Simplon Pass, Brig to Domodossola, Switzerland

The Simplon Pass runs from Brig in Switzerland over into Italy at Domodossola. The pass reaches a height of 2000 metres above sea level. The pass is open pretty much all year round, unlike the St Gotthard Pass and various others. In recent years, much engineering has been done, creating new bridges and tunnels making this transit easier for the driver. The pass runs from Brig – Domodossola and is about thirty-six miles long.

The Simplon Pass, Domodossola to Brig

There’s always time for a lakeside coffee and cake at Maggiore

From Maggiore, the journey is easy, with several pull in places and even a couple of “sostas” should you need to top up the van with water.

Italian sosta before the Swiss border when heading north

There are customs/border formalities. If your motorhome is over 3500kg, you will need to purchase the Swiss tax/toll for road usage – yes, even though you are not on a motorway. Once in Switzerland, we listened to the sound of cow bells…

Simplon Pass – Brig to Domodossola

A few months later, we were back over the Simplon Pass, this time from Switzerland towards Italy. This journey saw us leave Brig is lovely sunshine, temperatures of about twenty degrees centigrade, but at the top, where we spent the night at the Simplon Hospiz, the temperature was just above zero. The temperatures fell sharply overnight.

A modern bridge eliminates some of the hair pin bends

One of the road bridges forming part of the Simplon Pass

As we climbed, the scenery changed to a whiter shade of white!

And finally….we spent the night at the top of the pass, in the Hospiz carpark, after agreeing this with the manager. Details of the night stop can be found here.

There are several Swiss websites offering information about mountain passes. This one is particularly useful as it also features weather reports.