On Two Wheels Heading South – Switzerland, Liechtenstein & France

And just like that, it was that time of year again: Summer had arrived, and with it, the holiday season began for many people – myself included. The big challenge every year is choosing the right travel destination, which isn't always easy – after all, Europe has so much to offer. While you might prefer to enjoy a beach holiday in the Canary Islands, others are drawn to hiking adventures in the Alps. This year, the latter was going to be part of my journey.

Together with my three friends, I headed off to the warm south, or more precisely, to Switzerland. As a little self-test for a future long-distance trip, I set myself the challenge of completing a two-week journey by motorcycle this time. Did everything go according to plan? Of course not. Did I still have a lot of fun? Definitely.

So, in this blog post, I'd like to introduce you to Switzerland a little more closely and share some hidden gems you can discover along the way through Germany and France, whether on your way there or back.

For a smooth and stress-free holiday, a well-thought-out packing list is absolutely essential, which is why I've put together a list of must-haves for you:

Packing List

You probably already know all the standard stuff you should bring along. However, space on a motorcycle is limited to the bare minimum, which meant I had to be a little more organized. Here are some must-haves you definitely shouldn't leave behind on this trip:

• Hiking boots for the many mountain hikes in the Alps (An absolute gamechanger!)

• Electric air pump

  During my trip, I frequently experienced a loss of tire pressure on my Himalayan 450, which is why I visited a motorcycle workshop in Bavaria to check for possible damage – but they couldn't find anything. Therefore, I suspect that the changes in altitude might have affected the tire pressure. Thanks to the pump, I didn't have to stop at a gas station every 300 km just to inflate my tires.

• Swimwear (There might not be any beaches, but there are plenty of mountain lakes!)

• Camping gas stove, cutlery

• Sun protection

• Scrubba wash bag, portable clothesline

• Camping gear (To keep the trip budget-friendly!)

  This includes: Sleeping mat, air mattress, summer sleeping bag, hammock, tent

From the Baltic Sea to Lake Constance

With our bags fully packed, we set off from the Baltic coast and headed south. The journey there was anything but relaxing on the motorcycle, as heavy rain showers swept across the highway. For the next six hours, it was time to grit my teeth and keep riding carefully. When riding in heavy rain, you should always keep in mind that you're much more likely to lose traction on two wheels. Don't make the same mistake I did and try to maintain the recommended speed on the highway, as my front wheel actually slipped for a brief moment on the slippery road surface. So, it's better to slow down a little and seek shelter at a gas station until the rain has passed.

Pretty soaked, I arrived at our first destination for the night: Lake Lettenbachsee in northern Bavaria. Despite being close to the city, it's a peaceful and idyllic spot. After a cozy little barbecue, we found ourselves a place to stay and continued our journey south the next day.

As soon as the sun came up, we were back on the road, heading towards the actual first destination of our trip: Lake Constance. After another four hours of riding, we reached Campingplatz Lindau, where we pitched our tents for a few days. The campsite is very clean, offers a variety of leisure activities, and is the perfect place to unwind and relax. For around €35 per night, we got a parking space for the car as well as a spot to pitch our tents on the grass. Electricity hookups can be added at any time for an additional fee. If you only need to charge your electronic devices, you can get a key for a charging locker at the reception free of charge.

During our stay at the campsite, we explored Lake Constance and the Austrian shoreline by kayak. Out in the middle of the lake, the sun reflected off the crystal-clear water while zeppelins floated in the distance above the historic German towns. I highly recommend renting a kayak for the day to experience the breathtaking scenery for yourself. Prices range from €21.50 for three hours to €33 for the entire day.

Bodensee – Camping site Lindau

And so we spent a few days in southern Bavaria before hitting the road again and making our way to Liechtenstein.

Principality of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is only a few kilometers away from Lake Constance and was therefore right along our route to Switzerland. To get there, we crossed the German-Austrian border and arrived shortly afterward in the Principality of Liechtenstein, greeted by intense heat. The tiny country stretched along a valley surrounded by mountains.

At this point, I'd like to briefly point out that Austria generally requires a motorway vignette, which can be purchased in advance through websites such as the ADAC portal. However, certain motorway sections near the border are exempt from this requirement. If you follow a pre-planned route via Hohenems – Dornbirn – Feldkirch, you can avoid the need for a vignette altogether. As for us, we decided to play it safe and purchased a one-day vignette for Austria anyway, just to avoid receiving an unpleasant surprise in the mail once we got back home.

