ENG
First rental of this type of vehicle in a professional context where the rental must take place from France to Canada. Many questions and Cooldrive (Marlène) has been a valuable support in guiding my choices. Efficiency and responsiveness beforehand, and on-site a vehicle and service that met our expectations. No complaints. Great!
Over 50 000
rentals since 2011 !
rentals since 2011 !
Geopolitical situation in the Middle East : your travels with CoolDrive are protected.
Find out more ›
Find out more ›
Winterthur, a charming Swiss city, is the ideal starting point to explore the beauty of the surrounding landscapes. With camper van rental in Winterthur, you can easily venture to iconic sites like the former textile factory park or the fine arts museum, which reflect the rich culture of the region. Whether you want to discover the lush forests nearby or soak in the unique atmosphere of the city, a camper van offers you the freedom to travel at your own pace. Enjoy every moment and create unforgettable memories as you traverse the picturesque roads of Switzerland.
Itineraries and road trips from Winterthur
Depart from Winterthur in a camper van to explore Switzerland at your own pace, between lakes, mountains, and historic cities. These three iconic itineraries, designed for different durations, combine reasonable journeys, easy nights to manage in a van, and nature or culture stops. From Winterthur, you will radiate towards the great Swiss classics while keeping comfortable stops suitable for traveling on the road, whether in couples, families, or with friends.
7-10 days: lakes and historic cities
From Winterthur, start with a short loop to the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen, ideal for a first night in a camper van by the water. Continue to St. Gallen to discover its abbey, then descend along Lake Constance, where several campsites offer convenient spots for vans. Then return towards Winterthur by passing Lake Zurich for an evening by the water. This 7 to 10-day itinerary allows you to stay close to Winterthur while varying swimming, urban walks, and scenic backroads.
14 days: Alps, lakes, and vineyards
Starting from Winterthur, head towards Lucerne and its lake to alternate visits and navigation, enjoying the many well-equipped campsites around the water. Then reach the Bernese Oberland, with Interlaken as a base for hiking around the Jungfrau. Continue to Lake Geneva, between Lausanne and Montreux, where camper van areas offer direct access to terraced vineyards. Then head back through the Gruyères region and the Appenzell area before returning to Winterthur. Over 14 days, you will discover some Swiss must-sees while keeping accessible stops for camper vans from Winterthur.
21 days: grand Swiss loop in a camper van
For a 21-day road trip starting from Winterthur, begin with the lakes of Zurich and the Four Cantons, then head to the iconic alpine passes (Susten, Grimsel, or Furka, depending on the season) while enjoying panoramic areas suitable for camper vans. Continue to Valais to explore Zermatt or the Saas region, before descending along Lake Geneva. Then head back through the Vaud and Neuchâtel Jura, less frequented and ideal for vans, before crossing the Basel region and returning to Winterthur. This itinerary allows time to alternate between short driving days, hikes, and rest stops while rediscovering Winterthur as a base.
All the towns where you can rent a motorhome in Switzerland
Discover on this map all the cities in Switzerland where you can rent your motorhome or campervan.
Use the search engine to find out exactly which departure and return towns you can use to organise your road trip.
To do this, enter the first letters of the country in the corresponding field and discover all the cities in Switzerland or elsewhere.
Loading the interactive map...
When to travel in a camper van from Winterthur
From Winterthur, in the heart of the Zurich canton, preparing a trip in a camper van or van in Switzerland involves knowing the local weather and the seasonality of rates that structure the year in Winterthur and its alpine surroundings.
When to leave from Winterthur for a comfortable road trip
Spring in Winterthur, between the banks of the Eulach and the Stadt Winterthur district (Kreis 1), marks the beginning of an ideal period to hit the road in a camper van, with temperatures warming up and less risk of snow on the routes connecting Winterthur to Zurich or Lake Constance.
From June to September, the Winterthur region, between the Technorama and the old town of Steinberggasse, enjoys long and sunnier days, perfect for driving early in the morning or in the evening to avoid heat peaks on the A1 highway connecting Winterthur to St. Gallen or Bern.
Weather in Winterthur and impacts on a van trip
In winter, forecasts for Winterthur regularly indicate temperatures close to 0 °C, with episodes of snow and freezing rain mentioned for Winterthur and Stadt Winterthur, which requires good preparation of the camper van before leaving the neighborhoods of Töss or Wülflingen.
