If you love mountain drives, there are few roads that compare to the famous Grossglockner High Alpine Road - and not surprisingly so - at 46km long with 36 turns, this road was built for tourism. It takes you through Austria's largest National Park - the Hohe Tauern - is home to tens of thousands of species of animals and plants, and some of Austria's most pristine Alpine scenery.
I have driven this road many times, and I can report that it doesn't get any less exciting. This is perfect petrolhead territory, yet one of the safest of all the alpine roads due to the perfectly crafted bends, wide road and perfect road surface. It's so easy to drive, yet completely exhilarating at the same time.
The road skirts around the Grossglockner mountain and travels from north to south between the region of Salzburg and the border with Italy. The scenery is absolutely stunning - you'll cruise through a land where perfect alpine meadows meet with snow capped mountains and glaciers. You'll find yourself stopping at every of the countless passing place to take in the views and snap with your favourite camera.
A brief history. There was a path similar in route to the modern road that existed as long as 3,500 years ago, and was mostly used by the Celts and Romans for trade. Due to the unpredictability of the weather, this was an extremely dangerous route, taken by foot or animal, and was gradually used less as better routes become available.
The modern road was inaugurated in 1934 after 5 years of construction. The project was designed to boost the struggling Austrian economy by increasing employment and raising growth. It was expected that toll charges would pay for the road over time.
In the years that followed, cars became more common and less of luxury for only the rich, and the road saw increasing usage. The road has since been widened and extended, with parking, gastronomy and accommodation businesses introduced as the road became popular as a tourist destination. The road now attracts around 900,000 visitors per year!!
The road is only open during the warmer month of the year - heavy snow covers the Grossglockner High Alpine Road for almost six months. Back in 1935, 350 men take 70 days to clear the road with shovels!! From 1953, snow ploughs were developed, and today, the road is open from late April/early May to late October/early November. Here is a superb video on YouTube about the annual clearing of the Grossglockner (we are not in any way affiliated with the owner of this video).
Whichever direction you travel, you will find a toll booth at the beginning of the road. The toll, as of 2022, is 38 EUR for private cars and 28 EUR for motorcycles.
The highlight of the trip has to be Edelweiss-Spitze - the highest point on the road at 2571 metres. The turn-off for this viewpoint is well signposted. A short way up this road, there is a restaurant, but you can drive further and right to the end where there is a large carpark.
Another turn-off from the main road is the road to Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe, which is the main vantage point for viewing the Grossglockner mountain and the Pasterze Glacier. Unfortunately the glacier is receding rapidly these days, but the views are still impressive. There is a large car park at the vantage point, and a visitor centre. Enroute there is the restaurant Glocknerhaus Kärnten - overlooking the lake Speicher Margaritzen - a perfect place for a spot of lunch.
Check out our upcoming road trips for trips that include the Grossglockner Pass.