Alpine Passes Loop: Lucerne to Zermatt

Kapellbrücke — Chapel Bridge — is the visual and symbolic starting point of this loop. Spanning the Reuss River in central Lucerne, this covered wooden footbridge is one of the most recognisable structures in Switzerland, featuring a distinctive octagonal water tower alongside it. Dating back to the 14th century, the bridge's interior roof panels carry painted scenes of Lucerne's history, and the structure frames postcard views across the old town and lakefront. For a campervan route focused on passes and peaks, beginning here grounds the journey in Swiss culture before the mountains take over. Allow around an hour to walk the bridge, photograph the water tower from both sides, and soak in the medieval riverbank streetscape. This is your last easy urban stop — from here, the road climbs quickly into the Alps. Rated 4.7/5 across over 36,000 reviews, it consistently delivers on expectations.

Susten Pass sits at the border between the cantons of Bern and Uri and is widely regarded as one of the most scenically dramatic road passes in the Alps. The southern approach from Innertkirchen climbs through a series of tunnels and exposed switchbacks, revealing glaciated peaks and deep valley drops as you ascend. At the summit there's space to pull over, stretch your legs, and take in the panorama of the surrounding rock faces and snowfields. This is your first true Alpine pass of the loop — a calibration point for the driving to come. The road quality is generally good, but narrow sections and oncoming traffic demand careful pacing. Budget 45 minutes at the top for walking, photography, and letting the engine cool before the descent toward Göschenen and the road east toward Oberalp. Rated 4.8/5, it's a high-altitude highlight that sets the benchmark for the passes ahead.

Oberalp Pass links the canton of Uri with Graubünden and stands at one of the higher driveable summits on this route. A small lake sits just below the summit, giving the landscape a stark, tundra-like quality at this altitude — the treeline is long behind you and the views open across wide, stony plateaus ringed by snow-streaked ridges. The pass road is well-maintained but can feel exposed in poor weather. From Susten, you'll route through Andermatt — a logical fuel or provisions stop in the valley — before climbing to Oberalp. Allow 45 minutes at the top to walk the summit area and photograph the lake. This pass acts as a geographic pivot: you've now crossed from north-facing Uri into the Valais watershed, and the character of the landscape shifts noticeably as you descend toward Sedrun and the road south to Furka. Rated 4.8/5.

The Grand Tour of Switzerland Foto Spot on Furka Pass is an official roadside photography point, positioned to frame the Furka Pass road in its full Alpine drama — hairpin bends cascading down the mountain face with glacier-draped peaks as a backdrop. It's the kind of view that looks engineered for a postcard but is entirely real. Open 24 hours, this is simply a pull-off point with an exceptional sightline, not a staffed facility. Rated 4.9/5 — the highest single rating on this route — and requiring only a brief detour from the pass road itself (just 2.3 km from the next stop), this is a non-negotiable camera stop. Time of day matters: the quality of light shifts dramatically depending on when you arrive, so morning or late afternoon generally suits the west-facing aspect well. Plan 60 minutes here to set up shots, wait for the light, and simply appreciate the scale of the landscape before moving on to the Rhonegletscher.