The Best Driving Routes in the Alps: 11 Epic Mountain Roads

The Alps contain some of the greatest driving roads on earth — 1,200 km of mountain passes across eight countries, with views that rank among the most dramatic in Europe. Whether you're planning a summer road trip or dreaming of a future adventure, this guide covers the best Alpine driving routes: what to expect, when to go, and what makes each one unforgettable

 

If you're travelling to the Alps, you might also love our guides to the best ski resorts for non-skiers and top alpine walking trails to see wildflowers.

 

✦  Take the mountains with you — ski trip essentials for the road

Powderhound Washbag — What a View Mountain print washbag — perfect ski trip essential £28 Shop Now →

Powderhound Lip Balm Essential mountain skin protection £10 Shop Now →

Skier + Snowboard Unisex Snood Organic cotton — on-mountain essential £20 Shop Now →

View full Ski Trip collection →

 

Quick Planning Tips

•        Most high passes are open June–October only — always check road status before travel

•        Carry snow chains even in summer: conditions can change fast above 2,000 m

•        Toll roads and vignettes required in Austria, Switzerland and parts of Italy and France

•        Fill up before heading into the mountains — petrol stations are scarce above 1,500 m

•        Download offline maps: mobile signal disappears on many passes

 

1. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road, Austria

Austria's most iconic mountain drive winds 48 km through the heart of the Austrian Alps, climbing to 2,504 m. Built 1930–1935, it remains a remarkable feat of engineering. The centrepiece is the Pasterze Glacier — Austria's longest at 8.4 km — visible from the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewing platform. Allow at least half a day: marmots, golden eagles and ibex are common, and the alpine flowers in July and August are extraordinary (see our

alpine flower walking trails guide for more).

Open: May–early November | Toll: Yes | Highest point: 2,504 m

2. The Stelvio Pass, Italy

Declared the greatest driving road in the world by Top Gear in 2008, the Stelvio climbs to 2,757 m — the highest paved pass in the Eastern Alps. 75 hairpin bends on the northern approach from Prato, 48 on the southern side from Bormio. The charming ski town of Bormio at the foot offers excellent restaurants and thermal baths.

Open: June–October | Toll: No | Highest point: 2,757 m

 

3. The Col de la Bonette, France

At 2,802 m, the Col de la Bonette is the highest paved through-road in the Alps. Located in the Mercantour National Park, this is one of the least-visited yet most rewarding drives in the French Alps. Home to chamois, ibex, mouflons, golden eagles — and one of the few places in the western Alps where wolves roam freely.

Open: Late June–October | Toll: No | Highest point: 2,802 m

 

 

4. The Great Dolomites Road, Italy

The Grande Strada delle Dolomiti cuts 140 km through the UNESCO World Heritage Dolomites, from Bolzano to Cortina d'Ampezzo (host of the 2026 Winter Olympics), crossing three major passes. The pale Triassic limestone glows pink and orange at sunrise — a phenomenon locals call enrosadira. Plan to be on the road at golden hour.

Open: Year-round (passes may close in heavy snow) | Toll: No | Highest point: 2,239 m

5. The Furka Pass, Switzerland — The James Bond Pass

The opening chase of the 1964 Bond film Goldfinger was filmed on the Furka's hairpins, with Bond's Aston Martin DB5 pursuing its quarry around the bends. The Furka's real star is the Rhône Glacier — source of the River Rhône — where you can walk into an ice grotto each summer. Connects with the Grimsel and Susten for a classic three-pass tour.

Open: June–October | Toll: No | Highest point: 2,429 m

6. The Nufenen Pass, Switzerland

Switzerland's highest paved pass at 2,478 m — yet far less visited than its famous neighbours. Connects Valais with Ticino, with a dramatic character shift on descent: from Germanic north to Italian-influenced south, palm trees and terracotta appearing from nowhere. Pairs brilliantly with the Gotthard and Furka for a full-day loop.

Open: June–October | Toll: No | Highest point: 2,478 m

 

7. The Route des Grandes Alpes, France

The ultimate Alpine drive — 700 km from Lake Geneva to Menton on the French Riviera, crossing 17 mountain passes including the Col du Galibier and the Col de l'Iseran (the highest paved pass in the Alps at 2,764 m). The full route takes 5–7 days, passing through Val d'Isère and Vars before a triumphant descent to the Côte d'Azur.

Open: Best July–September | Some toll sections | Highest point: 2,764 m

 

8. The Bernina Pass, Switzerland — Open Year-Round

The Bernina Pass at 2,328 m is unique: it remains open to road traffic all year. It follows the route of the Bernina Express train — a UNESCO-listed railway and one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. The Morteratsch Glacier, visible below the summit, is one of the most visited glaciers in the Alps.

Open: Year-round | Toll: No | Highest point: 2,328 m

 

9. The Col de l'Iseran, France — Highest Paved Pass in the Alps

At 2,764 m, the highest paved through-pass in the Alps connects Val d'Isère with the medieval village of Bonneval-sur-Arc. In summer the landscape is otherworldly: vast snowfields, marmots everywhere, and the 1939 summit chapel of Notre-Dame de l'Iseran. A regular Tour de France stage finish.

Open: Mid-June–October | Toll: No | Highest point: 2,764 m

 

10. The Timmelsjoch / Passo del Rombo, Austria–Italy

Connects Sölden (filming location for the Bond film Spectre) in Austria's Ötztal valley with the Italian Val Passiria at 2,509 m. Far fewer crowds than the Stelvio, equally spectacular. The descent to Merano is beautiful — apple orchards and vineyard terraces replacing the high-alpine scenery.

Open: June–October | Toll: Yes (Austrian side) | Highest point: 2,509 m

 

11. The Col du Galibier, France

Sacred ground for cycling fans — featured in the Tour de France more than almost any other climb — and equally rewarding by car. Rises to 2,642 m between Saint-Michel-de-Maurienne and Briançon (Europe's highest city, 1,326 m, and a UNESCO-listed Vauban fortified town).

Open: June–October | Toll: No | Highest point: 2,642 m

Shop Ski Trip Essentials

The perfect gift for the ski fan who loves an Alpine road trip — travel-ready essentials designed for mountain life.

Powderhound Washbag — What a View Mountain print washbag — perfect ski trip essential £28 View Product →	Powderhound Lip Balm Essential mountain skin protection £10 View Product →
Skier + Snowboard Unisex Snood Organic cotton — on-mountain essential £20 View Product →	SKI Resort Mug Your favourite resort, your favourite mug £24 View Product →

Browse the full Ski Trip collection →

⛷  SHOP POWDERHOUND

Inspired by an Alpine road trip? Our Ski Trip collection is filled with travel-ready essentials — washbags, snoods, and mountain-themed gifts perfect for the journey. Browse our Ski Trip collection →