Grossglockner High Alpine Road: Austria's most scenic drive

The road that defines Austrian alpine driving

There are scenic drives in the Alps. And then there is the Grossglockner. Built between 1930 and 1935 at enormous cost and considerable human toll — 25 workers died in construction — the road was conceived as a monument to Austrian engineering ambition and a means of drawing international tourist traffic to a struggling economy. It succeeded on both counts. Today, nearly 800,000 vehicles cross the road each year in its short open season, making it one of the most visited natural attractions in Austria.

The numbers justify the reputation. The road climbs from approximately 760m at the Salzburg-side entry point in Bruck an der Glocknerstraße to 2571m at the Edelweissspitze summit viewpoint — an elevation gain of nearly 1800m in roughly 25km of road. The engineering involves 36 switchback curves, dozens of bridges, and a construction philosophy that prioritised the view at every turn. Every major curve was positioned to maximise the panorama on the outside of the bend.

From Salzburg, the drive to the Bruck entry gate takes approximately 1h30, making the Grossglockner easily accessible as a full-day excursion from the city.

Getting there from Salzburg

The route is straightforward:

1. From Salzburg, take the A10 motorway south toward Villach
2. Exit at the Bruck an der Glocknerstraße exit (approximately 80km from Salzburg)
3. Follow signs for Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße
4. The first toll gate is a few kilometres after the motorway exit

The drive from Salzburg center to the toll gate takes 1h-1h30 depending on traffic — summer weekday mornings are smooth; summer weekends can see motorway congestion from Salzburg south.

Fuel up in Salzburg or on the A10 before the turn-off. There is a fuel station on the Grossglockner road itself, but it charges a significant premium. Prices at the service areas on the A10 before Bruck are considerably more reasonable.

The toll

The road is a private toll road operated by the Grossglockner-Hochalpenstraße AG (GROHAG). The toll is collected at entry gates at both the Salzburg (Bruck) and Carinthia (Heiligenblut) ends:

• Standard car: 38€
• Motorcycle: approximately 28€
• The toll is valid for one day of travel

If you plan to cross the road in both directions — entering from Bruck, driving to Heiligenblut, then returning the same way — you will pay the toll twice (once in each direction). Most visitors enter and exit from the same side, making a return journey without extending to Heiligenblut. This is perfectly valid and most day trips from Salzburg do exactly this — drive from Bruck to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe and back.

The toll includes access to all viewpoints, parking at the main stops, and the road’s maintenance. It does not include entry to specific attractions like the Pasterze glacier walks or any museum facilities at Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe.

The main stops in order from Bruck

Fuschertörl (2428m)

The first major high-point on the road from the Bruck entry. Fuschertörl is a saddle — a classic Alpine pass — where the road crests before beginning its approach to the Edelweissspitze. The views open dramatically here: for the first time, you see alpine terrain stretching in multiple directions. Stop for ten minutes and get out of the car — the view north back toward the Salzburg foothills and south toward the main alpine ridge is excellent.

A short walk from the parking area leads to the Fuscher Lacke alpine lake, a classic high-altitude tarn reflecting the surrounding peaks. The walk takes 15-20 minutes each way and is easy on a well-maintained path.

Edelweissspitze (2571m)

The highest point accessible by car on the Grossglockner road — and the highest public road in Austria. A short access road (one-way, 1.4km) leads from the main road up to the Edelweissspitze summit, where a tower provides a 360-degree panoramic platform.

From the Edelweissspitze tower, on a clear day, you can see into seven countries. More immediately, the view encompasses the entire central Alps from the Dachstein massif in the northeast to the Dolomites in the southwest, with the Grossglockner itself visible to the south. This is the single most dramatic viewpoint on the road and deserves at least 30 minutes.

A word on weather: the Edelweissspitze is fully exposed. Even in June, winds can be strong enough to require a firm grip on the tower railings. In unsettled weather, the summit platform may be closed for safety.

Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe (2369m)

The essential stop. Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe is the main visitor complex on the road, positioned directly above the Pasterze glacier — Austria’s largest glacier — with Grossglockner (3798m, Austria’s highest mountain) rising above it.

The viewing platform here looks directly down onto the Pasterze and across to the Grossglockner’s characteristic pyramid silhouette. The viewing angle is excellent — you are high enough above the glacier to see its entire length, but close enough that the scale registers. Ice movement markers on the glacier surface show the extent of annual retreat; the Pasterze has receded significantly over the past century and continues to do so. This is not abstract climate data — from the platform you can see the moraines and exposed rock where glacier ice stood decades ago.

