The Julier Pass is the main road route into St. Moritz and the Upper Engadin, and unlike most high Alpine passes it is kept open through the winter. From Geneva Airport, St. Moritz is about 400 km and 5 h by road, with the final stretch running from Chur via Tiefencastel, Savognin and Bivio over the Julier to Silvaplana. AirportsTransfers.ch drives this route regularly and plans the long journey with breaks along the way.
- Route: Chur – Lenzerheide – Tiefencastel – Savognin – Bivio – Julier Pass – Silvaplana – St. Moritz
- Season: open year-round, with occasional closures during heavy snowfall
- From Geneva Airport: about 400 km and 5 h to St. Moritz
- Winter equipment: winter tyres essential; chains carried as a precaution
- Alternatives: Albula Pass in summer, Vereina car train in winter
From Geneva to Chur: the long approach
The first part of a journey from Geneva to St. Moritz is motorway driving across the Swiss Plateau: via Lausanne and Bern, or via Fribourg, to Zurich, then along the shore of the Walensee towards Sargans and up the Rhine valley to Chur. This section is straightforward and makes up the larger part of the distance. Chur, the capital of Graubünden, is where the mountain road begins.
A sensible plan is a short break somewhere between Bern and Zurich, and another before the climb begins. Arriving in Chur rested makes the remaining mountain section much more enjoyable, especially in winter when daylight is short.
Chur to Tiefencastel: Lenzerheide and the Albula valley
From Chur the road climbs steeply out of the Rhine valley to Churwalden and the high plateau of Lenzerheide, a ski resort set beside a lake. It then descends towards Tiefencastel, a small village at the confluence of rivers in the Albula valley, recognisable by its white church on a rocky spur. Tiefencastel is the junction where the Albula Pass road branches off towards Bergün; in winter that pass is closed, which is why the Julier carries almost all of the traffic.
Beyond Tiefencastel the Julier road enters the Surses valley, also called the Oberhalbstein, and climbs through Savognin. The valley is Romansh-speaking, and signs begin to show the region's third language alongside German and Italian place names.
Bivio and the Julier summit
Past Savognin the road follows the long Marmorera reservoir before reaching Bivio, the last village before the pass. Bivio's name refers to the fork of old routes here: the Julier to the east and the Septimer, a historic mule track, to the south. The final climb leads to the summit at around 2,280 metres, a broad, bare saddle with remains of Roman-era columns that recall how long this crossing has been used.
The Julier is engineered for year-round traffic, with wide hairpins and good snow-clearing, but it is still a high pass. During a storm the summit can be closed for a few hours while ploughs work, and in strong wind drifting snow reduces visibility. Winter tyres are mandatory in practice, and professional drivers carry snow chains even when they rarely need them.
Descending into the Engadin
The descent on the eastern side is short and dramatic. The road drops to Silvaplana, and the Upper Engadin opens out as a high, wide valley strung with lakes: Sils and Silvaplana to the south-west, Champfèr and St. Moritz ahead. In clear weather the light is noticeably bright and dry, and the Corvatsch and Piz Nair ski areas rise on either side. In winter, frozen lakes and snow-laden larch forests make this one of the most striking arrivals anywhere in the Alps.
From Silvaplana it is only a few minutes to St. Moritz itself, or to Pontresina and Celerina further along the valley. Many visitors also stay in Sils or Maloja, which are reached by turning right at the bottom of the pass.
Alternatives to the Julier
In summer the Albula Pass offers a quieter, narrower route from Tiefencastel via Bergün to La Punt in the Engadin, ideal for passengers who enjoy scenery more than speed. In winter, the Vereina car-carrying train between Klosters and Lavin gives access to the Lower Engadin and is used when the Julier is temporarily closed. From the south, the Maloja Pass links the Engadin with Chiavenna and Lake Como, which matters for travellers arriving via Milan.
Because conditions can change, chauffeurs check the pass status before departure and again en route, and choose the alternative only when it clearly saves time.
How to book your St. Moritz transfer
A five-hour journey is easier when it is planned around you. With AirportsTransfers.ch you see the fixed price for the whole vehicle before paying, then settle online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur meets you in the Geneva arrivals hall holding a name sign, and your flight is tracked so the pick-up adjusts to the actual landing time. Child seats can be fitted on request, and skis should be listed at booking so a Mercedes V-Class or Sprinter is assigned if needed. For advice on timing or a return trip, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77.
