🇨🇭 Switzerland — OpenVan.camp

The Fischerhaus campsite in Kreuzlingen ended its 2026 season on 18 October with 35,292 overnight stays, about the same as last year. Around 150 bookings for 2027 came in within hours of opening.

Spaniard Pablo works as a waiter in a Swiss restaurant and lives with his dog Bellota in a camper van of about nine square metres, according to the Argentine newspaper Clarín. His working week is 42.5 hours and includes split shifts, which requires planning around the animal's needs. On his days off he travels around Switzerland in the camper van, describing the time as "48 hours of absolute freedom". The Swiss motoring organisation Touring Club Schweiz says rules on overnight stays outside official motorhome stopovers vary by canton and municipality, and the federal veterinary service warns against leaving dogs in a vehicle for long periods in hot weather. Pablo's income and the cost of his living arrangement are not disclosed.

Mario Kovacevic is leaving his role as head of the Suisse Caravan Salon after eight years at Bernexpo. The final day of the 2026 show was his last in the post. Kovacevic said he was satisfied with the outcome, citing stable visitor numbers and long-term exhibitor retention. He noted the event is among Europe's five largest caravanning trade fairs and said he is confident it will continue to exist in 20 years.

Camping Fischerhaus in Kreuzlingen closed its 2026 season on 18 October with 35,292 overnight stays, almost matching the previous year. About 64% of overnight stays came from Swiss guests and 24% from German guests; visitors also arrived from Japan, Mexico and New Zealand. Heat caused some guests to leave early, and the kiosk ordered an unprecedented amount of water. For the 2026 season prices were moderately adjusted to market level and the pricing structure was simplified; when the Hörnli outdoor pool is closed, campsite guests can use Bad Egelsee free of charge during their stay. After eight years, deputy manager Claudia Meckert is leaving to take over her own campsite in Andeer, and a replacement is being sought. After bookings for 2027 opened in early October, around 150 reservations arrived within a few hours.

Marie and Gaël from Switzerland converted a former delivery van into an 8 m² living space and live in it all year round. The project cost around €25,000. Three solar panels on the roof deliver up to 1,125 watts, and a diesel heater runs on fuel from the vehicle's tank. The interior includes a kitchen with an induction hob, fridge and electric oven, a shower, a portable dry toilet and a 140 x 200 cm bed that lowers from the ceiling by remote control. The feature aired on 27 August 2026 in the programme La folie du camping-car on RMC Story.

The Suisse Caravan Salon is running at the Bernexpo site in Bern until Monday 26 October. The show is fully booked again this year, with twelve halls and a large outdoor area for vehicles, accessories and tourism offers. Gerry Meyer of Campland Schweiz said the trend towards 4×4 vehicles is strengthening, and many off-road campers and expedition vehicles are on display. Demand for camper vans and panel vans remains unbroken, including the VW California, Mercedes-Benz Marco Polo and Ford Nugget, alongside classic semi-integrated motorhomes. A dedicated vanlife zone, a test drive course and travel talks are also part of the programme.

The most expensive exhibit at the motorhome show in Bern is priced at 770,000 francs and requires a lorry licence to drive. According to the caravan industry association, all-wheel-drive motorhomes are increasingly becoming standard. Due to heat in southern Europe, more motorhomers are heading to northern regions. Instagrammers filming at campsites are causing discontent in the community.

A technical fault in the gas system caused gas to build up inside a caravan in Olten. It ignited when a cigarette was lit, injuring two people, one of them seriously.

Construction of the tourist complex in Brione is due to start in November or December. The investment totals 5.7 million francs. The canton granted a subsidy of up to 2.3 million francs, TCS contributes 1.6 million, and the Patriziato of Brione covers the remaining 1.3 million. The project includes 13 bungalows, 46 serviced pitches for camper vans and a central area for shared services. Opening is planned for the last quarter of 2027.

At the Suisse Caravan Salon Bern 2026 in Hall 2.0, Stand E002, the new Marco Polo and Marco Polo Horizon celebrated their Swiss premiere. Both models are now manufactured entirely in-house by Mercedes-Benz, which the company says creates additional flexibility to meet customer demand. The fully electric VLE was also presented, built on a new modular van architecture with 800-volt technology and ultra-fast charging; its 2.05 by 1.13 metre roof bed features a cold-foam mattress and point-elastic spring elements.

Davos in the canton of Graubünden will hold a referendum on 29 November 2026 on a year-round campsite in the Laret area. A private initiative plans around 60 motorhome pitches, a tent meadow and ten log cabins on a 1.3-hectare plot; the municipality will not contribute financially or operationally. Camping overnight stays in Graubünden doubled since 2016 to a record 590,000 in 2025, while Davos has had limited capacity since the Färich campsite closed. If the site does not open within five years, the camping zone lapses without a further vote.

A motorhome dealer operating as Camper shop in Cresciano, Osogna and Grono in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland is under investigation for fraud and embezzlement. Prosecutors in Ticino say the dealer is wanted in Switzerland and has gone missing. Clients report losses ranging from 7,500 to 50,000 Swiss francs. The enforcement register lists debts and payment orders totalling 100,000 francs. One customer, Lucie Floyd, sold her motorhome at a loss of about 30,000 francs after missing documents prevented registration. Maurizio Secundo paid a final leasing instalment of 5,018 francs 60 centimes to the dealer, but the leasing company never received the money and demanded the same amount again in February 2026.

The motorhome parking area at Pfauengässli in St. Gallen will be expanded from three to eight spaces. Building permission has been granted, with opening planned by January 1 at the latest. Overnight stays cost 29 francs, including the guest tax and a public transport ticket. The project is run by Wohnmobilland Schweiz, which also operates the site.

On the Rupperslaui alpine pasture in the Muotatal valley, tourists are camping directly by the pond despite a ban. According to Luzerner Zeitung, this leads to littering and break-ins. The alpine farmer and the OAK organization do not know how to address the consequences.

The Suisse Caravan Salon took place at the BERNEXPO site in Bern from 22 to 26 October 2026. Switzerland's largest industry fair was fully booked and hosted around 400 exhibitors.

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.