Riding the great Alpine passes by motorcycle is, for many riders, the best tour there is: hairpin after hairpin, thin air, snow at the roadside in July. So that your tour doesn't end at a toll barrier, a closure or a noise ban, here are the best-known passes with altitude and tolls, the key rules for 2026 and tips for riding in the mountains.
The best-known Alpine passes at a glance
| Pass | Country | Altitude | Motorcycle toll | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stelvio Pass | Italy | 2,757 m | no | 48 hairpins on the Prato side, closed to motor vehicles on certain days |
| Col de l'Iseran | France | 2,764 m | no | one of the highest paved passes in the Alps |
| Col du Galibier | France | 2,642 m | no | often closed for cycling events in summer |
| Gavia Pass | Italy | 2,621 m | no | very narrow, partly without guardrails |
| Grossglockner High Alpine Road | Austria | 2,504 m | yes, €36.50 day ticket | night driving ban outside opening hours |
| Nufenen Pass | Switzerland | 2,478 m | no | highest road pass in Switzerland |
| Timmelsjoch | Austria/Italy | 2,474 m | yes, €18 one way, €25 return | usually open 7 am to 8 pm, return valid all season |
| Furka Pass | Switzerland | 2,429 m | no | combine with Grimsel and Susten for a three-pass loop |
| Sella Pass | Italy | 2,244 m | no | part of the Sella Ronda, closed on certain days |
| Susten Pass | Switzerland | 2,224 m | no | wide road, many tunnels |
| Grimsel Pass | Switzerland | 2,164 m | no | reservoirs along the way |
| Gardena Pass | Italy | 2,121 m | no | planned quota suspended for now (as of 31 Aug 2026), see below |
| Gotthard Pass | Switzerland | 2,106 m | no | historic cobbled Tremola road |
| Silvretta High Alpine Road | Austria | 2,032 m | yes | Vorarlberg side from Partenen closed, probably until summer 2030; Bielerhöhe with reservoir |
| Hahntennjoch | Austria | 1,894 m | no | closed 15 April to 31 October to motorcycles above 95 dB stationary noise |
Toll prices are for 2026. The Austrian and Swiss vignettes do not apply on these pass roads, but you need them for the motorways on the way there.
When are the passes open?
The high Alpine passes are closed in winter. As a rough rule, most passes above 2,000 metres open between late April and June and close in October or with the first heavy snowfall. This varies every year. In 2026 the Grossglockner High Alpine Road opened on 25 April and the Timmelsjoch as early as 13 May.
So don't rely on fixed dates, check before you set off. For Switzerland, the TCS pass portal shows the current status of more than 70 passes. For Austria and Italy, the toll road operators and automobile clubs publish updates.
New rules and closures in 2026
Tyrol: noise ban above 95 dB
From 15 April to 31 October, motorcycles with a stationary noise level above 95 dB(A) may not use six roads in the Ausserfern region, including the Hahntennjoch, the Lech valley road and the Tannheim valley. You find the value in your registration documents (field U.1 on German papers). The fine starts at around €220, and in certain cases it can go up to €726. All details are in our guide to motorcycling in Austria.
Dolomites: quota on the Gardena Pass
A test phase with a daily quota was planned for the Gardena Pass (Grödner Joch) in South Tyrol from 1 September 2026. The latest talk was of around 150 vehicles, motorcycles, cars and coaches combined, with free access for residents and guests of the hotels and restaurants on the pass. According to an ÖAMTC report of 31 August 2026, the plan is suspended for now and the pass stays open. Instead, data is being collected first to assess what a restriction would mean for the surrounding villages and valleys. Whether and when a quota comes is open. The discussed extension to the Sella and Pordoi passes and the Campolongo pass is not decided either. Check the current status before you set off.
Silvretta: Vorarlberg side closed
The Silvretta High Alpine Road has been closed on the Vorarlberg side between Partenen and the Bielerhöhe since the mudslides of summer 2024. According to the March 2026 assessment, it is not expected to reopen before summer 2030. From Tyrol, access via the Paznaun valley is still possible in summer. So don't plan a Silvretta tour as a crossing into Vorarlberg.
