Winding its way to more than 9,000ft above sea level is the Stelvio Pass, a high mountain pass which is home to one of the highest roads in Europe. The road is particularly popular with motoring enthusiasts, who enjoy the skill required to make their way around the twists and turns of the mountain.
The Stelvio Pass shot to fame with motorists in 2008 when it was featured on an episode of Top Gear when Jeremy Clarkson dubbed it “the greatest driving road in the world.”
Since then the Italian alpine pass has become a must-visit destination for drivers. With more than 2,000 reviews on Tripadvisor, the road has been described as a “must-do” experience and has been given a five-star rating.
A tourist from Tel Aviv who took on the road trip in 2021 wrote: “Something really special. Unique atmosphere. Marvellous landscapes. Plenty bikers. One must do it at least one time in life.”
The road is also popular with cyclists and those on motorbikes. Another tourist who visited in 2022 left a review stating: “Climbed the Stelvio from two sides, first from Bormio over the Umbrail Pass.
“Then we charged downhill and across a wonderful valley in Switzerland and back up via Prado. The climb was brutal but the achievement of negotiating the 88 hairpin bends was so worthwhile. I will return.”
The Stelvio Pass is found in the Ortler Alps in northeastern Italy just within the Province of Sondrio in the Lombardy Region. If you begin your drive from the north to the south, leaving from Prato allo Stelvio, you will first make your way through dense woodlands.
Once you emerge from the trees, incredible views of the Stelvio Pass with its famous bends will appear. From this way, you will travel past 48 hairpin bends, each with numbered markers. At the top, you will be rewarded with incredible vistas.
Given the popularity of the drive, it can be busy during peak times of the year. Experts from Epik Drives warn: “We advise that the Stelvio Pass should only be driven by experienced and confident drivers.”
Towers 9,045ft above sea level, the Stelvio Pass is a challenging drive due to the way the road twists and turns. Along the way, drivers will experience 60 hairpin bends, 48 of which are on the northeast side of the mountain approached from Prad am Stilfser Joch.
Travelling from this direction, at times the road becomes extremely narrow. Coming up from the west side, there are a series of tunnels one after another which can be difficult to navigate.
The steepness of the climb, combined with the tight bends, are technically challenging for even the best of drivers.