Epic Austria Road Trip + Map – Conquering the Grossglockner High Alpine Road 🚗
I’m not even trying to be dramatic… Austria is ridiculously good at road trips. Like, “how is every single turn another postcard?” good. I’ve got a soft spot for it because it hits that perfect Europe sweet spot: tidy little towns, lakes that look fake, mountains that feel massive, and food that makes you swear you’ll hike tomorrow (lies, but hopeful). 😅
This loop starts and ends in Salzburg (easy flights, easy pick-up), warms you up with lakes and alpine towns, then drops you straight into the main character moment: the Grossglockner High Alpine Road. It all links up nicely, no chaos driving, no “why did we do this to ourselves?” detours. Just pure alpine joy.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road Trip
🚗 Quick Trip Facts
- Start/End: Salzburg (simple logistics, great first/last night city) 🏰
- Trip length: 6 days (easy to stretch to 7)
- Driving style: Scenic but sensible, with one big mountain day ⛰️
- Grossglockner season: Usually open May to early November (winter closure outside that)
- Grossglockner stats: ~48 km, ~36 hairpins, highest point Hochtor 2,504 m 🌀
- Toll cost (guide): Car day ticket around €46.50 (often cheaper after 6pm)
- Extra costs to remember: Austrian motorway vignette if you use motorways/expressways 🛣️
- Book the basics: sort car hire and your alpine bases on Booking.com early in peak months
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If you can, drive Grossglockner on a weekday and enter early. Same views, fewer “who parked this bus here?” moments. 😄
🚗 Recommended Car Rental: DiscoverCars
The Itinerary 🗺️✨
Day 1: Salzburg → Salzkammergut lakes → Zell am See (2.5–3 hrs with stops) 🌊🏔️
Start in Salzburg because it’s pretty, compact, and makes you feel like you’ve got your life together. Then you glide into the Salzkammergut where the lakes do that calm mirror thing and the villages look like they’ve been styled by someone with excellent taste and unlimited geraniums.
📍Things to do
- Salzburg Old Town wander + Mirabell Gardens 🌸
- St Gilgen lakeside stop for coffee and a slow walk ☕
- St Wolfgang for a quick “wow this is cute” stroll 🏡
- Arrive Zell am See and do the evening lakeside promenade 🌅
👉 Good to know: Don’t overpack Day 1. It’s your warm-up lap. Save your big energy for the alpine road day.
🚗 Recommended Tour to get you started: Original Sound of Music Tour
🗺️ Related Article: Salzburg, Austria: Your Essential Travel Guide
Day 2: Zell am See + Kaprun (minimal driving, maximum scenery) 🏞️
This is the day you settle into the Alps properly. Zell am See is all lakeside calm, Kaprun brings the high mountain vibe. It’s the perfect balance of “I’m on holiday” and “yes, I do go outside sometimes.” 😄
📍 Things to do
- Walk the lake loop (even a short section feels lovely) 🚶
- Kaprun viewpoints for that crisp, high-altitude air ⛰️
- Treat yourself to a slow dinner because tomorrow is the big one 🍽️
💡 Fact: Zell am See is one of the best bases in Austria for mixing lake views and alpine drama without constant packing and unpacking.
Recommended Tours and Tickets From Get Your Guide
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Day 3: Grossglockner High Alpine Road day → Heiligenblut (full day) ⛰️🌀📸
Okay, this is the day. The kind of drive where you keep saying “NO WAY” and the driver pretends they’re calm but you can see the grin. Start early, take your time, and stop a lot. The whole point is the stops.
📍 Things to do (iconic stops in order)
- Ferleiten entry area: get settled, grab a quick coffee, breathe 🫶
- Fuscher Törl viewpoint: first big “hello Alps” moment 😍
- Edelweissspitze: optional detour to a high panoramic viewpoint (worth it if visibility is good) 🌤️
- Hochtor Pass: the high point at 2,504 m, and it feels it ❄️
- Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe: glacier views and a proper jaw-drop finish 🧊
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Pack layers even in summer. A warm valley can turn into “why is my nose cold?” up high. Austria loves a plot twist. 🧥
🗺️ Alternative Road Trip: Austria Road Trip: Vienna, Hallstatt, Salzburg + Map 🚗
Day 4: Heiligenblut → Lienz (1–1.5 hrs) + easy exploring 🏘️
Heiligenblut is absurdly scenic, then Lienz is your soft landing. Today’s lighter on driving, so you can actually enjoy lunch without checking the clock like you’re in a spy film.
