Passo dello Stelvio — Bormio to Prato allo Stelvio via 48 Hairpins and the Italian Alpine Roof
48 hairpins. One of Europe's greatest roads.
The Stelvio Pass road was built by the Austrian Empire between 1820 and 1825 to connect Lombardy with the Valtellina, and it remains one of the most technically demanding paved mountain drives on earth. From Bormio on the Italian side, the road climbs through 48 numbered hairpins — each one painted on the tarmac — to the 2,758-metre summit where a cluster of stone buildings and a border monument mark the old Austria-Italy divide. The switchbacks are tight, the road surface is narrow, and in July and August the traffic includes motorcycles, cyclists, and tour buses all sharing the same stone-edged carriageway. The eastward descent to Prato allo Stelvio drops through 38 hairpins into the South Tyrol. The views across the Ortler massif are genuinely brutal in the best possible way.
No 4WD or high clearance required — this is paved and passable by stock vehicles — but it demands a driver who can hold a line on blind hairpins while avoiding oncoming tour buses. The road is closed from approximately November to late May depending on snowpack; the opening date is announced by the Provincia di Bolzano. No permit required. Fuel in Bormio before you go; the summit has a cafe and souvenir trap but no petrol. Go mid-week in June or September to dodge peak-season chaos. What you get is one of those roads that reminds you why you started driving in the first place.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Scenic Drive |
| Surface | Gravel, Rock |
| Features | High Altitude, Historic, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 15 mi / 24 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 9049 ft |
| Best season | June-October |
| Minimum vehicle | Stock vehicle (paved, but narrow switchbacks) |
| Nearest town | Bormio, Lombardy, Italy |
| Land manager | Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano / Provincia di Sondrio |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | Spotty |
| Water crossings | No |
| Dispersed camping | No |
| Official sources | South Tyrol Tourism — Stelvio Pass Provincia Bolzano road status |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a full-size truck or long-wheelbase 4x4 handle the 48 hairpins?
Technically yes, but it's genuinely difficult. Some hairpins are so tight that long-wheelbase vehicles need multiple-point turns to get around them. Shorter rigs handle it far more comfortably. If you're in a full-size, go slow and expect to back up on at least a few corners.
When does the Stelvio Pass actually open and close each year?
Typically opens late May or early June depending on snowpack, and closes by late October or early November — sometimes earlier after the first heavy snowfall. Check real-time road status with Provincia di Bolzano before you go, because it can shut down overnight with zero warning.
Is there a toll or permit required to drive the Stelvio Pass?
No toll, no permit — it's a public provincial road open to all traffic during its seasonal window. In summer, expect serious congestion from cyclists, motorcycles, and tour buses, especially on weekends.
What's the hardest part of the drive and what actually makes it difficult?
The upper hairpin section above Bormio is the crux — the road narrows to one lane in places, drop-offs are unguarded, and oncoming traffic (especially tour buses and cyclists) forces constant negotiation for space. Visibility on blind corners is minimal, so horn use is standard practice here, not optional.
Is there anywhere to fuel up or get water along the 15-mile route?
No fuel between Bormio and Prato allo Stelvio — fill up in Bormio before you start. There are a handful of rifugios and small vendors near the summit that sell food and water, but treat them as a bonus, not a plan.
Trail track
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