Switzerland, Valais
The historic crossing over the Alps, hospice, dogs and all, with the tunnel below.
Length
78 km
In miles
48.5 mi
Driving time
1 hr 57 min
Atlas rating
9.0 / 10
The run
Martigny to Aosta, following the Route 21. Drive it in either direction, though the views usually favour the climb.
Season
The old pass road is closed from late October to early June
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 30 April 2026
Nearby
44 km away
Colle del Nivolet
The road from the Italian Job, hairpins to a lake plateau at 2600 metres.
51 km away
Col de l'Iseran
The roof of the Route des Grandes Alpes, a stark granite amphitheatre above 2700 metres.
79 km away
Col de la Madeleine
A punishing Tour de France staple threading pine forest to a panorama of the Vanoise peaks.
91 km away
Colle delle Finestre
A gravel topped final stretch of tight hairpins made famous by the Giro d'Italia.
103 km away
Route des Cretes du Haut-Jura
A high plateau ridge road with sweeping Mont Blanc panoramas across the Leman basin.
105 km away
Col de la Croix de Fer
Turquoise lakes and jagged aiguilles frame this classic crossing of the Grandes Alpes.
Drive here from
Plan around it
Curated drives
Switzerland, Swiss Alps
Furka Pass
Furka takes about fifty five minutes end to end, longer if you stop at the Belvédère, and it is open from roughly June to October depending on snow clearance. It is not dangerous if driven with sense, the road is wide and immaculately surfaced, but the drop below the Belvédère hairpin is real and the weather can close in fast above 2,000 metres.
Switzerland, Bernese Oberland
Grimsel Pass
Granite, reservoirs and a surface that flatters every car.
Switzerland, Bernese Alps
Susten Pass
Built for the view rather than the shortest line, and the finest surface in Europe.
Longer journeys
55m
Furka Pass
Furka takes about fifty five minutes end to end, longer if you stop at the Belvédère, and it is open from roughly June to October depending on snow clearance. It is not dangerous if driven with sense, the road is wide and immaculately surfaced, but the drop below the Belvédère hairpin is real and the weather can close in fast above 2,000 metres.
1h 05m
Grimsel Pass
Granite, reservoirs and a surface that flatters every car.
1h 15m
Susten Pass
Built for the view rather than the shortest line, and the finest surface in Europe.