Weather forecasts for Winterthur often describe days alternating between overcast skies, light snowfall, and clearings, making early morning departures from Winterthur station less comfortable, but offering stunning winter landscapes on the road from Winterthur to the Zurich Pre-Alps.
Seasonality of rates from Winterthur
From Winterthur, the rates for campsites and parking areas near Zurich, Frauenfeld, or Lake Zurich generally follow tourist attendance, with a high summer season that also attracts Winterthur residents seeking coolness by the water.
Off-season, particularly in November or March, travelers leaving Winterthur for the regions of Schaffhausen or Appenzell find it easier to locate affordable spots, while festival weekends in Winterthur, such as around the old town and Marktgasse, can drive up parking and accommodation prices in the urban area.
Practical guide to traveling in a camper van from Winterthur in Switzerland
From Winterthur, in the heart of Eastern Switzerland, traveling in a camper van or van allows easy access to the Swiss highway network while adhering to strict regulations on driving, overnight parking, and safety.
Whether you leave Winterthur via the A1 towards Zurich or via the A4 towards Schaffhausen, preparing your route is essential to drive legally, find suitable spots, and enjoy the Swiss landscapes while on the move.
Driving, speed limits, and vignette around Winterthur
Leaving the center of Winterthur towards Technorama or the Töss district, the speed limits for a camper van remain those in force in Switzerland: 50 km/h in urban areas, 80 km/h outside localities, 100 km/h on fast roads, and 120 km/h on highways for vehicles up to 3.5 tons, provided that specific signage on routes like the A1 between Winterthur-Töss and Winterthur-Oberwinterthur is respected.
To reach Lake Constance from Winterthur via Frauenfeld or Zurich via Wallisellen, a highway vignette is mandatory for any camper van up to 3.5 tons, to be affixed to the windshield before using sections of the A1 or A4, while heavier vehicles departing from Winterthur are subject to a heavy vehicle charge calculated based on the route.
On the major routes connecting Winterthur to St. Gallen or Bern, it is essential to drive with headlights on day and night and to keep the required equipment in Switzerland, such as a warning triangle and a reflective vest, under penalty of a fine during a police check at an intersection like Winterthur-Grüeze.
Sleeping in a camper van around Winterthur and connecting
Around Winterthur, it is safer to favor official campsites or specialized areas, for example towards Winterthur-Wülflingen or near the Töss valley, as wild camping is heavily restricted in Switzerland and simply setting up a table and chairs in a public parking lot can be considered unauthorized camping.
To enjoy a reliable electrical connection near Winterthur, it is better to look for a campsite equipped along the route leading to Lake Greifen or towards Lake Pfäffikon, where charging stations allow for recharging batteries and devices, rather than relying on standard parking lots near Winterthur station or the Hegi district, which are generally not designed for camper van power supply.
If you spend a night in transit in Winterthur, for example before heading to Chur or Lucerne, limit yourself to simple parking in an authorized spot, respect the parking hours indicated on the city signs, and avoid any visible outdoor setup around the van to remain within the framework of parking and not camping.
Local regulations, safety, and good reflexes in Winterthur
In the residential neighborhoods of Winterthur like Seen or Veltheim, vigilance is required in a camper van, with 30 km/h zones, many pedestrians and cyclists, and sometimes narrow streets where it is inadvisable to park overnight without first checking the municipal signage set by the city of Winterthur.
For an early morning departure from Winterthur towards the Glarus Alps or Graubünden, it is recommended to refuel and fill up with water at a gas station in the Winterthur-Töss or Oberwinterthur region to avoid refueling constraints in more remote valleys, where service points are more spaced out.
Nighttime safety around Winterthur is generally good, but it is preferable to choose frequented, well-lit places close to routes like the A1 or near the center of Winterthur, rather than isolated areas along the Töss or in forest parking lots, where wild camping is more easily monitored by the Zurich cantonal authorities.
In case of technical problems with your camper van in Winterthur, you can rely on garages and dealerships located between the Sulzerareal industrial district and the Winterthur-Ost highway exit, which are accustomed to leisure vehicles and are well aware of Swiss requirements regarding technical inspections and gas installations.
