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12 Pass trips and panoramic routes with the yellow Postbus

The postbus is a popular and well-known means of transport throughout Switzerland. There's hardly a village so remote that at least a few times a day, a postbus doesn't go there. But you can also find the iconic yellow buses in the cities.

The fact that postbuses are available all over Switzerland, especially known for reaching remote places and valleys, comes with a fantastic bonus: Many of the routes offer stunning views and can be considered panoramic trips. For this reason, we want to introduce you to what we believe are the most beautiful postbus trips in Switzerland.

Many of them cross mountain passes and are therefore only in service during the summer months. Get ready to be surprised…

The best part about these trips is that with the Swiss Travel Pass, you can ride all these routes. You won’t need any additional ticket since all the rides are included. If you live in Switzerland, it’s best to use the GA, a regular route ticket, or even a day pass. You can buy this up to 6 months before your planned trip, and the earlier you buy it, the cheaper it gets.

A selection of well-known mountain passes in Switzerland

The following pass rides run from late June to early October. The longest ride offered takes you over four passes and 208 km in 8 hours and 45 minutes. It starts and ends in Meiringen.

Along the way, you'll cross these four passes:

• Grimsel Pass
• Nufenen Pass
• Gotthard Pass
• Susten Pass

In Switzerland, there are a total of 120 mountain passes. Some of the most famous passes include:|Mountain Pass|connects the valleys|Elevation (m a.s.l.)|Length (km)|Notable features along the way| |--------------|------|---:|------:|----| |Grimsel Pass|Haslital (Bernese Oberland) and Goms (Valais)|2164|6|especially Grimsel Reservoir and power plant facilities| |Gotthard Pass|Talschaft Urseren (Region Lucerne, Lake Lucerne) and Valle Leventina (Ticino)|2091|11|Gotthard Fortress, view of the Tremola (old mountain road)| |Julier Pass|Oberhalbstein (Grisons) and Engadin (Grisons)|2284|36|numerous small lakes along the pass (including Lai da Marmorera) and Engadin lake district| |Susten Pass|Reusstal (Region Lucerne, Lake Lucerne) and Haslital (Bernese Oberland)|2224|45|through 25 tunnels and over 25 bridges; Devil's Bridge, Schöllenen Gorge| |Nufenen Pass|Äginatal (Valais) and Val Bedretto (Ticino)|2478|18|Griessee, Gries Glacier| |Malojapass|Bergell (Grisons) and Engadin (Grisons)|1815|31|Sils Lake, Silvaplaner Lake| |Furkapass|upper valley of the Reuss (Urserental in Lucerne, Lake Lucerne) with Goms (Valais)|2436|16|Rhone Glacier with the ice grotto| |Albulapass|Albulatal (Bergün, Grisons) and La Punt (Engadin, Grisons)|2315|22|Piz Ela, a mountain mass in the shape of a gigantic dome| |Lukmanier Pass|Surselva (Grisons) and Bleniotal (Ticino)|1920|18|Lai da Sontga Maria| |Stelvio Pass (Italy)|Lombardy, Switzerland, and Trentino (South Tyrol)|2757|24|48 winding turns on the Italian side|

Here we present some particularly beautiful panoramic and pass rides. Some of them are served several times a day by PostBus, so you can easily get off and get back on the next PostBus. On other trips, you're better off staying seated as they only run once a day.😃

Palm Express over the Maloja Pass (Line 631): St. Moritz - Lugano

The Palm Express connects two stunning landscapes. You travel from St. Moritz, right along Lake Silvaplana and Lake Sils. The bus leaves the glaciers and lakes of the Engadin through the Maloja Pass. The journey continues through Italy to Lugano with its palm trees. Along the way, you'll also pass by Lake Como and Lake Lugano. This route is popular and scenic in both directions. Line 631 operates once a day and requires a seat reservation.

• Book Palm Express on Swiss Activities

Route: St. Moritz - Silvaplana - Sils - Maloja - Casaccia - Chiavenna - Gravedona - Menaggio - Cima - Gandria - Cassarate (Monte Brè) - Lugano, Stazione Nord

Steepest PostBus Ride (Line 220): Reichenbach in Kandertal - Griesalp

A truly unique experience awaits you on the PostBus ride between Kiental and Griesalp, where you’ll tackle 20 hairpin turns. In this short stretch, you’ll ascend 550 meters in altitude, and the PostBus navigates roads with inclines of 20 to 28%. You’ll be amazed at how the driver maneuvers through the curves with millimeter precision. This final section of the PostBus journey is on a one-way street.

