The Swiss Alps offer some of the finest roads on the planet: perfect hairpins, tarmac kept like a racetrack, and views that take your breath away at every corner. But driving them truly well is an art of timing, choices and detail. Here is our guide.
The passes not to miss
The Furka Pass, made famous by cinema, delivers spectacular hairpins and a view over the Rhône glacier. Together with the Grimsel and the Susten, it forms a legendary loop you can drive in a single day. Further east, the old cobbled road of the Gotthard — the Tremola — is a journey back in time.
When to go
The ideal season runs from June to September, when the passes are open and the weather settled. The early morning hours offer empty roads and low, raking light: this is when a grand tourer is at its best, far from the tourist traffic.
The right car
For the long stretches and scenic cols, a grand tourer such as the Bentley Continental GT or the Ferrari 812 blends comfort and power. For the most technical passes, an agile supercar like the Ferrari 296 GTB turns every hairpin into a memory. The choice depends on your rhythm.
The art of stopping
A great alpine drive is not only speed: it is knowing where to stop. A coffee at altitude, a starred lunch in the valley, a night in a five-star hotel in St. Moritz. Aurea Drive builds the entire itinerary, reservations included — leaving you only the pleasure of driving.
