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Grossglockner High Alpine Road
ℹ️Practical info — Grossglockner High Alpine Road
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Start your drive as early as possible, ideally right when the toll gates open, to avoid campervans and heavy traffic.
- Always check the weather forecast and webcams before paying the toll; heavy fog can completely obscure the mountain views.
- The road is usually open from May to October, but can close briefly due to sudden snowfall even in summer.
- Use engine braking on the way down by shifting to a lower gear to prevent your brakes from overheating.
🍽 Food
Robust cheese noodles served in a hot pan in the mountain restaurants near the Edelweißspitze.
A warming, hearty soup, handy after a windy stop at over 2,000 meters of elevation.
Best enjoyed at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe visitor center overlooking the Pasterze glacier.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
A traditional ointment for muscle relief, found in the souvenir shops along the alpine road.
Look for regional herbal teas and schnapps from the Hohe Tauern at the small visitor centers.
A mostly flat hiking trail starting from Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe that takes you away from the crowds into the quiet glacier landscape.
Provides not just a great photo opportunity, but a moment of silence with a vast panoramic view.
Water temperature…
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is much more than just a transport link; it is a technical masterpiece and one of Austria's most visited landmarks. Stretching 48 kilometers with 36 hairpin bends, it climbs a vertical distance of 1,500 meters. The road connects Bruck in Salzburg with Heiligenblut in Carinthia, offering wide-open views of the glaciated peaks of the Hohe Tauern range. The highlight of the journey is the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe at 2,369 meters. From here, visitors have a direct view of the Grossglockner (3,798 m) and the Pasterze, the longest glacier in the Eastern Alps. Numerous exhibitions, visitor centers, and themed trails provide information about high-alpine flora and fauna. Marmots can often be spotted at close range, while ibex may be seen on the steep rocky walls with a bit of luck. The road is typically open from early May to early November. For motorcyclists and classic car enthusiasts, it is considered an ultimate dream route. It is recommended to allow plenty of time for the many viewpoints and short hikes, such as the Gamsgrubenweg. As mountain weather can change rapidly, warm clothing should be carried even in summer. The toll fee contributes to the maintenance of this unique monument.
- Location: Carinthia, Austria
- Top sights: Brennkogel · Hörndl · Hochtor
- Nearby: Heiligenblut (5 km)
- Population: ~1.069
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | -8 | -7 | -3 | 2 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 13 | 8 | 4 | -1 | -6 |
| Rain mm | 59 | 55 | 71 | 82 | 127 | 151 | 167 | 175 | 126 | 106 | 96 | 70 |
Geography
Facts
- Length: 48 kilometers
- 36 hairpin bends
- Highest point: 2,571 m
- Built: 1930–1935
- Views of Grossglockner
- Access to Pasterze Glacier
- Toll road
- Closed in winter (Nov–May)
Explore nearby
Notable places around
Route planner — Car & Motorhome
Where do you start? We build the route here, with stops and country notes along the way.
© OpenStreetMap contributors · OpenRouteService
Sights in the town Grossglockner High Alpine Road (11)
Frequently asked questions
When is the Grossglockner High Alpine Road open?
Is there a fee to drive on the road?
What is the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe?
Can you see marmots there?
Is the road suitable for motorhomes?
Grossglockner High Alpine Road: where is it located?
Grossglockner High Alpine Road: what is there to see?
Grossglockner High Alpine Road: when is the best time to visit?
Grossglockner High Alpine Road: why is it worth visiting?
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