i am traveling in a small camper van solo - and hope to learn about locations to stay for a few nights - then move on - i am most interested in scenery and privacy - are there any suggestions of unique places in either switzerland or austria that somebody might have camped at in mini van that you would suggest? - THANK YOU.
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Welcome to the forum.
During COVID, camping with a campervan or motorhome really took off in Switzerland. Every man and his dog seems to have one.
The remote areas in Switzerland have taken a hit because of this popularity.
Campsites are cramped and generally full of people who spend every weekend there in a caravan which stays there the whole year - not what you want at all.
Just driving around, you probably won’t find places to stop the scenery (and) privacy you desire. Any spots will either be full of campervans, or it will illegal to camp there.
Having said that, turn up late at a layby in a scenic spot in the middle of nowhere and leave early and you’ll probably be OK.
But there are people who want what you do and there is a fairly new website offering camping in seclusion around Switzerland, Nomady
Article about the popularity of camping here *
Note that the Swiss don’t generally camp with tents, or even caravans. Unlike the French and English, they tend to have motorhomes.
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Tell us about your camper.
this is one of the best.
You’ll find that most replies will point you to organized camping spaces.
Generally “wild camping” is illegal in CH. Stopping at a layby late and leaving early will most likely not cause issues, but if you find a farmer nearby who takes objection, you may find the cops waking you up.
In some cantons, camping is so illegal that even if a private landowner gives you permission to stop there overnight, it’s still illegal to camp there…
Switzerland is small and lots of people around here. So, nice scenery/privacy and camping in a van are opposites. There is simply not enough space for everyone to park the van and spend the night in “nature”. If everyone did that, there would not be “nature” left anymore for anyone 
There are nature parks but rule #1 is camping in the designated areas because parks are so small and so fragile from the biodiversity perspective.
So, go for the designated camping area, check the list here Overnight stay
Or, leave the van a in a parking place and walk to an alpine hut. Huts and Tours | Swiss Alpine Club SAC