Driving from Salzburg to the Grossglockner

Salzburg is about 50 miles from the start of the Grossglockner High Alpine Highway. We took the trip out of Innsbruck on a beautiful late Summer day, and it was simply the most breathtaking scenery I've ever seen. And I thought the south side of the Alps was even prettier.
Although you can hurry along your way, the circle down to Lienz, over to Cortina, Bolzano and back up to Innsbruck will be a full day's drive. It's a drive best taken slowly. If you have the time, by all means spend the night along the way. Lienz and those cities have some really great luxury resorts to stay in.

Where exactly is the beginning of the Grossglockner High Alpine Rd.? (Coming from Salzburg). I haven't found any website that clearly explains where it is.

So probably we should do the Grossglockner one day, spend the night in Lienz or Cortina, then continue on the Dolomite Rd. the next day up to the Innsbruck area? Do you have any suggestion as to which place would be better to spend the night?

Thank you so much for your help!
Pat

Hi Pat,

We did the same drive, over the course of 4 nights. We drove from Berchtesgaden, over the Grossglockner, and stayed one night in Heiligenblut. Very pretty and extremely scenic village. Next day we drove via Cortina (didn't care for Cortina) and then to La Villa, in the Alta Badia, which is about an hour west of Cortina d'Ampezzo. We stayed in La Villa for 3 nights and then headed to Hall in Tirol for a few nights.

The Alta Badia has some of the best scenery in the Dolomites. Dramatic limestone peaks just spread out if front of you.

The drive from Salzburg to the start of the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse (at Bruck an der Grossglockner) takes about 1:30 hours to get to. Figure the Grossglockner Road is basically between Zell am See and Heiligenblut. The drive over the Grossglockner can take an hour or as long as you like, depending on what you want to see and do along it. The actual pass (road) is not that long.

Going from Salzburg over the Grossglockner to Lienz to Cortina to Bolzano to Innsbruck is over 9 hours driving, non stop. Not stopping at all for anything. Figure on at least 11 or 12 hours with some stops, especially along the Grossglockner, and to eat for for other things. To suggest that 9 to 12 hours of driving is a full day is an understatement.

There is no need to drive "The Great Dolomite Road" as laid out in books. That would be a waste of your limited and valuable time. I wouldn't bother driving to Bolzano, which is a city which is not even in the Dolomites. From Cortina, simply head west through the Alta Badia (San Casino, La Villa, Colfosco), then over the Gardena Pass (even more stunning drive than the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse) into the Val Gardena (Selva, St. Christina and Ortisei) and then north to the Innsbruck/Hall in Tirol area. I have to say when approaching the Innsbruck area from Italy on the A22 highway, the high alpine scenery is simply amazing to see in person. Unforgettable.

Ok. I'd plan on at least 1 night, but 2 nights would be better along this route. Just to get to Cortina d'Ampezzo, without stopping, will be 4:30 of driving. To get to my recommendation of the Alta Badia for a night would take about 5:30 non stop driving. If that's doable, then you could plan on 1 night on this trip. I'd allow two, as it would be more relaxing, and the extra day gives you a better chance at some clear weather.

http://www.altabadia.org/en/summer-holidays/summer-in-the-alps.html

http://www.val-gardena.com/en/summer-2015/page28.html

Paul

Paul -
Thank you so much for your suggestions! I had just about decided that I was trying to add too much, and was considering just driving the Grossglockner, then heading up to Appenzell. We have been to the Dolomites before, so it's not like we haven't seen any of that area. We spent some time in Castelrotto and the Alpe de Suisi area and loved it, so when I read about the Great Dolomite Road, that's what made me wonder if we should go back.

Now I think we'll leave Salzburg, drive the Grossglockner to Heiligenblut, then head up toward Innsbruck on our way to Appenzell, Switzerland. Does the road go through Lienz, or is there any reason to make sure we go there?

Hopefully we will get back to Italy again one of these days, and we'll try to do the Val Gardena then. We were originally focusing on Austria and Switzerland this time anyway (with a little Bavaria thrown in).

Thank you again for all your help. It really helps to hear from people who have done it!

Paul,
Since you seem to know the area so well, do you think it's doable in one day to drive from Salzburg over the Grossglockner, then on up to Appenzell? Or would we need to break that up with a night somewhere?

Hi Pat,

That's still a 9 hour non stop drive. No different than the other scenario. It seems that driving the Grossglockner is the priority. How many nights will you be staying in Salzburg? I ask as the Rossfeld Panorama Road above Berchtesgaden is a scenic alpine drive. It's not the Grossglockner, but... it's a terrific drive.

If you're not heading into the Dolomites, there's no need to go to Lienz. The Grossglockner Road ends north of Heiligenblut and that's about 45 minutes north of Lienz. Here's what it looks like:
Salzburg to Bruck an der Grossglockner: 1:30
Drive along the Grossglockner ending back at the start at Bruck an der Grossglockner: 2.5 hours
Bruck an der Grossglockner to Innsbruck: 3 hours

Innsbruck is roughly midway for this particular itinerary.

No matter what you do, adding the Grossglockner adds a lot of time, as it's a slow drive and it's a detour from Salzburg to Switzerland.

Without the Grossglockner drive, the trip from Salzburg to Appenzell would be under 6 hours total.

Paul

Thank you, Paul. You've been very helpful. I have spent a lot of time looking at different websites and never could quite figure out the beginning and end of the Grossglockner or the time needed to drive it. I also didn't realize that it is essentially a loop from Bruck to Heiligenbrut and back to Bruck. Now I see that it would be a long day to get to Appenzell. Will have to decide whether to miss this or take an extra day in that area. I hate to miss things!! But, I will also check out the Rossfeld Panorama Rd., because we will be back up in that area. Thanks again for your help!

Pat,

The Grossglockner Road is not a loop. It goes from Bruck an der Grossglockner to just north of Heiligenblut. I just don't see the logic to go another 40 minutes south to Lienz, as it will take you even more time to get to Innsbruck or Hall. Best to drive the Grossglockner from Bruck towards Heiligenblut and then back again.

Paul

Paul,
Thank you for the great insight on this question. My wife and I will be traveling this same route the end of May. Staying 3 nights in Salzburg, then leaving early morning drive via Grosslockner High Alpine Rd., then on to Lake Bled ( 2 nights). On paper, that seems like a reasonable drive, assuming comfort/viewing stops along the way...
Would appreciate your thoughts.
Thank you,
Alton

Alton,

On paper it seems somewhat reasonable. Maybe somewhere between 5 to 6 hours, non stop. Me, I prefer shorter drives, like a 3 hour drive we can stretch if we find some places of interest to stop at along the way.

We left Berchtesgaden around 9:30am, drove via Lofer, Saalfelden, Zell am See, Grossglockner and wound up in Heiligenblut, at the southern end of the Grossglockner around 2:30pm. Stayed the night and headed to La Villa, Alta Badia (Dolomites) the next morning.

Paul

Thank you.
Alton