Italy, Gran Paradiso
The road from the Italian Job, hairpins to a lake plateau at 2600 metres.
Length
20 km
In miles
12.4 mi
Driving time
38 min
Atlas rating
9.6 / 10
The run
Ceresole Reale to Nivolet, following the SP50. Drive it in either direction, though the views usually favour the climb.
Season
Open June to September, closed to cars on summer Sundays
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. Every road in the library carries a driving and scenery score set by the same method. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 19 March 2026
Nearby
11 km away
Col de l'Iseran
The roof of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a stark granite amphitheatre above 2700 metres.
44 km away
Grand Saint Bernard Pass
The historic crossing over the Alps, hospice, dogs and all, with the tunnel below.
47 km away
Colle delle Finestre
A gravel topped final stretch of tight hairpins made famous by the Giro d'Italia.
60 km away
Col de la Madeleine
A punishing Tour de France staple threading pine forest to a panorama of the Vanoise peaks.
74 km away
Col du Galibier
The spine of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a relentless climb to one of driving's holiest summits.
75 km away
Col du Lautaret
A broad glacier flanked highway linking the Romanche and Guisane valleys beneath the Meije massif.
Plan around it
Curated drives
Italy, Dolomites
The Great Dolomites Drive
Four legendary passes strung between limestone cathedrals, the definitive alpine day.
Italy, Italian Alps
Stelvio Pass
Forty-eight numbered hairpins stacked like a staircase into the sky.
Italy, Lake Garda
Lake Garda Mountain Loop
Gardesana corniche tunnels, then a climb into olive terraces above the water.
A to B journeys
4 days
London to Lake Garda
The classic run south from England to the Italian lakes, taken the long way through the Alps rather than straight down the autoroute.
4 days
London to The Dolomites
The best pass driving in Europe sits at the end of this one, reached through Germany and Austria rather than Switzerland.
2 days
Munich to Lake Como
A short journey with an outrageous amount of great road packed into it, including the Stelvio if the season allows.
Longer journeys
4h 15m
The Great Dolomites Drive
Four legendary passes strung between limestone cathedrals, the definitive alpine day.
1h 30m
Stelvio Pass
Forty-eight numbered hairpins stacked like a staircase into the sky.
3h 20m
Lake Garda Mountain Loop
Gardesana corniche tunnels, then a climb into olive terraces above the water.