The Großglockner High Alpine Road is one of the most spectacular panoramic roads in the Alps – and just about 25 minutes from Zell am See-Kaprun. Over 48 kilometres and through 36 hairpin bends, it winds up into the world of the three-thousanders, past glaciers, alpine pastures and viewpoints that take your breath away. A drive up here is not merely a transfer, but a destination in itself.

The panoramic road in figures

From Fusch an der Glocknerstraße to Heiligenblut in Carinthia, the toll road climbs countless metres of altitude over 48 kilometres. 36 bends lead up to around 2,500 metres – every curve reveals a new view. You can drive up by car, by motorbike or, for the sporty, by road bike.

The finest viewpoints

At around 2,571 metres, the Edelweißspitze is the highest point on the road you can reach by vehicle, rewarding you with a 360-degree panorama of more than 30 three-thousanders. At the end of the spur road awaits the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, with arguably Austria’s most famous mountain panorama.

Großglockner & Pasterze

From the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe you look straight at the Großglockner – at 3,798 metres Austria’s highest mountain – and at the Pasterze, the country’s largest glacier. The interplay of ice, rock and depth makes this one of the most impressive natural spectacles in the Alps.

Wildlife & nature

The road crosses four vegetation zones – from blooming alpine meadows to the barren high mountains. With a little luck you’ll spot marmots, ibex and chamois, while golden eagles and bearded vultures circle high in the sky. The Hohe Tauern National Park is ever-present here.

Experience stations & trails

Along the route, exhibitions, info points and themed trails invite you to linger. The Gamsgrubenweg, with its tunnels, leads close to the glacier world, and sporty cyclists test themselves in the legendary “Glocknerkönig” hill race.

Tips for your drive

• Open depending on snow from May to early November – closed in winter.
• The road is subject to a toll; the ticket is valid for the whole day.
• Start early: visibility is usually clearest in the morning.
• Pack warm clothing – it is noticeably cooler at the top than in the valley.
• Around 25 minutes from Zell am See-Kaprun to the start of the road.

For more excursion ideas for your stay, see our summer travel guide to Zell am See.