[Removed user]

26 December 2018 at 9:01:08 #819274

Hi. We are planning to drive from Milan to St Moritz in mid January. Few questions:

1. How are the road conditions?
2. Would we need snow chains?
3. How long does the trip take?

Thanks in advance for your help on this.

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[Removed user]

26 December 2018 at 9:16:32 #900921

Hi Tuli and welcome to MySwissAlps!

1. I can’t say how to road conditions will be in January. Currently you can get there via the Maloja Pass (probably your best route).
2. Winter tires are mandatory and snow chains might be required at the time you travel (or the pass may be closed completely).
3. 3 hours in the summer if traffic cooperates. Possibly quite a bit more in the winter. Also if the passes are closed you may be forced to travel a long way around via a car train or other method route

It is possible to do this if you are not in a rush (a long detour of a half day won’t impact your plans) and you are experienced driving in the mountains in winter conditions (and the rental car has the proper tires etc).

I would highly recommend traveling into and around Switzerland by train though (at any time, but especially in the winter).

Read more about driving in Switzerland here: http://www.myswissalps.com/ca r

[Arno]

27 December 2018 at 9:07:49 #900922

Hi Tuli,

Traveling by train would indeed be much better. You can take a train from Milan to Tirano, and then the scenic Bernina route from there: http://www.myswissalps.com/be rninaexpress.

[Slowpoke]

28 December 2018 at 1:16:50 #900923

Hi Tuli-

This forum- staff and members- thinks that is unwise to drive the Alps at that time of year.

We would be less concerned if you routinely drive snowy and icy mountain highways with no guard rails in the Winter.

Do you have that experience?

Slowpoke