To get to Austria from Switzerland, you generally have to cross the mountains. Here is a selection of the most spectacular Alpine passes which will make the journey to the European Championship an experience in itself.

Riedberg Pass (Germany)

If you’re planning to travel via Kempten to Zurich or Innsbruck, we recommend travelling via the Riedberg Pass. This connects the towns of Fischen in German and Hittisau in Austria and is the highest mountain pass in Germany.

The road is very narrow and winding, surrounded by dense woodland. A few hundred metres past the summit, the road branches off to the Grasgehren Alpine hut where we suggest that you take a break for a bite to eat. The specialties from the Allgäu region come highly recommended. From Hittisau, you can either go through the Arlberg Tunnel towards Innsbruck for which you will have to pay a toll or travel via St. Gallen to Zurich.

Height: 1,420 meters

Length: 14 kilometres (9 miles)

Gradient: 16 percent

Albula Pass (Switzerland)

The Albula Pass connects the Albula valley with the Engadin between the towns of Alvaneu Bad near Tiefencastel and La Punt. If you would prefer not to take the motorway from Innsbruck to Zurich, Bern or Basel, a detour over the Albula Pass provides a much more scenic alternative.

The roads, which are narrow and deserted in places, overlook vertical drops. At the summit of the pass, take a quick break and enjoy the spectacular mountain scenery and view of the Inntal valley. If you fancy stopping for a bite to eat, there is a guesthouse at the top. On the western side, the pass follows the course of the spectacular Albula railway. The Swiss have nominated the Albula railway and Albula region for inclusion on the list of UNESCO world cultural heritage sites.

In extreme weather conditions, the pass is closed off.

Height: 2,312 meters

Length: 40 kilometres (25 miles)

Gradient: 12 percent

Flüela Pass (Switzerland)

The Flüela Pass connects the town of Susch in the Lower Engadin with the health resort of Davos and is one of the most important transport links between Davos and the Lower Engadin. If you want to experience the thrills of a true Alpine ‘metropolis’ on your way from Austria to Switzerland, you should take the route over the Flüela Pass.

At the summit of the pass, you can grab a bite to eat at the guesthouse, enjoy the magnificent panoramic view of the mountains or revive yourself with a short walk to the Schottensee lake.

Height: 2,383 meters

Length: 26 kilometres (16 miles)

Gradient: 12 percent

Klausen Pass (Switzerland)

The drive over the Klausen Pass is both spectacular and beautiful. It takes you through the towns of Linthal and Altdorf and is an alternative to the motorway when travelling from eastern to western Switzerland.

The pass zigzags through woodland and later snakes through meadows. At the summit of the pass, take some time to enjoy the panoramic view of the magnificent Urner Alps. In the romantic settlement of Urnerboden, you can have lunch at the Gasthaus Urnerboden.

Height: 1,948 meters

Length: 47 kilometres (29 miles)

Gradient: 9 percent

Furka Pass (Switzerland)

The Furka Pass connects the Urserental valley in the canton of Uri with the Goms region in the canton of Valais. At the summit of the pass, there is a breath-taking long distance view to the west. On a good day, you can even see the Matterhorn.

Further along the road to Goms, you reach the Hotel Belvédère, which usually opens in mid-June after the winter break, regaling guests with specialities from the Valais. From the hotel you can access the Rhone glacier and its ice cave. In 1964, some scenes from the James Bond film Goldfinger were filmed at the Furka Pass.

Height: 2,436 meters

Length: 31 kilometres (19 miles)

Gradient: 11 percent

Glaubenberg Pass (Switzerland)

The Glaubenberg Pass connects the towns of Sarnen and Entlebuch, approximately 60 kilometres east of Bern. From the pass, there is a magnificent view of the imposing 3,238 metre high Titlis, the surrounding peaks and Lake Sarner.

At the top, there is a small hut selling light refreshments. If you would prefer to sample some country fare, we recommend visiting the Langis Hotel restaurant situated just below the summit of the pass.

