Swiss mountain passes

[FrancisA]

Hi All
This is directed at anyone who has a good knowledge of the surrounding area of the 3 famous passes in Switzerland.

I am planning a drive in June across the Susten/Furka and Grimsel pass.

My dilemma is choosing my base station. I have 2 choices. Interlaken or Disentis/Muster. Both options are lovely, one by the lake and another with a view of the mountains. What is guiding my choice is the route to the passes. There is a slight difference in travel time (an extra 20 mins from Disentis). What I am looking for is someone who is familiar with both areas and can advise which of the bases offers the better more scenic route to the Susten pass.

Thanks

[scrounger73]

We did the 3 passes back in June. Used the Grimsel Pass Hotel as a base. Stunning views and great food. All 3 passes are less than 15 mins away, in fact you're almost at the top of the Grimsel Pass.

[scrounger73]

[Stanley Rous]

Stopped for a coffee there back in October and looked a lovely place to stay!

I stayed at the Raddison Blu in Andermatt that I also found an excellent base and has underground parking. I’d have no hesitation staying in either. The passes are all pretty close together.

[Nick Forest]

Stanley Rous said:

Stopped for a coffee there back in October and looked a lovely place to stay!

I stayed at the Raddison Blu in Andermatt that I also found an excellent base and has underground parking. I d have no hesitation staying in either. The passes are all pretty close together.

Second Andermatt as a base to explore all 3 passes.

[Cheib]

Check roadworks. They do close some of the passes on the odd occasion in the summer. Found out the hard way !

[FrancisA]

Thanks for all the input guys. I have chosen a property on Airbnb in Interlaken close to the lake. I want to stop off at Lauterbrunnen hence the location and it is short track to the 3 passes.

Any tips on an early start. I am driving on the Monday (in June) as the advice was avoid the weekends. Is an early start key during the week or does it not make much difference.

Edited by FrancisA on Sunday 26th April 23:39

[Dr S]

FrancisA said:

Thanks for all the input guys. I have chosen a property on Airbnb in Interlaken close to the lake. I want to stop off at Lauterbrunnen hence the location and it is short track to the 3 passes.

Any tips on an early start. I am driving on the Monday (in June) as the advice was avoid the weekends. Is an early start key during the week or does it not make much difference.

Edited by FrancisA on Sunday 26th April 23:39

My laps over the three passes start before 0600 when there is no traffic. From 0700 onwards you encounter cyclists and mobile homes no matter the day of the week

[Trufit]

We’re incorporating these 3 passes during our road trip early July, please let us know how you get on as it sounds like our plans are very similar - also staying in Interlaken!

[Kernow76]

I visited Interlaken 4 years ago at the end of June. The passes were fairly quiet until late morning.

If you want a day to relax without much driving I'd recommend taking the funicular to the top of Harder Kulm. The view is stunning. I'd also recommend taking the ferry around the Brienzersee. It stops at The Grandhotel Giessbach which is where I stayed. It's a beautiful hotel that has a waterfall nearby that you can walk behind.

Edited by Kernow76 on Monday 27th April 10:45

[mr pg]

Whilst in that area I would also recommend the St Gotthard passes (old and new) and Nufenen pass.

[scrounger73]

If you have a look at my trip write-up on PCGB from June last year it may give you some inspiration. From my experience, roads are fine throughout the day however weekends are very busy. If you want a photo of your car outside the Belvedere Hotel on the Furka Pass, go very early in the morning to get the car park to yourself. Something to be mindful of is there are speed cameras at the exits to the Furka and Susten Passes. These are mobile so don't go over the speed limit, saying that you'll be pushed to do over 60kph anyway. Plenty of passing point and you'll find that motorhomes will move out of your way.. just remember to do the same if you get fast moving traffic behind you, and there will be. Be mindful of cyclists as they are all over the place going up and down the passes. They are bonkers!

Here's the link to my write-up, you want page 12.

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/threads/my-202...

Edited by scrounger73 on Monday 27th April 16:03

[supersport]

scrounger73 said:

If you have a look at my trip write-up on PCGB from June last year it may give you some inspiration. From my experience, roads are fine throughout the day however weekends are very busy. If you want a photo of your car outside the Belvedere Hotel on the Furka Pass, go very early in the morning to get the car park to yourself. Something to be mindful of is there are speed cameras at the exits to the Furka and Susten Passes. These are mobile so don't go over the speed limit, saying that you'll be pushed to do over 60kph anyway. Plenty of passing point and you'll find that motorhomes will move out of your way.. just remember to do the same if you get fast moving traffic behind you, and there will be. Be mindful of cyclists as they are all over the place going up and down the passes. They are bonkers!

Here's the link to my write-up, you want page 12.

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/threads/my-202...

Edited by scrounger73 on Monday 27th April 16:03

I think that’s where I got the recommendation for the Grimsel Pass Hotel. It’s very busy, should have booked last year.

Had to stay longer to get the dates I wanted, oh want a shame. Can’t wait.

[Jeremy-75qq8]

Avoid weekends.

[FrancisA]

Trufit said:

We re incorporating these 3 passes during our road trip early July, please let us know how you get on as it sounds like our plans are very similar - also staying in Interlaken!