What is at Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe:

• Visitor center with café and restaurant
• Museum about the glacier and road history
• Viewing platforms (free access)
• Funicular to the glacier surface (separate ticket, approximately 6€)
• Walking paths along the glacier moraines

The funicular to the glacier base is worth the additional cost if you have time. Standing on or near the glacier ice, looking back up at the viewing platform and then higher to the Grossglockner summit, gives a sense of scale that is not available from above.

Allow a minimum of 1.5 hours at Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, more if you take the funicular.

Driving the road: practical notes

Vehicle requirements

Standard passenger cars are fine. The road is paved and maintained, but narrow in switchback sections. Large motorhomes, vehicles over a certain length and width, and long caravans are prohibited — check the GROHAG website for current restrictions. Motorcycles are permitted and the road is very popular with motorcycle groups in summer.

Driving style

Switchbacks require slow, controlled cornering. The outside of the curves has steep drops. Overtaking in switchback sections is not sensible. The speed limit throughout the road is low — observe it, both for safety and because rushing destroys the experience. The road was designed to be driven slowly with views at every turn.

Weather changes

At 2500m, weather can shift from clear to cloud, rain, or even snow within an hour. If you arrive at the toll gate with threatening weather, check with staff whether the upper sections are open and visible. Driving the Grossglockner under heavy cloud or fog — which is possible even in August — dramatically reduces the experience. If possible, wait for a forecast improvement rather than proceeding in poor visibility.

When to go

June offers the best combination of snow-covered peaks (still present in the valleys), reasonable crowds, and reliable road access. July and August give longer hours and warmer temperatures but significantly more vehicles. September is excellent — light is golden, crowds thin, and the road typically remains open until mid-October. Late May has the most dramatic snow cover but also the highest chance of road sections being closed.

Combining with Zell am See and the Kaprun area

From Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, returning north to Bruck and then east toward Zell am See and Kaprun is a natural extension. Zell am See is approximately 40 minutes from Bruck — turning a Grossglockner road day into a triangle: Salzburg to Bruck (A10), Grossglockner road (return to Bruck), then east to Zell am See and back to Salzburg.

This makes for a very full day (10-12 hours total) but is the most efficient way to combine the alpine road with the lake scenery of the Zell am See basin in a single excursion.

For visitors combining the Grossglockner with Zell am See and Kaprun, the private day trip covers both destinations in one organised excursion.

The Grossglockner in context: Hohe Tauern National Park

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road does not stand alone. It cuts through the Hohe Tauern National Park — Austria’s largest protected area, spanning approximately 1800km² across three provinces. The park encompasses Grossglockner itself (3798m), the Krimml waterfalls to the west, and the Kaprun glacier complex to the east.

Driving the road is the most accessible entry point into Hohe Tauern, but walking further into the park reveals a different order of wildness. The Gamsgrubenweg trail, starting from near Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, follows the edge of the Pasterze moraine for several kilometres — one of the finest accessible glacier-edge walks in the Alps. The Pinzgauer Spaziergang above Zell am See, also within the park, is a higher alpine traverse with extraordinary views.

For the full Hohe Tauern hiking picture, see the dedicated guide.

Honest assessment: who is this for?

The Grossglockner road is unmissable for:

• Anyone visiting Salzburg in May-October with access to a car
• Drivers comfortable on mountain roads
• Those who want to see the Austrian Alps at their most grand
• Anyone interested in glaciers before further retreat makes this experience unavailable

It is not ideal for:

• Drivers anxious about narrow mountain roads and exposure
• Visitors on a tight one-day schedule who cannot give it 7-8 hours
• Anyone visiting outside May-October (the road is closed)
• Visitors without a car who cannot use public transport (the road is not served by public buses for tourist access — a guided tour is the alternative)

If you have one full day available from Salzburg and a car, the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is the most rewarding single day trip available. Nothing else in the region matches the scale, the engineering achievement, and the raw alpine drama of 2500m with Austria’s highest peak above you and its largest glacier below.

See the complete Grossglockner driving guide for a full route description from Salzburg with timing, fuel stops, and weather contingency planning.

Top experiences

Bookable activities with verified prices and instant confirmation on GetYourGuide.

Zell am See and Kaprun Private Full-Day Trip from Salzburg