daba78

Hello all

I was planning to drive from Milan to the Bernese Oberland, then on to Munich and back down through Innsbruck and cortina to Venice airport.
I was wondering if the roads will be clear of snow at this time of year. I will start on May 23 and go till June 3. Have read a few posts that say don't worry about it, But i cant help but feel I am booking this trip at the wrong time of year. It is the only time I can get off work. Hoping to have a Spring time, early summer feel, not a wintery one, as I am from Canada and am sick of winter.

Please any advice or experiences will help

Thank you

PalenQ

the main roads go thru tunnels under the Alps not up and over them and are rarely if ever blocked - they are major trans-European thoroughfares for commerce so Switzerland especially has put tons into tunnels to expedite transit passage of heavy lorries, etc thru their mountainous country.

I doubt if the approach roads in Italy and Switzerland are ever blocked by snow at that time of year.

The Simplon Tunnel links Italy and Switzerland under the Simplon Pass and is similar a rail tunnel with car shuttles:

https://www.sbb.ch/en/station-servic...n-simplon.html

and you can put your car on a train at Iselle - just beyond Domodossola and stay on the train under Kandsersteg - from where low level roads go to Interlaken:

And the Lotschberg Tunnel - you drive your car onto the shuttle trains at Visp and off at Fruitigen, then flat roads to Interlaken

So put angst to rest.

If roads are clear it is a real treat to drive up and over the Simplon Pass though obviously slow:

https://www.google.com/search?q=simp...w=1745&bih=863

I took a postal bus over it and didn't seem too daunting to drive and up top is so so awesome!

massimop

http://www.momstotszurich.com/2017/0...king-may.html/

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopi...n_of_Bern.html

http://www.myswissalps.com/forum/top...-in-early-june

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntr...may-early-june

PalenQ

then on to Munich and back down through Innsbruck and cortina to Venice airport.>

Oops forgot about the other Alpine roads and my comments only apply to Switzerland routes but think that there should be no problems either at least on Munich-Innsbruck-Brennero Pass - Cortina is at low altitude - 4,000 ft so should be no problems as long as you stick to roads in valleys.

Melnq8

We were in Switzerland in late May this year and were surprised to arrive in the middle of a heatwave. We'd intentionally gone in May to avoid the heat and the summer tourists. It was miserable for a few days, but lush green and the wildflowers were amazing.

The only snow we saw was when we crossed the Oberalppass (2,033 meters) on the train between Disentis and Andermat and that wasn't really snow, just piles of leftover dirt bergs.

I think you're smart to travel in May - I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

PalenQ

https://www.google.com/search?q=edel...w=1745&bih=863

Yeah when hiking if hiking the Alpine flowers may have you start singing "Edelweiss":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuQkZD3F2EQ

daba78

Thanks so much every on, Your input has really put me at ease.
Cant wait to start booking. Hope I can help others in the future the way you have all helped me

kja

I've been in the area at that time of year when avalanches closed a number of routes.

I don't believe you can predict, in advance, what the weather will be.

Public transportation in the area is excellent -- convenient and comfortable. You might want to give it some serious consideration.

nochblad

Remember that to drive on the motorways in Switzerland your car will have to display a "vignette" (which you stick to the inside of your windscreen). This currently costs 40 swiss francs and covers the whole of the year. This link should help - https://en.comparis.ch/autoversicher...nvignette-2017

neckervd

Roads open in the second half of May for sure:

Milan - Ivrea - Aosta - St. Rhémy (1600 metres above sea level) - Gd St. Bernard road tunnel - Martigny - Aigle - Pillon Pass (1550 m) - Gstaad - Spiez - Interlaken - Brienz - Brunig Pass (1000 m) - Stans - Altdorf - Klausenpass (1948 m) - Niederurnen - Kriessern - Altach - Memmingen - Munich,

Milan - Domodossola - Simplon Pass (2000 m) - Gampel - Goppenstein, Kandersteg - Spiez ......, car shuttle trains Goppenstein - Kandersteg,

Milan - Gotthard road tunnel - Altdorf - Stans - Brunig Pass - Brienz - Interlaken ....,

Munich - Garmisch or Kufstein - Innsbruck - Brenner - Franzensfeste - Toblach - Cortina d'Ampezzo - Calalzo - Venice,

Munich - Kufstein - Mittersill - Felbertauern road tunnel - Lienz - Innichen - Kreuzberg - Sto Stefano - Calalzo - Venice,

Munich - Salzburg - Tauern road tunnel - Villach - Tarvis - Udine - Venice