To reach Kiental from Reichenbach in Kandertal, you'll travel through the Scharnachtal, where you’ll already climb 250 meters.

Line 220 operates several times a day. As this PostBus does not have an integrated lift, you need to register if you are using a wheelchair.

• Book the PostBus ride Reichenbach-Griesalp at Swiss Activities

Route: Reichenbach i. K. - Scharnachtal - Kiental - Pochtenalp - Griesalp

Gotthard Pass Trip (Line 110): Andermatt - Airolo

This pass has connected Central Switzerland with Southern Ticino for centuries. The old stagecoaches used to travel the winding Tremola route, which you can still admire today from the postbus. It's now a protected monument.

The current Tremola still features 13 bridges, a tunnel, and long avalanche galleries. Noteworthy are the two Devil's Bridges over the Schöllenen Gorge. You can get off at various spots along this mountain road but check the timetable beforehand to continue your journey later.

• Book the Gotthardpass postbus ride at Swiss Activities

Route: Andermatt - Hospental, Village - Mätteli - Gotthard Pass Summit - Airolo

Julier Pass Drive (Line 182): Chur - St. Moritz

From Chur, you drive alongside Lake Heidsee and Lenzerheide, enjoying a stunning view of the Albulatal valley. The journey continues through the Ela Regional Nature Park, leading you to Bivio and onward to the Julier Pass. The route operates multiple times, and if your onward journey is secured, feel free to hop off along the way and take in the beautiful lakescape at the pass. On the other side, you'll gaze at the mountains and the icy giants around Piz Bernina.

• Book the PostBus ride over Julier Pass at Swiss Activities

Route: Chur - Churwalden - Lenzerheide - Tiefencastel - Mulens - Marmorera - Julier - Silvaplana - St. Moritz

Nufenen Pass Ride (Line 111): Airolo - Oberwald

The Nufenen Pass summit is at 2478 m above sea level, making it the highest mountain pass in Switzerland. It connects the Ticino in the east with the Valais in the west. The postbus climbs 1300 meters in altitude from Airolo to the pass summit. On the way back, it descends 1100 meters. This route takes 2 hours and 10 minutes and runs only twice a day.

The view from the pass summit looks west towards the Bernese Alps, featuring the 4274 m high Finsteraarhorn. To the southwest, you can spot the still brightly glowing Gries Glacier, the Gries Lake, and the Nufenenstock, whose peak reaches 2866 m above sea level.

• Book a Postbus ride over the Nufenen Pass at Swiss Activities

Route: Airolo - Bedretto - Nufenen Pass summit - Ulrichen - Obergesteln - Oberwald

Lukmanier Pass Trip (Line 481): Disentis/Mustér - Lukmanier

You can reach the Swiss mountain pass by taking the post bus from the north through the Val Medel. This valley connects Graubünden further south of the Lukmanier Pass with the Ticino.

The Vorderrhein accompanies you during your journey, sometimes on the left and later on the right side in the direction of travel. It is finally dammed at the Lukmanier Pass in the Lai da Sontga Maria. The pass height is 1920 m above sea level and can be reached in 34 minutes by post bus.

This line runs multiple times a day, so you can definitely get off when you know when the next post bus is due.

• Book Lukmanier Pass post bus trip at Swiss Activities

Route: Disentis/Mustér - Mumpé Medel - Curaglia - Platta - Lukmanier Pass Height

Grimsel Pass Drive (Lines 161 and 111): Meiringen - Oberwald - Airolo

This route is stunning but also quite long. It takes you first to the Grimsel Pass, which reaches an elevation of 2,163 m above sea level. It connects the Bernese Oberland with the Upper Valais. The large Grimselsee is a reservoir that you can admire from the pass. Later, at the Nufenen Pass, you'll get to see the Gries Glacier and the Gries Lake.

The postbus on Line 161 runs from Meiringen to Oberwald. From Oberwald, it changes to Line 111. The entire journey takes about 3 hours and 30 minutes. However, it runs multiple times, so you can easily hop off along the way and catch the next bus. Just make sure to check ahead for the last departure time to avoid any unpleasant surprises.

