Crossing the alps
We have been caravaning in France and Spain for many years but now we are considering going to Italy.
I have not driven to Italy for about 40 years and then I wasn't towing a caravan. I remember the crossing of the alpine passes as being very exciting, however I am not the daredevil I was then and I don't think I would like that sort of drive now with a caravan behind.
I believe in the last 40 to 50 years many new routes have been constructed to avoid the winding hill climbs with sheer drops on the side and it may now be far easier albeit more expensive as well.
If you have made the trip in recent years either through Austria or Switzerland I would love to hear of your experiences and recommendations.
Happy Caravaning.
Comments
-
We have been to Italy many times and nearly always via Austria. We have used a number of routes. Our most recent trip was last year was a tour of Austria and as we were initially heading for Salzburg we travelled via Munich. It is a very easy route but probably not the most convenient for Italy as its longer. If I was heading for say Lake Garda I would use the Fern Pass. As a road it is a bit twisty but the gradients are not too bad. From here we head for Innsbruck and the Brenner Pass which is a magnificent route and again is fairly easy with gradual climbs. Many years ago we did use the route to Italy via Villach in Austria and Udine in Italy as we were heading for Venice. Have you a particular destination in Italy in mind. For example if you are thinking of Lake Maggiore we found it quite convenient to use the Tunnel de Frejus via France although that is an expensive option. Some prefer using Switzerland to get to the likes of Maggiore and Como and I am sure they will post their options soon.
David
0 -
G., Where are you starting from and where are you making for ? The route to Aosta is very different from the route to Venice, but they both can be Motorway all the way these days if you wish.
0 -
Hi David,
We haven't made any decisions yet about a final destination, it would depend on how long we go for and how far south we can get.
I had not heard of the Tunnel de Frejus, we stayed near Frejus last year but saw no tunnel. I know we can go into Italy via Menton as I have done this on several occasions when staying in Menton years ago.
In the past I preferred Austria over Switzerland as the latter is always so expensive and now one has to purchase a pass ( I think it is 30 days!). I am not sure how much this costs.
Are the roads on the Fern Pass wider than the alpine passes used to be as I wouldn't have liked to meet a caravan or lorry coming the other way on the roads I remember?
0 -
G. Two suggestions which might help.
Type Fern Pass into an internet search box and watch the You Tube videos taken from cars and motorbikes using that route to see what sort of road it is. Do the same for other passes such as the Brenner.
Unfold a large paper map on table or floor and look where the motorways run from the Channel ports towards other parts of Italy, and where the Alpine road tunnels are.
Enjoy your planning.
0 -
It may well be worth your while choosing a destination or two and asking for suggestions for routes. We took the caravan down to Venice this summer via France, Switzerland, and Lake Garda before returning via Austria and Germany, No problems at all. Enjoy you planning!
0 -
The Fern Pass is very straight forward and will present no problems either way; the 2 hairpin bends on the south side are very wide with a reasonable gradient. After entering Austria you basically have 2 choices; either Innsbruck and the Brenner (Toll and Vignette required) or via Landeck and the Reischen Pass into Italy- a toll/Vignette free route. Although a gentle climb/descent, the latter can be quite slow and there are very few places to stop. On balance, having done both routes many times, I tend to favour the Brenner option. Enter Austria with a fairly empty fuel tank and fill up as you approach the Italian border (or Brenner) as fuel is much cheaper in Austria than in Italy. If you arrive in Austria needing an overnight stop there are plenty of sites in/near Imst or in the direction of Innsbruck. Can't help on the Frejus Tunnel but there are plenty of comments on it in this section, just scroll down the headings!
We love Italy for holidays
0 -
I prefer the route through Switzerland because although it is more expensive, (unlike Austria you need a vignette for both the car and the caravan), for me it's the most direct route, taking the St. Gotthard tunnel, to Tuscany where we normally go, It's a doddle that way. This year we were able to spread the cost a bit because we went to Italy twice and the vignette is valid for one full calender year (no reduced rates for shorter stays).
1 -
On average the cheapest route is via the Fern Pass and Brenner pass as per other posts these represent no problem. Switzerland is the second overall costly option via St Gotthrad Tunnel again no difficulty. The most expensive are the Mont Blanc or Frejus Tunnels partly due to the autostrada toll charges into Italy especially down to Genoa. The autostrada approaching and around Genoa then on down southward is not the easiest stretch of road at the best of times, numerous tunnels and relatively narrow around Genoa.
It rather depends on which channel crossing you use and taking into account the overall distance via the three different options.
0 -
The Fern Pass is a major route but not motorway standard, I have attached a few photographs to this post. The Tunnel de Frejus is not near resort on the Med coast it is near St Jean de Maurienne in the mountains between France and Italy.
David
0 -
We always go via France and Basel then through the St. Gottard tunnel as described by Lutz. You could avoid some Autoroute tolls by going through Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany, joining the French Autoroute near Metz then going via Strasbourg to Basel which we have done. Not a great choice of sites in Belgium so plan that section carefully.
The route through France and Switzerland is the most direct to Maggiore and southern Garda but not the cheapest. If you are going to Venice then Austria may be the shorter route.
We often use the Simplon pass which has been extensively improved in recent years. There are a few hairpin bends at the start of the Italian side but generally, as the name suggest, it is a “simple” pass.
0 -
Thank you all for your very useful and encouraging replies.
I am looking forward to starting our trip planning.
Best regards
1