Did you know? With an area of just 160 km², the Principality of Liechtenstein is the sixth-smallest country in Europe.

The two destinations on our agenda for the day were the capital city of Vaduz and Gutenberg Castle.

Gutenberg Castle wasn't hard to find, as it stood on a hill surrounded by the vast mountain landscape near the country's border. The castle's history dates back to the 12th century, and it served as an important fortress for centuries. Around 1750, the castle was no longer maintained, causing it to gradually fall into ruin. However, if you look closely, you'll notice that the castle in the pictures is far from being a ruin – quite the opposite, actually! It was purchased by the sculptor Egon Rheinberger, who carefully restored it piece by piece between 1905 and 1912, staying true to its historical appearance.

During the summer, various events and concerts take place at the castle, while the outer courtyard and castle grounds are freely accessible at all times. With advance registration, you even have the opportunity to explore the castle's interior as part of various events.

A little later, exhausted from the intense heat and with barely a patch of shade in sight, we made our way to the capital city of Vaduz to pick up a few souvenirs. We didn't really take the time to explore the capital itself, but it offers plenty of shopping streets and a lively city center.

As the day slowly came to an end, we made use of the last few hours of sunlight to head into Switzerland. Once again, it's important to mention that, just like in Austria, a motorway vignette is required in Switzerland. For this reason, you should definitely make sure to purchase a digital vignette in advance if you're planning to use the Swiss motorways after crossing the border.

Fortress Gutemberg

Capital Vaduz

Switzerland – Lake Chapfensee

Late in the evening, we finally reached our destination: Lake Chapfensee. The journey up was quite a bumpy ride, and drivers in particular should be careful on the way up, as the bends aren't always easy to see around and the roads run dangerously close to the steep slopes. However, once you've made it to the top in one piece, you're greeted by scenery that looks like something straight out of a movie: A jade-green lake surrounded by forests, with a view of the 2,844-meter-high Pizol mountain.

The area is perfect for hiking, and along the way, we met a few locals who told us that the lake was currently affected by swimmer's itch caused by duck parasites (as of July 2026). Naturally, we decided to avoid taking a dip in the lake. They also gave us a useful tip on how to camp legally for very little money: Simply ask local farmers if you can pitch your tent on their land. At least in the canton of St. Gallen, camping on farmland with the landowner's permission is generally possible. From my own experience, I can say that the Swiss are incredibly welcoming and helpful.

At this point, it's important to mention that wild camping in Switzerland is subject to strict regulations, and rangers patrol protected natural areas at night. However, camping in the mountains above the tree line falls into somewhat of a legal gray area, depending on the region. If you still want to go wild camping but don't feel like hiking up to 2,000 meters, you can check out CampMap to find areas that aren't under nature protection.

Lake Chapfensee in Switzerland

Off to the Mountains – The Pizol

After a cold night up in the mountains, we set off for the Pizol the next day – of course, not on foot, but by taking the cable car in Bad Ragaz. Depending on the ticket type, prices range from CHF 50 (individual tickets) to CHF 176 (family tickets), with operating hours from 9 AM to 5 PM on weekdays and 8:15 AM to 5:30 PM on weekends. There is also a paid parking lot at the valley station.

We left our vehicles at the bottom and, equipped with our hiking gear, made our way to the cable car. Definitely make sure to wear weatherproof clothing and keep the things you carry in your backpack to a minimum, because up there, every single step became a challenge for us complete beginners. Once we reached the top, we were greeted by countless Alpine peaks and mountains stretching as far as the eye could see. And with that, a very special hiking adventure began for us: The Five Lakes Hike. The route stretches over approximately 10–11 km, so you should plan around 4–5 hours to complete it. I should also mention that the hike was quite exhausting for inexperienced hikers like us – but with enough breaks, even the steepest climb is manageable.

The following five lakes can be seen along the hiking trail:

Wangser See

Wildsee

Schottensee

Schwarzsee

Bachalvasee

In general, swimming in the lakes isn't prohibited, although the water is extremely cold. So, if you're looking to cool off a little along the way, simply bring your swimwear and jump right in! For us, it was a refreshing change of pace.

Time flies when you're hiking, which is why you should definitely keep the departure times of the gondolas in mind.

Before we knew it, we found ourselves under immense time pressure, and I eventually ended up stranded on the Pizol while my friends managed to catch the last gondola down. In my rush, I had made the mistake of taking a wrong turn, causing me to miss the final ride. Now, it was time to stay calm – something that can be incredibly difficult in a situation like this.

