Best of
The Alps hold the highest concentration of great driving roads on earth. These are the ones worth building a trip around.
Every Alpine country has its showpiece pass, and most drivers only ever see one or two of them. This list pulls together the strongest roads across Italy, Switzerland, Austria and France, ranked by the Drivers Atlas driving score rather than fame alone.
Season matters more here than on almost any other kind of road. Most of these close from around October or November to May or June, and a handful, like the Stelvio and Gavia, are often among the last to reopen each year.
The ranking
Italy · Driving score 9.9 / 10
Eighty four hairpins stacked above the treeline make this the most theatrical of all Alpine passes.
Switzerland · Driving score 9.5 / 10
A cobbled historic switchback climb in Ticino that predates the modern Gotthard highway entirely.
Austria · Driving score 9.8 / 10
Austria's grandest high alpine road climbs beneath the country's tallest peak.
Switzerland · Driving score 9.4 / 10
Bond film hairpins skirt the Rhone Glacier on this high, exposed Swiss crossing.
Switzerland · Driving score 9.4 / 10
A flowing, beautifully engineered Swiss road beneath the Steingletscher ice cliffs.
France · Driving score 9.6 / 10
The spine of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a relentless climb to one of driving's holiest summits.
Italy · Driving score 9.6 / 10
Sheer Dolomite towers on both sides make this short Italian link one of the world's great scenic drives.
Austria · Driving score 9.3 / 10
Thirty four Austrian hairpins climb past a turquoise reservoir to a glacier ringed summit.
Methodology
Ranked by the Drivers Atlas driving score, which measures the road rather than the postcard, so a technical unguarded pass like the Gavia can rank alongside far more famous neighbours.
FAQ
What is the best driving road in the Alps?
The Passo dello Stelvio takes the top spot in our library, combining the highest driving score with eighty four hairpins and a genuinely dramatic setting.
Which Alpine country has the most great driving roads?
Italy and Switzerland lead our library by number of entries, largely thanks to the Dolomites and the passes around Graubunden and the Bernese Oberland, though Austria and France both contribute standout roads.
Do I need a specific car to drive Alpine passes?
No. Any well maintained car with good brakes and tyres is suitable. The main considerations are checking the road is open for the season and allowing plenty of time rather than needing specialist equipment.