Samnaun

Why worthwhile? The narrow, winding roads and dark tunnels!

Starting point: Kajetansbrücke [Pfunds – Tirol, Oostenrijk]

Distance: 33 km

Details: Typically good mountain roads, the “southern” route from/to Viniadi is a bit more challenging however, with several narrow and dark tunnels.

Route description:

Coming from Pfunds we go right, before the Kajetansbrücke, towards Spiss and Samnaun (L348 Spisser Strasse). Immediately we ascend a large amount of altitude meters through several hairpin corners and past the flank of Noggler Wald we reach the small village Noggels. Going through it we follow the main road to Spiss, one of the highest located municipals of Austria.

Past Spiss we reach a fork in the road with our way back (Spissermühle), but for now we continue to drive up the mountain (418 Talstrasse) towards (the very tourist orientated) Samnaun. First Samnaun Compatsch and Samnaun Ravaisch follow, but we pass these to our left. Right near the entrance to the village we can park at a (reasonably large, paid) parking lot.

For the way back we first drive a bit back on the Talstrasse. Tip: you can fill up on petrol cheaply in Samnaun! There are several service stations on this road. Past Samnaun-Compatsch, we reach an exit to the right towards Vinadi and Martina (Samnaunerstrasse). This road is clearly less busy but also more challenging! A lot more bends, narrow and dark tunnels: a true “drivers road” :)

After a beautiful descent we reach the main road to Suscu (Unterengadin, also a recommended drive!). Here we take a left back to Kajetansbrücke and Pfunds, where we pass the Swiss/Austrian border right before the Kajetansbrücke (make sure you don’t have anything to declare ;).

Done in 2009.