Top 12 Scenic Alpine Roads in Austria

Top 12 Scenic Alpine Roads in Austria

Austria, europe

Length

48 km

Elevation

2,000 m

Difficulty

hard

Best Season

Year-round

# Austria's Best Mountain Roads: A Driver's Dream

Austria is seriously a playground for road trip enthusiasts. We're talking jaw-dropping Alpine scenery, nail-biting hairpin turns, narrow tunnels carved into mountainsides, and elevation gains that'll make your head spin. If you love twisty roads and stunning vistas, this country absolutely delivers.

Here are 12 incredible drives that'll have you planning your Austrian road trip ASAP:

**Salzburg to Carinthia** | 48km | Up to 2,504m | Built 1935

36 turns, 12 hairpins, 12% gradient. Open May-October. Toll required.

**Carinthia Route** | 16km | Up to 1,732m | Built 1965

116 turns with 7 hairpins packed into a short stretch. 10% gradient. Open year-round. Toll required.

**Salzburg Pass** | 12km | Up to 1,628m | Built 1962

8 hairpins, 9% gradient. Year-round access. Toll required.

**Carinthia Alpine** | 34km | Up to 2,042m | Built 1979

52 turns with stunning scenery. Open May-October. Toll required.

**Carinthia Loop** | 14km | Up to 1,895m

10 hairpins, 10% gradient. Seasonal (May-October). Toll required.

**Tyrol-Vorarlberg Route** | 22km | Up to 2,032m | Built 1961

34 hairpins, 12% gradient. June-October. Toll required.

**Tyrol Highpass** | 26km | Up to 2,750m | Built 1980

29 hairpins, 12% gradient. Open year-round. Toll required.

**Tyrol Challenge** | 12km | Up to 2,479m | Built 1959

60 turns, 30 hairpins, 13% gradient. Intense! June-October. Toll required.

**Historic Tyrol** | 13km | Up to 1,806m | Built 1907

8 hairpins, 12% gradient. Open May-October. Toll required.

**Tyrol Scenic** | 7km | Up to 1,920m

Year-round access. Toll required.

**Tyrol Valley Road** | 32km | Up to 1,441m | Built 1923

17% gradient. Open year-round. No toll!

**Tyrol Epic** | 48km | Up to 2,020m | Built 1963

A long, rewarding drive through incredible terrain. May-October. Toll required.

Ready to experience Alpine driving at its finest? These roads are calling your name.

Where is it?

Top 12 Scenic Alpine Roads in Austria is located in Austria (europe). Coordinates: 47.3373, 13.7945

Share this road

Road Details

Country
Austria
Continent
europe
Length
48 km
Max Elevation
2,000 m
Difficulty
hard
Coordinates
47.3373, 13.7945

Related Roads in europe

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Road 108easy

The Ultimate Guide to Traveling the Road 108

🌍 Kosovo

Okay, adventure seekers, listen up! Road 108 in western Kosovo is calling your name. Picture this: you're cruising through the Gjakova district, within the "Bjeshkët e Nemuna" National Park, on a recently paved ribbon of asphalt that winds and twists like a playful serpent. This 29.45km (18.3 miles) stretch of pure driving bliss follows the stunning Dečanska Bistrica stream, carving its way through a dramatic canyon. Trust me, you'll want to soak in every second of daylight on this route; a night drive? Maybe not so much. Keep an eye on the weather, especially in winter, because Mother Nature sometimes likes to close the gates. Starting in Deçan at 550m (1,800ft), you'll climb steadily to a lofty 1,800m, so buckle up for some seriously steep sections! This is an international route, the Qafa e Prushit, so get ready for an unforgettable experience.

An epic road to Col d'Azet in the Pyreneesmoderate

An epic road to Col d'Azet in the Pyrenees

🇫🇷 France

# Col d'Azet Want to tackle a real Alpine adventure? Col d'Azet sits pretty at 1,580m (5,183ft) in the Hautes-Pyrénées, nestled in France's Occitania region. This is the kind of pass that gets cyclists dreaming and road-trippers excited. The 18.2 km (11.30 miles) stretch runs west-east from Saint-Lary-Soulan to Génos, and yeah, it's made the Tour de France cut before—so you know it's legit. Fair warning though: the road is fully paved but showing its age in places, narrows out unexpectedly, and doesn't always have guardrails to keep you company. Not exactly a leisurely drive. What you *will* get are some seriously steep grades, especially through the village of Azet where things get pretty gnarly. Plan for an average gradient of around 8% on both sides, though it eases up a bit as you push toward the summit. The lower kilometres? Steep as they come. Once you reach the top, you'll find minimal amenities—just a small parking area and those stunning Pyrenean views. Oh, and keep an eye out for hang-gliders dancing through the sky. The scenery is genuinely gorgeous, making every hairpin worth the effort. This is mountain pass driving at its most rewarding.

Strada degli Eroi is a military mule road built during WWIextreme

Strada degli Eroi is a military mule road built during WWI

🇮🇹 Italy

# Strada degli Eroi: Italy's Epic Mountain Road Want to experience one of Italy's most legendary drives? Head to the Pasubio massif in the Vicentine Alps, where the stunning Strada degli Eroi awaits. This 10.5km road winds through the dramatic landscape straddling Trentino-South Tirol and Veneto in the Eastern Alps, climbing 838 meters with an eye-watering average gradient of nearly 8% and peak sections hitting 12%. Built in 1922 after World War I, this route honors 12 soldiers who earned gold medals for valor during the Great War—their names are etched into the rock face along the way. The road was initially just a mountain trail, but between 1937 and 1938, engineers transformed it into a proper route, complete with the impressive Galleria Generale Achille d'Havet tunnel. The ceremonial opening on June 26, 1938, marked a turning point for accessing the summit region. Starting from a small parking area on Strada Statale 46, the road climbs relentlessly toward the Rifugio Generale Achille Papa hut, with kilometer markers every step of the way. Most of it remains unpaved (except for some asphalt hairpin turns), and prepare yourself for a shock: the temperature difference between the base and top is absolutely dramatic. Fair warning: this road has a serious reputation. Closed to vehicles since the 1980s due to safety concerns, much of it has deteriorated significantly, with cracked surfaces and loose rocks making driving treacherous. Today, it's a favorite haunt for hikers and mountain bikers seeking adventure—but it demands respect and caution.

Southern Via Baltica: Key Route Between Lithuania and Polandeasy

Southern Via Baltica: Key Route Between Lithuania and Poland

🌍 Poland

Okay, picture this: the Southern Via Baltica, stretching about 100 kilometers (or 62 miles) from Kaunas down to the Polish border. It's a major route connecting Lithuania with Poland, and a key piece of the larger Via Baltica – one of Eastern Europe's biggest transit routes. Now, it's a busy road, no doubt about it. Lots of international trucks rumble along here, so be aware of heavy freight traffic. But it’s also pretty scenic, cutting through some culturally rich areas. You'll cruise through the Sudoyia region and pass by Marijampolė, a city steeped in history and culture. Basically, you're getting a taste of Eastern Europe as you roll on by! Just be sure to keep your eyes on the road and adjust to the traffic flow.