Europe
Austria
Glacier toll roads and quiet Tyrolean valleys.
Why drive here
Driving in Austria
Austria builds mountain roads the way other countries build cathedrals. The Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse is the obvious headline, a purpose built alpine road from 1935 that climbs to almost 2,500 metres on beautifully engineered hairpins with a glacier at the top, but the country hides a dozen more roads of the same quality with a fraction of the traffic.
The Tyrol holds the fast, high altitude stuff: Timmelsjoch running over into South Tyrol, Silvretta dropping to its turquoise reservoir, and the Arlberg linking ski valleys with wide open sweepers. Carinthia is gentler and greener, and the Nockalmstrasse there is possibly the most relaxed great road in the Alps, all rounded grassy summits and stone pines rather than bare rock.
Most of the best routes are toll roads, which sounds like a cost until you drive one. Surfaces are immaculate, barriers are well kept, and the traffic self selects. Pay the fee, start early, and you will have some of the finest tarmac in Europe more or less to yourself.
Regions
Where to drive in Austria
Editors' picks
Top 5 roads in Austria
Salzburg and Carinthia, Austria
Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse
Austria's grandest high alpine road climbs to Franz Josefs Hohe beneath the country's tallest peak.
Bruck an der Grossglocknerstrasse to Heiligenblut · 48 km · B107
Driving
9.7
Scenery
9.9
View full route
Tyrol and South Tyrol
Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstrasse
A high toll road crossing into Italy with a dramatic glass museum perched at the summit.
Solden to Moso in Passiria · 30 km
Driving
9.4
Scenery
9.6
Vorarlberg and Tyrol, Austria
Silvretta Hochalpenstrasse
Thirty four hairpins climb past the turquoise Silvretta reservoir to a glacier ringed summit.
Partenen to Galtur · 22 km · B188
Driving
9.1
Scenery
9.5
Carinthia, Austria
Nockalmstrasse
A rounded, grassy high plateau road with dozens of curves and long views over the Nockberge.
Ebene Reichenau to Innerkrems · 34 km · B78
Driving
8.3
Scenery
9
Tyrol and Salzburg, Austria
Gerlos Alpine Road
A scenic connector road ending near Austria's tallest waterfalls at Krimml.
Zell am Ziller to Krimml · 30 km · B165
Driving
8
Scenery
8.8
Quick facts
Planning your trip
When to go
Late May to early October, once the high toll roads open their gates. Book an early morning slot on the Grossglockner to beat the coaches.
What to drive
Anything with good brakes and a sense of humour about altitude. A naturally aspirated sports car sounds magnificent between the rock walls.
Sample itinerary
Tyrol to Carinthia in Five Days
5 days
Start in Innsbruck for Timmelsjoch and Silvretta, cross the Gerlos to Zell am See, then take the Grossglockner south and finish on the Nockalmstrasse.
The library
Every great road we have mapped in Austria
10 roads, scored for driving quality and scenery, with seasonal notes where they matter. Any of these can be threaded into a journey in the planner.
Tyrol
Kaunertal Glacier Road
Feichten to Weissseespitze · 26 km · L18
Twenty nine hairpins to a glacier at 2750 metres, one of the great dead end drives.
Toll road, upper section closed in deep winter
Driving
9
Scenery
9.5
Tyrol
Hahntennjoch
Imst to Elmen · 30 km · L246
A narrow Tyrolean pass of relentless corners, a local secret for years.
Closed from November to May
Driving
9.2
Scenery
9.1
Carinthia
Malta Hochalmstrasse
Gmund to Kolnbrein dam · 15 km
Six tunnels and a wall of hairpins to Austria's highest dam.
Open May to October, toll road
Driving
8.8
Scenery
9.3
Tyrol
Zillertaler Hohenstrasse
Ried im Zillertal to Hippach · 48 km
A balcony road along the valley wall with the Zillertal spread out beneath it.
Toll road, partly closed in winter
Driving
8.6
Scenery
9.2
Tyrol and Salzburg, Austria
Felbertauernstrasse
Mittersill to Matrei in Osttirol · 30 km · B108
A tunnel linked high road threading the Hohe Tauern range with fine glacier views.
Tunnel keeps it open year round
Driving
7.8
Scenery
8.9
Salzburg, Austria
Gaisbergstrasse
Salzburg to Gaisberg summit · 11 km
A historic hillclimb road with sweeping bends and views over Salzburg and its lakes.
Occasional winter closures in heavy snow
Driving
8
Scenery
8.6
Tyrol and Vorarlberg, Austria
Arlberg Pass Road
St Anton am Arlberg to Langen am Arlberg · 12 km · B197
The old road over the Arlberg saddle offers a quieter, scenic option beside the tunnel.
Usually open year round, snow chains possible
Driving
7.9
Scenery
8.6
Lower Austria, Austria
Wachau Danube Road
Melk to Krems an der Donau · 33 km · B3
A gently curving riverside road past terraced vineyards, abbeys and medieval ruins.
Driving
7.2
Scenery
9.2
Salzburg and Tyrol, Austria
Pass Thurn
Kitzbuhel to Mittersill · 24 km · B161
A gentle wooded pass linking the Kitzbuhel valley to the high Pinzgau region.
Usually open year round
Driving
7.5
Scenery
8.5
Carinthia, Austria
Loibl Pass
Ferlach to Trzic · 15 km · B91
A historic Karawanks crossing with tight forested bends toward the Slovenian border.
Occasional winter closures in heavy snow
Driving
7.6
Scenery
8.3