Cycling Splugen Pass and San Bernardino Pass - Two Forgotten Passes That Should Be at the Top of Your Bucket List

An epic cycling route in Switzerland that skips the crowds. The Splügen Pass or Passo della Spluga and San Bernardino Pass are two of the most forgotten climbs in the Swiss Alps. Starting from Lugano and linking Italy and Switzerland, this route takes in lakeside roads, endless hairpins, and some of the longest alpine ascents and descents you can ride.

The route begins in Lugano, rolling gently along Lake Lugano before crossing into Italy and following the edge of Lake Como. The road passes through small, beautiful villages with plenty of opportunities to grab an Italian coffee along the way. The valley then leads toward Chiavenna, a historic town that marks the start of the Splügen Pass.

The Splügen is a tough climb with 1,900 meters of elevation gain and countless hairpins stacked one above the other. The road tunnels through rock, twists across bridges, and eventually climbs into a stark alpine landscape above 2,100 meters.

From the summit, the descent drops into Splügen, a traditional mountain town with wooden and stone houses — the perfect place to recover some energy before tackling the San Bernardino Pass.

The San Bernardino connects the Hinterrhein valley with Ticino, topping out at about 2,065 meters. The gradients are easier, the climb shorter, but the views are just as impressive as the previous pass. Before the construction of the tunnel in the 1960s, this was one of the main north–south routes across Switzerland. Today, it’s a cyclist’s dream — light traffic and sweeping alpine views.

The descent into Bellinzona is long and fast, with the scenery changing dramatically on the way down. Alpine peaks and forests give way to the warmer climate of Ticino, where castles and palm trees await in the valley.