In 60 seconds
Crowned by Austria's highest summit (3,798m) and Europe's largest nature reserve outside Scandinavia, the Grossglockner and Hohe Tauern region represents high-altitude nature on an epic scale. The legendary 48-kilometre Grossglockner High Alpine Road climbs 36 hairpin bends through alpine tundra to the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe overlook above the Pasterze glacier, while wild glacier valleys offer marmot sightings, ibex colonies and Europe's tallest waterfalls at Krimml.
Best for
Known for
Skip if
You are travelling between November and early May; the High Alpine Road is buried in metres of snow and entirely closed for the winter season.
Your match
Choose a few travel interests and we will show how well Grossglockner & Hohe Tauern fits them. Choose interests
See
The things that would make the trip incomplete without them.
48km panoramic mountain pass · 36 hairpin turns climbing to 2,504m
One of the world's most spectacular engineering feats and driving routes, connecting Salzburg province to Carinthia.
2,369m visitor center facing the Grossglockner peak & glacier tongue
Stand on the multi-tiered observation decks looking directly across at Austria's highest peak and wild alpine marmots.
Europe's tallest tiered waterfalls · 380m total glacial cascade
Follow the panoramic waterfall trail climbing beside roaring torrents that mist through pristine pine forests.
Eat
A short list, kept short on purpose. Each entry answers one question: when is this the right choice?
Where to eat the food this city is actually known for.
High-altitude dining looking out across the glacier
Savour warm goulash soup and fluffy Germknödel while observing ice seracs and marmots right outside the picture windows.
Carinthian mountain inn · Carinthian cheese noodles (Kasnudeln)
Authentic Carinthian specialties including brown butter Kasnudeln stuffed with mint and curd cheese.
Too few picks yet for their own heading, so they share this list.
Historic pass inn at 2,428 metres above sea level
A welcoming pit stop for motorists and cyclists serving hearty Tyrolean Gröstl and homemade apple strudel on high pass terraces.
Village bakery & café facing the famous church spire
Warm espresso and freshly pulled curd strudel with direct views of the pointed gothic bell tower.
Beyond the obvious
Less obvious, rarely queued for, and usually the part people remember.
Highest point of the road at 2,571m · Cobblestone side spur
Divert up the narrow cobblestone branch road to a 360-degree wooden lookout surveying over thirty 3,000-metre summits.
High alpine cliffside path through tunnels overlooking the glacier
A safe panoramic trail threading through rock tunnels decorated with sound installations directly above the Pasterze.
Slender gothic spire framed directly against the Grossglockner peak
One of Austria's most photogenic church settings, housing a vial of the Holy Blood brought from Constantinople in 960 AD.
After dark
Cozy timber lodge bar for evening drinks
Gather around rustic pine tables for Austrian schnapps, craft beers and road trip debriefs after a day on the pass.
Orientation
How the city is actually divided, and what each part is for.
Carinthian mountain village at the southern foot of the pass
Quintessential Austrian alpine village with timber balconies, mountaineering schools and pilgrimage lore.
Northern entrance valley near Zell am See · Wildlife park
Peaceful pastoral valley where the northern toll gate sits beside the Ferleiten wildlife park and mountain streams.
Stay
Areas rather than hotels — pick the right one and the rest follows.
Scenic village base on the southern side of the alpine pass
Perfect for waking up to the church spire and setting out early onto the pass before peak motorcycle traffic.
Northern base between Zell am See and the toll station
Quiet country guesthouses and inns located just minutes from the northern ascent ramp.
Practical
Plan this trip — useful links
Context
Enough to make what you are looking at legible.
Emperor Franz Joseph and Empress Sisi hike to the overlook above the Pasterze glacier, establishing the famous viewpoint.
Over 3,000 workers construct the high alpine road during the Great Depression, completing Franz Wallack's master design.
Hohe Tauern is established as Austria's first national park, protecting 1,856 km² of high alpine ecosystem.
Further out
Worth a day if you have one to spare.
Quiet East Tyrolean mountain valleys and glacier trailheads
Divert into unspoiled East Tyrol for uncrowded national park trekking into the Umbaltal glacier waterfalls.
Over 200 native Alpine animals at the northern toll gate
Observe ibex, chamois, brown bears and wolves in natural habitats at the valley floor before driving up.
