Satellite map of Passo del Bernina

Grisons · Switzerland

Passo del Bernina

29Pontresina to Poschiavo

Distance30.3 mi49 km
Drive time1 h 1 minon the road
DifficultyDemandingtightness 5 of 10
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A high glacier pass between the Engadin and Valtellina.

The Bernina Pass at 2,328 m carries the road from Pontresina past glacier-fed lakes toward Poschiavo and Italy, shadowed by the railway that’s a UNESCO World Heritage line. It is high, open driving with weather to match the altitude: old snow can sit beside the road deep into spring, the summit air asks for an extra layer, and the trains have right of way where the tracks cross the tarmac.

Above the treeline the hairpins fall away and it’s all long, sweeping arcs, past the milky turquoise of Lago Bianco with the Bernina railway running alongside.

Why we picked it

Scenery

MountainLakes

Best seasons

SummerAutumn

In these collections

In these guides

Where it runs30.3 mi · point to point

PontresinaStart · Grisons
PoschiavoEnd · Grisons

Character

Corners32bends
Tightness5of 10
Max gradient8%≈ 1-in-13
Hairpins6tight bends
Descent1,850 mtotal descent
Summit2,325.7 mhighest point of the line · 7,630 ft

Corners

busiest around mile 13
81523 mi

Elevation

under 4%4–8%over 8%545.3 – 2,325.7 m
summit · 2,325.7 m 1,0001,5002,000 m 01530 mi

From the road

Points of interest3 stops

  • RöntgenplatzViewpoint
    2.4 mi in
  • Passo del BerninaViewpoint
    11 mi in
  • MontebellokurveViewpoint
    5.2 mi in

Hazards

  • Altitude weather and late snow
  • Railway crossings
  • Glare off the lakes

Sources

Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked

Driving the Passo del Bernina: quick answers

How long does it take to drive the Passo del Bernina?
Passo del Bernina runs 30.3 miles (49 km) and takes about 1 h 1 min to drive without stops.
How difficult is the Passo del Bernina to drive?
We rate it demanding: 32 corners including 6 hairpins, a maximum gradient of 8%, and a tightness of 5 out of 10.
When is the best time to drive the Passo del Bernina?
Summer and Autumn are best.

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