Passo Pordoi (Grande Strada delle Dolomiti)

The undisputed king of European alpine passes and the second highest paved mountain pass in the Alps at 2,757 meters (9,045 ft). Renowned worldwide for its 48 numbered stone-walled hairpin turns (tornanti) stacked like ribbons on the northeast ramp ascending from Trafoi, paired with 34 switchbacks and narrow tunnels on the Bormio southwest ascent (82 hairpins total). Toll-free on the Italian side. Strictly seasonal snow closures: opens late May/early June and closes November. Demands precise first-gear clutch control, assertive apex lines, and heightened situational awareness around heavy tourist buses.

The crown jewel of motorcycle touring in the Italian Dolomites, circumnavigating the monumental vertical fortress of the Sella Massif across four legendary passes: Passo Sella (2,244m), Passo Gardena (2,121m), Passo Campolongo (1,875m), and Passo Pordoi (2,239m). Toll-free roads. Full circuit is best from June through October. Offers non-stop switchbacks, mirror-smooth asphalt, and jaw-dropping vistas of the Langkofel (Sassolungo), Cir peaks, and Marmolada.

Regarded by seasoned riders as the most pure, technical, and photogenic alpine pass in the Dolomites. The western ascent from Selva di Cadore is an unrelenting climb with 29 tight switchbacks and 10-14% continuous gradients. The summit at 2,236m (7,336 ft) sits in a vast high alpine pasture directly under the sheer needle of Ra Gusela and Nuvolau, with 360-degree views of the Tofane and Marmolada. Toll-free. Closed November to late May.