Car-free days
Several famous passes are closed to motor vehicles on individual days every year, usually for cycling events. In 2026 these included the Stelvio Pass on 29 August, the Col du Galibier on 4 August and the Sella Ronda passes on 12 September. The 2027 dates are usually announced in spring. Check them before you plan a tour around a particular pass.
Switzerland: the PostBus has priority
On Swiss mountain postal roads, marked by a blue sign with a yellow post horn, the PostBus has priority. You have to follow the bus driver's instructions, wait before narrow sections and reverse if necessary. If you hear the typical three-tone horn before a hairpin, keep right and leave room.
Riding in the mountains: what matters
- Hairpins: approach wide, turn in slowly, look over your shoulder towards the exit. How it works in detail is in our guide to cornering technique.
- Downhill: use engine braking and shift down a gear. Riding long descents on the brakes alone risks overheated brakes and fading braking power.
- Uphill hairpins: better a gear too low than too high. A slipping clutch and steady throttle make the bike calmer in tight hairpins.
- Tunnels: open your visor or raise the sun visor before you enter. In poorly lit tunnels you are otherwise suddenly almost blind.
- Other road users: expect cyclists descending fast, motorhomes that need the whole hairpin and cows on the road.
- Cold and weather: even in summer it can be below 5 °C at the top. A mid layer and rain gear always belong in your luggage. Thunderstorms build quickly in the afternoon, so ride the high passes in the morning.
- Fuel: petrol stations in the mountains are rare and expensive. Fill up before the climb.
Tour ideas
- Swiss three-pass loop: Grimsel, Furka and Susten can be ridden as a loop in one day, with the Nufenen as a bonus.
- Stelvio and Gavia: a day loop from Bormio, both very high, the Gavia narrow and demanding.
- Grossglockner: as a north-south crossing from Salzburg to Carinthia, ideally early in the morning before the coaches.
- Dolomites: the Sella Ronda over the Sella, Pordoi, Campolongo and Gardena passes. The planned quota on the Gardena Pass is suspended for now, so check the status before you set off and keep an alternative ready.
Special apps help you plan these routes. Which ones are worth it is in our comparison of the best route planners for motorcyclists. The traffic rules of the Alpine countries are in our guides to Switzerland, Italy and France.
Summary
The great Alpine passes are not just riding fun, they also take planning: check opening times and weather, budget for tolls, know about the noise bans in Tyrol, the closure of the Silvretta on the Vorarlberg side and the suspended quota on the Gardena Pass. Add engine braking on descents, warm clothing and a full tank. Then the pass ride will be what it should be: the highlight of your season.
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest Alpine pass you can ride on a motorcycle?
Among the highest paved passes are the Col de l'Iseran in France at 2,764 metres and the Stelvio Pass in Italy at 2,757 metres.
How much does the Grossglockner High Alpine Road cost on a motorcycle?
In 2026 the motorcycle day ticket costs €36.50, €32.50 for electric motorcycles and €30 when entering after 6 pm.
When do the Alpine passes open?
Most high passes open between late April and June and close in October. It depends on the snow, so check the current status before you ride.
Can I still ride over the Gardena Pass?
Yes. According to an ÖAMTC report of 31 August 2026, the daily quota planned for 1 September 2026 is suspended for now and the pass is open. Whether and when a rule comes is open. Check the status before you ride.
Which roads in Tyrol are closed to loud motorcycles?
Among others the Hahntennjoch, the Lech valley road and the Tannheim road, from 15 April to 31 October for motorcycles with a stationary noise level above 95 dB.
Sources
- Prices and opening times (Grossglockner High Alpine Road)
- Toll rates (Timmelsjoch High Alpine Road, German)
- Motorcycle riding ban: questions and answers (State of Tyrol, German)
- Closure on the Gardena Pass in South Tyrol (Motorradonline, German)
- South Tyrol: Gardena Pass open after all (ÖAMTC, German, 31 Aug 2026)
- Silvretta High Alpine Road closed until 2030 (Motorradonline, German)
- Alpine travel 2026: closures and quotas (Motorrad & Reisen, German)
- Which passes are open? (TCS pass portal)
- Post horns and mountain postal roads (Swiss Federal Roads Office, German)
Last checked: November 2026. Opening times, tolls and closures change every year.
