Grossglockner High Alpine Road

I have driven this road several times. It is very beautiful and at the very top is located a lake and visitor center. The road has switchbacks and one must be careful on these. A suggestion for switchbacks is to always have someone,other than the driver, look ahead of the driver for buses or cars making the same switchback. Be sure to have cash euors for the purchase of the toll ticket at either end of the road.

It's an amazing drive. I've done it from North to South, and driving up the valley is incredible. You keep heading up and up and up and you're still in the same valley, but the views keep changing. There are plenty of places to stop for photos and views. Just make sure you'll be doing the whole thing in the day. I wouldn't drive this at night if I could help it. Down the other side, heading south, is a wonderful little town Heiligenblut which is extremely picturesque with its location nestled in the valley and its tall-spired church. Other really fun places in Austria... Slightly off the beaten path is the tiny village of Paternion. The Gasthof Tell is a jewel of a small, country inn with friendly service, great food, and charming rooms. The little village is not a destination, but it is very cute and you can walk by the barn where they bring the cows in at night. Also, be aware you'll probably wake up early as the small church next door rings the bells early. Another amazing spot in Austria not on typical tourist routes is Riegersburg, near Graz. Stay at the Gastohf Fink. The castle is really cool, the town is small and beautiful, and the hotel is another great example of a country inn with fantastic food. It's surrounded by farms, vineyards, orchards and hot springs (bads). And, of course, castles. Kufstein, on the way from Munich to Grossglockner is also a great castle and nice town. Stay in the uber-Tyrolian Altstadt Genusshotel Auracher Löchl. Ask for a room with a view of the river. Love Austria, love Vienna, but get out in the countryside as well. You'll have a blast.

A beautiful drive. We drove it from south to north and when you get to the top of the drive you can enjoy a meal at the Panorama restaurant while taking in views of the Grossglockner and the Pasterze glacier. We stayed in the little town of Heiligenblut in the valley below the Grossglockner. It would be a nice relaxing place to stay the night after a day of sightseeing at the top. Loved the little church there and took many photos of it with the Grossglockner in the background. We stayed at Pension Edelweiss which is run by a nice couple and breakfast included in the price of the room.

I drove the route from North to South a few years ago and I agree it is a beautiful drive. It was early in June and of course the snow at the lower altitudes had long since melted. However, I still remember thew view from one of the rest stops (Edelweiss-Spitze, I believe) of a white wonderland to the south as the road ascended into a higher elevations. Be sure to pull over from time to time in the parking areas - not just to admire the view, but there is also some wildlife in the area.

Hi Jay,
We are Americans who have lived in Vienna for nearly six years and have driven the Grossglockner Alpine Road many times. It is well worth it but, as I don't know when you are coming, check their website to make sure it hasn't closed for the season. For a scenic drive, I'd go from Munich to Innsbruck via Oberammergau, Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Mittenwald. Innsbruck's old town is lovely and the views of the city from Hungerberg are great. If you are more into castles, Schloss Ambras is quite nice. If you are a fan of Swarovski, you can stop in Wattens. You could then drive to Krimml to see Austria's largest waterfall and then on to Bruck an de Grossglockner and either spend the night at one of the inns on the road or in Heiligenblut. It's not a long drive but can take time if you stop often to enjoy the views. It's also not scary...I'm not a fan of windy mountain roads in general but this is a nice, wide road. You could drive it again from the opposite direction and then spend a couple of days in Salzburg (there's a nice saline spa in Bad Reichenhall, Germany, just 20 minutes outside of Salzburg, RupertusTherme). Since you are in the area and depending on your interests, Bertchesgaden and/or Hallstatt would make another great destination. If you go to Hallstatt and the weather is good, you might want to drive 15 minutes away to view the Dachstein glacier at Gosausee...and if you should spend the night on the lake you'll be rewarded with great stars. Lots of hiking opportunities here. Then on to Melk, drive along the Wachau Valley to Durnstein, and on to Vienna. Be sure to leave at least three days to see Vienna. There are photos of many of these places on my blog, if you are interested in seeing them: www.marthasvienna.blogspot.com. You can use the search feature for any of the places that might interest you. Hope this helps and have a wonderful time.