Bernina Pass Scenic Drive: Glaciers, a White Lake, and the Road to Tirano

The Bernina Pass (Passo del Bernina, 2,328 m) is the highest road pass in Switzerland that stays open close to year-round. Unlike most Swiss passes that close in October, the Bernina road often remains accessible through winter — a useful practical advantage for autumn and early winter travelers.

Three things make this drive genuinely distinctive. First, Lago Bianco beside the pass: Graubünden Tourism notes that the lake was artificially enlarged for hydroelectric use. Its pale water and high-altitude setting form the defining roadside landscape. Second, the UNESCO Bernina Railway runs alongside the road through much of the valley — you can watch the famous red Bernina Express trains crossing stone viaducts as you drive. Third, the road continues through Italian-speaking Val Poschiavo and across the border to Tirano in northern Italy.

Carry the travel and vehicle documents required for a cross-border rental journey.

Drive from Pontresina (north) south to Tirano (Italy). This direction takes you uphill through the Morteratsch Glacier landscape, then delivers Lake Bianco at the summit as a natural arrival moment, followed by the dramatic Poschiavo descent with the Bernina Express crossing below you on the viaducts.

Light and visibility change quickly at this elevation, so choose your departure time from the current forecast rather than relying on a fixed photography window.

South-to-north (Tirano to Pontresina) is the obvious return route if doing a round trip. The Morteratsch Glacier then appears at the end as a bonus — suitable as a full-day round trip from a St. Moritz or Pontresina base.

Space your stops to avoid rushing the summit and Poschiavo sections. A good structure: one stop at Morteratsch, one at the summit lake, one in Poschiavo, and the Brusio viaduct viewpoint near the Italian border.

No toll for the pass road. The Swiss motorway vignette applies only if you used the A13 or other Swiss Autobahn sections to reach Pontresina from Zurich or Chur.

The road is open close to year-round, but winter conditions above the summit require winter tires. Check rental contract terms before driving in snow. In summer, the road is smooth, wide, and well-maintained with clear pull-offs.

Fuel in Pontresina before the pass. There is no petrol station on the pass itself. Poschiavo has a petrol station on the south descent.

The UNESCO Bernina Express train schedule is published by Rhaetian Railway (RhB) online — timing your stops to see the red train on a viaduct adds a memorable visual dimension to the drive.

Pontresina is a practical road-trip base and generally quieter than St. Moritz, with hotel and parking options close to the Bernina approach. Compare current rates for your exact dates.

St. Moritz works as a higher-end base with straightforward access to the Bernina approach; allow for current traffic and winter conditions.

Lugano can suit a southbound itinerary through Italy, but recheck the cross-border route and drive time for your travel date.