Switzerland and Italy
Splugen Pass usually opens late may and shuts early november. Those dates move with the snow every single year, so a late spring can hold the opening back by two or three weeks and an early autumn storm can close it without warning.
The pass road runs Splugen to Campodolcino in Graubunden, Switzerland, 11.8 miles that take about 36 min if you drive it properly rather than chase it. We score it 9.1 out of 10 for driving and 9 out of 10 for scenery.
The Italian descent has a famous stacked hairpin sequence in the Cardinello gorge.
Summit
2115 m
Typically opens
Late May
Typically closes
Early November
Country
Switzerland and 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 1 June 2026
The drive
Wild, narrow hairpins on the Italian side rank among the Alps' most intense single lane drives.
Hotels
Tracing the road between your start and finish
0%About 20 seconds left
Nearby
7.5 mi away
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A fast, sweeping Roman era route across a bare, boulder strewn Engadine watershed.
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Tight forested hairpins give way to a bare summit above the Albula rail viaducts.
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Tight zigzags drop dramatically off the Engadine plateau toward the Italian border.
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A high, wide open pass paralleling the scenic Glacier Express rail line.
Common questions
Splugen Pass typically opens late may and closes early november. Treat that as a planning window rather than a promise, because the snow decides the date.
The summit sits at 2115 metres in Switzerland and Italy.
About 36 min for the 11.8 miles between Splugen and Campodolcino, without stops. Allow twice that if you want photographs and a coffee at the top.
We rate it 9.1 out of 10 for driving and 9 out of 10 for scenery, which puts it among the roads worth building a trip around.