What is the best crossing from anywhere in Switzerland to anywhere in Italy ? I have done the Maloja and then down the Julier pass into Italy that brings you out at Lake Como and the Moto Guzzi factory. But that is it. I have not done any other crossings So it would be nice to try something else as it looks like there are other options. So any recommendations ? Thanks
Done the St Gotthard Pass, both ways, and it was spectacular. July, en route to Mugello, with the road cut into snow banks 10 feet high.
Grand St Bornand is French Alps tho. Le Petit Bornand is my preference. Both are France though. Theres a nice rote fro Bourg St Maurice which avoids tunnel.
Wrong as a wrong thing there chap, although you might be thinking of the Petit St Bernard which does run from FR to IT. I can assure you that the Grand St Bernard runs from Martingny CH to Aosta IT having ridden both of the St Bernard passes several times.
Thought it was Bornand. The petit does indeed run france to italy, but OP was asking from Switzerland to italy. If GB runs from swiss to france then yay (no idea), but I avoid switzerland as it sucks.
That does look spectacular. I will mark that on the map and see if it works out as a route. Looks like a choice of tunnel or wiggly old road over the top. Could see what the weather forecast is at the time. That is great thanks for your help. I will mark them as options and see what the weather forecast is like closer to the time and decide then. In for a treat !
Your talking Great Bernard, Im talking Grand Bornand. Thats the trouble with these foreign places, names all similar sounding(ish)
Fluela pass, then take the Umbrail (used to be part gravel, but told it is all tarmac now) comes out on the south side of Stelvio. Drop down in to Bormio. North side of Stelvio is all nasty hairpins and cyclists. South side is a different animal, wilder, better…
Would strongly suggest not using any of the longer tunnels. We had to use Mont Blanc tunnel when we rode from Germany to Italy on the way to Sardinia (in 1 day). It was horrible, the temperature went up and up until it was almost 40 degrees and you were choking on the diesel fumes. The only reason I’d use one again is if all the passes are closed.
Are the Swiss still stinging you for a Vignette? I was in a group of 9 bikes and we all just put them in our wallets, not on the bikes. I put them all on eBay when we got back to Blighty.
Splugen Pass. One of the quieter passes but prime Switzerland on the one side and straight into proper Italy on the other.
I once rode the Umbrail while it was being tarmaced. Road was supposed to be closed. The workmen were surprised to see me.
Proper Adventure riding ! I have to be in the Zurich area then after that I am on my own. So got to work out how far East to go - as that will be the furthest point of the trip. But that is an interesting crossing for sure. Very picturesque. Not is any real rush to get anywhere quickly - apart from the Autoroute dash across France. This is the scenic bit of the trip, so hope to avoid long tunnels. Mixed feelings about tunnels, still a bit of a novelty and it can be nice to get out of the rain for a bit. But nicer to have fresh air and sunshine..... Clever trick ! Last year on the way through Switzerland to Austria the lady stuck the Vignette on the bike, it was not given to me - they must have wised up. She did stick the thing on straight though, I will give her that ! That is interesting and not far from the Maloja Pass that is the only one I have done. In the right area, not too far away. Just have to keep an eye on the weather forecast and have a couple of options lined up - a plan A & B. Also hope that the £££ doesn't take a dive against the Swiss Franc in the meantime !! It will be good, spoilt for choice.
Pointless, you would have paid for a vignettte, and would still have been fined. They only accept if correctly displayed. Designed so they cannot be removed once stuck on.
Yes, though you can definitely remove and re-stick them to a different vehicle...so I have been told...
Must admit I've ridden through Switzerland probably 6 or 7 times and never saw the need for a Vignette as I never used the Motorway network. Has something changed recently that you need one for all roads??
Lol. If someone was inventive….maybe sticking the vignette to a not so obvious section of protective clear venture shield (or similar..) who knows? Ok, you can avoid motorways. The best roads are in the south, the mountains. Travelling through the rest of Switzerland and sticking to the limits OR risking the huge fines getting there is a pita. Luckily I did the majority of the best passes in ‘08, ‘09 and 2013 and 2017. Speed limits were definitely not observed. Ignorance was bliss and fun was had. Caution is most certainly required these days
I got one last year. Entering the county on a major road it split into two lanes - one for those that had a Vignette and the other for those that did not have one - clearly marked. Someone had parked where they were not supposed to with the idea of walking over to purchase the sticker, and of course others followed thinking this a good idea (including myself). Anyway the Jonny in the uniform got all upset at all of us parking where we were not supposed to and walking all over the grass to walk over to get our stickers from the office. He was was obviously angry and upset about all this and shouted across at us in his peculiar sounding language . I wish I had videod it ! I thought it was very funny - So we did it properly and queued up. The lady came over and sold the vignettes on the spot - like a bus conductor, with a machine. She stuck it on the inside of the screen - dead centre - good job. Anyway it seems a bargain compared to the price of Hotels !
