
The cathedral of mountain passes, 48 stacked hairpins to a 2,757 m sky.
The Stelvio is the one every driver dreams of: from Bormio it climbs relentlessly, then on the Prato side unspools 48 numbered hairpins stacked up the mountainside to the second-highest paved pass in the Alps. It is exposed, busy with cyclists and bikers, and utterly unforgettable, drive it early, and treat the drops with respect.
Forty-eight numbered hairpins stacked up a mountainside. The most theatrical road in Europe, and a rite of passage for anyone who loves driving.
Why we picked it
Scenery
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Where it runs28.4 mi · point to point
Navigate to the start: Apple Maps · Google Maps
Character
More hairpins than 9 in 10 roads · the most hairpins in Italy, by our count in the catalogue.
Corners
busiest around mile 20Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%909 – 2,757.2 mFrom the road
Points of interest3 stops
- Stilfserjoch – Passo StelvioViewpoint13 mi in
- Denkmal Erstbesteigung des Ortler 1804 – Memoriale prima salita dell’Ortles 1804Landmark19 mi in
- Casino dei Rotteri di Sponda LongaLandmark8.1 mi in
Hazards
- 48 tight hairpins with drops
- Heavy cyclist and motorbike traffic
- Closed and snowbound in winter
Is Stelvio Pass open? Typical season and live summit weather ›
Sources
“Europe's best driving road”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving the Stelvio Pass: quick answers
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Nearby roads
The closest great drives to Stelvio Pass.





