The best motorcycle roads in Italy
Italy is where many riders first fall for mountain roads. The north holds the Stelvio, the most famous pass in the Alps, and the Dolomites, where a dozen passes thread between pale limestone towers within a morning of each other. Lake Garda adds cliff roads and tunnels above the water. Further south, the Apennines carry quiet, endlessly twisting roads between Bologna and Florence, and the coast roads of Campania and Tuscany give some of the most famous views in Europe.
This list ranks the roads we would plan a trip around. Most of the top places are in the north, because the density of great passes there is hard to beat, but the Apennines and the south earn their spots. Every entry gives the road number, a rough length, the months it is at its best and where to stay nearby.
Italian mountain roads are busy in July and August and on summer weekends. Some Dolomite passes have discussed traffic limits or tolls in peak season, and rules change, so check the local province before you go.
1. Stelvio Pass (Passo dello Stelvio)
- Road
- SS38
- Length
- About 50 km
- Best season
- June to October
At 2,757 metres the Stelvio is the second-highest paved pass in the Alps and the most famous. The north-east side from Prato allo Stelvio climbs through 48 numbered hairpins stacked up the mountainside under the Ortler, the classic view on every poster. The Bormio side is less dense but just as dramatic, with tunnels and galleries in the lower section. It opens when the snow is cleared, usually in late May or June. Go early in the morning: by midday the hairpins are crowded.
2. Sella Ronda
- Road
- SS242, SS48, SS243 and SS244
- Length
- About 55 km
- Best season
- June to September
A loop of about 55 km around the Sella massif over four passes: Passo Sella, Passo Pordoi, Passo Campolongo and Passo Gardena, all between roughly 1,875 and 2,244 metres. You can ride it in either direction in a couple of hours, but stop often: the rock walls of the Sella and the Sassolungo are right beside the road. The surfaces are generally good and the hairpins well built. It is very busy in summer, so ride it first thing, or late in the afternoon when the coaches have gone.
3. Great Dolomites Road (Grande Strada delle Dolomiti)
- Road
- SS241 and SS48
- Length
- About 110 km
- Best season
- June to September
The historic road across the Dolomites links Bolzano with Cortina d’Ampezzo, crossing the Costalunga (Karerpass), Pordoi and Falzarego passes. It starts in the gorge of the Val d’Ega, climbs past the Latemar and Lake Carezza, and then runs through the heart of the range. The road was built for tourism and the surface and bends reflect that: wide, smooth and flowing. Ride it east to finish in Cortina, or as a day out from a base in Val di Fassa or Arabba.
4. Passo Giau
- Road
- SP638
- Length
- About 30 km
- Best season
- June to September
The Giau climbs to 2,236 metres between Cortina and Selva di Cadore, and many riders rate it the best pass in the Dolomites. The south side from Selva is a steep, tight series of hairpins through larch forest; the top is an open grassy saddle under the Ra Gusela and Nuvolau, with one of the finest views in the range. The road is narrower than the main passes and the surface can be patched. Combine it with the Falzarego and Valparola for a perfect half-day loop from Cortina.
5. Gavia Pass (Passo di Gavia)
- Road
- SS300
- Length
- About 45 km
- Best season
- Late June to September
The Gavia links Bormio with Ponte di Legno over 2,621 metres, and it is the wild counterpart to the Stelvio next door. The southern side is narrow, often single-lane, with steep drops, few barriers and blind bends; the northern side through Santa Caterina is wider. The landscape at the top is high and bare, with a lake and a refuge. It opens late and can close in bad weather even in summer. Ride it with care, and ride it with the Stelvio for one of the great days in the Alps.
6. Strada della Forra (Lake Garda)
- Road
- SP38
- Length
- About 10 km
- Best season
- April to October
Above the west shore of Lake Garda, the Strada della Forra climbs from the lake road between Limone and Campione up a narrow gorge to the plateau of Tremosine, through tunnels cut into the rock and tight bends hanging over the canyon. It is short but unforgettable, and best ridden slowly: it is barely wide enough for two cars in places. Pair it with the Gardesana Occidentale (SS45bis) along the shore, with its run of lakeside tunnels, and the hill roads behind Tignale for a full day.
