North-South Route - Nord-Süd-Route

The North-South route leads from Basel above Andermatt to Chiasso.

Route profile

• Length: 363 km
• Of which unsurfaced: 30 km
• Signposting: The route is as North-South Route No. 3 signposted.
• Slopes:

Basel – Chiasso: 3320 m

Chiasso – Basel: 3320 m

• Inclines with Veloverlad in train, bus ship

Basel – Chiasso: 700 m

Chiasso – Basel: 750 m

• Path condition: 30 km unpaved
• Traffic load:
• Suitable bike:
• Requirement: easy to medium, traffic experience
• Fitness: Teenagers, adults
• Inline suitability:
• Good to know: Sursee - Sempach, Brunnen - Flüelen, Göschenen - Andermatt, Cadenazzo - Bironico are busy main roads. Alternatives: rail loading. St. Gotthard Passhöhe - Airolo cobblestones, unsuitable for unsprung bikes.

background

preparation

getting there

Public transportation

Many places on the routes from Cycling in Switzerland can be reached by train or bus. (please refer Bicycle transport in Switzerland)

By bicycle

You can arrive by bike at the following locations: Basel (Rhine route, Jura route), Aarau (Mittelland route, Aare route), Lucerne (Lakes route), Stansstad (Alpine panorama route, Lakes route), Altdorf (Alpine panorama route), Andermatt - Hospental (Rhone route, Rhine route), Bellinzona - Arbedo (Graubünden route)

Route description with sights

Basel - Aarau: 57 km

• Of which unsurfaced: 5 km
• Places:Basel, Muttenz, Pratteln, Liestal, Gelterkinden, Ormalingen, Oltingen, Stüsslingen, Aarau
• Altitude difference

Basel - Aarau: 700 m

Aarau - Basel: 570 m <

• Altitude meters with Veloverlad in train, bus ship

Basel – Aarau: 210 m

Aarau – Basel: 50 m

• Requirement: medium
• For: Teenagers, adults

Aarau - Lucerne: 56 km

• Of which unsurfaced: 15 km
• Places:Aarau, Schöftland, Sursee, Sempach, Rothenburg, Emmen, Lucerne
• Altitude difference

Aarau - Lucerne: 220 m

Lucerne - Aarau: 170 m

• Altitude meters with Veloverlad in train, bus ship

Aarau - Lucerne: 220 m

Lucerne - Aarau: 170 m

• Requirement: light
• For: Families, young people, adults
• Good to know: Sursee – Sempach main road with a lot of traffic.

Lucerne - Flüelen: 50 km

• Of which unsurfaced: 0 km
• Places:Lucerne, Stansstad, Beckenried, Gersau ferry, Fountain, Sisikon, Flüelen
• ferry: Lake Lucerne car ferry: Beckenried − Gersau
  Distance: 4 km, travel time: 20 min., Fare: CHF 7, children up to 16 years: CHF 4, by bike: CHF 10, children: CHF 5
• Altitude difference

Lucerne – Flüelen: 220 m <

Flüelen – Lucerne: 220 m

• Altitude meters with Veloverlad in train, bus ship

Lucerne – Flüelen: 70 m

Flüelen – Lucerne: 60 m

• Requirement: medium, traffic experience
• For: Adults
• Good to know: Ferry Beckenried - Gersau: Operation ceased from mid-October to mid-March. Brunnen - Flüelen dangerous and busy main road. Alternative: rail or ship loading.

Flüelen - Airolo: 63 km

• Of which unsurfaced: 0 km
• Places:Flüelen, Altdorf, Erstfeld, Göschenen, Andermatt, Hospental, Gotthard Pass, Airolo
• Altitude difference

Flüelen - Airolo: 1680 m

Airolo - Flüelen: 960 m

• Altitude meters with Veloverlad in train, bus ship

Flüelen - Airolo: 40 m

Airolo - Flüelen: 0 m

• Requirement: high
• For: Adults
• Good to know: Göschenen - Andermatt main road with dangerous tunnels. Alternative: rail loading. Pass open from around June to October. Information Tel. 163 or [1]; Pass height - Airolo cobblestones, unsuitable for unsprung bikes. Alternative: main street.

Airolo - Bellinzona: 65 km

• Of which unsurfaced: 5 km
• Places:Airolo, Faido, Biasca, Arbedo, Bellinzona
• Altitude difference

Airolo - Bellinzona: 40 m

Bellinzona - Airolo: 950 m

• Altitude meters with Veloverlad in train, bus ship

Airolo - Bellinzona: 40 m

Bellinzona - Airolo: 100 m

• Requirement: easy to medium
• For: Families, young people, adults

Detour to Locarno and Ascona

From Bellinzona to:

• Locarno 22 km
• Ascona 26 km

Bellinzona - Chiasso: 72 km

• Of which unsurfaced: 5 km
• Places:Bellinzona, Giubiasco, San Antonio, Monte Ceneri, Rivera-Bironico, tavern, Agno, Melide, Mendrisio, Chiasso
• Altitude difference

Bellinzona - Chiasso: 460 m

Chiasso - Bellinzona: 450 m

• Altitude meters with Veloverlad in train, bus ship

Bellinzona - Chiasso: 120 m

Chiasso - Bellinzona: 370 m

• Requirement: medium, traffic experience
• For: Adults
• Good to know: Cadenazzo - Bironico busy main road. Alternative: rail loading.

Other places to stay

security

trips

Only the national and international routes are listed here. Regional routes still run in many regions and places.

• Basel

Rhine route · see also: Rhine cycle route and Rhine Valley Path

Jura route

• Aarau

Mittelland route

Aare route

• Lucerne

Lakes route

• Stansstad

Alpine panorama route

Lakes route

• Altdorf

Alpine panorama route

• Andermatt - Hospental

Rhone route

Rhine route · see also: Rhine cycle route

• Bellinzona - Arbedo

Graubünden route

References to literature and maps

Web links