Austria
Austria
This Austria road trip highlights the finest culinary and alpine areas of Austria. We designed this route for travelers who want to authentically and deeply experience Austria. You’ll eat in Almen (alpine pasture huts) and Hütten (mountain huts), drink wine in Buschenschänke (wine taverns), hike in five mountain ranges, and sleep in unique and memorable accommodations. And if you’re uninhibited, maybe spend some time in a Therme (thermal spa).
This Austria travel itinerary requires a minimum of two weeks. You’ll begin your trip in Vienna and end in Innsbruck. If you plan on doing a full-loop back to Vienna, add 6 hours of driving time to your last day. If you’re interested in a shorter route, read our 1 Week Austria Itinerary.
From Vienna, you’ll drive south to Austria’s culinary heartland, South Styria. After wining and dining in South Styria, your trip continues to the city Graz and then to the Northern Limestone Alps in Salzburg. Next, you’ll drive the Grossglockner High Alpine Road and experience the best-kept secrets of Hohe Tauern National Park. Your trip then continues to the Zillertal Alps in Tyrol and eventually to the Rätikon Alps in Vorarlberg.
When to do this Austria Road Trip: Summer, or Early Fall.
Driving in Austria: If you’re driving into Austria from a neighboring country, make sure to purchase a vignette (toll sticker). The toll sticker is compulsory on Austria’s motorways and expressways. It must be displayed on the inside of your windshield. Here’s more info about pricing and your options.
Let’s officially kick off this Austria road trip. We recommend spending your first whole day at a Therme, aka an Austrian spa. You’re on vacation after all.
A Therme is a thermal spa complex that houses thermal pools, various saunas, resting and silent rooms, and a cafeteria. They typically offer massage, spa, and wellness treatments as well. But unlike spa complexes in other parts of the world, you don’t need to have a treatment in order to access all the pools and saunas.
Typically, the price structure is broken down into a 3-hour pass, all-day pass, or an evening pass. Sauna access is an extra charge.
The sauna complex in a Therme is an adults-only area. For hygienic purposes, saunas in Austria are always textile-free. That means bathing suits are strictly prohibited in the sauna. Get ready to take it all off and rock your birthday suit. In most saunas, genders are integrated. It’s not creepy, I promise!
If you stay the night at a Therme spa hotel, access to the thermal spa and sauna area is included. Hotel guests usually have access to exclusive spaces as well. You’ll be supplied with slippers, bathrobes, and towels.
It’s one of the most relaxing things you can do. So, if you need some time to get over your jet lag, or just want to integrate wellness and relaxation into your trip (in a super authentic way), this is it. Remember to bring your Kindle.
Choose one of these Thermen, and book an overnight.
Therme Linsberg Asia combines great lighting with impeccable design. Because it’s adults-only, the pool and sauna areas flow together seamlessly.
The Rogner Bad Blumau Hotel and thermal complex, designed by Friedensreich Hundertwasser. Need I say more? If you love art and want to bathe and steam in basically a huge Huntertwasser installation, stay here. You can read about our experience in our Rogner Bad Blumau Hotel Review.
St Martins Therme & Lodge is a blissfully tranquil thermal spa hotel with an “Austrian Safari” theme. The whole complex is surrounded by water. I spent my birthday here and have never felt more relaxed. Staying overnight in St. Martins is a treat. However, it’s a bit out of the way. The other two Thermen above are almost directly on the route.
After a relaxing day/night at the Therme, your Austria road trip continues south to Südsteiermark (South Styria), Austria’s unofficial culinary and wine capital.
While you’ll certainly find great food everywhere in Austria, South Styria combines respect for tradition with a spirit of innovation. Food is (dare I say) more interesting and creative here.
On your way down, you can visit Riegersburg, a picturesque medieval castle enthroned on top of a mighty volcanic rock. The castle and town of Riegersburg are located in the Styrian region of Vulkanland, which is also a wine-growing region.
For great views of the castle and the surrounding wine country, visit a local wine tavern (Buschenschank). We recommend visiting Wippel for wine, food, and great views, or Buschenschank Bernhart for wine and Jause (meat and cheese platters).
