What are the most spectacular roads in Switzerland?
Set high in the Alps, in the central part of Europe, Switzerland offers a driving experience like no other. With about 200 of the most famous roads in the world, it’s worth noting the challenging mountain roads the country offers, renowned for their stunning Alpine landscapes.
Most of the country's roads are on the list of the most famous and iconic drives worldwide. So, when travelling to the country, you need to try Furka Pass, the Alpine road for James Bond. The pass was immortalized by the Aston Martin DB5 / Ford Mustang car chase in James Bond's Goldfinger. It’s one of the most famous Alpine roads in Switzerland. Or the amazing mountain road to St. Gotthard Pass, at an elevation of 2,110m (6,922ft) above sea level. It’s also worth driving through Great Saint Bernard Pass, one of the most famous roads in the Alps, climbing up to 2,469m (8,100ft) above sea level on the border with Italy.
The list wouldn’t be complete without Grimsel Pass, a 5-star road in the Swiss Alps, on the border between the Bern and Valais cantons, or the Umbrail Pass, an iconic Alpine road with 35 hairpin turns on the Swiss-Italian border. The road to the summit is currently the highest paved road in Switzerland and one of the highest paved roads in the Alps.
Alp Mandelon
Alp Mandelon is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.066m (6,778ft) above the sea level, located inthe Pennine Alps, in the canton of Valais, Switzerland.
Cima di Medeglia
Cima di Medeglia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.260m (4,133ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Bellinzona in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
Lago dei Cavagnöö: The High-Altitude Service Road of Ticino
Situated at an elevation of 2,352m (7,716ft) above sea level in the Maggia Valley of the Ticino canton, Lago dei Cavagnöö is a high-altitude reservoir. The road serving the dam is one of the most unusual paved tracks in the Swiss Alps, as it operates as an isolated infrastructure network disconnected from the public valley roads.
Glaspass
Glaspass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.846m (6,056ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.
Col du Marchairuz
Col du Marchairuz is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.447m (4,747ft) above the sea level, located in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.
Aurafreida
Aurafreida is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.160m (7,086ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Bernina in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland.
Portes de Culet
Portes de Culet is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.787m (5,862ft) above the sea level, located in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
Cabane de Chanrion, a beautiful, remote and fantastic road
The Cabane de Chanrion is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 2.471m (8,106ft) above sea level, located in the upper Val de Bagnes in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
The dark galleries of Lac de Mauvoisin: A tunnel carved into the Alps
Located at the head of the Val de Bagnes in the Swiss canton of Valais, the Mauvoisin Dam (Barrage de Mauvoisin) is not only one of the highest arched dams in Europe but also home to one of the most atmospheric tunnel drives in the Alps. The service galleries that skirt the Lac de Mauvoisin offer a raw, unpolished experience through the heart of the mountain.
Driving the steep Fruttstrasse to Melchsee in Switzerland
Melchsee is a high-altitude alpine lake located at an elevation of 1,891m (6,204ft) above sea level in the Canton of Obwalden, Switzerland. The road to the lake, known as the Fruttstrasse, is a steep and narrow asphalt track that climbs from the valley floor to the high plateau of Melchsee-Frutt.
Col des Becs de Bosson
Col des Becs de Bosson is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.882m (9,455ft) above the sea level, located in the Swiss canton of Valais.
Zervreilasee
Zervreilasee is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 1.862m (6,108ft) above the sea level, located in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland.
Gornergrat
Gornergrat is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.934m (9,625ft) above the sea level, located in the canton of Valais, in the southwestern part of Switzerland. It’s one of the highest roads of Europe.
Stralegg
Stralegg is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.675m (5,495ft) above the sea level, located in the Appenzell Alps, in the canton of St. Gallen, close to the Switzerland-Lichenstein border.
Alp Curtginatsch
Alp Curtginatsch is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.274m (7,460ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Hinterrhein in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.
Col du Tronc
Col du Tronc is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.612m (5,288ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Martigny, in the canton of Valais, in Switzerland.
