Best Scenic Drives in the Alps: 10 Roads You Should Not Miss

The Alps contain some of the most spectacular driving roads on Earth. These are not just transport routes — they are destinations in themselves, engineered through seemingly impossible terrain with hairpin bends, dramatic viewpoints, and landscapes that change with every kilometre. Here are the 10 roads that deserve a place on every driving enthusiast's bucket list.

1. Grossglockner High Alpine Road (Austria) — 48 km through Hohe Tauern National Park, reaching 2,504 m. Austria's most visited attraction for good reason, with guaranteed glacier views and marmot sightings. Toll: EUR 41. 2. Furka Pass (Switzerland) — 2,429 m, made famous by the James Bond film Goldfinger. Connects Uri to Valais via spectacular high-altitude moonscape. Free. 3. Stelvio Pass (Italy) — 2,757 m, the second-highest paved pass in the Alps with 48 legendary hairpin bends on the eastern approach. Free. 4. Bernina Pass (Switzerland) — 2,328 m, connects Engadin to Poschiavo with views of the Morteratsch Glacier. The adjacent Bernina Express rail line is a UNESCO site. Free.

5. Grimsel Pass (Switzerland) — 2,164 m, dramatic reservoir scenery connecting the Bernese Oberland to Valais. Combines perfectly with Furka and Susten for a loop. Free. 6. Susten Pass (Switzerland) — 2,224 m, considered one of the most beautiful Swiss passes with its sweeping curves and Steingletscher glacier views. Free. 7. Gotthard Pass (Switzerland) — 2,106 m, the original cobblestone road is still drivable and historically significant as the link between northern and southern Europe. Free. 8. Timmelsjoch (Austria/Italy) — 2,474 m, connects Otztal in Austria to South Tyrol in Italy via a high-altitude border crossing. Toll: EUR 18. 9. Silvretta High Alpine Road (Austria) — 2,032 m, a hidden gem connecting Montafon to Paznaun with the Silvretta reservoir at the top. Toll: EUR 17. 10. San Bernardino Pass (Switzerland) — 2,066 m, less crowded than its famous neighbours, connecting Graubunden to Ticino with beautiful wild scenery. Free.

Start early in the morning — not just to avoid traffic, but for the best light and clearest views. Mountain clouds typically build from late morning, so a 7:00 or 8:00 departure gives you the best photography conditions and clearest panoramas. By early afternoon, many passes are partly shrouded in cloud.

Drive these roads for the experience, not the speed. Budget 2–3 times longer than GPS suggests, because you will want to stop at viewpoints, take photos, and simply absorb the scenery. On a road like the Grossglockner, the 48 km drive can easily fill 3–4 hours with stops at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Hohe glacier viewpoint and the Edelweissspitze panoramic point.

Car choice matters. A compact car is ideal for pass roads — easier to maneuver on tight hairpins and less stressed on steep gradients. Automatic transmission is recommended if you are not experienced with mountain driving, as the constant gear changes on steep switchbacks can be tiring. Ensure your brakes are in good condition — you will use them extensively on descents.

Most high Alpine passes are closed from November to May or June, depending on snow conditions. The exact opening dates vary each year and depend on snowfall, avalanche risk, and road clearing progress. The Grossglockner typically opens in late May; Swiss passes like Furka, Grimsel, and Susten usually open in early to mid-June. The Stelvio Pass often does not fully open until late May or early June.

The best months for pass driving are July and August, when all passes are guaranteed to be open and daytime temperatures at altitude are comfortable (10–20°C at pass level). September is also excellent — the light is golden, the crowds thin out, and most passes remain open until mid-to-late October. June can be hit-or-miss, with some passes still clearing snow early in the month.

Real-time pass status is available from official sources: TCS (Switzerland), ASFINAG (Austria), and ANAS (Italy). Google Maps is also reliable for showing closed passes. If a pass is marked as closed, do not attempt it — barriers are physically locked and the road conditions behind them are genuinely dangerous.