Timmelsjoch is the highest pass of the Ötztal Alps
Austria, europe
34.6 km
2,479 m
hard
Year-round
# Timmelsjoch Pass: A Thrilling Alpine Adventure
Ready for an epic high-altitude drive? Welcome to Timmelsjoch Pass (aka Passo del Rombo), sitting pretty at 2,479m (8,133ft) right on the Austria-Italy border. It's basically the less famous but equally stunning cousin of the legendary Stelvio Pass.
This beauty connects Austria's Ötztal valley in Tyrol with Italy's Passeier Valley in South Tyrol, winding through the gorgeous Ötztal Alps. What's wild is that this road is one of the highest paved passes in the Alps, and it's been connecting these two regions since the late 1950s—talk about a major engineering feat! The project took just 17 months to complete (May 1955 to November 1959), and it opened to the public on July 7, 1959.
Here's what you're getting into: the Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstrasse is a paved toll road stretching 34.6km (21.49 miles) from Obergurgl in Austria to Moos in Passeier in Italy. Sounds straightforward? Not quite. This road is seriously intense with 60 turns and 30 hairpin bends, plus gradients reaching up to 12.7%. Whether you're cruising in a convertible, tearing it up on a motorcycle, or tackling it by bike, expect an unforgettable ride and absolutely jaw-dropping Alpine scenery.
The pass typically opens daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm between early June and late October—this thing gets absolutely hammered by snow (up to 10 meters!) and freezing winds for the rest of the year. Plan on spending about 90-100 minutes driving, though you'll definitely want to stop for those incredible views of glacier landscapes, crystal-clear alpine streams, and dramatic rock faces.
All in all, this is one scenic, adrenaline-pumping mountain road you won't forget anytime soon.
Where is it?
Timmelsjoch is the highest pass of the Ötztal Alps is located in Austria (europe). Coordinates: 47.9030, 13.3197
Road Details
- Country
- Austria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 34.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,479 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 47.9030, 13.3197
Related Roads in europe
moderateWhere is Sommet Bucher?
🇫🇷 France
Okay, picture this: You're in the French Alps, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, ready for an adventure. Your destination? Sommet Bûcher, a peak chilling at 2,215m (7,267ft). This isn't your average Sunday drive, folks. This old military road, first carved out in 1892, climbs 13 km (8.07 miles) from Chateau Queyras. While mostly paved, there are some dirt sections, so a 4x4 is definitely your friend here. The road is STEEP, with some sections hitting a maximum gradient of 12%! You'll gain 858 meters in elevation from Chateau Queyras. Up top, you'll find a communication tower and a tiny mountain hut. But the real reward? Insane views of the Queyras valley. Trust me, the scenery is worth the white-knuckle drive!
moderateThings to Know Before Driving the Flooded Welney Wash Road
🇬🇧 England
Ever fancied driving a road that might be underwater? Then get yourself to the Welney Wash Road! Straddling the Norfolk-Cambridgeshire border in England, this fully paved stretch of the A1101 cuts right through the Ouse Washes Flood Storage Reservoir. Clocking in at just under a mile (1.28km), the Welney Wash Road, as it's locally known, connects the villages of Welney and Gold Hill. Sounds simple, right? Well, here's the catch: this road is prone to flooding. It's part of a flood defense system, so when the River Great Ouse gets a bit too enthusiastic, this area turns into a temporary reservoir. Think of it as a unique kind of road trip hazard! The usual river range at the causeway is between 0.46m and 2.40m, but once the water reaches 2.40m at Welney, it's time to turn around. Located in west Norfolk, works are underway to improve the causeway to hopefully prevent flooding. As for scenery, you're smack-dab in the heart of the Ouse Washes, so expect wide-open landscapes and unique views. Just be prepared to turn back if the water levels rise!
hardRegia Trazzera Prestanfuso in Sicily is one of the steepest roads in the world
🇮🇹 Italy
# Regia Trazzera Prestanfuso: Sicily's Jaw-Droppingly Steep Road Nestled in the Metropolitan City of Palermo in northern Sicily, the Regia Trazzera Prestanfuso is genuinely one of the most insanely steep drives you'll ever attempt. Seriously—you won't truly appreciate how bonkers this road is until you're actually on it and your car is struggling for dear life climbing upward. Stretching just 1.4 km (0.86 miles) between Scillato and Strada Provinciale 24, this short but brutal route packs serious punch. The road is fully paved in concrete (thank goodness, given what's about to happen), and there's a strict 20 km/h speed limit in place. Fair warning: it gets slippery as hell after rain, so plan accordingly. Here's where things get wild. The gradient hits a staggering 27% in sections, which means you'll basically be living in first gear if you're heading uphill. Slip out of it and you'll roll backward. Going downhill? Get ready to ride your brakes constantly—this isn't a road where you coast. It's also off-limits to trucks and oversized vehicles wider than 2.30 m or taller than 2.80 m for obvious reasons. This is adventure driving at its most extreme. Bring plenty of brake fluid, nerves of steel, and a genuine respect for physics.
hardHow Long is the Versamerstrasse?
🇨🇭 Switzerland
Okay, buckle up for the Versamerstrasse, a quirky little mountain road tucked away in Graubünden, Switzerland! You'll find yourself hugging a rocky cliff face on one side, with nothing but open air and a serious drop on the other. Talk about an adrenaline rush! This fully paved ribbon of road stretches for about 8.3 kilometers (or just over 5 miles) and, yeah, it gets a bit snug in places. Starting near Bonaduz, in the Imboden district, it winds its way eastward to Versam in the Surselva district. Keep your eyes peeled as you cruise through a few tunnels and galleries, all while following the stunning Vorderrhein River, one of the Rhine's headwaters. The highest point is around 907 meters (almost 3,000 feet) near the end. Word of warning: keep an eye out for rockslides – they're a real possibility here. The views, though? Totally worth it!