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.
The Stelvio Pass (Passo dello Stelvio), near Bormio, is at 2,757 m (9,045 feet) the highest paved mountain pass in Italy and, according to Atlas Obscura, the second-highest in the Alps. Austria had the road built from 1820 to 1825 under the direction of Carlo Donegani; in the summer months up to 2,000 people worked on it at the same time. The eastern ramp from Prad via Trafoi is 27.5 km (17 miles) long with 48 numbered hairpin bends, while the western ramp to Bormio measures 21.7 km (13.5 miles) with 34 bends. At 2,503 m (8,212 feet) the road from the Umbrail Pass joins from the west.
The first hill-climb race was held here as early as August 1898. The fully paved road is usually open from the end of May into autumn, depending on snow; it closes in heavy snowfall. The pass is a regular stage of the Giro d'Italia. On the annual Stelvio Bike Day in late summer the road is completely closed to motor vehicles, as it is for other sporting events.
Allow half a day to cross the pass with photo stops and a break at the summit. At weekends in July and August there is heavy traffic, including cyclists and motorcyclists; on weekdays and early in the day you will get through more easily. Allow plenty of time because of the tight hairpins.
- Nearest town
- Bormio, Italy
- Category
- Scenic viewpoints
- GPS
- 46.5286, 10.4531
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Cold, short days in November–March. Mountain passes on this route are usually open June–October. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Italy: Motorway tolls. Tolls on most autostrade; pay at the barrier by card or cash. Motorway limit for cars: 130 km/h.
- Passo dello Stelvio (2,757 m). Usually open June–October; outside that window the road can be closed by snow. Alternative: Via the Reschen and Ofen passes, or the valley roads around it.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
.jpg){kind=link}
Campsites nearby
- Camping TrafoiCampsite5 km from Passo dello StelvioTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalDogs allowed
- Camping Cima PiazziCampsite15 km from Passo dello Stelvio · 80 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
- Camping Residence SägemühleCampsite15 km from Passo dello StelvioTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Camping KiefernhainCampsite15 km from Passo dello StelvioTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWi-Fi
- Camping Gloria VallisCampsite18 km from Passo dello StelvioTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Camping BadlerhofCampsite21 km from Passo dello StelvioTentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
All campsites in Italy · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Passo dello Stelvio?
Passo dello Stelvio is in Bormio, Italy, at GPS 46.5286, 10.4531. It is about 11 km from Müstair.
Can you camp near Passo dello Stelvio?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Camping Trafoi, about 5 km away; within 25 km there are 16 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Passo dello Stelvio?
Passo dello Stelvio is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Stelvio and Bernina: two giants of the Alps and Val Venosta: Merano to Lake Resia and the Stelvio.
What is there to see near Passo dello Stelvio?
Places worth a stop nearby: Churburg Castle (18 km), Marienberg Abbey (20 km), Swiss National Park at Il Fuorn (24 km) and Tarasp Castle (32 km).
When is the best time to visit Passo dello Stelvio?
No month is ideal everywhere on this route; the most pleasant are usually June–September. Cold, short days in November–March. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)