Grossglockner and Carinthia or Stelvio and Bernina?
Grossglockner and Carinthia or Stelvio and Bernina? Both routes compared: length, driving time, best season, tolls and road limits, with our recommendation.
| Grossglockner and Carinthia | Stelvio and Bernina | |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Zell am See → Zell am See | Bormio → Tirano |
| Suggested days | 7 | 3 |
| Distance | 427 km (265 mi) | 123 km (76 mi) |
| Driving | 5 h 54 min | 1 h 42 min |
| Stops | 14 | 6 |
| Best time to go | June–September | June–July |
| Tolls and vignettes | ≈ €13 | ≈ €44 |
| Good to know | Mountain passes: Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße (2,504 m, usually open May–October). | Mountain passes: Passo dello Stelvio (2,757 m, usually open June–October). |
Our recommendation
Choose the Grossglockner loop for a full week: about 427 km from Zell am See over the High Alpine Road, through East Tyrol to the warm Carinthian lakes from Millstatt to Wörthersee. The pass is usually open May–October, the Felbertauern tunnel all year, and vehicles over 3.5 t need a GO-Box. Pick Stelvio and Bernina for an intense three days: about 123 km from Bormio over the 48 hairpins of the 2,757 m Stelvio, via Livigno and St. Moritz to Tirano. Its passes usually open June–October, hairpins are tight for long motorhomes, and Switzerland needs a vignette.
Both routes in detail
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