Dreaming of an alpine adventure? Well, the Great St Bernard Pass is an iconic way to explore the borderlands between France, Switzerland, and Italy – so get ready to explore everything this route has to offer with P&O Ferries routes between the UK and Europe!
So how did this destination get its name? Every year on the 28th of May, St Bernard’s Feast Day is marked in celebration of the legacy of St Bernard of Menthon. This is in honour of the service he offered with hostels and rescue dogs for French and German pilgrims crossing St Bernard’s Pass on their snowy route to Rome.
The famous Pass has also been cycled on the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia so if you’re travelling with a rack on your vehicle remember that you can bring this onboard with your ferry crossing – just remember to include the details of your vehicle’s full dimensions on your booking!
Getting to the Passes from P&O Ferries Ports
It’s worth knowing that P&O Ferries is a great option for anyone that hopes to explore Italy by car – bringing your vehicle onboard is simply a matter of driving onboard when you reach one of our ports. Remember to include any details of your car in your booking as you would with a bike booking!
Getting to the Great St Bernard Pass and Little St Bernard Pass from your arrival is simple whether you arrive at P&O Ferries Rotterdam Port or our P&O Ferries Calais Port.
From the French coastline, it takes just under nine hours via the A26 to reach the Great St Bernard Pass or if you’re roaming from Rotterdam it takes a little under eleven hours via the E411.
If you want to embrace the freedom of travelling on the open road, be sure to explore our van life guide. Learn more about how to make this self-sufficient travel trend work for you now!
The Grand St. Bernard Pass
Our amazing alpine destination is one of the highest passes in the Alps and takes you between the rolling hills of Switzerland and the lush landscapes of Italy.
Once you’ve reached this lookout, you might want to take some hikes around the area. Travelling from Switzerland to Italy by car is a long journey so for anyone exploring this part of Europe, it’s a must to plan a trip with plenty to do along the way!
You are likely to pass the Great St Bernard Hospice on this route – this site was opened by St Bernard himself during the 11th century and it still serves as a resting spot today for anyone that falls ill on the mountains.
The Great St Bernard Pass also has incredible historical context as it was built on Roman foundations and once acted as a gateway for Napoleon and forty thousand of his troops back in 1800!
Want to find even more routes for stunning summer road trips in Italy? From the awe-inspiring vistas of the Amalfi Coast to the delights of the Dolomites, there’s plenty to see on four wheels in the Italian countryside.
The Little St Bernard Pass
A few hundred metres below the first alpine pass on your road trip, you’ll find the Little St Bernard Pass.
Known locally as the Colle Del Piccolo San Bernardo, this road is normally open from May to October and at the highest point on the route, you can see a stone circle dating from the Iron Age!
If you’re a cycling fan, you’ll enjoy a visit to Petit St Bernard as it has featured on the Tour de France three times since its first appearance in 1949. Despite being smaller than the Great St Bernard Pass, this is one of the highest paved roads in Europe so you can count on incredible views.
As you explore this area, you’ll be nestled in between the Mont Blanc Massif to your north and the Graian Alps to your south. So, for any ski-lovers, journeying onwards to hit the slopes is a must once you’ve soaked up the alpine atmosphere for yourself.
