through the Alps. But, before you book the luxury car of your choice that will be waiting for you when you arrive, here are a few things you should know.

Road network

Although Switzerland is a mountainous country, the road network is exceptionally well developed, so that every part of the country is well connected. All ski and tourist resorts, cities and historical sites are easy to reach. However, since you will be exploring Switzerland by car, let us introduce you to the Swiss highway system.

The first Swiss highway was built in 1955 in the Lucerne area. Although only a short section, it was a very forward-looking concept for the time.

Since then, the Swiss government has built 1,700 kilometers of modern highways connecting all parts of the country. In fact, compared to the overall size of the country, Switzerland is one of the countries with the highest density of highways, which means you can get virtually anywhere quickly and safely.

One of the best things about Swiss highways is the abundance of tunnels. In fact, with over 200 tunnels that are over 200 kilometers long, Swiss highways are exciting to drive if you are a car enthusiast, especially since each tunnel is a chance to open the windows, shift into a lower gear and hear glorious noise from the exhaust.

Speed limits

Even though neighboring Germany is known worldwide for its stretches of highway with unlimited speed where you can legally test the maximum speed of your vehicle, this is not the case in Switzerland. There are very strict speed limits here, not only for the safety of drivers, but also with regard to the environment and pollution.

The speed limit on Swiss highways is 120 km/h (75 mph), on the two-lane expressway 100 km/h (60 mph), on ordinary roads 80 km/h (50 mph), and in urban areas the speed limit is set at 50 km/h (31 mph). Of course, we urge you to observe the local speed limits, but Germany is close by if you really want to drive fast.

Weather

As you probably know, Switzerland has a continental climate, which means snowy winters, especially in the mountainous regions. The Swiss road services are perfectly capable of clearing the snow and keeping traffic flowing uninterrupted on the main roads and in urban and tourist areas. However, if you want to visit certain places, mountain passes and Alpine peaks, we recommend that you first check whether a particular route is open.

For example, the world-famous Furka Pass in Valais, where the James Bond film “Goldfinger” was shot, is closed from October to June due to extreme weather conditions. Although it is one of the best driving roads in the world, the harsh weather restricts access due to its high altitude (2,429 above sea level), regardless of the type of vehicle you are driving. We therefore recommend that you plan your trip accordingly.

Road quality

The Swiss are rightly proud of their road network and the quality of the road surface and signaling. Swiss roads are known for their smoothness, which is essential when driving a luxury sports car, for example. Sometimes the bumpy surface and potholes can ruin the experience, but fortunately not here. As there are four official languages in Switzerland, you might be surprised to find road signs in German in one town and French just a few kilometers away. However, most of the main signage is also in English, so visitors from all over the world will have no problem finding their way.

Fly-in and drive-off

One of the best ways to get to Switzerland and rent a luxury car is to use one of the many commercial airports in the country. The largest international airports are of course, Geneva and Zurich Airport, but there are many other regional airports which are ideally placed to cover the most prominent tourist destinations and ski centers. Once you have booked your luxury car rental, it can be collected directly from the airport and you can hop in and be on your way to your perfect Swiss vacation in no time. Returning the car is just as straightforward anywhere in the country. Book a luxury car rental in Switzerland now with Edel & Stark.