There are easier ways to travel through Switzerland. But few are as memorable as crossing the country by road, from one Alpine pass to the next.
For anyone who enjoys driving, the Swiss Alps offer something increasingly difficult to find elsewhere in Europe: a network of spectacular mountain roads that can be combined into a journey lasting several days, with each pass having its own character.
The Susten Pass feels completely different from the Furka. The old cobbled Tremola bears little resemblance to the sweeping roads of the Albula or Flüela. And between them are lakes, historic villages, mountain hotels, and landscapes that make stopping just as important as driving.
That variety is what makes Switzerland particularly well suited to a modern Grand Touring experience.
From Lake Lucerne into the High Alps
Lucerne makes a natural starting point. Within a short distance, the city and Lake Lucerne give way to some of Switzerland’s greatest driving roads.
The Susten Pass is a particularly good introduction. Long curves climb through increasingly dramatic scenery, with waterfalls, exposed rock, and glacier views appearing as the road gains altitude.
From there, the route towards the Grimsel Pass changes character again. Reservoirs, granite mountains, and sweeping bends create a much more rugged landscape.
Then comes the Furka Pass
For many international visitors, Furka is the road they already recognize, even if they have never driven it. Its hairpins, dramatic mountainsides, and the famous Hotel Belvédère above the Rhône Glacier have made it one of the best-known driving roads in the Swiss Alps.
Driving Susten, Grimsel, and Furka in succession also demonstrates why an Alpine road trip should never be about collecting famous passes. The pleasure comes from how the roads, landscapes, and destinations connect.
The Tremola: A Road from Another Era
One of Switzerland’s most distinctive roads lies on the old Gotthard route.
Rather than taking the modern road across the pass, the historic Tremola climbs the southern side of the Gotthard through a remarkable sequence of cobbled hairpins.
It is not a road to rush.
The surface, stone walls, and tight switchbacks give the Tremola an atmosphere that is completely different from that of the faster Alpine passes. In a sports car, classic car, or GT, it feels like traveling back to an earlier age of European motoring.
Descending towards Ticino brings another dramatic change. High Alpine scenery gradually gives way to a more Mediterranean landscape around Locarno, Ascona, and Lake Maggiore.
That contrast is one of the great pleasures of traveling through Switzerland by car: within a single day, the journey can move from glaciers and high mountain passes to palm trees and dinner beside an Italian-speaking lake.
From Lake Maggiore to Graubünden
A great driving holiday also needs moments when the car stays parked.
Lake Maggiore provides exactly that opportunity. A day on the water, lunch overlooking the lake, or a private boat trip creates a natural break before heading back into the mountains.
The journey north-east can then continue via the historic San Bernardino Pass rather than simply following the fastest route.
Further east, the landscape becomes increasingly dramatic around the Roffla and Viamala gorges before the road climbs towards one of Switzerland’s most beautiful passes: the Albula.
Compared with the Furka or Stelvio Passes, the Albula Pass is less familiar to international travelers. That is part of its appeal.
It combines open sections, tighter curves, forests, and high Alpine scenery without feeling as busy as some of Europe’s better-known mountain roads.
For drivers who know Switzerland well, roads such as the Albula often become favorites.
Into Italy and the Stelvio Pass
An Alpine Grand Tour does not have to stop at the Swiss border.
From Graubünden, the route can continue towards Livigno and one of the world’s most famous mountain roads: the Stelvio Pass.
With its succession of hairpin bends climbing high into the Italian Alps, Stelvio has become an icon among drivers, cyclists, and motorcyclists.
But it works best as part of a longer journey rather than as an isolated destination.
Approaching it after several days through Switzerland gives the road context. By this point, the differences between the various Alpine passes become much clearer. Stelvio is spectacular, but it is only one chapter in a much larger driving landscape.
The return to Switzerland can include the Ofen Pass and Swiss National Park before continuing to the Flüela Pass.
Flüela is another road that rewards the journey itself. Open sightlines, flowing sections and a dramatic high-altitude landscape make it a fitting final major pass before descending towards destinations such as Davos or Lenzerheide.
More Than a Collection of Mountain Passes
The best luxury driving holidays are not defined simply by the number of kilometers covered or the cars being driven.
Route planning matters. So does timing.
A famous Alpine road at the wrong time of day can be frustrating. The same road early in the morning, when traffic is light and the mountains are still quiet, can become one of the highlights of an entire trip.
The same principle applies to choosing hotels, restaurants, and stops along the route.
A long lunch overlooking a lake, an evening in a small Alpine hotel, a visit to a historic village, or a day away from the road can make the driving itself more enjoyable.
This is the philosophy behind the Swiss Alpine driving tours created by drive in motion – Automotive Events GmbH. Rather than treating mountain passes as individual attractions, the routes connect them into multi-day journeys that combine driving, landscapes, gastronomy, hotels, and experiences along the way.
Travelers can undertake shorter Alpine itineraries or a complete seven-day Grand Tour through Switzerland and neighboring regions. Depending on the program, cars can be provided locally, while private owners can also participate with their own vehicles.
The journeys can also be designed for private groups, luxury travel agencies, DMCs, and corporate incentive programs.
A Different Way to Experience Switzerland
Switzerland is often associated with panoramic trains, ski resorts, and luxury hotels. Experiencing the country from behind the wheel reveals another side of it.
The Susten, Grimsel, and Furka passes provide the drama of the high Alps. The Tremola brings history into the journey. Ticino introduces an almost Mediterranean atmosphere before San Bernardino and Albula lead back into the mountains. Stelvio adds one of Europe’s great driving landmarks, while Ofen and Flüela complete the journey through another quite different Alpine landscape.
Individually, each road is worth driving. Together, they create something much more interesting: a journey across the Alps in which the road itself becomes part of the destination.
Video reference: drive in motion – Luxury Driving Holidays Europe on YouTube.