Travel guide to the top of Pointe du Tsaté
Pointe du Tsaté is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.491m (8,172ft) above the sea level, located in the in the central part of the canton of Valais in Switzerland. The average gradient is 10.21%.
Alpe di Gesero
Alpe di Gesero is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.774m (5,816ft) above the sea level, located in the Lepontine Alps, on the Swiss canton of Ticino.
Refuge de Saint-Laurent
Refuge de Saint-Laurent is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.492m (8,175ft) above the sea level, located in the municipality of Nendaz, in the district of Conthey in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
How to drive the unpaved road to Schwarzsee at the foot of the Matterhorn?
Schwarzsee is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2,588m (8,490ft) above sea level, located in the Canton of Valais, Switzerland. Sitting right at the base of the iconic Matterhorn, the road to the "Black Lake" is a brutal unpaved climb that ranks among the highest roads in Switzerland.
Alp Mora
Alp Mora is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.340m (7,677ft) above the sea level, located in the Swiss Ortler Alps, in the canton of Graubünden.
Ibergeregg Pass, a delightful yet challenging drive in Switzerland
Ibergeregg Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.410m (4,625ft) above the sea level, located in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.
Passo dell'Uomo
Passo dell'Uomo is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.224m (7,296ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Leventina in the canton of Ticino in Switzerland.
Buvette d'Arolla
Buvette d'Arolla is a high mountain restaurant at an elevation of 2.879m (9,445ft) above the sea level, located in the Swiss Alps, located in the canton of Valais.
Driving the steep road to Alpe Cortaccio in Ticino
Alpe Cortaccio is a high mountain destination at an elevation of 1,067m (3,498ft) above sea level, located in the district of Locarno, within the canton of Ticino, Switzerland. Situated very near the Italian border, it is widely considered one of the steepest paved climbs in the Swiss Alps, offering a relentless challenge for motorists and cyclists alike.
Tannensee
Tannensee is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.976m (6,482ft) above the sea level, located in the canton of Obwalden, Switzerland.
How to get to Arete de Sorebois in Valais?
Arête de Sorebois is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,834 m (9,297 ft) above sea level, located in Valais canton, in Switzerland. It’s one of the highest roads in the country.
Thyon 2000
Thyon 2000 is a ski station at an elevation of 2.095m (6,873ft) above the sea level located in the Swiss Alps, located in the canton of Valais.
Täschalp
Täschalp is a high mountain pass located in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, at an elevation of 2.225m (7,299ft) above the sea level. The average gradient is 11.14%.
Hornli
Hörnli is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.514m (8,248ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Plessur in the eastern part of canton of Zürich, in Switzerland.
Fuorcla Spadla
Fuorcla Spadla is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.796m (9,173ft) above the sea level, located in the Swiss canton of Grisons.
Road to Pas-de-Maimbré: Driving the 17.71% Service Track in Valais
Located in the canton of Valais, Switzerland, Pas-de-Maimbré is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 2,362m (7,749ft) above sea level. Situated in the Valais Alps, the road to the summit is a technical ski-station service track used for the maintenance of the gondola station and the communication tower.
Pas d’Arpilles: Driving the extreme 9.8% chairlift road in Valais
Reaching an elevation of 2,568m (8,425ft) above sea level, Pas d’Arpilles is a high mountain peak located in the heart of the Swiss Alps, within the canton of Valais. Situated in the Pennine Alps, this summit is a technical challenge reserved for high-clearance vehicles, serving as a vital access route for the mountain infrastructure of the Crans-Montana region.
Venturing through Darkness: Exploring Switzerland's Historic Tunnel de les Agites
Tunnel de les Agites is a high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 1.517m (4,977ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Aigle in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland.
Route Chalais-Vercorin
Route Chalais-Vercorin is a very scenic drive located in the heart of the Rhone valley, in the canton of Valais in Switzerland.
Driving the steep road to Berghaus Nagens
Berghaus Nagens is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2,172m (7,121ft) above sea level. It is located in the Imboden Region, within the Swiss canton of Graubünden. It sits right in the heart of the Flims-Laax-Falera mountain area.