When most think of Switzerland, they imagine skiing snowy slopes with incredible mountain views, sampling delicious Swiss chocolate in a charming village, or spending a relaxing weekend break on Lake Geneva. Petrol-heads of the world, however, picture themselves tackling some of the world’s most incredible alpine drives, found among the Swiss Alps.
We’ve put together the top five scenic routes you’ll find when visiting. Start planning now to enjoy an incredible Swiss Alps driving tour on your next visit.
Furka Pass
Furka Pass is one of the most popular Swiss Alps driving routes, connecting Andermatt, in the canton of Uri, with Gletsch in Valais. It forms part of the Three-Pass-Ride, that also includes the Grimsel and Susten Pass – and has even been featured in the James Bond film Goldfinger.
As you drive along one of the highest roads in Europe, 2,429 metres to be exact, you’ll encounter tight hairpins and inclines steep enough to thrill any traveller. You’ll also pass the abandoned Hotel Belvedere, which is a popular photo opportunity and provides fantastic views of the Rhone Glacier and surrounding forest.
The entire route takes roughly an hour and a half. If you’re taking detours for extra sightseeing or visit the glacier, then this can be extended.
Travel this route in the summer and you may spot the Furka steam train among the hills or hear the unmistakable sound of its engine as you drive through the sweeping valleys. The pass is closed during winter and whenever there is uncleared snow on the road, so be sure to check ahead before you start your journey.
Great St. Bernard Pass
This Swiss Alps driving tour reaches an elevation of 2,469 metres and was historically used by the Romans as a trade passage and by Napoleon Bonaparte during his march to Italy. It is most famous, however, for the ancient Great St. Bernard Hospice.
The monks who lived here in the 17th Century trained and bred their dogs to guard the hospice and rescue lost travelers, which is where the popular St. Bernard breed originates from. Make time for a quick stop if you want to explore the monastery and meet some St. Bernard dogs for yourself.
You should pencil in about an hour and a half for this trip, and you can start at either the German or Italian side. The recommended approach is to start on the E27 near Zurich and travel to Milan, where you can enjoy stunning mountain views as you tackle the winding roads and pause at the top of the pass to admire the lake. You can also find small local shops and many places where to grab a bite to eat.
Like most mountain roads when driving in the Swiss Alps, be wary of tight turns and snow on the road. This is especially the case as you climb higher into the mountains.
Gotthard Pass
Gotthard Pass is known as the ‘King of Mountain Passes’, with smooth, asphalt road surfaces and snake-like twists and turns. Take Route 2 for passing between Andermatt and Biasca in the Swiss Alps.
The 10-mile Gotthard Road Tunnel was built in 1980 to keep the road open during winter months, where snow would usually halt travelers. The tunnel passes the scenic ‘Devil’s Bridge’ but becomes very congested during the summer months.
Gotthard Pass also becomes very busy during the summer. That’s because it’s the quickest and one of the most popular ways to travel from north Switzerland to the south.
You should be able to travel the 40-mile pass in an hour and a half at a leisurely pace, which will leave you plenty of time to enjoy the beautiful valley views. You can also stop at the National Gotthard Museum at the top of the pass.
Susten Pass
Another popular Swiss Alps driving road is the Susten Pass, which opened in 1945 and was the first pass to be purpose-built for vehicles. It connects the Reuss Valley at the bottom of the Gotthard Mountain with the Hasli Valley in the Bernese Oberland, linking the village of Wassen with Innertkirchen in Canton Bern.
The pass usually closes at the end of October and reopens again in June. This does mean you have a small window to enjoy its spectacular views, so try to plan your trip during the summer and early autumn months.
Drive through several tunnels to navigate the estuary gorge of the Meinenreuss River and the Meien Valley, enjoying a panoramic view of the valley and the Fünffingerstockmountain tops on your way. There is a great range of road types along this route including tight turns, steep hills and sweeping curves.
As you descend from the pass summit at 2,224 metres, you’ll be greeted with a view of the Gadmen Valley and the Steinen Glacier, as well as roads lined with waterfalls, forests and stone bridges. Finally, you’ll pass the quaint houses of Gadmen Village, the Engstligennalp lake and the Aare gorge.
Bernina Pass
Bernina Pass is perhaps one of the most scenic routes for driving in the Swiss Alps and can be found in the country’s south-east region. It connects the alpine resort town of St. Moritz, in the Engadine Valley, to the Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo in southern Switzerland.
The pass reaches an elevation of 2,328 metres and consists of challenging roads that are steep, winding and exposed to the wind. For this reason, it’s usually closed from mid-autumn to mid-spring, but drivers should still be careful during the summer months, as snow can still fall on the roads.
The key attraction of the Bernina Pass is the ‘White Lake’, Lago Bianco reservoir. Drivers and passengers alike will be able to marvel at the turquoise waters and rugged surroundings for the majority of the drive.
Overall, the pass is 34 miles long and will take roughly two hours to complete. The route also runs close by the Bernina Railway, which is the highest railway crossing in all of Europe.
Hire a car in Switzerland to navigate these popular Swiss Alps driving roads for yourself.