• Book the Postbus journey to Grimsel and Nufenen Pass with Swiss Activities

Route: Meiringen - Aareschlucht - Innertkirchen - Grimsel Pass - Oberwald - Obergesteln - Nufenen Pass height - Bedretto - Airolo

Stelvio Panorama Express Postbus Ride (Line 821): Müstair or Tirano - Stelvio Pass

The Stelvio Pass, at 2,757 m above sea level, is the second highest mountain pass in the Alps that can be traversed by vehicle. It's located in South Tyrol, Italy, so be sure to bring your passport or ID for the trip. The ride only operates once a day, so it's not a great idea to hop off along the way.

Beginning in Müstair, the Panorama Express first travels through the Münstertal valley and along the Umbrail Pass. The Umbrail Pass rises to 2,500 m above sea level before leading into the Stelvio Pass, which reaches 2,757 m above sea level. The views along the way are incredibly stunning, easily overshadowing the many challenging switchbacks.

• Book the Postbus Ride to Stelvio Pass (Stelvio) at Swiss Activities

Route: Müstair - Umbrail - Stelvio Pass/Stelvio - Bormio - Tirano

Postbus Ride to Val Sinestra (Line 925): Scuol - Val Sinestra

This ride takes you through the beautiful Lower Engadin in a postbus. Val Sinestra was even voted Valley of the Year in 2011. The Lower Engadin is wilder and narrower than the Upper Engadin. Here, the Inn rushes over rocks, carving its way through narrow canyons.

The trip takes about half an hour and runs several times a day. You can hop off along the way to take in the scenery or go for a hike. Just make sure to get back on the next postbus—don't leave it to chance. Check the timetable in advance.

• Book your postbus ride to Val Sinestra from Scuol (round trip) at Swiss Activities

Route: Scuol - Sent - Val Sinestra

Maloja Pass Day Trip to Soglio (Routes 4 and 632): St. Moritz - Soglio

The postbus on route 4 starts its journey in St. Moritz, passing along the shores of Lake Silvaplana and Lake Sils. The Maloja Pass, at an elevation of 1,812 m above sea level, connects the Engadin with the Bergell region in Graubünden. This pass has been an important crossing since Roman times, when the first packhorse trails were established. However, the first road was only built in the 18th century.

To reach Soglio, you'll switch to route 632 in Promontogno, traveling along the southern Bergell mountains toward Soglio. Piz Bacun and the Ago di Sciora are clearly visible on the left side heading towards Soglio, reaching about 3,200 m above sea level. The trip takes approximately 1.5 hours and runs multiple times a day.

• Book the postbus ride Maloja Pass St. Moritz - Soglio at Swiss Activities

Route: St. Moritz - Silvaplana - Sils - Maloja Pass - Vicosoprano - Promontogno - Soglio

Domleschg and San Bernardino Ride (Line 171): Chur - Bellinzona

From Chur, you’ll be taking the postbus through a wide valley. The Domleschg Valley is well-known for its many castles. The journey continues along the Viamala Gorge until Thusis. Then, you’ll travel through the 6.6 km San Bernardino Tunnel, leading you along the Lepontine Alps, with peaks soaring up to 3,500 m above sea level.

The postbus takes 2 hours and 19 minutes for this trip, with multiple departures each day. So, if you know when the next postbus is leaving, you can hop off along the way and explore the area.

• Book your postbus ride between Chur and Bellinzona on Swiss Activities

Route: Chur - Thusis - Splügen - Medels - Nufenen - St. Bernardino - Lostallo - Bellinzona

Postbus ride to the highest village in Switzerland (Line 552): Andeer - Juf

The highest location in Switzerland accessible by postbus is Juf (Avers). It's inhabited all year round and sits at an elevation of 2,126 meters above sea level, right above the tree line. On the way there, you first pass the Rofla Gorge and then continue through the Ferrera Valley.

The postbus takes 51 minutes for the journey and runs several times a day. So you can hop off during the day and catch a later postbus to continue your trip.

• Book the postbus ride from Andeer to Juf on Swiss Activities

Route: Andeer - Ferrera - Avers - Juf (Avers)

Swiss passes are known for their breathtaking landscapes. The PostBus journey allows you to experience this beauty up close. From snow-capped peaks to picturesque valleys and crystal-clear lakes, they offer an impressive backdrop.

Whichever of these passes you choose, you won't regret it. On the way, the view of a beautiful and varied landscape is guaranteed. The narrow roads, steep climbs and winding serpentines also offer an exciting driving experience.