Nufenen Pass

Valais


At Ulrichen, 21km on the Valais side of the Furka Pass, a clearly marked road turns southeast and twists its way south out of the Valais and into the mountains that separate the canton from Ticino. Impressively barren country leads you to the Nufenen Pass (Passo di Novena) at 2478m, probably the most remote gateway into Switzerland’s Italian canton. Dropping down the other side, the first major town is Airolo, 24km east of the pass along the quiet Val Bedretto.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Valais attractions

1. Furka Base Tunnel

4.26 MILES

This 15km-long tunnel, opened in 1982, plays an important part in the history of the Furka Pass. It runs from Oberwald in Valais to Realp, 8km short of…

2. Grimsel Pass

6.29 MILES

From the tiny Valais village of Gletsch (1762m; 10km to the Furka Pass), a steep 6km hairpinned road climbs north to the mighty Grimsel Pass (2164m),…

3. Furka Pass

6.43 MILES

Marking the cantonal frontier with Uri is the vertiginous Furka Pass (2431m), the run up to which offers superlative views over the fissured Rhône glacier…

4. Robiei Dam

6.48 MILES

At the end of the Val Bavona, just after San Carlo, a cable car rides up to Robiei dam and its startlingly turquoise reservoir, tailor-made for a day’s…

5. Rhône Glacier

7.36 MILES

Coming from Valais, the mesmerising Rhône Glacier is first seen from the tiny hamlet of Gletsch. This glacier is the source of the Rhône River, which…

6. Museo Nazionale San Gottardo

10.19 MILES

Once at the top of the St Gotthard Pass, visit the Museo Nazionale San Gottardo, which covers the commercial, political and cultural significance of the…

7. Val Bavona

11.61 MILES

A smooth road follows a mountain stream through this valley, where narrow meadows are cradled between steep rocky walls. Its tightly huddled stone and…

8. Walserhaus

12.1 MILES

The heritage of Valais immigrants is explored in the artefacts on display at the stone-and-wood Walserhaus, which provides snapshots of a more rural way…

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