Austria
Austria Road Trip: Grossglockner High Alpine Road & Scenic Drives
Austria’s greatest driving road and the wild beauty of the Zillertal Alps.
7 days / 6 nights · From £849 per car based on two sharing
Austria doesn’t shout about its driving roads the way Switzerland or Italy do, but the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is quietly one of the best in Europe. Thirty-six hairpins climbing to over 2,500 metres, glacier views from the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe viewpoint, marmots on the verges, and a surface that feels like it was laid yesterday. The first time you drive it, you’ll want to turn around and do it again. So we’ve built in a day for exactly that.
The trip starts with a night in Strasbourg — Alsace is a lovely place to break the journey, all half-timbered houses and tarte flambée — then it’s east through Germany and into the Austrian Tyrol. After the Grossglockner, there’s the Gerlos Pass through the Zillertal, the mountain roads around Innsbruck, and if you’re feeling adventurous, the Timmelsjoch across to Italy and back. The Austrians know how to do mountain hospitality too — expect spa hotels, proper breakfasts, and the kind of apple strudel that ruins all future apple strudels.
Seven days, six nights, and the feeling of having discovered something that most people drive past on the motorway without ever knowing it’s there.
Group Road Trip
From £849 pp twin share
Deposit: £250
✓ Eurotunnel/ferry return
✓ 6 nights at 4-star hotels
✓ Curated route and personalised guidebook
Why This Trip
What Makes It Special
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
48 km, 36 hairpins, 2,504 metres. Austria’s greatest road — and one of the greatest anywhere. The glacier views from the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe are staggering.
Zillertal Alps
A quieter, wilder corner of the Austrian Alps. The roads through the Zillertal valley and over the Gerlos Pass are superb driving territory with far fewer tourists.
Austrian hospitality
Spa hotels, half-board dining, and the genuine warmth of the Tyrol. Austria does après-driving better than anywhere.
Gerlos Pass
A sweeping, beautifully surfaced pass connecting the Zillertal and Salzburg regions. Less famous than the Grossglockner but every bit as enjoyable to drive.
Price Includes
What’s Included
✓ Eurotunnel/ferry return
✓ 6 nights (incl. 2 en route stops)
✓ Grossglockner toll entry
✓ Curated route
✓ Breakfast daily
✓ Restaurant recommendations
✓ Driving notes
Booking for a group?
Get in touch to find out about our group discounts. Whether it’s a car club, a birthday, or just a group of mates — we’ll put together a package that works.
Day by Day
The Itinerary
Day 1
Eurotunnel & Drive to Strasbourg
Early Eurotunnel crossing from Folkestone to Calais, then drive through northern France into Alsace. Arrive at your hotel in Strasbourg’s Petite France quarter — half-timbered houses, canal-side restaurants, and your first Alsatian beer in a traditional winstub.
Day 2
Strasbourg to Austrian Tyrol
Drive east through Germany on the autobahn, crossing into Austria as the landscape shifts from rolling countryside to Alpine foothills. Check in to your mountain hotel and enjoy your first Austrian evening — Tyrolean cuisine, valley views, and anticipation for tomorrow.
Day 3
Grossglockner Day
The highlight of the trip. Drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road — 48 km of pure driving perfection with 36 hairpin bends climbing to 2,504m. Stop at Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe for views of the Pasterze Glacier and Austria’s highest peak. Take your time — this road deserves every minute.
Day 4
Zillertal & Gerlos Pass
Head into the Zillertal Alps — quieter and wilder than the main tourist routes. Drive the Gerlos Pass with its sweeping curves and dramatic valley views, stopping for lunch at a mountain Gasthof. Explore the back roads around Mayrhofen — this is Austrian Alps driving at its most authentic.
Day 5
Driver’s Choice
Today is yours to design. Options include driving the Grossglockner again (it’s that good), exploring the roads around Innsbruck, or crossing the Timmelsjoch into Italy for a taste of South Tyrol. Your route notes cover all three options.
Day 6
Austria to Strasbourg
Reluctantly leave the Alps behind and drive west through Germany back to Strasbourg for your final overnight. One last Alsace evening — tarte flambée and a glass of Riesling in a candlelit winstub.
Day 7
Strasbourg to Home
Interested in Grossglockner & the Zillertal Alps?
- Eurotunnel/ferry return
- 6 nights hotel accommodation (incl. 2 en route stops)
- Grossglockner toll entry
- Curated route & driving notes
- Breakfast daily
- Restaurant recommendations
- Fuel costs
- Toll charges (other than Grossglockner)
- Meals unless specified
- Travel insurance
- Personal expenses
