Which one would you go for -stelvio pass or transfagarasan?

[menlove]

Anyone done both/recommend best time of year for these?

[mikey k]

Transfagarasan

Because

• I've not done it
• Stelvio is usually closed October to June
• Unless you do it at odd hours it can be VERY busy
• LOTS of hairpins means it can be slow

Transfagarasan is a LONG way away though

I prefer the "Andermatt Loop" & Verdon Gorges/routes Des Cretes

[Vee12V]

The Transfagarasan is far, too far for my likings. I prefer the south of France & North Italy.
Route Napoleon especially. Very calm in the week and/or at dawn or fall.

[yeti]

Stelivio is NOT the best pass for driving, it is famous because it's the highest, no other reason.

Bernardino, Gotthard, there are loads of them

[Far Cough]

yeti said:

Stelivio is NOT the best pass for driving, it is famous because it's the highest, no other reason.

Bernardino, Gotthard, there are loads of them

Spot on ... Stelvio made famous by Top Gear unfortunately we the general public cant get it shut so we can enjoy it properly. Hit it at the wrong time and you might aswell be stuck on the M25 with all the campers and caravans. It is very narrow in places and some of the hairpins are actually a 3 point turn in the wrong car if you want to avoid scraping your front splitter off. Not one I`d rush back to..... St Bernadino and Izoard on the other hand....

[mikey k]

yeti said:

Stelivio is NOT the best pass for driving, it is famous because it's the highest, no other reason.

Bernardino, Gotthard, there are loads of them

Its not even the highest

Col de Iseran and Bonette are both higher

There are alot better in and around the Alps my "pass list" is up to 73 now!

[Robbo66]

Vee12V said:

The Transfagarasan is far, too far for my likings. I prefer the south of France & North Italy.
Route Napoleon especially. Very calm in the week and/or at dawn or fall.

RDN...every time.

[PiloteAM]

Robbo66 said:

Vee12V said:

The Transfagarasan is far, too far for my likings. I prefer the south of France & North Italy.
Route Napoleon especially. Very calm in the week and/or at dawn or fall.

RDN...every time.

Yes, RdN is amazing.

However, everyone should drive the Stelvio once, it's iconic - I've done it in late July, and had a pretty clear run up, and a not too bad one in June - depends on the time of day. If you stay at the hotel at the top, and run down in the morning it's pretty clear. Both midweek, but could have been lucky I guess.

Also, I would probably put Stelvio pretty near the bottom as a driving experience, but the views are fantastic.

I think my favorites for driving are probably Gt. St. Bernard and Little St. Bernard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_St_Bernard_Pass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_St_Bernard_Pas...

You can do them both in a day.

[mikey k]

PiloteAM said:

Yes, RdN is amazing.

However, everyone should drive the Stelvio once, it's iconic - I've done it in late July, and had a pretty clear run up, and a not too bad one in June - depends on the time of day. If you stay at the hotel at the top, and run down in the morning it's pretty clear. Both midweek, but could have been lucky I guess.

Also, I would probably put Stelvio pretty near the bottom as a driving experience, but the views are fantastic.

I think my favorites for driving are probably Gt. St. Bernard and Little St. Bernard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_St_Bernard_Pass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_St_Bernard_Pas...

You can do them both in a day.

The first time I did the Stelvio it was May and the North side was still closed. Only one other car and a bike on the South side all evening


DSCN4406 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr


DSCN4443 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

One of my favourites is the Col De Bonette I've done it a few times


French Loop 1831_resize by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr


Eurohoon 2011 28 289 by mikey k V8VR, on Flickr

[jonby]

PiloteAM said:

Robbo66 said:

Vee12V said:

The Transfagarasan is far, too far for my likings. I prefer the south of France & North Italy.
Route Napoleon especially. Very calm in the week and/or at dawn or fall.

RDN...every time.

Yes, RdN is amazing.

However, everyone should drive the Stelvio once, it's iconic - I've done it in late July, and had a pretty clear run up, and a not too bad one in June - depends on the time of day. If you stay at the hotel at the top, and run down in the morning it's pretty clear. Both midweek, but could have been lucky I guess.

Also, I would probably put Stelvio pretty near the bottom as a driving experience, but the views are fantastic.

I think my favorites for driving are probably Gt. St. Bernard and Little St. Bernard
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_St_Bernard_Pass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_St_Bernard_Pas...

You can do them both in a day.

done all those things - agree with every bit of the post

also like Furka & Obergurgel (spelling ?) pass particularly

But my fave road is without question Col de Turini

[LordBretSinclair]

Don't forget the Picos mountains

The AS114 from Panes to Cangas is amazing. Not the highest of routes but a great combination of sweeping curves, straights, hairpins etc and best of all - hardly any other traffic. A much better driving route than the Stelvio.