Furka Pass
James Bond chased Goldfinger along the Furka in an Aston Martin DB5, and the road remains pure cinema: 2,429 metres of sweeping curves with the Rhône glacier hanging above the western ramp.
- Best forRoad-trippers · Photographers · Adventure seekers
- In October5°C · 16 rainy days
- Ideal stayA day, based in Andermatt
- Approx. flying time~11h 55m from Los Angeles
- CurrencyCHFSwiss franc
- LanguageGerman, French, Italian and Romansh
- Local time12:261h ahead of the UK
- PlugsType C / JBring an adapter
- Drive on theRightOpposite to the UK
- Dialling code+41
Why go
The road over the Furka tops out at 2,429 metres between the cantons of Uri and Valais, linking Andermatt with the head of the Rhône valley. It is a sequence of long, open hairpins above the treeline, with the Rhône glacier and its ice cave sitting on the western ramp. Traffic is a mix of motorcyclists, cyclists and postbuses, and the surface is very good.
Snow closes the pass from roughly October to late May, so this is strictly a summer drive. Andermatt makes the natural base, and the Grimsel and Susten passes complete a loop of about two hundred kilometres that fills a long day with stops. Go early: cloud builds through the afternoon and the parking areas at the top fill by mid-morning in August.
- Ideal stay
- A day, based in Andermatt
- The vibe
- High, bare, cinematic tarmac
From our guides
Stop at the derelict, faded Hotel Belvédère on its famous hairpin for the photo everyone wants. String it together with the Grimsel and Susten passes for the classic Swiss three-pass loop, comfortably done in a day from Andermatt.
Featured in Ten jaw-dropping mountain roads and passes to drive
Things to do
-
Rhône glacier ice grotto
A tunnel carved fresh into the glacier each summer beside the Belvédère hairpin, with meltwater-blue walls. The retreat of the ice is visible year on year.
-
Hotel Belvédère hairpin
The much-photographed curve with a shuttered yellow hotel on it, familiar from a certain Aston Martin chase. Parking is tight and brief.
-
The three-pass loop
Furka, Grimsel and Susten together make a circuit from Andermatt that takes a full day with photo stops and a long lunch.
-
Furka steam railway
A restored cogwheel line runs over the mountain in summer between Realp and Oberwald, using the old route abandoned when the base tunnel opened.
-
Gletsch
The hamlet at the junction of the Furka and Grimsel roads, at the head of the Rhône valley, with a clear view up to the glacier.
-
Andermatt
A high village at the crossroads of four passes, with skiing in winter and everything you need as a base for the summer circuit.
Getting there
-
Fly to
Zurich (ZRH)
Nearest airport to Furka Pass, about 99km away as the crow flies.
-
Then
To Andermatt
Lugano (LUG) is the nearest airport but a long way round by road, roughly three hours to Andermatt over the Gotthard. Most visitors fly into Zurich instead and take the train, changing at Goeschenen, in about two and a half hours.
-
On the ground
Getting around
The pass road itself is a drive, about 45 minutes from Andermatt up to the summit and the Hotel Belvedere hairpin, and it is only open from roughly June to October. The Grimsel and Susten passes chain on from it for the classic day loop.
Public transport: A seasonal postbus crosses the Furka in summer and the Matterhorn Gotthard railway tunnels beneath it year round, but neither lets you drive the curves, which is the entire point.
Flights
Los Angeles Furka Pass, Switzerland
Fly from anywhere — search 4,000+ airports worldwide.
Roughly 11h 55m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.
Check dates and prices
Pick your departure date, then your return.
Search flightsNot sure when? Compare fares across a whole month.
Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.
When to go
Daytime highs run from about -6°C in January to 14°C in July. Driest January to April and November; wettest in June, with rain on about 22 days.
The year at a glance — pick a month for detail
October5° · rain 16 daysCold and often wet.
Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis). Live conditions from MET Norway, CC BY 4.0.
Where to stay
Alpine gasthofs, family-run hotels and a few grand nineteenth-century pass houses, plus mountain huts. Andermatt adds serviced apartments; elsewhere expect half board and an early breakfast.
-
Best base overall
Andermatt
The natural launch point for the three-pass loop, with the road climbing from the edge of the village and a real choice of hotels since the resort expansion. Prices have climbed with it.
Find stays in Andermatt -
Best value
Realp
Ten minutes up the valley, a handful of simple guesthouses and the car-carrying train tunnel for days when the pass is shut. There is nothing to do after dinner, which is rather the point.
Find stays in Realp -
Best with children
Oberwald
The Valais foot of the pass, at the head of the Goms valley, with flat riverside cycling and gentle walks for short legs. Sensible if you are arriving from Brig rather than Uri.
Find stays in Oberwald -
Quietest
Gletsch
A hamlet of almost nothing on the hairpins below the Rhone glacier, with one grand old hotel and total silence once the motorbikes stop. Summer only, and dinner is where you sleep.
Find stays in Gletsch
Worth knowing before you book: The pass closes with the first heavy snow, usually from October until late May, so check it is open before booking anything on the Valais side.
Search everything else in Andermatt by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.
Good to know
- Driving
- Hairpins are open and well surfaced but narrow in places, and postbuses have priority on mountain roads. Use engine braking on the descents.
- Timing
- The pass usually opens in late May or June and closes with the first heavy snow in October. Check the status before setting out.
- Pack this
- Warm layers whatever the valley temperature. It can be ten degrees colder and considerably windier at the summit.
- Crowds
- Motorcycle traffic is heavy on summer weekends. Weekday mornings are calmer and the light on the glacier is better.
- Getting there
- Car-carrying trains shuttle under the mountain between Realp and Oberwald year round, which is the winter alternative when the road is shut.
Similar places
Nearby destinations
Mount Titlis
Engelberg, Switzerland · 28km away →
Grindelwald
Switzerland · 29km away →
Jungfraujoch railway
Switzerland · 33km away →
Wengen
Switzerland · 38km away →
Paragliding
Interlaken, Switzerland · 44km away →
Schilthorn
Switzerland · 44km away →Elsewhere in Switzerland
Related articles
Quick answers
When is the best time to visit Furka Pass?
Daytime highs run from about -6°C in January to 14°C in July. Driest January to April and November; wettest in June, with rain on about 22 days.
How long should I spend in Furka Pass?
Our suggestion: a day, based in Andermatt.
How do I get to Furka Pass?
Lugano (LUG) is the nearest airport but a long way round by road, roughly three hours to Andermatt over the Gotthard. Most visitors fly into Zurich instead and take the train, changing at Goeschenen, in about two and a half hours.
Do I need a car in Furka Pass?
Yes, a car makes a real difference here. A seasonal postbus crosses the Furka in summer and the Matterhorn Gotthard railway tunnels beneath it year round, but neither lets you drive the curves, which is the entire point.
What currency and language are used in Furka Pass?
Currency: Swiss franc (CHF). Language: German, French, Italian and Romansh. Plugs: type C and J.
Who is Furka Pass best for?
Best for road-trippers, photographers and adventure seekers. In a phrase: high, bare, cinematic tarmac.