# Stelvio and Bernina: two giants of the Alps

> 3-day road trip of about 123 km (76 mi) with 6 stops, from Bormio to Tirano. About 1 h 42 min of driving in total.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/guides/stelvio-bernina/

**At a glance:** 3-day road trip of about 123 km (76 mi) with 6 stops, from Bormio to Tirano. About 1 h 42 min of driving in total. Forty-eight hairpins over the Stelvio, duty-free Livigno, St. Moritz and down the Bernina pass to Tirano.

| | |
|---|---|
| Distance | 123 km (76 mi) |
| Driving | 1 h 42 min |
| Suggested days | 3 |
| Stops | 6 |
| Route | Bormio → Tirano |
| Countries | Italy, Switzerland |
| Updated | August 26, 2026 |

## Route description

Bormio, an old spa town in upper Valtellina, is the base for the Stelvio. The SS38 climbs from here to the Passo dello Stelvio at 2,757 m, the highest paved pass in Italy, and at the top you look down the famous 48 numbered hairpins that drop towards Trafoi on the other side.

The pass is usually open only from about June to October, and on summer days the road is shared with crowds of cyclists and motorbikes. The hairpins are tight and steep, so long motorhomes should drive with great care and avoid the busiest hours, or enjoy the view from the Bormio side and turn back. From Bormio, the road over the Passo del Foscagno leads to Livigno, a high valley town with duty-free status where many drivers fill up.

From Livigno the Forcola di Livigno crosses into Switzerland, so carry your passport or ID for the customs post. The road joins the Bernina route in the Engadine, and a short detour north brings you to St. Moritz, with its lake and its smart resort centre in a wide valley of larch and lakes.

Heading south again, the Bernina Pass at 2,328 m has glaciers on one side and the turquoise Lago Bianco on the other, with the red trains of the Bernina railway often in sight. The road then drops in long bends through Poschiavo to Tirano, back in Italy, where the railway ends in the middle of town. Like the Stelvio, this is a summer route: snow can close the higher passes well into spring.

## Stop-by-stop itinerary

1. **Bormio** (Italy)
2. **Passo dello Stelvio** (Bormio, Italy): At 2,757 m, the highest paved pass in Italy, with 48 numbered hairpins on the Trafoi side. Usually open June to October.
3. **Livigno** (Italy)
4. **St. Moritz** (Switzerland)
5. **Bernina Pass** (Pontresina, Switzerland): A 2,328 m pass with glaciers on one side and turquoise lakes on the other, shared with the red Bernina railway.
6. **Tirano** (Italy)

## FAQs

**How long is Stelvio and Bernina: two giants of the Alps?**
3-day road trip of about 123 km (76 mi) with 6 stops, from Bormio to Tirano. About 1 h 42 min of driving in total.

**How many days do you need for Stelvio and Bernina: two giants of the Alps?**
We suggest 3 days: about 1 h 42 min of driving, which leaves time for the stops.

**Where does Stelvio and Bernina: two giants of the Alps start and end?**
It starts in Bormio and ends in Tirano.

**Which countries does Stelvio and Bernina: two giants of the Alps pass through?**
Italy and Switzerland.