From Milan to Zurich: A Road Trip Through the Alps

Lake Garda: Spa recovery (2-hour drive from Milan)

Lefay Resort & Spa Lake Garda was the ideal first stop: a spa hotel set on a mountainside above Lake Garda, purpose-built to absorb jetlag rather than fight it. The infinity pool looks straight out over the lake to the mountains on the far shore, and it’s hard to overstate how disorienting-in-the-best-way it is to float there with no clear line between water and lake. The spa brochure alone runs over 70 pages, and between the spa circuits and what might be the most serene sauna I’ve ever sat in, it would be easy to never leave the building. Fora Perks upgraded us to a deluxe suite, which made those lake-and-mountain views feel even more personal—waking up to them each morning was reason enough to stay put. When we did venture out, a private boat ride from nearby Gargnano was just 10 minutes away, and the Limone bike path along the lake was one of the most scenic rides we’ve done.

The sauna at Lefay Resort & Spa, Lake Garda

The Dolomites, Alpe di Siusi: Mountain stillness & adventure (2.5-hour drive)

From Garda, it’s two and a half hours north into the Dolomites to ADLER Alpe, Alpe di Siusi. What strikes you immediately is the stillness of the view—no cars are permitted in the valley unless you’re a hotel guest—and that single rule changes the entire pace of the place. Adventure is genuinely doorstep-close: a private guided e-bike tour with the hotel’s in-house guide meant handing over all the route-planning, and the cable car up to Seceda through the town of Ortisei took almost no effort to reach some of the most dramatic views of the trip. The hotel is all-inclusive, so there was no mental overhead around meals, and “cake hour” at 4 p.m. every day was such a delightful ritual that I’ve since started doing it at home. We stayed in a chalet with its own private sauna, though the hay sauna in the main spa was a unique highlight in its own right, and the food, throughout, was genuinely excellent. The pool overlooking Alpe di Siusi was an instant nervous system reset. This is one of my top hotel stays, ever.

Infinity pool, ADLER Alpe, Alpe di Siusi

The Dolomites, Avelengo: Forest discovery (1-hour 20-minute drive)

For the next stop, we landed at Miramonti in Avelengo, overlooking Merano. Where our first hotel sat in a valley looking up at mountains, this one put us in the mountains looking down over the valley. The property is built around discovery—walking paths wind through the trees, and elevated sunbeds and quiet nooks reveal themselves as you explore rather than being handed to you on a map. We loved the option to nest away in addition to the beautiful main pool area. The infinity pool and onsen pool were both standouts, as was the forest sauna, tucked into the trees in a way that made it feel more like a ritual than an amenity. Nearby, Kränzelhof—part winery, part sculpture garden—was a wonderful lunch stop, and Merano itself made for an easy, atmospheric evening out.

Pool terrace at Miramonti, Avelengo

Fürstenau: Culinary & design pilgrimage (3-hour 25-minute drive)

From Italy, we crossed into Switzerland to Fürstenau—the country’s smallest city, and home to Andreas Caminada, Switzerland’s number-one chef. We stayed in a loft and had dinner at Casa Caminada, his culinary and design destination in the heart of the village. The building itself is a centuries-old barn and stable, reimagined into a minimalist-chic boutique hotel that sets heavy original timbers against sleek modern furnishings—design restraint that makes the space feel considered rather than staged. We were lucky enough to meet Chef Andreas himself, who personally helped arrange a tour of Schloss Schauenstein, his three-Michelin-star restaurant and hotel housed in a castle just up the road. What struck me most was the way modern design had been layered into a building that’s stood since the 12th century—nothing about it felt like a renovation fighting the original structure; it felt like the two eras were in conversation. It was only a one-night stopover, but it’s now firmly on my must-experience list for a return trip with more time to properly stay and dine there. Small as it is, the area is a gem of a culinary and design nook, with three incredible restaurants all next to each other: Casa Caminada, Oz (vegetarian fine dining), and Schloss Schauenstein. And for keeping on theme, along the drive, I recommend stopping in Glorenza for lunch—one of Italy’s smallest towns, with medieval walls dating back to the 16th century.

Loft balcony at Casa Caminada, Fürstenau

Zurich: Lake city landing (1.5-hour drive)

The trip closed in Zurich at Eden au Lac, right on Lake Zurich and an easy walk to Old Town. The interiors are designed around an imaginary yacht club, and our room carried that same quiet, considered design through to the large shower and freestanding soaking tub. But it was the balcony that won us over: We spent hours out there reading, drinking champagne, and watching the sunset over Lake Zurich. The rooftop restaurant, La Muna, is the perfect lunch spot, with Peruvian-Japanese fusion food and beautiful lake views, and being directly across from one of the city’s Badis meant close access to Zurich’s beloved lake-swimming culture. It was the perfect low-key way to end a trip built around movement.

Lunch at La Muna, Eden au Lac

Alternate ending: Lake Lucerne

If you’d rather skip the city and keep the lake, head to Waldhotel, set high above Lake Lucerne under an hour from Zurich. It’s an alternative ending with some of the most peaceful lake views of the trip, and the Alpine Spa there is arguably the best spa experience in Europe.

Alpine Spa, Lake Lucerne

This route works best for travelers who love the freedom of self-driving and want their trip to feel like a continuous unfolding rather than a series of flights. One practical note on the rental car: Picking up in Italy and dropping off in Switzerland is doable via Auto Europe, but it’s a one-way cross-border rental, which typically carries a premium.

For more inspiration and insider recommendations, visit our Europe page.