7. Passo San Boldo
- Road
- SP635
- Length
- About 17 km
- Best season
- April to October
One of the strangest pass roads in the Alps: on the climb from Tovena, the road switches back on itself through a series of tunnels and bridges cut into a vertical rock face, so that the hairpins are partly inside the mountain. It is single-lane in the tunnels, controlled by traffic lights, with a 30 km/h limit. The full road between Trichiana and Tovena is about 17 km. It is a short detour from the Dolomites toward the Prosecco hills around Valdobbiadene, and well worth it.
8. Penser Joch (Passo di Pennes)
- Road
- SS508
- Length
- About 65 km
- Best season
- June to October
The Penser Joch climbs to 2,211 metres between Bolzano and Vipiteno (Sterzing), through the long, quiet Val Sarentino. The southern half is a narrow, twisting valley road with old tunnels; the northern climb is open, with fast bends above the treeline and views to the Zillertal Alps. It is much quieter than the big Dolomite passes and makes a natural link between Bolzano and the Brenner, Jaufen pass or Timmelsjoch on a day trip toward Austria.
9. Futa Pass (Passo della Futa)
- Road
- SS65
- Length
- About 60 km
- Best season
- March to November
The old main road over the Apennines between Bologna and Florence is a rider's road from start to finish: smooth, flowing bends through forest and farmland, climbing to the Futa pass at about 900 metres. Since the motorway took the traffic, it has become a weekend meeting place for riders from both cities, and the Raticosa pass on the same road is just as good. Lower than the Alps, it is rideable for much of the year. Expect police on summer Sundays.
10. Chiantigiana
- Road
- SR222
- Length
- About 70 km
- Best season
- April to October
The SR222 runs through the heart of Chianti from Florence to Siena, about 70 km of rolling hill road through vineyards, olive groves and stone villages such as Greve, Panzano and Castellina. It is gentle riding rather than demanding, with sweeping bends and short climbs, and the reason to ride it is the landscape and the lunches. Branch off onto the white roads only on an adventure bike. Add the roads around Radda and Gaiole for a full Chianti day.
11. Amalfi Coast road
- Road
- SS163
- Length
- About 50 km
- Best season
- April to June, September to October
The SS163 runs about 50 km along the cliffs from Positano to Vietri sul Mare, through Amalfi and past villages stacked above the sea. It is one of the most beautiful roads in the world and one of the busiest: narrow, with blind bends, buses that need both lanes and scooters everywhere. In July and August it is close to unrideable, and the authorities have used plate-based traffic limits on busy days, so check the current rules. In spring or autumn, early in the morning, it is magical.
How to plan a trip around these roads
The Dolomites suit a base-and-loop trip: stay three or four nights in Val Gardena, Val Badia, Arabba or Cortina, and you can ride the Sella Ronda, Giau, Falzarego and Great Dolomites Road as day loops. The Stelvio and Gavia are a day further west, around Bormio; combine them with the Swiss passes or the Timmelsjoch into Austria.
Ride the famous passes early. By late morning in summer the Stelvio and the Sella passes are full of cars, coaches and cyclists, and the hairpins are slow. Late June and September give the best mix of open passes and lighter traffic.
- Italian motorways are tolled; mountain passes are free.
- Many town centres have ZTL (limited traffic) zones with cameras; do not ride into them unless your hotel has registered your plate.
- High passes close for winter and can shut at short notice after snowfall. Check the province road authority before you go.
- Fuel stations in the mountains often close at lunchtime and use card-only pumps out of hours.
More of the best motorcycle roads
Questions riders ask
What is the best motorcycle road in Italy?
The Stelvio Pass is the most famous, with its stack of hairpins on the Prato side. Many riders rate the Passo Giau in the Dolomites as the best ride, and the Sella Ronda is the classic loop.
When are the Stelvio and the Dolomite passes open?
The Stelvio usually opens in late May or June and closes in October or early November, depending on snow. Most Dolomite passes are open from June to October, and some stay open through winter. Check the province road authority before you go.
Are there tolls on Italian mountain passes?
Most passes are free. Italian motorways are tolled. Some Dolomite passes have discussed peak-season access limits or charges, so check the local rules before your trip.
Where should I stay to ride the Dolomites?
Val Gardena, Val Badia, Arabba and Cortina are all good bases, with the Sella Ronda, Passo Giau and the Great Dolomites Road within a morning’s ride.
Can I ride the Amalfi Coast on a motorcycle?
Yes, and a bike is often easier than a car. Avoid July and August, ride early in the day, and check current traffic rules, as the authorities have restricted traffic on busy days.