Height: 1,543 meters

Length: 32 kilometres (12 miles)

Gradient: 13 percent

Piller Höhe (Austria)

The pass over the Piller Höhe connects the towns of Prutz in upper Inntal and Wenns in the Pitztal valley. When travelling from Austria to Switzerland, this road is an alternative to the Nadelöhr Landeck.

At the summit of the pass, take a quick break at “Gacher Blick” a 700 metre high viewpoint from which you can look out across the Oberinntal Valley. The ‘Kultplatz’ on the Piller Höhe was used by the Romans as a sacrificial stone in 1,500 BC.

Height: 1,558 meters

Length: 17 kilometres (11 miles)

Gradient: 18 percent

Großglockner Hochalpenstraße (Austria)

This mountain pass dotted with guesthouses and restaurants connects the towns of Fusch and Heiligenblut. The Hochalpenstraße is a scenic section of the route between Innsbruck and Klagenfurt.

There are numerous viewpoints along the way where you can stop to enjoy the scenery, including the highest mountain in Austria, the Großglockner (3,798 metres). However, you are unlikely to be on your own as the pass is a tourist attraction. Just under a million visitors use the road every year. For cars, use of the road costs €28.

Height: 2,571 meters

Length: 47 kilometres (29 miles)

Gradient: 10 percent

Kühtai Saddle (Austria)

The Kühtai Saddle runs almost parallel to the A12 motorway and connects the town of Gries in the Sellraintal valley with the town of Ötz. The pass is therefore an ideal alternative when travelling to and from Innsbruck.

From Ötz, the road zigzags past the Finstertal-Stausee until it reaches the village of Kühtai which is located at the summit of the pass. Kühtai is Austria’s most elevated ski resort and the food on offer lives up to this lofty status. Those who prefer something a little more peaceful can stop for a bite to eat on the edge of the village. Caution, cows crossing!

Height: 2,017 meters

Length: 41 kilometres (25.5 miles)

Gradient: 16 percent

Fern Pass (Austria)

The Fern Pass between Lermoos and Nassereith is the shortest route between Germany and Austria. It was created about 10,000 years ago by an enormous landslide and was an important trade route for the Romans. About two kilometres from the summit, there is an exceptional view of the back of the Zugspitze. At the Zugspitze viewpoint, there is also a restaurant serving Tyrolean specialties. Approximately four kilometres beyond the summit, you will see Fernstein Castle.

Be aware that the pass is a popular route.

Height: 1,209 meters

Length: 22 kilometres (14 miles)

Gradient: 8 percent

Turracher Höhe (Austria)

This mountain pass connects the towns of Predlitz and Ebene Reichenau approximately 80 kilometres north west of Klagenfurt. You reach the summit after negotiating numerous bends, and from here there is a magnificent view of the Turracher Lake and stone pine forests.

There are numerous restaurants and guesthouses if you want to take a break. For those with more time on their hands, a toboggan run is open throughout the year which will send you hurtling down 1,600 metres of mountain. Otherwise, you can go walking in the Nockberge National Park.

Height: 1,763 meters

Length: 30 kilometres (19 miles)

Gradient: 20 percent

Silvretta High Alpine Road (Austria)

This magnificent pass with a compulsory toll includes 32 hairpin bends between Partenen and Galtür and is an alternative route from Austria and Switzerland. There are numerous viewpoints which offer a view of the magnificent, ice-capped summit of the Silvretta Group.

At the summit of the pass, known as the ‘Bielerhöhe’, is Europe’s highest reservoir on which you can take a motorboat trip.

Height: 2,032 meters

Length: 26 kilometres (16 miles)

Gradient: 14 percent

Col Des Montets (France)

Travelling to Geneva via the French town of Chamonix is certainly not the quickest route. However, it’s worth taking a detour through France if you are travelling from Bern or western Switzerland to enjoy the views of Mont Blanc which you can see from places such as the summit of the pass.

From here, you can also see the Glacier d'Argentière.

Height: 1,461 meters

Length: 36 kilometres (22 miles)

Gradient: 7 percent