Red/blue roads in Switzerland on Google maps
A traveler is planning a road trip around Lugano and seeking advice on the best scenic routes. They want to know whether to take the older blue roads or the newer red motorways when heading to Gotthard Pass and San Bernardino Pass for better scenery. Any additional tips for the journey are also appreciated.
- Take the older blue road to experience better scenery when traveling to Gotthard Pass, as the motorway goes under the pass in a tunnel.
- For San Bernardino Pass, both red and blue roads offer good views, but ensure you exit the new road before it enters the summit tunnel to enjoy the old pass scenery.
- Consider using Michelin maps for a clearer understanding of road types and their scenic value.
AI-generated summary-
Tried some google searches, but failed to find what I was looking for. Looking at Google maps, I can assume/conclude that ‘red’ roads are new motorways and ‘blue’ roads are older. I’m familiar with the required vignette for the motorways.
Specifically heading into/out of Lugano, Highway 2 (trying to view Gotthard Pass) – are both red/blue roads equally scenic, or do I want to do the blue road for better scenery?
And, again out of Lugano, Highway 13 (trying to experience San Bernardino Pass) – are both red/blue roads equally scenic, or do I want the blue road for the best scenery?
Any other tips/advice welcome. Thanks.
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Yes, on Google Maps, Highways (US English) aka Motorways (UK English) are the ones shown with a red route number in a pentagon ‘lozenge’. Original, ordinary roads have blue numbers in squares.
A better guide to road types is Michelin maps, who have been mapping world roads since 1910 with a specific aim to show the road types clearly to the traveller, with red for main old roads, red+orange for highways and yellow for secondary old roads, like here: geo.mapscompany.com/s/files/1/2512/4020/products/map-of-southwestern-switzerland-michelin-4_480x.jpg?v=1528134248
Their modern online maps are here: http://www.viamichelin.com/web/Maps
On the Gotthard you must take the old road for scenery. The Motorway is only in the valley and goes under the pass in a tunnel.
On the SanBernardino, you can use the new road to go up either side the views are good (Possibly better than the old road). However to go over the old pass you must make sure you come off before the ‘new’ road goes into the summit tunnel.
Hi Rmunson1 and welcome to MySwissAlps,
in addition to 1960man’s answer you’ll find useful information about the traffic at http://www.myswissalps.com/car/trafficinfo.
In case you are not used to driving in the mountains, please read this too: http://www.myswissalps.com/car/drivinginthemountains. Other practical tips can be found at http://www.myswissalps.com/car.
Safe trip!
Ildiko
Also see:
- Lugano: http://www.myswissalps.com/lugano
- CO2 compensation: http://www.myswissalps.com/co2compensation
Thanks
Thanks for the details.
Thanks for the viamichelin links – very helpful.
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