What are the most spectacular roads in Austria?
Nestled in the heart of Central Europe, Austria beckons with its majestic Alpine landscapes and a web of roads that traverse these natural wonders. Among these, the Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße stands out, a feat of engineering that snakes through the Austrian Alps, providing drivers with unrivaled panoramas and an adrenaline-charged experience. Not to be outdone, the Silvretta Hochalpenstraße, often dubbed the 'Dream road of the Alps,' lives up to its moniker with its sweeping vistas and cascading landscapes that are nothing short of picturesque.
Then there's the challenge of Timmelsjoch, rising as the crown jewel of the Ötztal Alps, testing the mettle of drivers with its steep gradients and demanding turns, all while rewarding them with views that seem plucked straight from a postcard.
Indeed, each road in Austria is a journey, not just in distance, but also in the sensory delights they offer. From undulating valleys to the rugged mountain tops, these routes are not merely stretches of asphalt; they are experiences, capturing the very essence of Austria's awe-inspiring beauty.
Austria has some of the most exciting mountain roads and exhilarating driving experiences of the world. With incredible views, narrow tunnels, countless hairpins, steep inclines and twisty turns, the country offers 12 scenic Alpine drives.
Whether you're a driving enthusiast or a nature lover, these roads promise an odyssey that etches itself into memory, capturing the spirit of Austria's mesmerizing landscapes.
Driving the legendary Grossglockner High Alpine Road in the Alps
Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße is one of the most scenic and dramatic routes in the Austrian Alps. Along the way, you will have a driving and nature experience of a special kind on 48 kilometers of high alpine road. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.
Silvretta High Alpine Road is the Dream Road of the Alps
Silvretta Hochalpenstraße High Alpine Road is renowned as one of the most stunning and popular panoramic routes in the Austrian Alps, earning its title as the 'Dream road of the Alps.' Stretching 22.3 km, this winding road encompasses 34 curves, ascending to an elevation of 2.071m (6,794ft) above sea level, offering breathtaking views within a captivating natural landscape. The journey unfolds through steep turns, sharp bends, endless serpentines, and a superb panorama.
Top 12 Scenic Alpine Roads in Austria
Austria has some of the most exciting mountain roads and exhilarating driving experiences of the world. With incredible views, narrow tunnels, countless hairpins, steep inclines and twisty turns, the country offers some fantastic scenic drives.
Timmelsjoch is the highest pass of the Ötztal Alps
Timmelsjoch Pass, also known as Passo del Rombo, is an international high mountain pass located at an elevation of 2,479m (8,133ft) above sea level, on the border of Austria and Italy, just a few meters below the renowned Passo dello Stelvio, the Queen of alpine roads.
The journey is the destination along the Ötztal Glacier Road in the Alps
Located in the Austrian state of Tyrol, the Ötztal Glacier Road (Ötztaler Gletscherstraße) is one of the most scenic drives in the Alps. A sign warns, “Mountain Road Only for Experienced Riders.” Topping out at 2,830m (9,285ft) above sea level, it’s one of the highest roads in Europe.
Plöcken Pass-Passo di Monte Croce Carnico is an absolute must for road lovers
Plöckenpass-Passo di Monte Croce Carnico is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.370m (4,494ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Austria and Italy.
Brenner Pass is the lowest Alpine pass
Brenner Pass is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1,370m (4,495ft) above sea level located on the Italian-Austrian border.
Driving the 5 stars road to Arlberg Pass in Austria
Arlberg Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1,804 m (5,918 ft) above sea level, located in Austria.
Goldeck Panorama Road is a 5 stars road in Austria
Goldeck-Panoramastraße is a very scenic mountain drive located in Carinthia, in Austria. It offers breathtaking views of the Carinthian mountains and valleys. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.
Driving the curves and tunnels of Malta High Alpine Road
Malta-Hochalmstraße is a very scenic drive full of curves and tunnels, located in the Carinthia state of Austria.
Zillertal High Alpine Road is one of the best mountain roads of Austria
Zillertaler Höhenstraße is a very scenic mountain road located in Austria’s western state of Tyrol. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.
The inhumane climb to Kitzbuhler Horn with 22% ramps
Kitzbüheler Horn is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.967m (6,453ft) above sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It’s one of the toughest climbs in international cycling.
A brutally steep (23%) road to Turracher Hohe pass in Austria
Turracher Höhe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.802m (5,912ft) above sea level located in Austria. The road to the pass hits a 23% maximum gradient.
