GROSSGLOCKNER HIGH ALPINE ROAD, AUSTRIA – ICONIC PANORAMIC DRIVE
Scenic: ★★★★★
Thrilling: ★★★★☆
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road — often referred to simply as the Grossglockner Pass — spans 47.8 kilometres (29 miles) with 36 hairpin bends, cutting deep into the heart of Austria’s Alps. Set within the spectacular Hohe Tauern National Park, it is one of the country’s most iconic mountain roads and reaches an elevation of 2,504 metres (8,215 ft), making it the highest paved road in Austria.
Unlike many extreme alpine passes, the Grossglockner Pass was designed with tourism in mind. The result is a high-alpine drive that combines dramatic scenery with excellent road quality and a moderate difficulty level, making it a rewarding experience even for drivers new to the Alps.
Want to experience this road as part of a properly designed alpine route?
👉 Grossglockner & Dolomites Driving Tour
👉 Alps to Coast of Croatia Driving Tour
👉 5-Country Grand Tour of the Alps
Each journey weaves the Grossglockner into a carefully curated loop of Europe’s most spectacular mountain roads.
DRIVING THE GROSSGLOCKNER HIGH ALPINE ROAD
Known in German as the Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, the Grossglockner Pass is a remarkable feat of alpine engineering. The road winds through the Hohe Tauern National Park, one of Europe’s largest protected natural areas, connecting Salzburg in the north with Carinthia in the south.
Originally conceived as a tourism project, the road was designed to blend seamlessly into the landscape as it wraps around the pyramid-shaped Grossglockner massif.
Today, it remains one of the most scenic and enjoyable alpine drives in Europe. Covering more than 1,856 square kilometres, the national park is home to over 10,000 animal species and 1,800 plant varieties, with forests, waterfalls, rivers, glaciers, and high-mountain plateaus lining the route.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE GROSSGLOCKNER PASS
The Grossglockner Pass is wide, well maintained, and clearly signposted throughout. With road widths of up to six metres, it allows for relaxed driving compared to narrower, more technical passes such as the Stelvio.
Numerous viewpoints and pull-offs invite you to stop and take in sweeping vistas of alpine meadows, dense forests, towering cliffs, and glaciers. This balance of scenery and accessibility makes the Grossglockner an ideal introduction to high-alpine driving, without sacrificing drama or scale.
The drive culminates at Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, the main plateau near the summit, offering panoramic views of Austria’s highest peak and the Pasterze Glacier, the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps.
Wildlife sightings are common during warmer months, with marmots and ibex often visible along the road.
HIGHLIGHTS ALONG THE ROUTE
Panoramic viewpoints across the Hohe Tauern
Visitor centres and exhibitions detailing the road’s construction and alpine environment
A Swarovski-designed observatory structure with free multi-storey parking
Direct views of glaciers, snowfields, and Austria’s highest peaks
The Grossglockner Pass is not just a road — it’s a complete alpine experience.
HISTORY OF THE GROSSGLOCKNER HIGH ALPINE ROAD
Routes across the Grossglockner region have existed for more than 3,500 years, but the modern road is a product of the early 20th century.
Initial plans in 1924 were met with scepticism in a country still recovering from the First World War and the loss of much of its former imperial territory. When the Great Depression followed in 1929, Austria turned to large infrastructure projects to stimulate the economy.
Construction of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road began on August 30, 1930, marked by the first controlled blast at 09:30. Up to 4,000 workers contributed to the project, and just five years later, on August 3, 1935, the road officially opened to traffic.
Designed to attract high-end tourism, the Grossglockner Pass quickly became a success — a status it retains to this day. In 2015, the road celebrated its 80th anniversary, marking eight decades as one of Austria’s most visited attractions.
ACCESS TO THE GROSSGLOCKNER PASS
We recommend driving the Grossglockner Pass from north to south, starting from Salzburg or Munich. Both options allow for a full-day alpine experience, typically combined with an overnight stay in Austria.
A popular southern stopover is Lienz, one of Austria’s sunniest towns and a natural gateway to the Sella Ronda in the Italian Dolomites.
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road typically opens from late April or early May, significantly earlier than most alpine passes, which often remain closed until mid-June.
April / May – June 15: 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
June 16 – September 15: 5:00 am – 9:30 pm
September 16 – late October: 6:00 am – 7:30 pm
Last admission: 45 minutes before closing
In early summer, towering snow walls often frame the road, creating one of the most striking visual experiences in the Alps.
Access requires a €40 vehicle toll, payable at the north or south entrance (cash or card). Austrian highway vignettes do not apply. All attractions along the route are included once inside the gates.
OUR VERDICT ABOUT THE GROSSGLOCKNER PASS
The Grossglockner Pass is one of the most accessible yet dramatic alpine drives in Europe. It delivers scale, scenery, and engineering excellence without the intensity of more technical passes, making it suitable for both first-time alpine drivers and experienced enthusiasts.
It’s not about outright difficulty — it’s about landscape, perspective, and the pleasure of driving through Austria’s highest mountains.
