5 Swiss mountain passes you can enjoy all year round

Photo Barry Hayden

As the first snows of winter arrive, many of the world’s most marvellous mountain roads are closed until the thaw. However, these five perfect passes in the Swiss Alps remain open all hours and ready for an Alpine adventure.

Do check https://alpen-paesse.ch/en/ for the latest info as, even though the ever-efficient Swiss do their best to keep these roads open during even the harshest weather, heavy snowfall can cause temporary closures.

Photo Nathan Morgan

Fluela pass

Ski and snowboard enthusiasts and global economists will be familiar with the town of Davos, but for drivers things get interesting on the road to Susch. The Flüela Pass climbs to a peak of over 2,300 metres at the Schottensee lake, which is usually frozen solid by early January. The road is almost always clear, however, and offers an enticing mix of tight hairpins with more open, flowing sections. Find out more. 

Photo Shutterstock

Julier pass

While the Julier Pass can trace its path back to Roman times it was only a hundred years ago that it became navigable by the automobile. Leading to swanky St Moritz it’s an absolute stonker of a road. Perfectly smooth and climbing to 2,200 metres at its highest point it’s even home to what must be the world’s highest theatre. Find out more.

Photo Eberhard Grossgasteiger / Unsplash

Maloja Pass

This one’s a real upper body workout. For most of the 30 miles from Chiavenna in Italy to Silvaplana in Switzerland it’s a largely straight and gentle ascent, but when you arrive the pass proper you’ll find a dizzying display of hairpin bends that sees you climb over 800 metres in the space of just a couple of miles. Find out more.

Photo Barry Hayden

Simplon pass

The entry to the Simplon Pass is, unusually by train. It’s a slightly rickety affair that cuts through the Lötschberg tunnel to emerge at the beginning of the pass. The rather grand Bellevue Simplon-Kulm hotel marks the start of this stunning pass that meanders through the mountainous landscape at an altitude that will make you feel as if you’re touching the sky. Simply stunning. Find out more.

Photo alpen-paesse.ch

Brünig Pass

As far back as the 1300s the cheesemakers of Sbrinz would tackle this arduous route by mule to bring their whiffy goods to market. It was finally paved in 1888 and has been exceptionally well-maintained in typical Swiss fashion ever since. It’s more picturesque than problematic, aside from a wild looping early section through a tunnel and several switchbacks as you leave Brienzwiler. After that it’s pretty much plain sailing over the rest of this photogenic route to Lungern. Fans of Sherlock Holmes will want to take a Detour to the nearby Reichenbach falls where the world’s greatest detective battled his nemesis Moriarty.

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