Why is Andermatt such a popular cycling destination ?
If you want to conquer some of the biggest cols in Switzerland then Andermatt arguably makes for the best base for a cycling holiday.Within easy access of the town you have some of the most epic climbs that should be on every cyclist’s bucket list. Gotthard, Furka, Oberalp, Susten, Grimsel, Nufenen, Lukmanier and Klausen are all accessible from Andermatt.
You can challenge yourself on what we would argue is one of the world’s greatest cycling loops. Head West out of Andermatt and tackle the mighty Furka Pass, which at an altitude of 2,431m is Switzerland’s third highest pass. Make sure you keep some energy in the tank since the Furka’s is 21 km from Andermatt and with some sections at over 8% can be a big enough ride on its own.
However, if you have the legs cycle down to the valley floor following the epic road that was made famous by James Bond’s Goldfinger. Ignore the signs on the right for the Grimsel pass and a bit further down you turn left to tackle the almighty Nufenen which at 2478 mt is another huge test for the legs. The descent takes you into Ticino, the Italian speaking part of Switzerland and the town of Airolo at 1175 mt. That’s a long way down from the top of the Nufenen! Hopefully you will have paced yourself since now its time to get back to Andermatt but first you have to climb the colossal Gotthard Pass.
We recommend you take the old Roman road called “the Tremola” which is still built out of cobblestones for a good third of the way up. Cobble stones are tolerable on the way up which is why we recommend to do this loop clockwise! In total this loop is 105km for 3100 vertical metres but in good weather it is one of the most rewarding rides we have ever done.
If you have recovered there is plenty more on offer for the enthusiastic rider in Andermatt. You can challenge yourself on the Susten pass and come back via the Grimsel and West side of the Furka for another fabulous day in the saddle.