In this guide we’ve narrowed it down to just eight top routes to try if you’re thinking about a road trip to Italy, spread across the country. However, if you want more you can download our comprehensive guide to Italian driving roads below.
We’ve also listed them *sort of* north to south to give you a better idea of what you might want to visit on the way and what roads are closest together.
Passo di Stalle
This twisting mountain pass is located on the Austrian-Italian. It’s single track and it gets narrow in sections. The good news is that this means vehicles over 3.5-tonnes aren’t allowed to use the road, so you won’t meet caravans, motorhomes, buses or trucks on the way up either, but it also means there are specific times you can access the road.
The road starts at Lake Obersee and the views around here are not to be missed. You can grab some food by the lake or there’s a restaurant as you cross the border. The route on the SP44 when you hit the Italian side then gives you breathtaking views across the mountains of South Tyrol.
The road is only between May and October, between 5.30am and 10.15pm, but also check the time slots that you’ll be able to access the pass as there’s only 15 minutes each hour that you can access the road.
When is the Stalle pass open? 5.30am to 10.15pm, May to October, but only 15 minute windows
Where can I find Stalle pass? Tyrol, Austria, to South Tyrol, Italy
How high is Stalle pass? 2,052m above sea level
Passo Gardena
Gardena Pass is a road that travels through the Dolomites and takes you extremely close to its most famous peaks and the unmistakable Sella massif. Because this is used as a ski resort in the winter months and popular with hikers in the warmer ones, there are good facilities along the route and accommodation.
It’s also part of the Giro d’Italia race and all of this can mean the route becomes busy, particularly in summer. Gardena pass connects Sëlva in the Val Gardena with Corvara in the Val Badia.
The road is nearly 10km long and is packed with incredible views, making it a popular drive for cars, motorcycles and cyclists. There’s parking at the top of the pass and it’s well worth taking a moment to soak up the 360-degree panoramic views around you.
When is the Gardena pass open? All year
Where can I find Gardena pass? South Tyrol
How high is Gardena pass? 2,136m above sea level
Passo dello Stelvio
The Stelvio pass is possibly the most famous Italian mountain pass – but also one of the most renowned in the Alps. It’s the second highest mountain pass in the Alps at 2,757m above sea level – only seven metres shorter than Col de l’Iseran in France.
There are 60 hairpins in total, of which 48 are numbered on the main face that you famously see in pictures. Catch it on the right day and the view is dramatic but it wouldn’t be described as particularly pretty like other passes on this list. While it’s missing the idyllic green forests, it makes up for them in challenging driving as you wind your way down the steep drop of the mountain.
The road from Gomagoi to Bormio on the SS38, however the most famous section is found at the highest point and where you’ll see the sign for Passo dello Stelvio. There are also shops, restaurants, hotels and a car park to stop and get the shot of the road.
When is the Stelvio pass open? All year
Where can I find the Stelvio pass? Northern Italian border with Switzerland
How high is the Stelvio pass? 2,757m above sea level
