Driving around the Alps

Hi, everyone, I'm Charles, not a new member, but this is a new name because I didn't like the last one.

Anyhow, I live in Berlin presently and regrettably, however this weekend I am in Munich scouting around to see if it is a place I could live. So far I am VERY impressed. I did the city walking today, saw all the City Center sights, and tomorrow I am going to check out Shwabing (sp?), Englisher Garden and other outskirt amenities.

Monday I have been thinking of a wild plan to drive through Austria, Italy, Switzerland and back up through Germany. I imagine this may take some time, this isn't a problem, I have 8 more days to kill before I have an actual obligation. My question is, has anyone done anything like this, and will Switzerland allow me to drive through without some sort of visa? I am a resident of Germany, so I don't foresee a problem, but I thought I would ask either way.

Thank you all so much for the well of information here - having this resource is one of the reasons I really feel I can have a virtually seamless transition to Bavaria.

I've done it, although not strictly on purpose... you don't need a visa to go into Switzerland, but you do need a pass to drive on the highways, which You'll be stopped at the border of Switzerland to buy. It will cost 5 francs less than 30 euro (though don't ask me how many swiss francs that is, nor how many euro you'll get back) and the pass is good for a year, just attach it to the windshield. Same sort of thing for Austria, though I think they also come in less expensive one and two week stickers. In Italy you pay for the Autostrada as you go. you should bring your passport with you for going through Switzerland- though they may not check it, it's equally possible that they will.
anyways, that's all I know, I hope it's a help.

That is a world of help and all I needed to know. Thank you so much for the quick reply, now I don't have to sit in front of my computer anymore waiting and researching.

If I ever see you at a meetup, I owe you a drink.

Hey, I just so have. Here is an amazing drive. I think, though, that one of the passes (Timmeljoch) might be closed now.

That looks like an amazing ride for sure. The picture is kind of blurry, but is that an SV you rode? I sure miss sportbiking, I rode for almost 7 years in California - if there is a scene out here, I truly am in heaven.

I'm a major fan of the twins too, I most recently had a 2002 TL1000R - FUN.

Indeed a 2006SVS... it was great. the small roads here are very well maintained, so that day I would say 75% of the people zipping around the passes were bikers. It was truly amazing.

Just so you don't miss it, here are the directions

The Timmelsjoch will be closed for sure until May at the earliest!

But if you're moving to Munich then it the perfect base for (motor)biking. You can do the Timmelsjoch then, and many others besides.

The car sticker that you'll need for Swiss (and Austrian) motorways is called the vignette. The one for Switzerland will cost you 40 Swiss francs (that's about 25 euros these days). More details in the linked Wiki article.

Do you really want to drive around the Alps just now? It seems that the weather is pretty bad, at least in eastern Switzerland and in Ticino they had a lot of snow yesterday. I'll see if I can link to a newspaper article or something.

Edit: I couldn't find anything on swissinfo, here is an article from a French-language daily, Le Matin. It says basically that heavy snowfall is causing chaos on many roads throughout the country, the main north-south routes are closed to lorries and in Ticino there was up to 50cm of fresh snow. Of course, if you're used to driving in wintry weather maybe you don't mind such conditions. It wouldn't be a dull trip, that's for sure.

I actually meant literally driving around the Alps, as in, making a circle around them

I am sure glad I asked these questions because who knows how far I would have gotten without those passes. I set the GPS to get me to Zurich from Munich, and I drove right onto Austria wondering why everyone was parked off to the right. Well, this thread popped into my head and I got straight off the freeway, turned around, turned around again and bought the passes.

I had fun - In one day I drove from Munich, to Zurich, to Stuttgart, and back home to Berlin.

Thanks again for all the help you guys!!

Hope you're planning to visit la bella Italia sometime since you left it out this time.

There's a route I plan in my ancient jalopy taking in the 304 via Wasserburg and Traunstein, then Bad Reichenall and Berchtesgaden to Zell and through the Fuschertal past the Großglockner to Lienz. Next up comes the awesome Cortina Pass into Italy used for the classic rallys. Simply breaktaking, gear changing, rev, rev, rev. From there cut west at Belluno and overnight in the little hotel opposite the oldest grapparia in the world in Bossano. Day 2 through the Val Sugana following the Brenta through the Dolomites to Trento. Ponte Arche, Tione, north to Madonna di Campiglio, around Monte Adamello, south through Breno and Lovere aiming to make the 1000 metre switchback climb into Selvino. I've done this climb 6 times and I get faster and faster. Beautiful hotel at the top in immaculate air. Day 3 through San Pelligrino and the romantic road back through Switzerland and Austria. Just need my suspension sorted out first though.