Zell am SeeStory N° 94
Grossglockner Alpine Road Trip
An open-road escape across Austria's highest alpine pass, from Zell am See to the Grossglockner glacier
The itinerary.
4 days · 9 stops
Thursday
Day One
Pick up the car and base yourself lakeside at Zell am See, the gateway to the high alpine road.
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Lake Zell promenade
Stretch your legs on the lakeside Esplanade with the Hohe Tauern peaks reflected in the water.
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Schmittenhöhe
Ride the cable car up the Schmittenhöhe for a 360° panorama of the surrounding glaciers and ridgelines before the drive begins.
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Hotel
Grand Hotel Zell am See booking.com
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Getting around
- Rental car picked up at Salzburg Airport
- Driving the B311 south to Zell am See
Friday
Day Two
The main event: drive the full Grossglockner High Alpine Road, hairpin after hairpin, to the foot of the glacier.
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Grossglockner High Alpine Road
Austria's most spectacular toll road — 36 numbered hairpin bends climbing to 2,571 m at the Hochtor pass, open seasonally from May.
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Edelweissspitze
Detour to the road's highest viewpoint at 2,571 m for a sweeping panorama of 37 peaks over 3,000 m.
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Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe
Park at the panorama terrace facing the Grossglockner (3,798 m) and the retreating Pasterze, Austria's longest glacier.
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Hotel
Hotel Heiligenblut booking.com
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Getting around
- Driving the Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse (toll road) from Fusch to Heiligenblut
- Side spur to Edelweissspitze and the Gletscherstrasse to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe
Saturday
Day Three
Explore the Hohe Tauern National Park on foot before the day's drive.
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Gössnitz Waterfall trail
Hike from Heiligenblut into the Gössnitz valley to its tiered waterfall, deep inside the Hohe Tauern National Park.
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Pfarrkirche Heiligenblut
Visit the Gothic pilgrimage church whose slender spire frames one of the most photographed views of the Grossglockner.
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Hotel
Hotel Heiligenblut booking.com
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Getting around
- Short drive and walk from Heiligenblut village
- Car parked at the Glocknerwinkel trailhead
Sunday
Day Four
An open-ended drive back north through the Tauern valleys to close the loop.
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Krimml Waterfalls
Stop at Europe's tallest waterfalls, plunging 380 m in three tiers, on the scenic route back toward Salzburg.
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Gerlos Alpine Road
A final panoramic mountain drive over the Gerlos Pass linking the Salzburg and Tyrol valleys.
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Hotel
Grand Hotel Zell am See booking.com
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Getting around
- Driving the Gerlos Alpine Road and B165 north
- Returning the rental car at Salzburg Airport
Location.
Frequently asked
How many days do you need for Grossglockner Alpine Road Trip?
4 days. The itinerary runs from Thursday to Sunday and covers 9 curated stops across 4 days.
How much does Grossglockner Alpine Road Trip cost?
Mid-range — €150–300 per day per person.
Where do you stay during Grossglockner Alpine Road Trip?
Grand Hotel Zell am See is the recommended base for the trip; the full hotel list per day is in the itinerary section.
What's included in the Grossglockner Alpine Road Trip itinerary?
Day-by-day stops at 9 restaurants, museums, viewpoints and landmarks; transportation hints between each leg; and a hotel base in Zell am See.
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