In summer 2025, many well-known pass roads in the Swiss canton of Graubünden will be closed to cars. On these special days, only cyclists will be allowed to use the roads on the Lukmanier, Splügen, Stilfserjoch and Albula passes. The car-free days on the Lukmanier Pass, Splügen Pass and Stelvio Pass are already over, while the last date is imminent.
These car-free days are still to come
Albula Pass: Sunday, 7 September 2025
Military-historical fortifications and vertical rock faces decorate the asphalt hairpin bends up to the 2312 metre high Albula Pass. However, there is also a climbing aid here if you don't quite have enough strength: The Rhaetian Railway also jolts up to the pass via an exciting viaduct route (UNESCO World Heritage Site). From 8 am, the road from Filisur to La Punt is closed to motorised vehicles until the peace and quiet is over again at 5 pm. According to the canton of Engadin, there will be a wide range of culinary delights along the route from 10 am.
Participation in these events is free of charge, all Information about the car-free pass days in Graubünden can be found here: graubuenden.ch
These car-free days already existed in 2025
Stelvio / Umbrail Pass: Saturday, 30 August 2025
It was once again one of the biggest cycling events in the Alps. The Stilfserjoch (2758 m) with a view of King Ortler and its 48 hairpin bends and 1848 metres of altitude difference, including the thinning air, is simply a must for every cyclist. Whether you're on a racing bike, mountain bike or trekking bike.
The 24.96-kilometre route was closed from Trafoi, Sta. Maria and Bormio from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and had a 15 per cent gradient in between! In keeping with this, there was a small cycling festival in Prad (South Tyrol side) on Sunday 31 August.
The relationship between the Stelvio Pass and cycling began in 1953, when the route first became part of the Giro d'Italia, where Fausto Coppi won a major victory. Since then, the pass has been honoured twelve times as the "Cima Coppi", the highest point of the Tour. Since the 1980s, the number of amateur cyclists wanting to tackle this climb has been steadily increasing. The route from the South Tyrolean side is particularly popular: the north-east ramp from Prad stretches over 24.96 kilometres with an elevation gain of around 1848 metres. The spectacular hairpin bends that wind between the rocks from Franzenshöhe to the top of the pass can be seen in many photos.
The 21-kilometre ascent from the Lombardy side, characterised by 40 hairpin bends, also attracts ambitious cyclists. The south-west ramp involves a climb of around 1540 metres. Thanks to this climb, Bormio and the entire Valtellina have become a popular destination for cyclists. A lesser-known route is the variant from Santa Maria over the Umbrail Pass, which is often used as a descent to include the Stelvio Pass in a round tour.
Splügen Pass: Sunday, 29 June 2025
At the end of June, visitors could look forward to a particularly winding experience with spectacular avalanche galleries on the 2114 metre-high Splügen Pass between the Grisons Rhine Forest and the Italian province of Sondrio. From 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., the 25.5-kilometre-long pass loops could be cranked up from both sides. On the Italian side, a final dip in Lake Como would be tempting.
Lukmanier Pass: Sunday, 15 June 2025
The Lukmanier Alpine Brevet Pass (1917 m) between the two Swiss cantons of Graubünden and Ticino kicked off the event on Sunday, 15 June 2025: From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., car engines were at a standstill on the 22-kilometre-long and gently ascending pass road. Cyclists could travel by Rhaetian Railway and Postbus to the two starting points of Fuorns or Campra. Cycle transport was possible on both modes of transport, but has recently become subject to reservation. However, the organisers had set up a shuttle for the bikes especially for this event.
Gitta Beimfohr
Editor
