Why this road
The quickest way from Andermatt to Innertkirchen goes over the Susten Pass and is about 10 minutes shorter. It is a fine road too, but the Furka and Grimsel give you more in one go: the bare, high Furka, the hairpin by the old Hotel Belvédère where the Rhone Glacier comes into view, the little railway hamlet of Gletsch at the bottom, and then the Grimsel hairpins you can see from across the valley. On the far side the road follows the Aare down through granite and forest, past reservoirs and waterfalls.
The route
- AAndermatt
Leave Andermatt to the west through the wide Urseren valley towards Realp.
- 1Realp
The last village before the Furka. The climb starts right after the railway station.
- 2Furkapass
The top at 2,429 m, often windy. Shortly after, on the west side, the road swings round the hairpin at the old Hotel Belvédère with the Rhone Glacier right beside it.
- 3Gletsch
A tiny hamlet at the valley floor with an old grand hotel and the station of the Furka steam railway. Ahead of you the Grimsel hairpins climb the slope.
- 4Grimselpass
2,164 m, with the small Totensee at the top and the big Grimsel reservoir just below on the north side.
- 5Guttannen
The road follows the Aare down through granite and forest. Guttannen is the only real village on the way.
- BInnertkirchen
The end in the Haslital, where the roads to the Susten and Meiringen meet.
Stops worth it
The famous hairpin below the Furka with the Rhone Glacier beside it. In summer there is usually an ice grotto in the glacier, ticketed.
Twenty minutes to look back up at the Furka road and across at the Grimsel hairpins. If you are lucky, the steam train is in.
Walk to the edge of the Grimsel reservoir and look down the valley you will drive next.
Light and the best time
Start in Andermatt around 8:30. You drive west over the Furka with the sun behind you, so the glacier and the valley ahead are front-lit. The Grimsel hairpins climb a slope that faces east, so they are in sunshine in the morning and look best from Gletsch before midday. On the Grimsel's north side you head north-west down the Haslital, with the light coming from the side and the reservoirs bright. Clouds build over the passes on many summer afternoons, another reason to go early.
Both passes close in winter. The Furka is usually open from about June to October, the Grimsel from about late May or June to October, depending on snow, check before you go. July to September is the most reliable time. Summer weekends are busy with motorbikes and Postbuses.
By vehicle
Two big passes in one hour, smooth Swiss tarmac and lots of hairpins. Very popular on weekends, start early.
Spectacular with the roof down, but cold at the top. Bring a warm jacket even in August.
No problem for any car. The roads are well built, use a low gear on the descents.
Fine with a camper: Postbuses run here too. Some hairpins are tight, take them slowly, and make way for the Postbus, it has priority on mountain roads.
Good to know
No toll: the route uses no motorways, so you do not need the Swiss motorway vignette for it. Both passes close in winter and can close at short notice in bad weather. Fuel up in Andermatt or Innertkirchen. On Swiss mountain roads the Postbus has priority, and you will hear its three-tone horn before you see it.
Route checked against OpenStreetMap on 2 November 2026. Roads, closures and rules change: always check before you go and follow local signs.
Questions
When are the Furka and Grimsel passes open?
Usually from about June to October, depending on snow. Opening dates change every year, check the current status before you go.
How long does it take from Andermatt to Innertkirchen over the Furka and Grimsel?
A little over an hour of pure driving, only about 10 minutes more than the faster route over the Susten. With stops at the glacier and the passes, plan half a day.
Do I need a Swiss vignette for the Furka and Grimsel?
Not for this route, it uses no motorways. You need the vignette only if you drive on Swiss motorways to get there.
Can you still see the Rhone Glacier from the Furka road?
Yes, from the hairpin at the old Hotel Belvédère on the west side of the Furka. The glacier has shrunk a lot, but it is still right next to the road.