The Nufenen Pass links Ulrichen in the upper Valais with Airolo in Ticino, and at around 2,480 metres it is the highest pass road lying entirely within Switzerland. Open only in summer, it provides the most direct road link between the Goms valley and the Italian-speaking south, avoiding a detour through Andermatt or Italy. AirportsTransfers.ch can include it in a transfer from Geneva towards Ticino or in a chauffeured day on the high passes.
- Route: Ulrichen – Nufenen summit – Val Bedretto – Airolo
- Distinction: the highest pass road wholly inside Switzerland
- Season: summer only; closed in winter
- Language change: German-speaking Goms to Italian-speaking Ticino
- Use: a summer shortcut from Valais to Ticino and Lake Maggiore
Why the Nufenen matters
Without the Nufenen, driving from the Valais to Ticino means either going over the Furka to Andermatt and down the Gotthard, or crossing into Italy via the Simplon and re-entering Switzerland near Lake Maggiore. The Nufenen cuts straight across, dropping travellers at Airolo at the southern end of the Gotthard. For anyone touring Switzerland in summer, from Zermatt or Crans-Montana to Lugano or Locarno for example, it can save time and add a spectacular high-mountain stretch.
The pass road is relatively modern, opened in the second half of the twentieth century, so it is wide and well built compared with older passes. It does not carry heavy traffic, which keeps it calm outside summer weekends.
The climb from Ulrichen
The road leaves the Goms at Ulrichen, a village of dark larch houses on the valley floor. It first follows the Agene valley, then climbs steadily on open slopes with fine views back across the Goms towards the Bernese Alps. Higher up, the Gries glacier and its reservoir appear to the south, a scene of ice, rock and pale water typical of the high Valais.
Near the summit, the landscape is stark: scree, snowfields that linger well into summer, and long views towards the peaks of the Bernese Oberland. The summit itself has a small restaurant and parking area, and on a clear day it is a natural place to stop and look back at both sides.
Down Val Bedretto to Airolo
The southern descent leads into Val Bedretto, the uppermost valley of the Ticino river. The road passes a handful of small villages with stone-roofed houses, and the vegetation becomes greener as it descends. The valley is quiet and remote, with hiking trails leading to high lakes and huts, and it feels distinctly different in character from the Goms.
At the bottom, the road reaches Airolo, the town at the southern portal of the Gotthard tunnels. From here the A2 motorway leads down the Leventina valley to Bellinzona and onwards to Lugano or Locarno and Lake Maggiore. Turning north instead, the old Gotthard pass road, with its cobbled Tremola section, climbs towards Andermatt in summer.
Season and conditions
The Nufenen is closed in winter and usually opens later in the year than lower passes because of its altitude. Once open, conditions can still change quickly: snow showers are possible at the summit even in summer, and fog may settle on the upper section. The road has few barriers in places and requires steady driving, especially in poor visibility.
Because opening depends on the snow each year, any itinerary relying on the Nufenen in early summer or late autumn should include a backup plan, typically via the Furka car train and the Gotthard.
Passengers should also dress for two climates. It is common to leave the Goms in a light jacket, stand at the summit in a cold wind, and step out in Airolo or Bellinzona into warm southern air. A layer within reach in the car, rather than packed in the boot, makes the stops at the top far more pleasant.
Building a route around the Nufenen
- Valais to Ticino in one day: Rhône valley, Goms, Nufenen, Airolo, then Lugano or Locarno
- Four-pass circuit: Nufenen, Gotthard, Furka and Grimsel from the Goms
- Return to Geneva: via the Simplon and Lake Geneva for a different return route
These circuits are long but rewarding, and they suit travellers who want to see the different faces of Switzerland, German and Italian, glacial and Mediterranean, in a single day.
Booking your Nufenen route
To include the Nufenen in a transfer or a full-day tour, request a quote through AirportsTransfers.ch: the price is fixed per vehicle and visible before you pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Arriving passengers are met at Geneva Airport by a chauffeur holding a name sign, and flights are tracked so delays are covered. Child seats are available on request, and bulky luggage, bicycles or skis should be declared when booking. For help planning the order of the passes, call or WhatsApp +41 78 346 56 77.
