The Best Road Trips In Austria

Exploring Austria by car is packed with adventure. From high alpine scenery in the west to the flat landscapes in the east, these Austria itineraries introduce you to various road trip options.

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Vienna to Innsbruck via Berchtesgaden

This four- or five-day trip allows you to see three of the best cities in Austria, whilst also passing through some incredible rural landscapes along the way. After you’ve seen what the capital has to offer (see our guide for inspiration), you can take the route through Berchtesgaden towards Salzburg. Although this drive is fairly lengthy (around three hours), it allows you to experience the beautiful Lake Königsee on the border with Germany, as well as stunning mountainous trails. Then, head to Salzburg, which can easily be explored in a day or two. Next, it’s on to Innsbruck via the Autobahn A-12, passing through the Ziller Valley on the way.

As with the first route, this road trip gives you the chance to take the glorious Grossglockner High Alpine Roa, as well as plenty of opportunities to ramble in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The A2 Autobahn will take you straight to the humble city of Graz. Allow time to stop off at Hochosterwitz Castle, one of Austria’s most famous medieval fortresses.

Innsbruck to Vienna via Hallstatt

Although ambitious, this route reveals aspects of the country both urban and rural. Beginning in the charming city of Innsbruck and ending in the capital, Vienna, you will take in glittering lakes and cosy coffee houses. After you’ve seen the sights of Innsbruck, take the two-hour trip to Zell am See, a popular rural destination where you can enjoy a range of outdoor activities in summer. The next day, hit the road again for two hours to the village of Hallstatt – a place so pretty that it was recreated by the Chinese – and from here head to Salzburg. The last leg of the trip takes you from Salzburg to the wine valleys of Melk and, finally, to the capital, Vienna, where you can celebrate your arrival with one of the city’s famous cakes.

Bregenz to Innsbruck

The town of Bregenz, on the shores of the beautiful Lake Constance, is an idyllic place to begin this relaxed tour. In order to get to Innsbruck, you must pass through the B200, a winding road that offers panoramic alpine views. Those who want a pit stop could do so in Lech am Arlberg, a charming resort town that is popular with skiers and hikers.

Grossglockner High Alpine Road

This winding route is known as the High Alpine Road, which takes you from Salzburg to Carinthia, passing through gorgeous scenery of the Hohe Tauern National Park, with views of almost 40 mountains. The highest point of the road is a staggering 2,504m (8,200ft), and the views are, well, you can imagine how good they are. You can also enjoy the thrills and spills of the hair-raising twists and turns. The landscape is varied during the one-hour trip, with miles of gorgeous hills, cliffs, meadows, lakes and, of course, the Alps.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.