5 Alpine Passes, 5 Convertibles: Switzerland's Open-Top Season

Convertible season on Alpine passes calls for matching the right open-top model to your touring days, not simply picking the fastest car in the fleet. A short-wheelbase roadster feels sharp on hairpins but tiring after a full day on the road; a four-seat cabriolet trades some agility for comfort on longer legs between Lucerne and Lugano. The passes open for a narrow window each year, and altitude changes both temperature and grip, so the choice made before departure shapes the whole day.

Reading the Pass Before the Car

When a route climbs past the tree line — Grimsel, Furka, Susten — wind exposure and quick temperature drops matter more than acceleration figures. A car with a fast-folding hardtop lets you close the roof within minutes when cloud rolls in near the summit, without losing the open-air feel through the lower switchbacks. Softtop convertibles are lighter and often better balanced through tight corners, which counts on roads built generations ago and now threaded with hairpins. Before booking, consider how many hours you will actually spend with the roof down versus how many at altitude in a jacket. A two-day loop mixing valley floor and pass crest usually rewards a car that manages both roles without drama — enough low-end response for slow hairpins, enough refinement for the descent into a lakeside town at day's end. Browse our [fleet](#) with this split in mind rather than by top speed alone.

Five Alpine Routes Worth the Roof Down

- Grimsel Pass — a granite landscape route linking the Bernese Oberland to Valais, best driven slowly with the roof stowed on a clear morning. - Furka Pass — long sweeping curves and a summit plateau that reward steady mid-range power over outright speed. - Susten Pass — smoother tarmac than its neighbours, suited to a coupe-cabriolet held at a cruising pace rather than pushed hard. - Simplon Pass — a historic route toward Italy, with a wider road surface that also suits a convertible SUV carrying luggage for a longer touring stretch. - Great St Bernard Pass — cooler even in midsummer, so a model with a quick-closing roof avoids losing time to weather near the top. - Klausen Pass — narrower and technical, favouring lighter open-top cars over long-wheelbase cabriolets.

See our [destination guides](#) for seasonal opening dates and current conditions on each of these before setting a departure day.

Convertible, Cabriolet or SUV for Longer Touring Days

Not every open-top day is a solo run up one pass. Couples touring for a week between Geneva, Zermatt and Lugano often cover more ground in a car with two useable rear seats and real boot space, rather than a strict two-seater. A convertible SUV or a four-seat cabriolet carries luggage for several nights away, keeps rear passengers comfortable on longer valley transfers, and still lowers its roof for the scenic stretches that justify the detour. Families extending a stay in Ticino into the mountains face the same reasoning — cabin space and ride comfort on secondary roads matter more than a marginally quicker straight-line pull. For a single day out of a base hotel, a compact two-seat roadster remains the sharper choice; for a multi-day loop touching two or three regions, a longer-legged convertible earns its place. Matching body style to itinerary, not badge, keeps a touring week comfortable rather than merely fast.

Handover at the Hotel, Residence or Airport

Alpine touring rarely starts and ends at the same address. A car collected at Zurich Airport or Geneva Airport in the morning can be dropped at a hotel in Lucerne or a private residence near St. Moritz once the pass has been crossed, removing a return leg that would otherwise eat into the following day. Delivery to a hotel forecourt or residence gate also suits guests arriving from a business stop who want the car ready and briefed — deposit, fuel policy and route notes covered — before the first hairpin. For groups timing a wedding or corporate event around a scenic drive, coordinating handover with the venue schedule avoids a car sitting idle at a depot for half a day. Local drivers familiar with pass closures and weather patterns can also flag which route suits the day's forecast, which matters more on these roads than on flatter touring routes elsewhere in the country.

Plan your drive

Convertible season on the passes is short, and the right car changes how much of it you actually enjoy with the roof down. Matching engine character, seating and handover point to the days you have — one pass or a full week — turns a fast car into the right car. Early thought given to route and collection point is what separates a good drive from a memorable one.