Head to head
Is the Stelvio still the best pass in the Alps, or has Switzerland quietly taken the crown?
Our pick is the Furka 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 12 April 2026
The numbers
| Measure | Passo dello Stelvio | Furka Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Drivers Atlas rating | 9.9 | 9.4 |
| Driving score | 9.8 / 10 | 9.3 / 10 |
| Scenery score | 9.9 / 10 | 9.5 / 10 |
| Length | 49 km | 16 km |
| Where | Lombardy and South Tyrol, Italy | Valais and Uri, Switzerland |
| Season | Closed roughly November to May | Closed roughly October to June |
Verdict
The Stelvio has the more famous photograph and the bigger hairpin count, but it is also the busiest pass in the Alps in summer, with coaches, cyclists and camera drones on almost every corner. The Furka flows better, has a far better surface and lets you actually drive.
Go to the Stelvio anyway if you want the icon, and go early. Between six and eight in the morning it is close to empty and it becomes the road everyone claims it still is.
The roads
Lombardy and South Tyrol, Italy
Eighty four hairpins stacked above the treeline make this Europe's most theatrical mountain pass.
30.4 mi · Rating 9.9 / 10 · 1 hr 32 min
Valais and Uri, Switzerland
Bond film hairpins skirt the Rhone Glacier on this high, exposed Alpine crossing.
9.9 mi · Rating 9.4 / 10 · 30 min