The Gotthard Pass is the summer road over the central Swiss Alps between Andermatt and Airolo, and on its southern side the cobbled Tremola descends in a remarkable cascade of hairpins. It is open only when free of snow, usually from late spring until autumn, and it turns the long journey from Geneva towards Ticino into a memorable part of the trip rather than an hour in a tunnel. AirportsTransfers.ch can build it into a transfer or an hourly chauffeur booking.
- Route: Andermatt, Hospental, the pass summit and Airolo
- Season: summer only, closed through the winter months
- Highlight: the Tremola, a granite-paved road of tight hairpins
- At the summit: a hospice, small lakes and a museum on the pass's history
- Best for: a relaxed detour instead of the Gotthard Road Tunnel
A pass at the heart of Switzerland
For centuries the Gotthard was one of the main routes between northern Europe and Italy, used first by mule trains and later by stagecoaches. Its strategic value made it central to Swiss history, and the opening of the rail tunnel in the 1880s and the road tunnel in 1980 only shifted the traffic underground. The pass itself remains a place of stone hospices, mountain lakes and old fortifications, with the source of several rivers nearby, including the Reuss flowing north and the Ticino flowing south. At a little over 2,100 m, the summit has an austere beauty, with bare rock and lingering snow patches well into summer. A museum in the old hospice buildings explains the history of the crossing, from the mule era to the great tunnels below.
The Tremola: what makes it special
On the Ticino side, the historic Tremola road drops from the summit towards Airolo in a long sequence of tight, stacked hairpins, many of them paved with granite setts rather than asphalt. Seen from above, it looks like a ribbon folded back and forth across the slope, and it is regularly listed among the most beautiful mountain roads in Europe. The cobbles and the tight bends set a slow, deliberate pace, which suits the scenery: each turn opens a new view down the Leventina valley. Cyclists and motorcyclists love it, so courtesy and patience are part of driving it. A modern pass road with galleries and wider curves runs alongside for those who prefer a quicker descent, and it remains the main route for buses and heavier vehicles.
When the pass is open
The pass road usually opens in late spring once clearing crews have removed the winter snow, and it closes again with the first lasting snowfalls of autumn. Exact dates depend on the year, so it is wise to check before planning around it. Even in high summer the weather at the summit can be markedly cooler, windier and wetter than in the valleys, and fog sometimes sits on the top while both sides are sunny. Fine weekends in July and August can be busy with sightseers, while early mornings and weekdays are quieter.
Building the pass into your journey
From Geneva, most travellers reach the Gotthard area via the motorway to Bern, about 160 km and 1 h 50 from the airport, and then on through Lucerne into Uri. Instead of entering the tunnel at Göschenen, the road climbs through the Schöllenen gorge, with its Devil's Bridge, to Andermatt, a village that is pleasant for a coffee stop. From there the route continues through Hospental and up to the pass. Another approach comes from Valais via the Furka Pass, which links the upper Rhône valley with Andermatt in summer; combining the two creates a grand alpine loop. The pass and the Tremola add some time compared with the tunnel, but on a fine day few people regret it.
Why take it with a chauffeur
The Tremola rewards attention: the bends are tight, the surface is uneven, and the views keep pulling your eyes away from the road. With a chauffeur at the wheel, everyone in the car can enjoy the descent, stop for photographs at the summit and spend time at the museum without worrying about who has to drive. If the weather turns or the pass is unexpectedly closed, the driver simply switches to the tunnel. For a group, a Mercedes V-Class with large windows works especially well on mountain roads.
Planning a Gotthard detour with AirportsTransfers.ch
To include the pass and the Tremola in a summer transfer to Ticino or Lake Como, ask when booking with AirportsTransfers.ch, or reserve a chauffeur by the hour, from two hours, for a day in the mountains. Your price is fixed per vehicle and confirmed before you pay online with card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The chauffeur meets you at Geneva Airport with a name sign, monitors your flight and waits if it lands late. Choose between a Mercedes E-Class, S-Class, V-Class or Sprinter, add child seats on request, and get in touch 24/7 on +41 78 346 56 77 by phone or WhatsApp.