📍 Things to do
- Heiligenblut village stroll + classic photo spot 📷
- Scenic drive toward Lienz with a couple of roadside stops 🚗
- Lienz old town wander and a cosy café mission ☕
👉 Good to know: After the intensity of Grossglockner, a slower day makes the whole trip feel nicer, not rushed.
Day 5: Lienz → Mittersill → Kitzbühel (2–2.5 hrs + detours) 🏔️✨
This day pulls you back toward the Salzburg side, with options to dial up the scenery if you’ve got the energy. Mittersill is a handy national-park stop, and Kitzbühel brings the “alpine chic” vibe without feeling unwelcoming.
📍 Things to do
- Mittersill stop for Hohe Tauern big-picture views/info 🗺️
- Optional detour: Krimml Waterfalls if you want one more “wow” 🌊
- Evening in Kitzbühel: old town stroll + hearty dinner 🥘
🔹 Tinker’s Tip: Kitzbühel weekends can book out fast. If you want a specific vibe (cosy, central, parking included), lock it in on Booking.com early.
Day 6: Kitzbühel → Lofer → Salzburg (1.5–2 hrs) 🏁
Final day is an easy glide back. Grab one last bakery snack, pull over for a couple of mountain views, and roll into Salzburg feeling like you just won a wholesome driving medal. 🥇
📍 Things to do
- Lofer quick viewpoint stop for a final photo 📸
- Salzburg last coffee and a wander for souvenirs ☕🎁
💡 Fact: Ending in Salzburg is the ultimate low-stress move. Return the car, stroll a bit, fly out happy.
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
Map will be located under "YOU" and then under "MAPS".
ℹ️ Add the map to your Google Maps app.
After opening Google maps, click YOU and then scroll down to MAPS. It should be located there. Any issues, just get it touch, it’s no problem!
Pit Stops & Side Detours (choose your chaos level) 🧭
- Hallstatt (from the Salzburg side): iconic lake views, go early for breathing space 🌊
- Werfen Ice Caves: a proper add-on if you stretch to 7 days 🧊
- Krimml Waterfalls: easy wow-factor detour from Mittersill 💦
- Bad Gastein: dramatic spa town vibes if you reroute slightly 🛁
- Extra Grossglockner mini-walks: short viewpoints and little exhibits along the road 🚶
🍽️ Local Eats Worth Chasing
- Salzburg: Salzburger Nockerl (it’s basically dessert theatre) 🍮
- Zell am See region: Kasnocken (cheese + onions + happiness) 🧀
- Mountain huts: Kaiserschmarrn (dangerously addictive) 🥞
- Carinthia side: Kärntner Kasnudeln (proper comfort food) 🥟
- Tyrol: Tiroler Gröstl (crispy potato goodness) 🥔
🎶 Road Trip Playlist
- Falco, Rock Me Amadeus
- Fleetwood Mac, Go Your Own Way
- The Killers, Mr Brightside
- Queen, Don’t Stop Me Now
- ABBA, Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!
