Mountain Passes
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Austria · Hohe Tauern · Carinthia · Salzburg

Grossglockner Panoramic Tour

The 1930s engineering showpiece. An out-and-back ride over Austria's highest paved road, with optional detour to Edelweißspitze.

Route plate for Grossglockner Panoramic Tour
Elevation © NASA SRTM · Roads © OpenStreetMap contributors

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is an Austrian toll road from the 1930s that still feels like a showpiece. Thirty-six hairpins, wide lanes, monumental stone retaining walls, and a head-on view of the country's tallest peak at 3,798 m.

Unlike the other loops in this section, this is an out-and-back from Bruck. There is no paved-road alternative at altitude to complete a full circuit, but the route is rich enough that you do not need one. The Edelweißspitze spur and the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe glacier viewpoint add another hour each and are worth every minute.

The route

  1. Start

    Bruck

  2. Fusch valley approach

    Gentle valley road up to Ferleiten

  3. Fuscher Törl viewpoint

    Panorama of the Hohe Tauern

  4. Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse

    2504 m · Austria

  5. Edelweißspitze

    2,571 m highest driveable point in Austria

  6. Hochtor tunnel

    Actual summit crossing at 2,504 m

  7. Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe

    Direct view of the Pasterze Glacier

  8. Alpine Nature Museum

    Exhibits on the Hohe Tauern National Park

  9. Finish

    Bruck

Who it's for

  • Cyclists: a bucket-list climb on wide road at moderate average gradient. Cyclists pay a reduced fare, often free in current practice.
  • Motorcyclists: the most famous motorcycle road in Austria. Arrive early to beat the tour buses.
  • Drivers: the classic Austrian driving tour, smooth and civilised for any vehicle.

Practical notes

  • Base: Bruck or Zell am See on the northern side, both with a full range of hotels and easy valley access.
  • Season: early May to 2 November 2026. The opening date is published each spring on the Grossglockner AG website.
  • Toll: €46.50/car and €36.50/motorcycle in 2026. Electric vehicles receive a €6.50 discount.
  • Fuel: Bruck on the north side and Heiligenblut on the south. Nothing on the pass itself.
  • Variant: continue south from the summit to Heiligenblut and return via Winklern and Lienz for a longer 200 km descent loop.

Passes on this route

Grossglockner Panoramic Tour — quick answers

How long is the Grossglockner Panoramic Tour?
80 km with 2,100 metres of climbing.
How long does the Grossglockner Panoramic Tour take?
1 day. Cyclists, motorcyclists and drivers pace it differently; the route itself is designed around that timeframe.
How hard is the Grossglockner Panoramic Tour?
Difficulty: Hard. The rating reflects cycling effort. For motor vehicles it is a purely scenic drive.
Which passes does the Grossglockner Panoramic Tour include?
Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse.
When is the best time to ride the Grossglockner Panoramic Tour?
Early May to early November. High passes carry snow into early summer; confirm opening dates close to your trip.
Is the Grossglockner Panoramic Tour paved?
Yes, the Grossglockner Panoramic Tour runs entirely on paved roads.