Rosi Mittermeier is the highest road tunnel in Europe
Austria, europe
15 km
2,830 m
moderate
Year-round
# Rosi Mittermeier Tunnel: Europe's Highest Alpine Passage
Want to experience Europe's highest road tunnel? The Rosi Mittermeier Tunnel sits at a breathtaking 2,830m (9,285ft) in Austria's Tyrol region, nestled in the stunning Ötztal Valley. This impressive feat of engineering—originally built in 1982 as the Tiefenbach Tunnel—was renamed to honor legendary ski racer Rosi Mittermeier (1950-2023).
The tunnel itself stretches 1.729km through solid mountain rock and connects two incredible glacier zones: Rettenbach and Tiefenbach. Both have spacious car parks, making it a convenient starting point for alpine adventures. The entire 15km Panoramic Glacier Road (Ötztaler Gletscherstraße) is fully paved and built to serious standards—we're talking four lanes of capacity with an 11% average grade that handles everything from regular cars to 38-ton trucks without breaking a sweat.
Here's the catch: you're playing in the big leagues here. This is high Alpine terrain, which means weather can turn on a dime. Sudden snowstorms, temperature drops, and avalanche risk are real concerns. Pack your snow chains year-round (yes, even summer visits)—they might be mandatory depending on conditions. The road closes when conditions get too sketchy, sometimes even blocking access twice in a season.
But if you make the drive, you'll be rewarded with some of the most jaw-dropping Alpine scenery Europe has to offer. Just come prepared.
Where is it?
Rosi Mittermeier is the highest road tunnel in Europe is located in Austria (europe). Coordinates: 47.6075, 13.3931
Road Details
- Country
- Austria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 15 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,830 m
- Difficulty
- moderate
- Coordinates
- 47.6075, 13.3931
Related Roads in europe
moderateThe road to Col de la Toviere in the Alps isn't for sissies
🇫🇷 France
# Col de la Tovière: A High-Alpine Adventure Ready for some serious altitude? Col de la Tovière sits at a breathtaking 2,682m (8,799ft) above sea level in the Savoie department of France, making it one of the country's highest driveable peaks. You'll find it tucked away in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region in the southeast, hugging the Italian border within the stunning Vanoise National Park. Starting from Tignes, this wild 2.8km (1.73-mile) climb gains a punishing 632m of elevation—we're talking an average gradient of 22.57% that'll test your nerves and your vehicle's grit. Here's the catch: the road is completely unpaved and serves as a service road for the chairlift, so only 4x4 vehicles need apply. This isn't a casual Sunday drive. The payoff? Absolutely worth it. At the summit, you can grab a meal at Restaurant Altitude de Tovière while soaking in panoramic views across Parc National de la Vanoise and the surrounding alpine landscape. The scenery is genuinely spectacular. Fair warning though: this route is only open from July to September. The brutal winters and heavy snow make it completely impassable from October through June. Time your visit right, and you'll experience one of France's most exhilarating mountain roads.
hardUltimate 4wd destination: Laghi di Cedec
🇮🇹 Italy
# Laghi di Cedèc: A Wild Alpine Adventure Want to experience one of Italy's most dramatic high-altitude drives? Laghi di Cedèc is a stunning mountain lake sitting pretty at 2,833 meters (9,294 feet) in the Sondrio province of Lombardy, nestled within the magnificent Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio in the northern Alps. Fair warning: this isn't your average Sunday drive. The road here is completely off-limits during winter, and year-round access is restricted to authorized vehicles only. The entire route is unpaved, so if you're not comfortable tackling serious mountain tracks, this probably isn't for you. You'll definitely need a proper 4x4 to make it work. Starting from Santa Caterina di Valfurva, you're looking at an 11.8 km (7.33 mile) climb with a brutal 1,104-meter elevation gain—that's an average gradient of 9.35%. Translation? Steep doesn't even begin to cover it. This ranks among Italy's highest roads for a reason. Be particularly prepared for the roughest section: the first 1.4 km beyond Rifugio Pizzini (at 2,706m/8,877ft) features some genuinely gnarly terrain that'll test your driving skills and your vehicle's suspension. If you've got a solid 4x4 and nerves of steel, the views and sense of accomplishment at the top make this epic journey absolutely unforgettable.
moderatePuerto de Contreras
🇪🇸 Spain
# Puerto de Contreras Head over to this mountain pass sitting pretty at 724m (2,375ft) on the border between the Valencian Community and Castile-La Mancha in Spain. It's basically the scenic shortcut connecting Villargordo del Cabriel and Minglanilla, right along the main Madrid-to-Valencia corridor. The road itself—officially called Cuestas de Contreras—is paved and totally drivable, though it's narrow and wonderfully quiet. You won't find much traffic up here, just stunning views and endless curves. Fair warning though: this isn't a leisurely cruise. The pass throws everything at you—relentless twists, steep climbs, and tight turns that'll keep even seasoned drivers on their toes. We're talking an average gradient of 4.71% with sections hitting 8%, spread across about 17 km of serious mountain road. The route's got serious history too. Back in 1853, Lucio del Valle carved out the original road, but by 1969 a modern highway bypassed it completely. These days, you get to experience that classic mountain-pass vibe—all those hairpin turns that make the old route so thrilling. While you're tackling the pass, check out the Contreras reservoir of the Cabriel river at the base, and you'll spot the skeletal remains of an old cement plant that adds an intriguing touch to the landscape. It's the kind of road that delivers both beauty and a real driving challenge.
hardWhere is Puig Falcó?
🇪🇸 Spain
Okay, buckle up, adventure seekers! We're heading to Puig Falcó, a sky-scraping peak way up in the Spanish Pyrenees (Lleida province, to be exact). This bad boy tops out at 2,754 meters (that's 9,035 feet for you imperial system fans!), so you know the views are going to be epic. Locally known as Cap de les Raspes Roies, it's tucked inside the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici Natural Park, so expect stunning natural beauty. Now, here's the catch: the "road" to the summit is really more of a rugged, unpaved access trail – think chairlift service road. We're talking narrow stretches, seriously steep inclines (up to 25%!), and a surface that's more rock than road. High clearance vehicles are a MUST. This isn't your grandma's Sunday drive. Starting from the parking lot of the ski resort, it's a mere 3.5 km (2.17 miles) to the top, but don't let the distance fool you. You'll be gaining a hefty 699 meters in elevation. The average gradient is brutal, with rocky, slippery sections and occasional spots that feel almost vertical. But, if you're up for the challenge, you'll be rewarded with some of the most incredible views in the Catalonian Pyrenees and maybe even a glimpse of the ski resort. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!