Malojapass, Switzerland
Malojapass, Switzerland

Photo by Patrick Federi on Unsplash

-12°C

Open, snow covered. Risk of slippery ice

Silvaplana - Casaccia

Snow covered between Casaccia and Vicosoprano

Winter tyres are obligatory for the whole winter period. Depending on the weather conditions, snow chains may be obligatory over a short period, or the pass may close Complete,


Unchanged valid since:: 26.11.2025, 13:53

History

A statement made by a geographer «An alpine pass that isn’t one …» aptly describes the Maloja Pass. Access from the north is very flat and falls very steeply southwards. The primary use of the Maloja Pass during Roman times was as an access route to the Julier Pass and through to the Tirol along the Via Claudia route. The Septimer Pass was more important as it was shorter and a more direct North-South connection.

For want of a road, it was mainly the traders from the Begell area that used the pass to transport their wares. It became a main transit route from the middle of the 14th century for the merchant family Stromer from Nürnberg. It was also used for transporting wine as it lead to the Murotto Pass and into the Val Malenco and Veltin area. An inn with stables was documented in Maloja in 1648. The pass became more travelled with the construction of a small road in 1776 and a more modern road, with 22 corners, was built in 1827. This road ended at Casaccia. The road was continued in 1840 down through Bergell and into Italy which took until 1859.

At the end of the 19th century, as many as 12‘000 horses per month went over the pass with the traders. A horse-drawn post coach travelled twice a week between Samedan and Chiavenna which was replaced by the PTT alpine wagon in  1919. The road was completely rebuilt in 1957 to roughly today’s standard. Construction of  the San Bernardino road tunnel in 1967 and the Gotthard tunnel in 1980 put an end to the transporting of goods over the Maloja Pass. 

Technical Data

South18 kmBondo (821 m.a.s.l.)4.6%0.1%1815 m.a.s.l.Silvaplana (1815 m.a.s.l.)North12 km
Cantons
Graubünden (GR), Graubünden (GR)
Distance
30 Km
Vertex
1815 m.a.s.l.
Max. gradient
9 %
Passable
open all year round
Restaurant
yes

Location

Map image
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Signalisation

Standort: Maloja
Standort: Maloja

Maloja - Casaccia:

  • Trailer ban for heavy trucks.
  • Semi-trailer vehicles permitted from 15.4 - 15.11.
  • Exceptions are possible and must be submitted in writing: see kapo.gr.ch / +41 81 257 72 50

Passes

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