- Florence + The Machine, Shake It Out
- Oasis, Supersonic
- Elton John, Tiny Dancer
- Coldplay, Adventure of a Lifetime
- Dua Lipa, Levitating
- Red Hot Chili Peppers, Californication
- Hans Zimmer, Time (for the big viewpoint moment)
👉 Good to know: Download offline. Mountain signal can be patchy and your playlist deserves better. 📲
🎙️ Podcasts to Queue Up
- The Travel Diaries
- Off Menu (eat before you listen, trust me) 😅
- No Such Thing As A Fish
- The Rest Is History
- Stuff You Should Know
Road Trip Essentials (all-year, no matter the season) 🧳🔧
Because this trip works year-round as a route (with a seasonal swap for Grossglockner when it’s closed), here’s the universal kit that saves stress in any month:
- Licence + IDP check (depends on where your licence is from) 🪪
- Car docs + breakdown numbers saved offline 📱
- Phone mount + charging cable (it’s the boring hero) 🔌
- Power bank for long photo days 📸
- Refillable water bottle + snacks (hanger prevention kit) 💧🍫
- Microfibre cloth for headlights/mirrors and random wet weather 🌧️
- Layers (Austria can be warm, cold, windy, and smugly changeable in a single day) 🧥
- Sunglasses (snow, lake glare, bright mountain mornings) 🕶️
- Small first-aid kit + blister plasters (alpine strolls sneak up on your feet) 🩹
- Offline maps downloaded (because signal can be patchy in the hills) 🗺️
- Data sorted before landing: an Airalo eSIM is a life-saver
- Cover that actually covers stuff: travel insurance
🤚 Must-do: Before you set off each day, do a 20-second check: fuel, weather, and your first stop. It stops the day from turning into a faff-fest.
Rent a Car
Access to the map
No sign up required and totally FREE. Literally just using Google Maps to plot your route! Saves you messing! We don't gatekeep here! Enjoy.
What to know How to Plan or Save for a Trip? Here are our best:
FAQs
Can I do this road trip in winter?
Yes, as a loop it still works brilliantly. Just swap the Grossglockner day for a lower-altitude scenic drive or a spa town day, since the alpine road is usually closed outside its season. ❄️
How long should I allow for the Grossglockner day?
Half a day minimum, but a full day is ideal if you love photo stops and viewpoints. 📸
Do I need the motorway vignette?
If you use Austrian motorways/expressways, yes. It’s separate from the Grossglockner toll. 🛣️
Where’s the best base for the Grossglockner drive?
Zell am See/Kaprun for the north side warm-up, then stay near Fusch or Heiligenblut depending on which side you want to wake up on next. 🏔️
Travel Planning Resources
Ready to book your next trip? These trusted resources have been personally vetted to ensure a smooth travel experience.
Book Your Flights: Kick off your travel planning by finding the best flight deals on Trip.com. Our years of experience with them confirm they offer the most competitive prices.
Book Your Hotel: For the best hotel rates, use Booking.com . For the best and safest hostels, HostelWorld.com is your go-to resource. Best for overall Hotel ratings and bargains, use TripAdvisor.com!
Find Apartment Rentals: For affordable apartment rentals, check out VRBO. They consistently offer the best prices.
Car Rentals: For affordable car rentals, check out RentalCars.com. They offer the best cars, mostly brand new.
Travel Insurance: Never travel without insurance. Here are our top recommendations:
- EKTA for Travel Insurance for all areas!
- Use AirHelp for compensation claims against flight delays etc.
Book Your Activities: Discover walking tours, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more on Get Your Guide. They have a vast selection of activities to enhance your trip. There is also Tiqets.com for instant mobile tickets.
Book The Best Trains: Use Trainline to find the most affordable trains or Rail Europe for rail passes!
Travel E-SIMS: Airalo Worldwide! Use your mobile phone anywhere!
Need More Help Planning Your Trip? Visit our Resources Page to see all the companies we trust and use for our travels.
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🔹 Tinker’s Tip: If you can, drive Grossglockner on a weekday and enter early. Same views, fewer “who parked this bus here?” moments. 😄
🚗 Recommended Car Rental: DiscoverCars
Author
Freddie Masters
I’m Freddie, a traveller who decided that life was a bit too short to spend it behind a desk. A few years ago, I packed a bag and set off to see what the world actually looks like, and I haven't really stopped since. From navigating the chaos of Southeast Asian markets to finding quiet corners in the Balkans, I’m all about those authentic, local experiences.
I started to write for TheTravelTinker.com to give you the real talk on travel. You won't find any glossy, staged nonsense here. Instead, I focus on practical tips, honest budget advice, and the truth about what happens when things don't go to plan. If I can figure out a local bus route or find a world-class meal for the price of a coffee, I want to make sure you can too.
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