LJU · Slovenia
The Vrsic pass is an hour away, the Dolomites are four and the Croatian coast is three. A small airport in a very good location.
Great roads in range
14
First road from the terminal
Nockalmstrasse, about 1 hr 43 min
Best months
May to 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 8 May 2026
Ranked
01 · Salzburg and Carinthia, Austria
Austria's grandest high alpine road climbs to Franz Josefs Hohe beneath the country's tallest peak.
About 3 hr 33 min from the airport · 29.8 mi · Rating 9.8 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
02 · Veneto, Italy
Twenty nine hairpins climb to a wide open saddle ringed by the jagged Cinque Torri.
About 3 hr 46 min from the airport · 10.6 mi · Rating 9.6 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
03 · Trentino and South Tyrol, Italy
Sheer Dolomite towers on both sides make this short link one of the world's great scenic drives.
About 4 hr 19 min from the airport · 6.8 mi · Rating 9.6 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
04 · Dalmatian Coast
The Magistrala hugs bare karst cliffs above island studded blue water for hours.
About 2 hr 56 min from the airport · 111.8 mi · Rating 9.4 / 10
Bura winds can close exposed sections in winter
05 · Trentino and South Tyrol, Italy
Twenty eight numbered hairpins climb to the highest paved point of the Dolomites road network.
About 4 hr 19 min from the airport · 8.1 mi · Rating 9.5 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
06 · Istria
A hairpin climb over the Ucka massif with the whole Kvarner gulf laid out below.
About 2 hr 4 min from the airport · 13.7 mi · Rating 9.1 / 10
Fog and ice on the summit in winter
07 · Bavarian Alps, Germany
Germany's highest through road climbs to the border with views over the Watzmann massif.
About 3 hr 59 min from the airport · 9.9 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10
Closed by snow in deep winter
08 · South Tyrol, Italy
Limestone spires of the Sella group frame every one of this pass's flowing bends.
About 4 hr 12 min from the airport · 7.5 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10
Closed roughly November to April
09 · Velebit
A wild Velebit crossing of endless hairpins between the Zrmanja canyon and the sea.
About 5 hr 5 min from the airport · 20.5 mi · Rating 9.3 / 10
Snow gates close the pass in winter
10 · Lika
Deserted forest curves through the Lika highlands towards the famous lakes.
About 2 hr 32 min from the airport · 43.5 mi · Rating 8.8 / 10
Snow between December and March
11 · Carinthia, Austria
A rounded, grassy high plateau road with dozens of curves and long views over the Nockberge.
About 1 hr 43 min from the airport · 21.1 mi · Rating 8.7 / 10
Closed roughly November to May
12 · Istria
Vineyard ridges and truffle woods link two of Istria's medieval hill towns.
About 2 hr 17 min from the airport · 11.2 mi · Rating 8.7 / 10
13 · Veneto and South Tyrol, Italy
The gentlest of the Sella Ronda passes but with knockout views of the Sella massif.
About 4 hr 10 min from the airport · 3.7 mi · Rating 8.9 / 10
Occasional winter closures in heavy snow
14 · Gorski Kotar
Deep green fir forest and cool switchbacks in Croatia's most alpine corner.
About 1 hr 59 min from the airport · 18.6 mi · Rating 8.6 / 10
Heavy snow in winter
Practical
Buy the motorway vignette at the desk or the first service station. Cross border to Croatia and Italy is usually straightforward.
May to 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.