Grossglockner High Alpine Road★★★€€
The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is the most spectacular panoramic road in the Alps — and one of the most beautiful roads in the world. Over 48 km, it conquers 36 hairpin bends and leads over the Hochtor Pass (2,504 m) to the foot of the Grossglockner (3,798 m), Austria's highest mountain. The road was opened in 1935 and was then Austria's largest infrastructure project.
★★★ The Drive
Plan at least half a day for the drive — those who rush through miss everything. The road starts in Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße (Pinzgau) or in Heiligenblut (Carinthia) and climbs through various vegetation zones: from alpine meadows over dwarf pine belts to the alpine high mountain desert above the tree line.
Stop at the viewpoints: Fuscher Törl (2,428 m), Edelweißspitze (2,571 m, the highest point, only accessible via a side road — panoramic view over 30+ three-thousanders!), Hochtor Tunnel, and the side road to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe.
★★★ Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe & Pasterze
The highlight of the road: From the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe (2,369 m), you look directly at the Grossglockner and the Pasterze, the largest glacier in the Eastern Alps. The glacier is impressive — and alarming: It has lost over half of its area since 1850. A glacier railway (free) leads down to the glacier tongue. Marmots are omnipresent here — they practically pose for photos.
★★ Hikes
Gamsgrubenweg (2.5 km, 45 min.): Panorama high trail with tunnels and rock galleries directly above the Pasterze. Easy, also for families. Marmots, ibexes, and griffon vultures as companions.
Stockeralm Circular Trail (4 km, 90 min.): Alpine hike with flower meadows and alpine hut for a stop. Kaiserschmarrn at 2,000 m — culinary highlight.
Glockner Hike to Salmhütte (6 km, 3 hrs): For the experienced. Ascent to the Salmhütte (2,638 m), the highest alpine club hut on the Glockner route. You won't get closer to the summit without a mountain guide.
Practical
Toll: 41.50 € per car (day ticket, valid for round trip). Motorcycle 31 €.
Opening times: Early May to early November (weather-dependent). Daily 5 AM–9:30 PM (last entry 8:15 PM).
Getting there from Salzburg: 150 km via the A10 and B311 to Bruck, then the High Alpine Road. Travel time from Salzburg: approx. 2.5 hrs to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe.
Fuel up: Fill up before the ascent — there is no gas station on the route.
💡 Tipp
Start as early as possible (before 8 AM): The road fills up with tour buses and motorcycles from 10 AM. In the morning, the air is clearer, the view better, and the marmots more active. Bring warm clothing — at 2,500 m it can be only 5°C even in July.
Achtung
The road is closed from November to April/May! Check current opening at grossglockner.at. Even in summer, snowfall or fog can temporarily close the road. Winter tires or chains are advisable until the end of May.
