Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse

Do you fancy a drive along one of the most beautiful roads in the world with views of dozens of Alpine three-thousanders? Plan a trip around Austria’s highest mountain on the Grossglockner Alpine Road. Whether by car, motorbike or bicycle, you’ll be tackling a steep climb (2,500 metres), dozens of hairpin bends and breath-taking views.

The breathtaking Alpine scenery is illustrated by the 37 3,000-foot peaks and 19 glaciers you’ll see on your way to Austria’s highest peak. The Grossglockner (translated as the Great Bell) with its peak at 3,798 metres above sea level is located in the Great Tauern region on the border between Carinthia and Tyrol. One of the most beautiful scenic routes in the world starts in the Fuscher Valley, climbs through the Edelweissspitze (2571 m) and Franz-Josefs-Höhe (2369 m) and ends after almost 50 kilometres in Heiligenblut.

There are information points right by the road, 15 exhibitions and 12 experience stations where you can take a snack break. If you want to take a walk, there are many interesting nature and panoramic trails and an extensive network of hiking trails with many cosy restaurants and rustic cottages along the way.

This 48 km long adventure road was built in difficult conditions in 1935. Nearly one million visitors ride the road every year. The road is not toll-free for cyclists only (probably for bravery), cars and motorbikes pay a toll to pass (cars €37/day and motorbikes €27/day). Due to snow, the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse is only open from May to early November. Exact opening times can be found on the website grossglockner.at. It’s easy to combine a trip to the Grossglockner with a visit to Zell am See, so it’s worth looking for accommodation nearby.

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