"The Grand Tour of Switzerland includes thrilling bends and scenic views at every turn, and five of its famous alpine passes stand out—literally—among the rest of the route. They are engineering wonders that often overlook natural wonders as well. The Flüela Pass , which connects Davos and Susch, reaches a height of 7,818 feet. Your ascent through alpine forests delivers views of the valley below on a route that Avis ranked number 4 on its list of the “world’s best roads.” The Julier Pass is lined with picturesque lakes and ends at the village of Tiefencastel, with its historic, and equally picturesque, Church of St. Stefan. The San Bernardino Pass in southern Switzerland follows a route used since the 15th century and sits on the border between the country’s German and Italian regions. With its serpentine twisting path, the Tremola Pass in Gotthard is a wonder of 19th-century road design. After navigating its many twists and turns, enjoy one of the famous sausages sold from a hut at its summit. Finally, if the Furka Pass looks familiar, it’s likely from its big-screen appearance in Goldfinger. Fortunately as you drive to the highest point on the Grand Tour, at 7,969 feet, you’ll be able to simply enjoy the scenery without any villain in pursuit. Sponsored by Switzerland Tourism"

"Every oenophile will want to include the Valais Wine Trail on their Swiss itinerary. Stretching for 41 miles between the cities of Ardon and Saillon, it’s an easy and quick drive. The point, however, is not to reach your destination quickly but to make frequent stops amid the vines to sample the wines created here at cellars, taverns, and farmhouses along the way. The grand finale of this segment of the Grand Tour is Saillon—the entire fortified town has been recognized as a Swiss Heritage Site. Don’t leave without ascending the Bayard Tower for views over the steeply terraced vineyards, across the Rhone Valley, and beyond to the Valais Alps. Sponsored by Switzerland Tourism"

"The Ardon to Saillon portion of the Grand Tour is one of a dozen smaller Dream Routes. If you don’t have time to follow the entire tour, you can choose one of these shorter, especially idyllic stretches. For a drive through a wild wonderland of breathtaking ravines and gorges, and through tunnels passing through soaring peaks, consider the Thusis to Splügen section in eastern Switzerland . The Unterseen to Oberhofen segment provides an introduction to the beauty of the Bernese Oberland, with its snow-capped peaks reflected in the waters of Lake Thun. The Vich to Le Brassus route connects two other lakes—Geneva and Lac de Joux—and en route you’ll pass through Jura, the youngest of Switzerland’s cantons and one that is almost entirely French speaking. The route is a scenic drive past green forests and sun-dappled meadows. Whatever aspect of Switzerland appeals to you most, you’ll find the path to it among the dozen Dream Routes of the Grand Tour. Sponsored by Switzerland Tourism"

"A Cheese Route in Bern's Backyard After an early morning breakfast at my hotel in Bern, I walked about five minutes to the train station for a day trip to Emmental . Once there, our first stop was the Emmentaler Schaukäserei show dairy, where I learned the process of how certain cheeses are made. For example, the Küherstock cheese dairy from 1741 can still be produced over an open fire. Then it was time to hop on our bikes and begin our E-Bike tour through the region. We opted for electric bikes, which really come in handy when you're headed up a hill or if you need a little extra push, literally! If you're never ridden an electric bike, it might take some getting used to but after a few minutes testing out the gears, it begins to feel like second nature. There's also a mobile app that goes with the tour and it's really easy to download. Plus, it runs regardless of whether you have a Wi-Fi connection. Instead, it uses a GPS system to track one's location, thus providing points of interest along the way. The highlights of the route are the visit of the Show Cheese Dairy in Affoltern, the Jeremias Gotthelf museum in Lützelflüh and the castle of Burgdorf. All in all, it's the perfect day trip from Bern, especially for foodies. By Megan Eileen McDonough"

"The Château Gütsch is one of Lucerne’s iconic hotels, built in 1888 and modeled after Bavaria’s Neuschwanstein Castle. In recent years the hotel has undergone a renovation, bringing it back to its original grandeur as every stucco ceiling and hand-painted wood panel has been lovingly restored. One thing, however, has proved timeless: the views over the rooftops of Lucerne, the lake, and the distant mountains. Countless more photo opportunities await along the Grand Tour. Whether you’re in search of images for your Instagram feed or to frame and hang on your wall, Switzerland’s Grand Tour will leave you snap happy. Sponsored by Switzerland Tourism"

"The reality of travel photography is that getting that postcard-perfect image can often require a day of exploring and examining a glacier or church from every angle. On your Grand Tour, however, you may be eager to continue on to the next mountain village or lakeside restaurant. Fortunately, Switzerland has taken care of the scouting for you. At 29 Photo Stops along the route, you’ll find red frames like the one seen here. Each provides the perfect vantage point for a photo of sites like the Rhine Falls, the Stockalper Palace or the Bernina Glaciers. Indeed, Switzerland will help elevate your vacation snapshots to Ansel Adams caliber ones. Sponsored by Switzerland Tourism"

"Switzerland may look small on a map—its total area is smaller than the state of West Virginia—yet within its borders it has a dozen UNESCO World Heritage sites, three of them natural wonders and the other nine cultural ones. The sites embody the diversity of the country, its peoples, and its landscapes. The Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch site features a remarkable diversity of ecosystems, in the shadow of iconic peaks where you’ll also find Eurasia’s largest glacier. At Monte San Giorgio , you’ll learn that while today images of snowy peaks may come to mind when you think of Switzerland , 240 million years ago, this site was the location of a vast tropical lagoon (numerous fossils from that era can be found here). Man-made wonders range from prehistoric pile dwellings to the medieval cityscape of Bern’s Old City and modernist masterpieces by one of the 20th century’s most celebrated architects, Le Corbusier. Sponsored by Switzerland Tourism"