Head to head
Two Swiss passes on the same loop. If you can only do one?
Our pick is the Susten Pass.
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. Verdicts weigh road quality, scenery, traffic and how likely you are to actually enjoy the drive on the day. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 25 March 2026
The numbers
| Measure | Grimsel Pass | Susten Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers Atlas rating | 9.2 | 9.4 |
| Driving score | 9.0 / 10 | 9.2 / 10 |
| Scenery score | 9.4 / 10 | 9.6 / 10 |
| Length | 26 km | 47 km |
| Where | Bern and Valais, Switzerland | Bern and Uri, Switzerland |
| Season | Closed roughly October to June | Closed roughly October to June |
Verdict
The Susten is the best engineered pass road in Switzerland, with wide, perfectly cambered curves and long sightlines. It flatters every car.
The Grimsel is the more dramatic landscape, all granite and dammed lakes, and it pairs naturally with the Furka.
The roads
Bern and Valais, Switzerland
Granite reservoirs and stark rock walls line this dramatic climb from the Bernese Oberland.
16.2 mi · Rating 9.2 / 10 · 49 min
Bern and Uri, Switzerland
A flowing, beautifully engineered road beneath the Steingletscher ice cliffs.
29.2 mi · Rating 9.4 / 10 · 1 hr 28 min
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