Wondering if the Grossglockner High Alpine Road is worth the toll? You get 48 km and 36 hairpin bends for a car day ticket of € 46.50 in 2026, and the operator lists it as open from early May to early November.
For more ideas around the region, see our guide to outdoor activities in carinthia.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Road length | 48 km |
| Hairpin bends | 36 bends |
| Highest point (Hochtor Pass) | 2,504 m |
| Car day ticket, 2026 | € 46.50 |
| Motorcycle day ticket, 2026 | € 36.50 |
| Season | Start of May until start of November |
These figures come from the operator’s prices and opening times page and the Austria.info guide. They can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
Route facts: the climb, the bends and the main stops
According to Austria.info, the road stretches 48 km and climbs through 36 hairpin bends to the 2,504 m Hochtor Pass. The incline reaches up to 12 %. It starts in Bruck an der Großglocknerstraße in SalzburgerLand and ends in Heiligenblut in Carinthia, or the other way round depending on your direction.
The 1935 opening date comes from the Hohe Tauern National Park Region, which calls the road a mix of nature experience, engineering skill and tourist attraction. Austria.info adds that the road runs straight through Hohe Tauern National Park, described there as the largest protected area in the Alps.
The stops below, with heights from the Austria.info guide, are the ones most worth planning around:
- Fuscher Törl (2,428 m): if you drive up from the Salzburg side, this is where you first see the Großglockner.
- Hochtor Pass (2,504 m): the highest point and the start of the Celtic, Muleteer and Roman Trail, about 30 minutes on foot.
- Edelweißspitze (2,571 m): a short spur road leads to views of more than 30 peaks over 3,000 m.
- Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe (2,369 m): views of the Großglockner and the Pasterze Glacier.
The mountain itself is Austria’s highest, at 3,798 m, and the same guide says the road passes through four vegetation zones on its way up.
What does a Grossglockner High Alpine Road ticket cost in 2026?
Prices depend on your vehicle and how long you stay. The operator’s 2026 price list puts a day ticket for a car at € 46.50, or € 40.00 for an electric or hydrogen car. Hybrids do not count as electric cars for this fare.
The same price list shows these other car tickets:
- Day ticket for trips after 6.00 p.m.: € 36.50.
- Extra charge for a second day: € 17.50.
- 3-week ticket: € 93.00, valid for 22 consecutive days including the day of issue.
- Season ticket: € 130.00.
- Round-trip ticket: € 56.00, valid for one trip on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and one on the Felbertauern Road within 30 days.
For motorcycles, the same page lists a day ticket at € 36.50 and € 32.50 for an electric motorcycle. After 6.00 p.m. the motorcycle day ticket drops to € 30.00.
Season and 3-week tickets are only for private vehicles, and the page says discounts cannot be combined. A late-night rate, an e-tariff and a guest card, for example, do not stack.
How the day ticket works
According to the operator’s FAQ, a day ticket is valid only on the calendar day it was issued and during opening hours. You can drive the road as often as you like that day. There are no tickets for partial sections, so a trip only to Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe costs the same as the full road.
The cash points are in Ferleiten/Fusch on the Salzburg side and in Heiligenblut am Grossglockner in Carinthia, per the operator’s FAQ. Buying online in advance is not strictly necessary, but it earns a 10 percent discount on souvenirs in the Großglockner shops.
The Austria.info guide says one day ticket also covers all exhibitions, themed hiking trails and various playgrounds free of charge. Because there is no partial ticket, it helps to decide which stops you want before you pay.
Opening times and the winter closure
The operator states that the road is open from the start of May until the start of November and closed in winter because of snow. As of its 2026 prices and opening times page, a winter closure applies until early May 2027, so a trip before then is not possible.
Daily hours change with the calendar, according to the operator’s page:
- Until 31 May: 6:00 to 20:00, last entry 19:15.
- 1 June to 31 August: 5:30 to 21:00, last entry 20:15.
- From 1 September: 6:00 to 19:30, last entry 18:45.
The same page says there is an official ban on night-time driving outside opening hours. It also lists the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe visitor centre as open daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
Start dates vary. In 2025 the through road opened to traffic on 19 April, which the National Park Region called earlier than ever before. Austria.info notes that exact dates and times depend on weather and road conditions, so check the operator’s site before you travel.
Planning your day: vehicles, stops and nearby trips
Austria.info says the road is generally suitable for motorhomes and caravans, with a warning about the winding route, steep gradients and possible limits for very large vehicles. Camping along the road is not permitted, according to the same guide.
If you sleep in accommodation along the road, you do not pay extra to exit, even for a longer stay, as the FAQ explains. That makes a night at a mountain hut a practical way to avoid the longest driving day.
Once you are back down in the valley, you can read about another national park in the region in our guide to the nockberge national park. If you would rather travel on foot, our overview of the alpe adria trail covers a long-distance option.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a ticket just for Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe?
Show answer
No. The operator’s FAQ says there are no tickets for partial sections, so the day ticket applies however far you drive.
Do I have to buy my ticket online?
Show answer
No. Tickets may also be bought at the cash points just before you enter the toll area, according to the same FAQ. Buying online brings a 10 percent souvenir discount.
Can I drive to Heiligenblut and back on the same ticket?
Show answer
Yes. The FAQ says a day ticket linked to your licence plate lets you travel between Salzburg and Heiligenblut and back on the same day, passing the cash points as often as you like.
Can I drive the road at night?
Show answer
No. The operator’s page states there is an official ban on night-time driving outside opening hours.