Will do

[FrancisA]

scrounger73 said:

If you have a look at my trip write-up on PCGB from June last year it may give you some inspiration. From my experience, roads are fine throughout the day however weekends are very busy. If you want a photo of your car outside the Belvedere Hotel on the Furka Pass, go very early in the morning to get the car park to yourself. Something to be mindful of is there are speed cameras at the exits to the Furka and Susten Passes. These are mobile so don't go over the speed limit, saying that you'll be pushed to do over 60kph anyway. Plenty of passing point and you'll find that motorhomes will move out of your way.. just remember to do the same if you get fast moving traffic behind you, and there will be. Be mindful of cyclists as they are all over the place going up and down the passes. They are bonkers!

Here's the link to my write-up, you want page 12.

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/threads/my-202...

Edited by scrounger73 on Monday 27th April 16:03

Hi Dan
Thanks for the tips. Funnily I am doing a similar trip with my son. Day 1: Stopping off at Düsseldorf to pick up some cigars and spending the night in Frankfurt. Day 2: Frankfurt to the Porsche museum to Interlaken. Will see if I can take the black forest route. Day 3: Do the mountain passes and add in more if I have the time. From what I have read it takes about 3/4 hours to do the 3 main ones with the stopping and pictures. Day 4: Interlaken to Nancy (may change that destination) as I don't fancy 9 hours to Calais. Day 5: Nancy to home.

[FrancisA]

Kernow76 said:

I visited Interlaken 4 years ago at the end of June. The passes were fairly quiet until late morning.

If you want a day to relax without much driving I'd recommend taking the funicular to the top of Harder Kulm. The view is stunning. I'd also recommend taking the ferry around the Brienzersee. It stops at The Grandhotel Giessbach which is where I stayed. It's a beautiful hotel that has a waterfall nearby that you can walk behind.

Edited by Kernow76 on Monday 27th April 10:45

Thanks for the tips. I had considered the Grand Hotel but found a rather nice Airbnb.

[FrancisA]

FrancisA said:

scrounger73 said:

If you have a look at my trip write-up on PCGB from June last year it may give you some inspiration. From my experience, roads are fine throughout the day however weekends are very busy. If you want a photo of your car outside the Belvedere Hotel on the Furka Pass, go very early in the morning to get the car park to yourself. Something to be mindful of is there are speed cameras at the exits to the Furka and Susten Passes. These are mobile so don't go over the speed limit, saying that you'll be pushed to do over 60kph anyway. Plenty of passing point and you'll find that motorhomes will move out of your way.. just remember to do the same if you get fast moving traffic behind you, and there will be. Be mindful of cyclists as they are all over the place going up and down the passes. They are bonkers!

Here's the link to my write-up, you want page 12.

https://www.porscheclubgb.com/forum/threads/my-202...

Edited by scrounger73 on Monday 27th April 16:03

Hi Dan
Thanks for the tips. Funnily I am doing a similar trip with my son. Day 1: Stopping off at Düsseldorf to pick up some cigars and spending the night in Frankfurt. Day 2: Frankfurt to the Porsche museum to Interlaken. Will see if I can take the black forest route. Day 3: Do the mountain passes and add in more if I have the time. From what I have read it takes about 3/4 hours to do the 3 main ones with the stopping and pictures. Day 4: Interlaken to Nancy (may change that destination) as I don't fancy 9 hours to Calais. Day 5: Nancy to home.

Hi Dan - I had another read of your trip last year. You have just saved me 240 Euros. I had missed the requirement for a Swiss Vignette. Thank you for the excellent write up.

[FriedMarsBar]

I've found Gemini really helpful and quick to summarise the status of the passes. Last week when I passing through I asked it "which passes near Nufenenpass are open now" and i got the below.

Open Now
Gotthard Pass (Sankt Gotthard): Open. This is your closest immediate alternative to cross between Uri and Ticino. However, note that it is currently flagged as snow-covered with a risk of slippery ice, so winter tyres/proper equipment are highly advisable.

Simplon Pass: Open with no restrictions. Located a bit further west, this is a highly reliable, wide, year-round transit route connecting the Valais region down towards Italy.
Lukmanier Pass (Passo del Lucomagno): Open. Located to the east of the Nufenen/Gotthard area, though currently reporting snow-covered sections. (Note: It will have a temporary midday closure on May 26th for the Giro d'Italia). Still Closed (Winter Closure)

Furka Pass: Closed. The clearance teams are working through the snow, and the canton of Uri expects it to open in late May or early June.

Grimsel Pass: Closed. Like the Furka and Nufenen, it typically remains closed until late May or early June.

Susten Pass: Closed. The road is only open as far as Gorezmettlen on the Uri side and Steingletscher on the Bernese side. The full pass is not expected to open until mid-June.

San Bernardino Pass: Closed. Currently shut completely for safety reasons/winter closure.

[plynchy]

Drove most of these last year, found a lovely guesthouse in Sachseln for an overnight stay (we'd arrived from Baden Baden) before heading through the passes to Davos.

Doing the same next week, but staying in Innertkirchen, before heading over to Livigno. Just hoping the hot weather last week has cleared the roads!

Worth a check here, mostly open this morning: https://www.alpen-paesse.ch/en/

Edited by plynchy on Friday 29th May 08:02

Edited by plynchy on Friday 29th May 08:06