When you think about facing a 2,800-meter descent at night, with only 30% battery left on your phone, no flashlight, no warm clothing, and an estimated six-hour hike ahead of you, panic can quickly start to set in. Luckily, on my way down, I came across a helpful construction worker named Lorenz, who was kind enough to give me a ride down in his Jeep after finishing work. A huge thank you to him at this point – I honestly don't know how I would have survived otherwise.

For his age, he seemed incredibly fit and full of joy for life, which is certainly not something to take for granted. During our conversation, I realized just how important it is to have a passion in life – and the sooner you find it, the better. It gives us motivation and a sense of joy that can often get lost in our everyday routines. Through passion, we encounter new experiences and continue to create moments that make us truly feel alive.

I wasn't the first person to sit in his car and ask him that question. Quite a few people before me had found themselves stranded on the Pizol, just like I had, and ended up crossing paths with Lorenz. To me, he's a truly inspiring example of what it means to live with passion, which is exactly why I wanted to share his story here!

A little fun fact about Lorenz: He's 69 years old, technically already retired, and yet he still drives his Jeep high up into the Alps every single day to work on construction sites with his excavator.

"How can you still do this at your age? You're already retired and could be spending your time doing something more relaxing!" I asked him.

Lorenz smiled and told me that he simply couldn't imagine a life without operating his excavator and that he wouldn't stop until the day he dies.

Heading Back North

On our way back, we made a quick stop in the city of Lucerne and spent the evening in a nearby small town close to the Pizol before making one final stop at the Rhine Falls the next day. Standing around 23 meters tall and 150 meters wide, they are among the most impressive waterfalls in Europe.

After that, it was time for my friends and me to go our separate ways. For the second part of my journey, I continued on my own and spent the night bivouacking near the German-French border.

The next day, my journey back home took me through the French region of Alsace to a small town called Wissembourg. As soon as you arrive, you're greeted by a beautiful historic old town that combines German and French architectural styles. If you have some time to spare, you can easily spend a few hours relaxing in one of the many cafés or restaurants. Due to the region's shared history with Germany, many of the locals also speak German.

Wissembourg

For all medieval history enthusiasts, there are several castle ruins from centuries long gone further north, including Fleckenstein Castle. The castle was first mentioned in historical records in 1174 and served as the residence of the noble Fleckenstein family for six centuries. The castle ruins are made of sandstone, which stretches as far as the eye can see. Back in its heyday, the castle must have been an impressive sight: staircases carved into the rock, enormous rooms and passageways within the sandstone, a striking defensive wall, and an ornate well that once supplied the castle with water. From the top of the castle, you can enjoy sweeping views over the forests of the Northern Vosges and, in the distance, even as far as the Palatinate Forest.

If you're planning a family trip, this is definitely a great place to visit. Besides the regular admission prices of €6 for adults and €4 for children and teenagers aged 4–17 (free admission for children under 4!), there's also a special "Puzzle Castle" option available at the ticket office for an additional €5. It's designed as a playful exploration tour through the castle, offering a fun experience for both young and old.

Opening hours during the peak season are from 11 AM to 6/6:30 PM, while during the off-season, the castle is open from 11 AM to 5 PM.

I spent one final night sleeping in a hammock in the forests of Rhineland-Palatinate before continuing my journey home through the Harz Mountains the following day.

Kyffhäuser Monument

On my way back home, I made a stop at the Kyffhäuser Monument – a monument that brings together the legend of Barbarossa, German history, and medieval history.

The road leading up to it was full of winding curves, making it a dream for any motorcyclist. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you're greeted by an enormous monument that was built between 1890 and 1896. As you walk through the different sections of the complex, you'll discover numerous statues and intricate stone carvings along the walls. For example, right at the entrance, you can already admire the impressive stone figure of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.

According to legend, Emperor Frederick Barbarossa isn't actually dead but is instead sleeping beneath the Kyffhäuser Mountains, waiting for the day when Germany needs him again. Besides the legend, there are plenty of other fascinating things to see and discover here, such as the 81-meter-high main tower, which offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and the Harz region. If you venture deeper into the underground chambers, you'll find a museum featuring exhibits from the German Imperial era and the GDR, as well as a 176-meter-deep well.

And with this final day trip, my journey to Switzerland and back home came to an end. As a hiking enthusiast, I can't recommend Switzerland enough, because just like in Austria, the natural landscapes often feel untouched and are simply waiting to be explored. Perhaps the smaller destinations along this journey have also inspired you to discover the charming little town of Wissembourg or explore some medieval castle ruins yourself.

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