Switzerland, 8 Days · Tailor-made by car

Cheese Lover's Route

A delicious journey to the roots of heavenly Swiss cheese

There are three things that Switzerland is famous for all over the world: its watch-making industry, its exquisite chocolate and - of course - its excellent variety of quality cheeses. No wonder, then, that they are the staple ingredient in many of the traditional dishes of Swiss cuisine, such as fondue, raclette or malakoff. Varieties as famed as Gruyère, Emmental, Vacherin and Appenzeller all come from Swiss lands and, thanks to this tour, you'll have the chance to savour them and also see exactly how they're produced. In the town of Gruyères, you'll get to enjoy its famous semi-soft cheese made from cow's milk and sliced rennet, protected by Le Gruyère PDO. Meanwhile, Affoltern im Emmental is the birthplace of the famous PDO-awarded Emmental cheese, made from cow's milk and instantly recognisable by its characteristic holes. Two must-visit destinations in any worthwhile Cheese Lover's Tour. What's more, this road trip takes you through the stunning Alpine landscapes of Switzerland, with stops in vibrant cities such as Basel, Freiburg, the capital Bern and Lucerne, where you'll enjoy a first-hand insight into the culture of this pocket-sized, charismatic and delicious country!

Cheese Lover

Departure date

Departures from November 2024 till November 2025

From

Dublin, Shannon, Cork...

CulturalFamilies

Travel details

  • Travel details

  • Day 1 City of origin - Basel

  • Day 2 Basel - Murten - Kerzers - Freiburg

  • Day 3 Freiburg

  • Day 4 Freiburg - Broc - Gruyères - Gstaad - Interlaken

  • Day 5 Interlaken and surroundings

  • Day 6 Interlaken - Thun - Bern

  • Day 7 Bern - Affoltern im Emmental - Lucerne

  • Day 8 Lucerne - Basel - City of origin

Your trip includes

  • Return flight.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Basel.

  • Selected meal plan in Basel.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Freiburg.

  • Selected meal plan in Freiburg.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Interlaken.

  • Selected meal plan in Interlaken.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Bern.

  • Selected meal plan in Bern.

  • Stay in selected hotel in Luzern.

  • Selected meal plan in Luzern.

  • Rent-a-car.

Your trip doesn't include

  • Accommodation taxes in Switzerland direct payment in facility.

  • Possible toll charges.

  • Insolvency protection.

Important remarks

- Driving in Switzerland: 1. It's compulsory to drive with headlights on at all times, even on the brightest summer's day. Seatbelts are mandatory for all passengers. 2. Speed limits. 2.1 Built-up areas up to 50 km/h. 2.2 Roads up to 80 km/h. 2.3 Dual carriageways and motorways up to 120 km/h. 2.4. There are many radars in Switzerland, especially in speed-controlled sections, and radar detectors are forbidden. Fines for speeding are very high, so make sure you stay within the limits at all times. If you are fined, the police can demand on-the-spot payment. 3. In Switzerland, blue road signs indicate secondary roads, while green ones indicate motorways. 3.1. Make sure that your rental car has a Swiss motorway vignette on the windscreen. This means you can use all Swiss motorways for free over a one-year period (in Switzerland there are no toll roads as such). 4. Studded tyres are allowed from October to April, but they're not allowed on most roads throughout the rest of the year. The speed limit with these tyres is 80 km/h. 5. A red warning triangle and a reflective yellow vest must always be carried in your car in the event of a breakdown or accident. 6. Alcohol. The legal limit is 0.25 g/l. There are severe penalties for drivers that exceed the allowed limit. 7. Parking. All the major cities in Switzerland have metered parking. 7.1. If you want to park on the street, take careful note of the road markings. Yellow line: parking prohibited. Blue line: free parking, but limited to one hour (except at night). You can get a blue parking disc free of charge at tourist offices in any city and it will be valid for the whole of Switzerland. White line: metered parking for a limited time (varies depending on the location). You have to pay at the special parking meters.

- Triple rooms in Europe are generally rooms with twin beds or a double, in which a folding bed is installed to accommodate the third person. Due to the inconvenience this causes, we advise against using this option as far the possible.

- Check-in time at the hotel on the day of arrival depends on each establishment, but in no case will it be before 3:00 p.m., unless otherwise indicated.

- The proposed excursions and tours for each day are purely suggestions, as you can tailor the trip to suit your times, tastes and needs.

- A credit card is considered a guarantee, so sometimes you will need one for check-in at hotels.

- Hotels usually have cots available. Otherwise, babies will have to share a bed with an adult.

- To pick up your rental car, you'll need a credit (not debit) card in the name of the person who made the booking, who must also be the named driver of the vehicle.

- Consult the necessary documentation to enter the destinations visited and for transit in the countries where air stopovers are made.