5 of the best road trips in Austria

20.05.2024 - 14:35 / lonelyplanet.com

There's nothing like hitting the highway in Austria.

Hitting the open road in your own vehicle gives the flexibility to reach the remote corners and great heights of this small country, and the freedom to stop, hike, bike, bathe, and boat to soak in all the surrounding scenery and nature. 

Driving in dreamscape Austria is easy with well-maintained roads, readily available petrol stations and charging points for electric vehicles, and a stack of rest stops and roadside facilities. Enjoy the seamless and scenic transition through the windshield from classical city and historical town to boundless prairies and vineyards, majestic mountain ranges, and the crystal-clear waters of Austria's shimmeringly spectacular lakes. 

From cross-country autobahns to winding mountain passes, here’s our pick of the best road trips in Austria.

Best road trip for high mountain pass scenery
Fusch an der Glocknerstrasse, Salzburgerland to Heiligenblut, Carinthia, 48km (30 miles)

Only the brave traversed this dangerous path on foot before the construction of Austria’s highest mountain pass in 1935. Now, two- and four-wheel enthusiasts can carve through the Hohe Tauern National Park on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road, whose scenery smacking 36 hairpin turns coil 2500m (8202ft) above sea level before descending across-state into Carinthia.

Half the country's animal species are here, including ibex and golden eagles and the upstaging alpine marmots; a carousel of museums and exhibits along the route highlights conservation efforts. Make a beeline to the emperor-approved Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe observation deck at 2369m (7772ft) for the unbeatable views of the snowcapped 3798m (12,460ft) summit of the Grossglockner peak and the mighty 8km-long (5-mile) Pasterze glacier at its foot. Hikers can pick up the panoramic trailheads here, including the Gamsgrubenweg tunnel-cut track to an alternative glacial lookout. The Edelweissspitze is the highest accessible point at 2571m (8435ft), with a mountain inn serving a traditional menu from schnitzel to strudel.

Planning tip: The Grossglocker High Alpine Road is only open between May and November (day ticket for cars, €43), but always check the weather conditions and what viewpoints are accessible before heading out.

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Best trip for heritage sites and famed lakes
Vienna to Salzburg, 450km (280 miles)

Named for its conveyor belt of sumptuous sights, the Austrian Romantic Road starts by following the meandering curves of the Danube River on a trail of history-stacked highlights and UNESCO World Heritage sites between Vienna and Salzburg.

Weave through the winemaking region from the monastery-topped Klosterneuburg to the Wachau