A lovely drive to Fluela Pass in the heart of the Swiss Alps

Flüela Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.391m (7,844ft) above the sea level, located in the Swiss canton of Graubünden.

How long is the Fluela Pass?

Tucked away in the lower Engadin valley, the road to the summit, also known as Flüelapass, is totally paved. The pass has an immaculate road surface. It’s called Route 28 (Flüela Pass Route). The pass is 25.4 km (15.78 miles) long, running from Davos to Susch. The road as we know it today was built in 1867 to enable stagecoaches to make the passage. It’s one of the three paved road passes connecting the Engadin with the northern Grisons, the two other being the Julier Pass and the Albula Pass.

Is Fluela Pass open?

Set high on the boundary between the Albula and Silvretta Alps, the road is no longer open all year round since the 19km-long Vereina Tunnel opened in 1999. It’s usually impassable from late December through early May.

Is the Fluela Pass difficult?

The road to the summit is very steep, hitting a 12% of maximum gradient through some of the ramps. The road climbs and descends with winding curves, although many of these curves on the wider stretch of road soon become narrow towards their end, so this route will put your driving skills through their paces. It’s a mix of mainly long straights and light curves, and 37 hairpin turns. Due to the high avalanche danger the pass is open only late in the evening and during nights when the sun is no longer shining into the hillsides. Then the gate opens up for the traffic again. The pass is usually not very busy with traffic.

How long does it take to drive the Fluela Pass?

To drive the road without stopping will take most people between 40 and 45 minutes. When you reach the peak of this magnificent drive, you can stop off at a parking bay and enjoy the stunning visuals of Lake Davorsee and its surrounding area. On the summit of the pass is the Flüela Hospice. Davos is the highest altitude town in Europe, the largest mountain holiday destination and an international conference and health resort. Lake Davos and the surrounding mountains have a wide variety of leisure activities in store for you. Be sure to visit some of the museums in Davos, the Kirchner museum, for example, or the local history museum. Take a romantic horse-drawn sled ride to the Sertig, Dischma or Flüela side valleys.
Image credit: Depositphotos