Splügen Pass - A Historic Alpine Road

It's not just a physical challenge — it's a road that tells a story. Splügen is one of the great Alpine crossings, and also one of the first modern carriage roads built to create a stable link between the north and the south of the Alps. You start from the central lake area and ride along Lake Como up to Colico. From here you take the fully paved cycle path that climbs steadily through the valley, bringing you to the foot of the climb. Then the real work begins: the Splügen Pass. Around 30 km of continuous climbing, from the valley floor at roughly 300 m up to over 2,100 m, right on the Swiss border. It’s long and demanding — and that’s exactly why it leaves a mark. A few kilometres before the summit you pass through Montespluga, a high-altitude hamlet overlooking Lake Montespluga: one of the most beautiful points of the route, perfect for a short stop before the final stretch. The return is clean and rewarding: about 30 km of descent back into the valley, then the cycle path again towards Colico and the lakeside ride home.