Roads of 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.
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 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.
A winding unpaved road to the historic Loibl Pass
Loibl Pass is an international mountain pass at an elevation of 1,367m (4,485ft) above sea level, located on the border of Austria and Slovenia. It’s considered one of the oldest mountain passes in Europe.
Adventure along the wild road to Starkenburger Hütte in the Stubai Alps
Starkenburger Hütte is a high mountain hut at an elevation of 2,237m (7,339ft) above sea level, located in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol.
Driving the scenic Schlegeis Alpenstraße
Located in the province of Tyrol, in Austria, the Schlegeis Alpenstraße is a very scenic mountain road winding its way up into the breathtakingly beautiful mountains. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.
Nassfeld Pass, a classic road trip in the Carnic Alps
Nassfeld Pass (Passo di Pramollo) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.534m (5,032ft) above the sea level, located on the Italian-Austrian border.
Staller Sattel, a 5 stars road in the Alps
Passo Stalle (Staller Saddle) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.061m (6,761ft) above the sea level, located on the Austria–Italy border. Drive at moderate speed. You’re not on a race.
Driving the Pustertaler Höhenstrasse road
Pustertal High Alpine Road is a very scenic journey in the heart of the Austrian state of Tyrol with fabulous views. The road is a delight to drive, with every kind of twist and turn. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.
Niederalpl Pass, a scenic drive in the Austrian Alps
Niederalpl Pass is a mountain pass at an elevation of 1.232m (4,041ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Styria.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Katschberg Pass
Katschberg Pass is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.641m (5,384ft) above the sea level, located in the Central Eastern Alps in Austria.
Driving the scenic Kalser Glocknerstraße
Located in the Austrian state of Tyrol, the Kals Glockner Road (Kalser Glocknerstraße) is a very scenic journey through many hairpin bends. It’s one of the scenic Austrian Alpine roads.
Pfitscherjoch is an awe-inspiring route in the Zillertal Alps
Pfitscherjoch (Passo di Vizze) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.276m (7,467ft) above the sea level located on the border of Italy and Austria. Nestled in the Zillertal Alps, the pass links Tyrol, Austria, and South Tyrol, Italy.
A memorable road trip to Reschenpass in the Alps
Reschenpass-Passo di Resia is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.522m (4,993ft) above the sea level, located in the Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol region of Italy, not far from the Austrian border.
Strubklammstraße, one of the narrowest roads in Austria
Located in the state of Salzburg, and running along the Almbach river, the Strubklammstraße is one of the narrowest roads in Austria.
A very bumpy, grueling road to Karlsbader Hütte
Karlsbader Hütte is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.244m (7,362ft) above the sea level, located in the heart of the Lienz Dolomites, in the Austrian state of Tyrol.
A very demanding road to Gaisskarferner
Gaisskarferner is a high mountain chairlift at an elevation of 3.168m (10,393ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol. It's one of the highest roads of Europe.
Furkajoch, an iconic road in the Austrian Alps
Furkajoch is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.761m (5,778ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian Alps in the Bundesland of Vorarlberg.
A memorable road trip to Peter-Anich-Hütte
Peter-Anich-Hütte is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.909m (6,259ft) above the sea level, located in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Expect sections that are as steep as 30%.
A truly outstanding 4x4 adventure to Krummholzhütte
Krummholzhütte is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 1.838m (6,026ft) above the sea level located in central Austria, in the Liezen district of Styria.
The unpaved road to Klammljoch
Klammljoch (Passo di Gola) is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.288m (7,507ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Austria and Italy. The road to the summit is unpaved and closed to motorized vehicles, but can be traversed by bicycle.
A delightful yet challenging road to Finstertalspeicher
Finstertalspeicher is a reservoir at an elevation of 2.325m (7,627ft) above the sea level, located in Tyrol, in western Austria.
The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Edelweissspitze
Edelweissspitze is a high mountain road located in the Austrian state of Salzburg. It’s a sideroad of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
A curvy road to Hochtannberg in the Austrian Alps
Hochtannberg is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 1.676m (5,499ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian Alps in the Bundesland of Vorarlberg.