Grossglockner High-Alpine Road

Scenic drives & lookout points amidst Austria’s highest mountains

The beginning of May marks the start of the summer season on the Grossglockner High-Alpine Road. In due course, thousands of cars, camper-vans, motorbikes and cyclists make their way over the legendary mountain pass. The resulting views of the Hohe Tauern mountainscape are phenomenal, and are best enjoyed at some of the many designated lookout points. A stop-off at the Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Höhe is a particular highlight along this route – taking you so close to the Grossglockner you’ll almost feel like you could reach out and touch it. It also serves as a starting point for numerous hiking routes, such as the ‘Gamsgrubenweg’ trail and the Pasterze Glacier Trail.

Information about the road conditions you can find at www.grossglockner.at.

Important information about tickets & prices

A day ticket for the Grossglockner High Alpine Road costs € 28.00 per car or € 28.00 per motorcycle in summer 2022. In the Info & Booking Center Heiligenblut am Großglockner you can purchase day tickets at a reduced price: Car day ticket for € 34.00 and motorcycle day ticket for € 25.00. Your day ticket is valid for a calendar day. So you can also leave the street in Ferleiten or Heiligenblut after the toll stations, go on a day trip and then drive back through the toll stations without additional costs. If you drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road again during your vacation or in the same year, you only pay € 13,50 per vehicle when you show your first ticket (license plate bound!). Further information about prices and opening hours can be found here.

Opening hours of the Grossglockner High Alpine Road

• May: 06.00 a.m. to 08.00 p.m. (last entrance 07.15 p.m.)
• June, July, August: 05.30 a.m. to 09.00 p.m. (last entrance 08.15 p.m.)
• September: 06.00 a.m. - 07.30 p.m. (last entrance 06.45 p.m.)

• The Visitor Centre Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe is daily open from 10.00 a.m. to 05.00 p.m.,
  all other exhibitions & shops from 09.00 a.m. to 05.00 p.m.

Travelling by postbus from Heiligenblut to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe 

The postbus drives from Mid of June until Mid of September from Heiligenblut to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe from Sunday to Friday 3x per day, on Saturday 1x per day. The timetable for 2022 will be uploaded soon. 

Franz Wallack - Visionary & Legend

Every spring since the road was completed, Wallack’s legendary blue snow-throwers are used by Salzburg’s and Carinthia’s maintenance teams, who set out to release the Grossglockner High-Alpine Road from its thick blanket of snow. Designed by Franz Wallack himself, the machines were made to withstand the harsh conditions of a high-alpine terrain. Each spring, the meeting of the two snow-thrower teams at the ‘Hochtor’ county border causes a media circus and a wave of celebratory joy.

A road to discovery for the whole family

Your trip over the Grossglockner can be anything from sporty to informative. A number of walking trails and hiking tours start off directly along the road, providing many opportunities to immerse yourself in the natural landscape of the Hohe Tauern mountains. The Pasterze Glacier Trail takes you right up close to the glacier’s eternal ice, while the ‘Gamsgrubenweg’ path leads you further towards the heart of the mountains. Long-distance hikers and those in favour of multi-day treks should check out the ‘Glocknerrunde’ circuit, as well as the highly acclaimed Alpe-Adria Trail.

The Grossglockner High-Alpine Road is also lined with plenty of family-compatible activities, including numerous exhibitions and museums situated on either side of the road. Their topics range from insights into the historical construction and current operation of the road, to fascinating details about the natural environment of the Hohe Tauern mountains. If the kids need a little runaround, there are several playgrounds along the way (i.e. at the ‘Piffkar’, the ‘Fuscher Lacke’ or the ‘Schöneck’). One thing is certain: a drive over the Grossglockner mountain pass is a fascinating and memorable experience for all ages.