What are the most spectacular roads in Austria?

Covering an area of 83,871 square kilometres and sharing borders with 8 countries (Germany, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland and Liechtenstein), Austria is a mountainous country, set high in the central part of Europe.

Set high in the Alps, the country provides challenging yet scenic mountain roads for every driver, the scenic Alpine roads, with stunning views of mountains, valleys, lakes, and forests. While in the country, don’t forget to drive the Silvretta High Alpine Road, the Dream Road of the Alps. It’s one of the most stunning and popular panoramic routes in the country. At 22.3 km long, this curvy road encompasses 34 curves and reaches 2.071m (6,794ft) above sea level. Also worth taking is the 48km long drive through the legendary Grossglockner High Alpine Road.

Also, don’t miss the Timmelsjoch, the highest pass of the Ötztal Alps. Also known as Passo del Rombo, is an international high mountain pass on the border with Italy, situated just a few meters below the iconic Passo dello Stelvio. Remember to plan carefully your trip, because Austria has a temperate continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters.

The Roseggerhaus is an Alpine hut at an elevation of 1.576m (5,170ft) above the sea level, located in northeastern Styria, Austria.

Unterer Bockhartsee is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 1.869m (6,131ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Salzburg.

Einzeiger is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.751m (9,025ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Stubnerkogel is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.232m (7,322ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Salzburg.

Bergstation Grubenkopfbahn is a chairlift at an elevation of 2.806m (9,206ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Magnetköpfl is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.690m (8,825ft) above the sea level, located southwest of Salzburg, in Austria.

Gossenköllesee is a high Alpine lake at an elevation of 2.445m (8,021ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Sillianer Hütte is a high mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.428m (7,965ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Austria and Italy.

Situated in the heart of the Verwallgruppe Mountain Range in the Austrian Tyrol, Darmstädter Hütte is a high-altitude mountain hut at an elevation of 2,383m (7,818ft) above sea level. While it is a popular destination for mountaineers, the service road leading to the hut is one of the most demanding unpaved climbs in the Arlberg region, reserved only for those with the right vehicle and experience.

Schareck is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.552m (8,372ft) above the sea level, located in Carinthia, Austria.

Hohe Mut is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,652m (8,700ft) above sea level, located in the Ötztal Alps in the Tyrol region of Austria. This summit is a legendary destination for off-road drivers, offering one of the most demanding climbs in the Eastern Alps, with breathtaking views of surrounding glaciers and 3,000-meter peaks.

Zupalseehütte is an alpine mountain refuge at an elevation of 2.339m (7,673ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Kaprun Hochgebirgsstauseen is a high mountain reservoir at an elevation of 2.038m (6,686ft) above the sea level, located in Salzburg, Austria.

Dobratsch is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 2,143m (7,030ft) above sea level, located in the Austrian province of Carinthia. Known for its massive telecommunications tower and historic churches, the summit is accessed via a spectacular but demanding route that transitions from a modern alpine road to a rugged mountain track.

Hoadl Haus is a high mountain bar at an elevation of 2.338m (7,670ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Located in the Pinzgau region within the state of Salzburg, Schattberg West is a prominent mountain peak reaching an elevation of 2,087m (6,847ft) above sea level. Part of the Kitzbühel Alps, the summit is accessible via a technical ski-station service road that serves the local lift infrastructure and the Westgipfelhütte refuge.

Located in the Pinzgau region of Salzburg, Austria, Schwarzwand is a high mountain peak reaching 2,173m (7,129ft) above sea level. The road to the summit is a functional service track designed for ski resort maintenance and chairlift access, starting from the town of Rauris.

Located in the Oberpinzgau region of Salzburg, Wildkogel is a high mountain peak reaching an elevation of 2,086m (6,843ft) above sea level. Situated in the heart of the Kitzbühel Alps, this peak offers a fascinating mountain landscape, but the road leading to the summit is a grueling test of power and traction, originally designed as a service road for the local ski station and chairlifts.

Rotmoosalm is an alpine hut at an elevation of 2.037m (6,683ft) above the sea level, located in the beautiful Gais valley, in the district of Innsbruck-Land in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Kreuzkogel is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.643m (8,671ft) above the sea level, located south of Salzburg, in Austria.

Zeblasjoch is an international high mountain pass at an elevation of 2,535m (8,316ft) above sea level, situated on the border between Austria and Switzerland. Located within the Samnaun Alps, the pass is reached via the Zeblastrasse, a technical unpaved road that serves as a high-altitude link between the Samnaun and Ischgl valleys. The 5 km route from Samnaun is characterized by extreme gradients and is strictly impassable from October to June due to heavy snow accumulation.

Located in the Zillertal valley of the Austrian state of Tyrol, the road to Tuxer Ferner Haus is a high-altitude challenge reaching an elevation of 2,615m (8,579ft) above sea level. This peak is part of the Hintertux Glacier system, one of the few ski resorts in the world offering skiing 365 days a year, meaning the road is a vital but brutal service track for the high-mountain infrastructure.

Thurntaler is a high mountain peak at elevation of 2.390m (7,841ft) above sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Wanglspitz is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.405m (7,890ft) above the sea level, located in the west Austrian province of Tyrol.

Schmiedingersee is a high mountain lake at an elevation of 2.392m (7,847ft) above the sea level, located southwest of Salzburg, in Austria.

Schartenkogel is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.289m (7,509ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Z1 Aussichtsplattform is an observation deck at an elevation of 2.575m (8,448ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Patscherkofel is a prominent mountain peak serving as a major telecommunications and radar hub in the Austrian state of Tyrol. Reaching an elevation of 2,250m (7,381ft) above sea level, the summit is accessed via a grueling unpaved service road that overlooks the city of Innsbruck. This track is not designed for standard transit; it is a steep, technical climb through the alpine landscape where the mechanical endurance of the vehicle and the driver’s ability to manage loose gravel are tested at every turn.

Pfaffenbichl is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,303m (7,555ft) above sea level, located in the Tyrol province of western Austria. Situated in the Zillertal Valley, the summit is part of a rugged alpine landscape dominated by ski infrastructure and rocky ridges.

Goldeck is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2.110m (6,922ft) above the sea level, located in Carinthia, Austria.

Stoderzinken Alpenstraße is a very scenic drive subject to a toll located in the Austrian state of Styria, offering rewarding panoramas.

Zillertal is a high mountain pass at an elevation of 2.367m (7,765ft) above the sea level, located in the Austrian state of Tyrol.

Jenner is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 1.786m (5,859ft) above the sea level, located on the border of Germany and Austria.

Wildes Mannle is a high mountain peak located in the Austrian state of Tyrol. To the south of the peak, a gravel mountain road climbs up to 2,648m (8,687ft) above sea level.

Golzentipp is a high mountain peak at an elevation of 2,236m (7,335ft) above sea level, located in the Gailtal Alps of Tyrol, Austria. The route is an unpaved service track primarily used for the maintenance of the local ski infrastructure and forest management. Logistically, it is a demanding ascent that requires a vehicle prepared for sustained steep gradients and loose alpine substrate.

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