Over the highest and most impressive passes
Intro
The “Eight Passes” route leads from Zurich over Switzerland’s eight major passes to the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland "Ticino". The city of Zurich is the start and finish point of the route around the Gotthard region, the “water reservoir of Europe”. On this route you can be driving over snow-covered passes in the morning and in the afternoon be eating ice cream sitting under palm trees. In addition to the numerous highlights during your journey over the passes and past mountain lakes, you’ll find a number of high quality destinations for day-trips and charming hotels.
Day 1
Start in Zürich – "Pragel" mountain pass – "Klausen" mountain pass – the ‘Eight passes‘: Gotthard, Nufenen, Furka, Susten and Grimsel mountain pass
Day 2
Start at the Simplon mountain pass – Cannobino valley – Lake Maggiore – Nufenen mountain pass – Grimsel mountain pass
Day 3
Start at the Grimsel mountain pass north ramp – Glaubenbüelen mountain pass – through the "Entlebuch" – Zürich
About the route
The Gotthard region is the “water reservoir of Europe”, the source of the major rivers of the Rhine, Rhone, Reuss and Ticino (tributary of the Po) and take centre stage along the route. The “TOPS of Switzerland” section leads from Zürich to the Gotthard region, from where your journey will take you over the surrounding passes. The road over the “Passo del San Gottardo”, which rises to a height of 2'106 metres above sea level, holds the promises of a twisting, winding drive and on the southern side you’ll experience the longest memorial to road construction in Switzerland: the cobblestone Tremola, a winding road that snakes from the top of the pass down to Airolo.
The “Eight Passes” route leads over Switzerland’s eight major passes to the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland:Ticino.
The return journey to the German-speaking region of Switzerland is no less spectacular, leading over the Nufenen mountain pass, the highest pass in Switzerland accessible to motorized traffic and over the Grimsel Pass through the Entlebuch, one of the UNESCO biospheres, back to Zurich.