Italy
Passo Giau is one of the few high crossings kept clear through winter, so the question is less whether it is open and more whether the weather on the day is worth the trip. Winter tyres or chains are the normal requirement.
The pass road runs Cortina d'Ampezzo to Colle Santa Lucia in Veneto, Italy, 10.6 miles that take about 32 min if you drive it properly rather than chase it. We score it 9.4 out of 10 for driving and 9.8 out of 10 for scenery.
Usually cleared, but the most exposed of the Dolomite passes in a storm.
Summit
2236 m
Typically opens
Open most of the year
Typically closes
Short winter closures only
Country
Italy
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Opening dates reflect the long term pattern of the pass, not a single season. Always check on the day. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 19 April 2026
The drive
Twenty nine hairpins climb to a wide open saddle ringed by the jagged Cinque Torri.
Hotels
Tracing the road between your start and finish
0%About 20 seconds left
Nearby
3.7 mi away
War tunnels, a small lake and the Lagazuoi towers, quieter than its famous neighbours.
7.5 mi away
The gentlest of the Sella Ronda passes but with knockout views of the Sella massif.
8.7 mi away
A brutal ramp to a dam under the Marmolada glacier, the roof of the Dolomites.
11.2 mi away
Twenty eight numbered hairpins climb to the highest paved point of the Dolomites road network.
11.8 mi away
Four Dolomite passes in a single circuit of the Sella massif, the finest loop in Europe.
Common questions
Passo Giau is kept open most of the year for local and ski traffic, with short closures during heavy snowfall. Winter tyres or chains are usually required.
The summit sits at 2236 metres in Italy.
About 32 min for the 10.6 miles between Cortina d'Ampezzo and Colle Santa Lucia, without stops. Allow twice that if you want photographs and a coffee at the top.
We rate it 9.4 out of 10 for driving and 9.8 out of 10 for scenery, which puts it among the roads worth building a trip around.