Switzerland to France
The Route des Grandes Alpes, sea to lake, and arguably the finest continuous stretch of pass driving anywhere.
Direct
470 km
292 mi
Scenic route
700 km
435 mi
Days
3
about 4.9 hr direct
Tolls
£40
one way, per car
The drive
Geneva to Nice on the motorway is a forgettable 470 km. Over the Alps it is 700 km, sixteen passes and three days you will remember for years.
The Route des Grandes Alpes runs from Lake Geneva to Menton, taking in the Iseran, the Galibier and the Bonette, the highest paved through road in Europe.
It only works from late June to early October. Before that the high cols are shut and the route detours onto valley roads.
Late June to early October, when every col on the route is open.
Worth the detour
Savoie, France
Col de l'Iseran
The roof of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a stark granite amphitheatre above 2700 metres.
9.6 / 10 · 16 km
Alpes-Maritimes, France
Col de la Bonette
A looping summit road above 2800 metres that circles the peak itself for maximum theatre.
9.7 / 10 · 24 km
Savoie and Hautes-Alpes, France
Col du Galibier
The spine of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a relentless climb to one of driving's holiest summits.
9.6 / 10 · 18.1 km
Alpes-Maritimes, France
Col de Turini
Legendary Monte Carlo Rally stage stitching together forested hairpins above the Roya valley.
9.1 / 10 · 17 km
Where to break the drive
Bourg-Saint-Maurice
Below the Iseran, the natural first night.
Briançon
Highest town in France and the crossroads of the great cols.
Barcelonnette
At the foot of the Bonette.
Questions
About 470 km, roughly 292 miles, by the most direct route. The scenic version described here runs closer to 700 km.
Around 4.9 hours of driving on the direct route, which most people split over two days. The scenic route takes 3 days without rushing.
Budget about £40 one way per car in tolls, vignettes and crossings, before fuel and hotels.
Late June to early October, when every col on the route is open.
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