INN · Austria
A short runway in the middle of the Tirol, surrounded by passes in every direction. The Brenner puts the Dolomites within two hours and the Silvretta within one.
Great roads in range
14
First road from the terminal
Deutsche Alpenstrasse Ost, about 40 min
Best months
Late June to early October
Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk
Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Drive times are estimates from the terminal to the start of each road, padded for mountain routing. How we score roads.
Last reviewed 19 March 2026
Ranked
01 · Lombardy and South Tyrol, Italy
Eighty four hairpins stacked above the treeline make this Europe's most theatrical mountain pass.
About 2 hr 23 min from the airport · 30.4 mi · Rating 9.9 / 10
Closed roughly November to May
02 · Salzburg and Carinthia, Austria
Austria's grandest high alpine road climbs to Franz Josefs Hohe beneath the country's tallest peak.
About 2 hr 20 min from the airport · 29.8 mi · Rating 9.8 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
03 · Tyrol and South Tyrol
A high toll road crossing into Italy with a dramatic glass museum perched at the summit.
About 52 min from the airport · 18.6 mi · Rating 9.5 / 10
Closed roughly October to May
04 · Trentino and South Tyrol, Italy
Sheer Dolomite towers on both sides make this short link one of the world's great scenic drives.
About 1 hr 56 min from the airport · 6.8 mi · Rating 9.6 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
05 · Veneto, Italy
Twenty nine hairpins climb to a wide open saddle ringed by the jagged Cinque Torri.
About 2 hr 5 min from the airport · 10.6 mi · Rating 9.6 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
06 · Bavarian Alps, Germany
Sweeping alpine curves link lake resorts on the way to the Austrian border.
About 40 min from the airport · 93.2 mi · Rating 9.4 / 10
Higher passes can close briefly after snow
07 · Lombardy, Italy
A narrow, unguarded ribbon past Lago Nero that feels wilder than its famous neighbour.
About 2 hr 23 min from the airport · 19.3 mi · Rating 9.6 / 10
Closed roughly October to June
08 · Trentino and South Tyrol, Italy
Twenty eight numbered hairpins climb to the highest paved point of the Dolomites road network.
About 1 hr 56 min from the airport · 8.1 mi · Rating 9.5 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
09 · South Tyrol, Italy
Limestone spires of the Sella group frame every one of this pass's flowing bends.
About 1 hr 51 min from the airport · 7.5 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
10 · Bavarian Alps, Germany
The western German Alpine Road weaves past castles beneath jagged limestone peaks.
About 2 hr 41 min from the airport · 55.9 mi · Rating 9.4 / 10
Some sections icy in winter
11 · Vorarlberg and Tyrol, Austria
Thirty four hairpins climb past the turquoise Silvretta reservoir to a glacier ringed summit.
About 2 hr 6 min from the airport · 13.7 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10
Closed roughly November to May
12 · Bavarian Alps, Germany
Germany's highest through road climbs to the border with views over the Watzmann massif.
About 2 hr 43 min from the airport · 9.9 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10
Closed by snow in deep winter
13 · Graubunden, Switzerland
Glaciers hang over the road as it threads past turquoise Lago Bianco to the Poschiavo valley.
About 2 hr 53 min from the airport · 20.5 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10
Usually open year round, snow chains possible
14 · Lombardy, Italy
A tunnel like gorge road carved into rock above Lake Garda, once called the world's best road.
About 3 hr 35 min from the airport · 4.3 mi · Rating 9.2 / 10
Practical
Small airport, small fleet, so book early in summer. Confirm that Italy is permitted if you plan to cross the Brenner.
Late June to early October. Prices and availability move sharply either side of those months, so lock the car in before the flights if you want anything more interesting than a diesel hatchback.