Switzerland to Milan. Good routes?
Discussion
Hi there!
I'm doing a 2 week driving trip around Europe next month and am currently looking for the best way to get from Switzerland to Italy. The Stelvio pass was quite high on my list but I've heard mixed opinions of it, what other passes are there? We will starting in either the Interlaken area or heading from Munich depending on which route we take after the Nurburgring and will be heading for Milan.
I'm doing a 2 week driving trip around Europe next month and am currently looking for the best way to get from Switzerland to Italy. The Stelvio pass was quite high on my list but I've heard mixed opinions of it, what other passes are there? We will starting in either the Interlaken area or heading from Munich depending on which route we take after the Nurburgring and will be heading for Milan.
all of the passes will be busy this time of year so be prepared to sit behind coaches, caravans and touring bikes all the way up and down
if you're heading from Interlaken you could head through Guttannen, Ulrichen, Bedretto, Airolo and then down to Belinzona onwards to Milan but it will be busy
notwithstanding, it's a nice road and you can see the glaciers from the top
personally, I'd head further west, do the San Gottardo and find better driving roads further southeast of Milan
if you're heading from Interlaken you could head through Guttannen, Ulrichen, Bedretto, Airolo and then down to Belinzona onwards to Milan but it will be busy
notwithstanding, it's a nice road and you can see the glaciers from the top
personally, I'd head further west, do the San Gottardo and find better driving roads further southeast of Milan
ViaMichelin is your friend for this one!
Go to ViaMichelin
I suggest: -
Departure - Interlaken, Switzerland
Destination - Milano, Italy
Add a Stage - Gletsch, Switzerland
Select 'Sightseeing' route
Interlaken to Gletsch takes you over the beautiful Grimselpass; at Gletsch there is a hotel called the Hotel Glacier du Rhone with a huge car park and a view of the Rhone Glacier, which makes a great coffee-stop before tackling the awesome Furkapass. After the Furkapass you will traverse the historic Passo del San Gottardo, where at the top you can have lunch, visit the museum, see the old cobbled pass (Val Tremola), or even take a ride in a stage coach down and back up the pass.
It is then a mostly scenic motorway drive to Milan.
HTH
Go to ViaMichelin
I suggest: -
Departure - Interlaken, Switzerland
Destination - Milano, Italy
Add a Stage - Gletsch, Switzerland
Select 'Sightseeing' route
Interlaken to Gletsch takes you over the beautiful Grimselpass; at Gletsch there is a hotel called the Hotel Glacier du Rhone with a huge car park and a view of the Rhone Glacier, which makes a great coffee-stop before tackling the awesome Furkapass. After the Furkapass you will traverse the historic Passo del San Gottardo, where at the top you can have lunch, visit the museum, see the old cobbled pass (Val Tremola), or even take a ride in a stage coach down and back up the pass.
It is then a mostly scenic motorway drive to Milan.
HTH
The Grimsel, Furka and St Gottard passes are all within easy reach of Interlaken, they flow one in to the other, and by the end of the final pass, you will find yourself on the other side of the Alps on the motorway system that goes right by Milan.
p.s. and the passes are well surfaced and OK for all types of car.
p.s. and the passes are well surfaced and OK for all types of car.
Did the St Bernard pass a few weeks back. Hit it early and avoid the traffic, be very aware of bikes though - lots of kamikaze on the roads. Found it rather enjoyable. If I read my Classic and Sports car right this month it's the one from the opening sequence of the Itallian Job with the Miura.
Any pass up there is great driving and good scenery as long as the weather is good!
Any pass up there is great driving and good scenery as long as the weather is good!
We are setting off about the same time as you 
Not bothering with the Stelvio, been there done that, will be heading up the Umbrail instead and then onto the Reschen pass and the timmelsjoch back into Italy. There is some traffic but mainly on the weekends by September most of the holiday makers and bikers have headed back to work leaving the roads much freer before the snows start and the skiers arrive.
Edit:I would suggest the Nurburgring on the return leg rather than on the way out.
Not bothering with the Stelvio, been there done that, will be heading up the Umbrail instead and then onto the Reschen pass and the timmelsjoch back into Italy. There is some traffic but mainly on the weekends by September most of the holiday makers and bikers have headed back to work leaving the roads much freer before the snows start and the skiers arrive.Edit:I would suggest the Nurburgring on the return leg rather than on the way out.
Edited by skodamanpat on Monday 31st August 19:02
Bonne Route said:
ViaMichelin is your friend for this one!
Go to ViaMichelin
I suggest: -
Departure - Interlaken, Switzerland
Destination - Milano, Italy
Add a Stage - Gletsch, Switzerland
Select 'Sightseeing' route
Interlaken to Gletsch takes you over the beautiful Grimselpass; at Gletsch there is a hotel called the Hotel Glacier du Rhone with a huge car park and a view of the Rhone Glacier, which makes a great coffee-stop before tackling the awesome Furkapass. After the Furkapass you will traverse the historic Passo del San Gottardo, where at the top you can have lunch, visit the museum, see the old cobbled pass (Val Tremola), or even take a ride in a stage coach down and back up the pass.
It is then a mostly scenic motorway drive to Milan.
HTH
We did this router (together with the Umbrial) as part of the Staples to Naples rally a few years ago. Awesome drive and views, even in an old VolvoGo to ViaMichelin
I suggest: -
Departure - Interlaken, Switzerland
Destination - Milano, Italy
Add a Stage - Gletsch, Switzerland
Select 'Sightseeing' route
Interlaken to Gletsch takes you over the beautiful Grimselpass; at Gletsch there is a hotel called the Hotel Glacier du Rhone with a huge car park and a view of the Rhone Glacier, which makes a great coffee-stop before tackling the awesome Furkapass. After the Furkapass you will traverse the historic Passo del San Gottardo, where at the top you can have lunch, visit the museum, see the old cobbled pass (Val Tremola), or even take a ride in a stage coach down and back up the pass.
It is then a mostly scenic motorway drive to Milan.
HTH
As the other guys said, from Interlaken check out the roads around Andermatt. If you have a look around that area you'll see a perfect figure of 8, which takes in Sustenpass, Grimsel, Furka, Nufenpass + San Gothard - all are amazing and at a push you can do them all in 1 day.
As an alternative to Interlaken check out Luzern, beautiful place to stay for a night, we did Luzern via all the above passes to Lomazzo in 1 day, then headed down through Italy to Monaco the next.
As an alternative to Interlaken check out Luzern, beautiful place to stay for a night, we did Luzern via all the above passes to Lomazzo in 1 day, then headed down through Italy to Monaco the next.
We drove from Como to Sion (nr Interlaken) earlier this week, we ended up on the Simplon Pass - this is awesome.
Nufen Pass is also a superb route through - we did this on the way in to Italy.
We did the Stelvio - it was amazing, and certainly worth doing but bikers kind of ruined any real chance of driving as there were hundreds of them - all coming towards you on your side of the road - drive with caution here!
Edited for crap spelling
Nufen Pass is also a superb route through - we did this on the way in to Italy.
We did the Stelvio - it was amazing, and certainly worth doing but bikers kind of ruined any real chance of driving as there were hundreds of them - all coming towards you on your side of the road - drive with caution here!
Edited for crap spelling
Edited by TomM on Friday 4th September 15:57
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