A classic road trip to Radstadter Tauern Pass
Radstädter Tauern Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.740m (5,708ft) above sea level, located in the Austrian state of Salzburg.
A steep and busy road to the top of Fern Pass in Austria
Fernpass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1,212m (3,976ft) above sea level, located in the Tyrol state of Austria.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Austrian Solk Pass
Sölk Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.793m (5,882ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Styria.
Kaunertal Glacier Road: 26 km, 29 hairpin turns and 1,500 m change in elevation in the Alps
Kaunertal Glacier Road is an alpine road climbing up the Kaunertal Glacier, at 2.750m (9,022ft) above the sea level. It’s the fifth highest paved road in the Alps and one of the highest roads of Europe. It covers 26 kilometres with a total of 29 bends and an altitude difference of 1,500 metres.
Kühtai Saddle is an absolute must for road lovers in Austria
Kühtai Saddle is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.021m (6,633ft) above the sea level, located in the state of Tyrol, in Austria.
Großer Oscheniksee is a brutal climb (20%) in Austria
Großer Oscheniksee is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.390m (7,841ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian region of Carinthia. It’s an epic, monster, killer climb with a gradient of 20% in parts.
Driving the scenic Gerlos Alpine Road in Austria
Located in the state of Salzburg in Austria, the Gerlos Alpine Road is a very exciting journey. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.
Gerlitzen Alpine Road is a sensational drive south of the Alps
Gerlitzen Alpe Panoramastraße is a very scenic toll road located on the north shore of Lake Ossiach in the heart of Carinthia, Austria.
The road to Großsee is a chillout in the high mountains of Austria
Großsee is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.481m (8,139ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Spittal an der Drau in the Austrian state of Carinthia.
Driving the scenic road to Hahntennjoch Pass in the Austrian Alps
Hahntennjoch is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.897m (6,223ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian federal state of Tyrol. The road to the summit offers wonderful views along serpentine curves and alpine landscapes.
A paved road to Flexen Pass in the Austrian Alps
Flexen Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.781m (5,843ft) above the sea level, located in the Bundesland of Vorarlberg.
A paved mountain road to Klippitztorl Pass in Austria
Klippitztörl Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.642m (5,387ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Carinthia.
A paved road to Bielerhohe Pass in the Austrian Alps
Bielerhöhe Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.071m (6,794ft) above the sea level, located on the boundary of Vorarlberg and Tyrol, in Austria.
The pure adventure road to Viderjoch in the Alps
Viderjoch is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.737m (8,979ft) above the sea level located on the border ofAustria and Switzerland. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Driving through the Hochtor Tunnel on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, with breathtaking views of the Austrian Alps
Located on the border of the Austrian states of Salzburg and Carinthia, the Hochtor Tunnel ascends to an elevation of 2,504m (8,215ft) above sea level, making it a high mountain tunnel.
Discovering Austria's Nockalm Road: An Unforgettable Drive with 52 Hairpin Bends
Nockalmstrasse (Nockalm Road) is a breathtakingly beautiful drive in Carinthia, in the Karnten region of Austria. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.
Rosi Mittermeier is the highest road tunnel in Europe
Rosi Mittermeier Tunnel is a high mountain tunnel at an elevation of 2.830m (9,285ft) above the sea level located in the Ötztal Valley, in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It’s said to be the highest road tunnel in Europe.
Vyšší Brod Pass: The Ultimate Road Trip Guide
Vyšší Brod Pass is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 752m (2,467ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Austria and the Czech Republic.
Navigating Pillerhohe in Austria: An Alpine Journey on Piller Landesstrasse
Pillerhöhe is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.573m (5,160ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.
Villach Alpine Road is a scenic drive with 116 turns
Villacher Alpenstraße is a picturesque journey located in the Austrian province of Carinthia, nestled near the Italian and Slovenian borders. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads. It boasts seven hairpin turns and an impressive 116 curves. Built in 1965, this toll road has remained a testament to engineering and nature's beauty.
The Ascend to Grosser Speikkogel: Navigating the Steep Roads of the Lavanttal Alps
Grosser Speikkogel is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.130m (6,988ft) above the sea level, located in the extreme east of Carinthia on the border with Styria, in Austria.
Driving the Military Brenner Grenzkammstrasse Road
Brennergrenzkammstraße is an old high mountain military road located along the border between Italy and Austria.
Driving the paved road to Wurzen Pass in the Limestone Alps
Wurzenpass-Korensko Sedlo is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1.073m (3,520ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Austria and Slovenia.