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. 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

Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße is one of the most scenic and dramatic routes in the Austrian Alps. This panoramic toll road is 48 km long with 36 hairpin bends. 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 considered one of the most beautiful and popular panoramic roads in the Austrian Alps. The 'Dream road of the Alps' is 22.3 km long and leads in 34 curves up to 2.032m (6,666ft) above the sea level, providing unique views in a wonderful natural landscape. Expect steep turns and 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 (Passo del Rombo) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.479m (8,133ft) above the sea level, on the border of Austria and Italy, just some meters below the Queen of alpine roads, Passo dello Stelvio.

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. Topping out at 2.830m (9,285ft) above the sea level, it’s one of the highest roads of Europe. A sign warns “Mountain Road Only for Experienced Riders.”

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 the 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 1.804m (5,918ft) above the sea level, located in Austria.

Goldeck Panorama Road is a 5 stars road in Austria

Goldeck-Panoramastraße is a very scenic mountain drive in Carinthia, Austria. It offers breathtaking views of the Carinthian mountains and valleys. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.

Driving the Malta High Alpine Road with curves and tunnels

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 the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It’s one of the toughest climbs in international cycling.

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 the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Salzburg.

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 the sea level located on the boundary of Carinthia and Styria states of Austria. The road to the pass hits a 23% of maximum gradient.

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.

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 the sea level, located in the Tyrol state of Austria.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Villacher Alpenstraße is a road with 116 turns

Villach Alpine Road is a very scenic journey located in the Austrian province of Carinthia, near the Italian and Slovenian borders. It has seven bends and 116 turns with a maximum slope gradient of 10%. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.

The military Brenner Grenzkammstrasse road

Brennergrenzkammstraße is an old military road located along the border of Italy and Austria. The road is 45km long.

Wurzenpass is an epic climb in the Limestone Alps

Wurzen Pass (Wurzenpass or 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.