Switzerland rewards route selection more than pass collecting. The strongest motorcycle days combine roads that genuinely connect, a base with fuel and accommodation, and a lower-altitude alternative if one summit closes. Furka, Grimsel and Susten form the classic central circuit, while Klausen and the Graubünden passes suit separate days.
This page focuses on the roads themselves. For national rules, compulsory equipment, speed enforcement and border preparation, use the separate Switzerland motorcycle touring guide.
1. Furka, Grimsel and Susten triangle
The Furka–Grimsel–Susten route is the most coherent Swiss multi-pass day. From Andermatt, Furka climbs west through Realp before descending toward Gletsch. Grimsel turns north through granite and reservoir scenery to Innertkirchen. Susten then returns east through long curves and summit tunnels before the final valley run back to Andermatt.
Furka is the narrowest and most exposed of the three. Grimsel is broader in places but busy around viewpoints, while Susten feels more consistently engineered. The loop only works when all three are open; a closure on one road can require a large diversion rather than a small adjustment.
Practical circuit order
- Start in Andermatt with fuel and the current Canton Uri pass report.
- Ride Furka before traffic builds at the Rhône Glacier viewpoints.
- Use Innertkirchen for food and fuel before committing to Susten.
- Allow a full day; the nominal distance does not include photo stops, roadworks or queues.
2. Klausen Pass
Klausen links the Altdorf area with Linthal through the Schächental and Urnerboden. It is narrower and less uniform than the three-pass triangle, with villages, agricultural traffic and exposed older sections interrupting the rhythm. That makes it a poor choice for riders expecting a closed-course experience, but a strong standalone crossing.
In 2026, Canton Uri opened Klausen unusually early on 1 May while warning that mountain weather can still cause short-notice closures. Roadworks on the Uri side were also scheduled into autumn. Those facts illustrate why historical opening averages are not a substitute for the live road report.
Combine Klausen with Susten only when time and current status justify the extra distance. Trying to add Furka and Grimsel as well turns a good two-pass day into a mileage exercise.
3. Albula and Julier
Albula Pass connects Bergün with La Punt and closes in winter. Its eastern and western approaches feel more rural and intimate than the central Swiss icons, with the Rhaetian Railway landscape forming part of the route. Julier provides the more dependable connection between the Engadin and the Tiefencastel side.
A useful summer loop uses Albula in one direction and Julier in the other, joined through the Upper Engadin. If Albula is closed, Julier can still serve as the through route, but that no longer creates the same loop. Graubünden tourism also identifies the Vereina car-transport train as a regional alternative, not as a direct replacement for the pass-riding experience.
4. Great St Bernard Pass
Great St Bernard crosses between Valais and Italy’s Aosta Valley at 2,476 metres. The pass road is seasonal, while the separate toll tunnel provides the year-round corridor. In 2026 the Swiss side opened on 29 May, but avalanche damage delayed restoration on the Italian side until 22 June. That split opening is a useful warning: “pass open” must mean the entire cross-border route, not only the approach in one country.
Check both the Valais road notice and the Italian connection before departure. If the summit road is closed, the tunnel changes the character and cost of the trip but preserves the transport link.
A realistic four-day Swiss plan
- Day 1 — Arrive in AndermattCheck the pass map, refuel and ride only a short valley loop if the weather is stable.
- Day 2 — Furka, Grimsel and SustenUse the full day for the central triangle and stop in Innertkirchen before the final pass.
- Day 3 — Klausen or weather reserveRide Klausen as a separate crossing, or use this day when one central pass was unavailable earlier.
- Day 4 — Transfer to GraubündenMove toward Bergün or the Engadin. Add Albula and Julier only as a later regional loop, not as an extension to the Andermatt day.
Vignette, tunnels and ordinary pass roads
The 2026 Swiss motorway vignette costs CHF 40 and is valid from 1 December 2025 through 31 January 2027. Motorcycles need it when using motorways and expressways. Ordinary pass roads do not require the vignette simply because they are part of the Swiss road network.
Paid tunnels are separate. A vignette does not cover the Great St Bernard tunnel, and avoiding Swiss motorways does not make every cross-border tunnel free. Inspect each planned road number rather than relying solely on a navigation app’s toll switch.
Season and safety decisions
- Check each named pass on the riding day; adjacent roads can have different status.
- Do not use a valley forecast as a summit forecast. Fog and cold can arrive within one climb.
- Expect cyclists, buses and vehicles crossing the centre line on narrow bends.
- Keep a lower-altitude route and offline map available before entering a valley.
- Treat construction signals and temporary restrictions as part of the route, not as an inconvenience to bypass.
Continue planning
Use the complete Switzerland touring guide, the detailed three-pass route or compare the wider Alps itinerary.