Three days, one car, four countries. We based ourselves in Dornbirn and used it as a launchpad for the Alpine Rhine valley — hopping over to Liechtenstein, down to Zürich, and finishing on the shore of Lake Constance. Slow mornings, long drives with a view, and way too much good Italian food. Here's exactly where we went and what it cost us (for two).
Our home base for the whole trip. We rented a little Airbnb here (€208 for the two of us) and never packed up again — every day started and ended in Dornbirn. Dinner was non-negotiable: pizza, pasta and risotto at La Scarpetta, basically on repeat. This covers the flat plus all our meals here.
You can "do" a whole country in the time it takes to stretch your legs. We pulled in on the way to Zürich, wandered past the parliament and up toward the castle on the hill, caught the cathedral, and were back in the car before the parking meter noticed. Free, tiny, weirdly charming.
Lunch and a long, aimless walk. We followed the river through the old town, watched the trams thread past the church towers, and mostly just people-watched. Switzerland isn't cheap — lunch for two was most of this — but the wander itself is free.
We finished on Lake Constance. Konstanz is made for a slow evening: gardens right on the water, palm trees (yes, really), and a lakeside dinner before the drive back to Dornbirn.