🇨🇭 Switzerland — OpenVan.camp

The author rented a VW California for 600 francs for a weekend trip to Ticino. At the destination, it turned out the campsite was on plot 27, not in the wilderness as expected. Operating the vehicle was challenging already in the parking lot, and features such as the auxiliary heater, reading light and USB-C port did not work.

Caravanes Treyvaud SA, based in Avenches, is marking 60 years since opening its first campsite. In summer 2026, the company operated six campsites on the shores of Lakes Morat, Neuchâtel and Geneva. The company's growth is described as a family saga that began in a niche market.

National Councillor Ernst Wandfluh (SVP/BE) has submitted a cross-party motion urging the Federal Council to simplify regulations for motorhome pitches on agricultural land. The move follows incidents of litter, including aluminium cans, which can be fatal to grazing cattle. The proposal would allow a few pitches on already sealed surfaces near farms, alpine pastures or cable cars, subject to registration, waste disposal and a payment of a few francs per night.

A motorhome route links Prague, Bratislava and Budapest with stops at Lake Balaton and the island of Krk. The route crosses seven countries, including Germany, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Austria. Drives between cities take three to five hours. The shoulder season offers fewer crowds, while Lake Balaton and the Adriatic retain warm water. The trip used a Carado T328 Pro+ motorhome with 140 hp and an 8-speed automatic, accommodating two to five people.

A residential trailer caught fire in Olten's industrial zone, followed by gas cylinder explosions. One person was airlifted to hospital, another lightly injured.

On Tuesday evening, a wooden exterior of a caravan caught fire at Seemattli campsite. One person was examined on site, no hospitalisation was required. Police are investigating the cause.

By the end of September 2026, TCS Camping already exceeded 2021 figures and is approaching one million tourist overnight stays. Membership surpassed 30,000 for the first time, up 4.8%.

The article covers key aspects of motorhome travel: rules, costs and practical tips. Sabine and Dario Cataneo, experienced motorhome travelers, answer questions about independence, expenses and popular destinations.

In the night to Friday, a camper left the road and overturned in Gänsbrunnen (canton Solothurn). The driver was seriously injured and the road was closed.

Heidi and Rolf Thomet bought their chalet on the Thörishaus campsite in 2003 for 80,000 francs and have lived there permanently since. Long-term camping is controversial in Switzerland, and many campsites have tightened regulations. Eleven tiny houses are planned in Thörishaus because permanent pitches are more financially attractive.

Swiss manufacturer Alpencamper has launched the ECO Slide Out, a bicycle caravan with a slide-out side section that adds 50 cm of width when parked. The sleeping area measures 1.40 by 1.96 metres, enough for two adults. The caravan weighs around 52 kg with a maximum payload of 32 kg and offers 270 litres of storage. Standard equipment includes a Weber coupling, four stabilising legs, an insulated window, a bed frame with table function and a compartment for a dry separation toilet. The version without the slide-out costs around 6,500 euros, while the ECO Slide Out is priced at 8,350 Swiss francs. Optional extras include an electric parking heater and a detachable camping unit.

In Gandria (canton of Ticino), teams from the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (BAZG) and Lugano city police helped a tourist couple reattach the wheel of their caravan. The wheel had come off shortly before the border crossing. With the assistance, the couple was able to continue their journey shortly afterwards. The authority reminds travellers to regularly check wheel nuts, distribute loads evenly and ensure safety first in the event of a breakdown.

Pablo Ortiz works as a waiter in Switzerland 42.5 hours a week and lives in a motorhome with his dog Belota. On weekends, he travels around the country.

On Saturday 19 September 2026 around 22:45 on the A2 motorway near the Dagmersellen junction (canton Lucerne), a car collided with a motorhome, which overturned onto its side. Seven people were checked, no hospitalisation was needed. Damage is estimated at around 30,000 francs.

The foundation «die neue Zeit» must remove unauthorised structures at its nudist campsite near Lake Neuchâtel. The Administrative Court of the Canton of Bern dismissed the foundation's appeal against the refusal of a retroactive building permit. In the winter of 2016/2017, the foundation built four new jetties, two shore stabilisations and a slipway in Gampelen harbour without permission. The site lies within the «Grande Cariçaie» moorland and borders the Fanel nature reserve. The court ordered the restoration of lawful conditions by the end of February.

On Saturday in Eschenz (Thurgau), a 63-year-old driver overtaking a Wohnmobil sideswiped it and hit an oncoming car. Two people slightly injured, driver's license confiscated.

Swiss campers mainly cook meat on the grill. In Solothurn, three generations of the Müller family and the Niggli couple at Lake Sempach include mostly meat dishes in their menu. If charcoal grilling is prohibited, they use a blowtorch for cooking.

Pössl has unveiled the fully electric E-Vanster camper based on the Citroën ë-SpaceTourer. The model features a 75 kWh battery providing a range of 250 to 298 km (WLTP) and a 100 kW (136 hp) electric motor. Its height of 1.99 m allows access to underground parking. Prices in Switzerland start at 60,000 francs, exceeding 72,000 francs with full equipment, about 15% more than diesel equivalents.

On June 14, Winterthur residents will decide on the construction of a new campsite at Schützenweiher. Opponents fear above-average prices and the end of alternative housing forms, while supporters argue that a no vote would mean no campsite at all.

A group of Roma from France has set up camp on a municipal meadow in Oberwinterthur. The move was necessary after their caravans were dangerously close to a high-voltage power line. They had previously left a field near Stadel. A hailstorm caused about one million francs in damage to uninsured travelers.