Continue driving to Gamlitz, the heart of South Styria. We recommend using Gamlitz as your base for exploring this region for several reasons. First, it’s central. Second, you can take advantage of the free Gamlitz Taxi Service, which will usher you between your accommodation and the wine tavern (Buschenschank), winery (Weingut), or restaurant (Wirtshaus) of your choice.
Your hotel will call the taxi for you and make any necessary reservations (at least ours did – Jaglhof).
For dinner, you can decide between eating at a Wirtshaus (restaurant), Heuriger (wine tavern), or a Buschenschank (rustic wine tavern).
One of the loveliest ways to experience Styrian wine culture is in a traditional wine tavern. Buschenschänke are taverns run by winemakers. Some wine taverns are open all year round, while others are only open during certain months. By law, Buschenschänke can only serve cold food and their own wines. A Heuriger, by contrast, can also serve warm food and other wines.
We ate dinner at Buschenschank Hack – Gebell. We were blown away by the quality and taste of the cheese and meats. We ordered two different Jausen (platters). We used the free Gamlitz taxi to get here.
If you’re looking for a more formal meal, consider Jaglhof by Domaines Kilger, Wirtshaus Maitz, or Kogel 3. We recommend making a reservation.
Domaines Kilger is a Styrian winery that operates the restaurant and Jaglhof. Here are 5 reasons to stay here:
1.Dream Location. The hotel isn’t located in the town center of Gamlitz, but rather on a hill surrounded by vineyards. After a few days of wandering about this region, we can confirm that the views from Jaglhof are simply the finest.
2.Divine Sunrise and Sunset. The outdoor terrace is perfect for watching the sunset.
3.Luxurious Mattress and Bedding.
4.On-site Restaurant (open Thursday – Monday).
5.Private Wine Tasting. Guests can request a private wine tasting of Domaines Kilger and Schiefer wines.
Day 3 of your Austria itinerary is all about relishing the tastes, smells, and sites of South Styria. We wrote this wine tasting guide to South Styria where we explain how wines are classified in this region, which wineries to visit, tips for wine tasting, and more.
You can spend the day driving the South Styrian Wine Road, which starts in Ehrenhausen and ends in Leutschach. There are many (too many to name) wineries located along the route.
You can also head to Kitzeck im Sausal and visit Weingut and Buschenschank Schauer (winery and wine tavern) Genusshof Kilger (wine tavern), Weingut Kodolitsch (winery), and Kogel 3 (restaurant).
Stay another night at Jaglhof by Domaines Kilger in Gamlitz.
Your Austria road trip continues to Graz, the charming capital of Styria, and then northeast to Filzmoos.
Driving Time: 45 min
Total Kilometers: 49 km
Graz is actually Austria’s second-largest city, though it feels more like a town. The Styrian capital impresses immediately with its beautiful architecture and laid-back atmosphere. We recommend eating lunch here and walking around the city’s Old Town, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The historical center sports splendidly medieval facades as well as visionary modern buildings. From the Old Town, head to Schlossberg (Castle Hill). The uphill walk will take you to the iconic Uhrturm (clock tower), where you’ll have a great view of the city.
Eat lunch at Der Steier and treat yourself to coffee and cake at Tagescafe Freiblick, a rooftop café located in the Kastner & Öhler department store.
Driving Time: 2.5 hours
Total Kilometers:187 km
From Graz, drive 2.5 hours to the alpine town of Filzmoos in Salzburg State. Facing the Gosaukamm, which forms part of the Dachstein mountain range, Filzmoos is a lovely base for exploring the magical Northern Limestone Alps.
Midrange | Hotel Bergglück is a traditional Austria bed and breakfast, owned by the same family for over 250 years. With its affordable price point and friendly hosts, you can’t go wrong if you stay here.
Luxury | meiZeit Lodge is a new hotel in Filzmoos that is quickly becoming the best base in the area for skiing as well as hiking. Guests praise the caring staff, the sunny terrace, the Fit & Well facilities (Finnish pine sauna, BIO herbal sauna, Infrared relaxation loungers, relaxation zone, and Vital drink bar), the generous and varied breakfast buffet, and the overall charm. A bonus of staying here is the complimentary afternoon pie and cake selection served daily between 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm.
What makes Salzburg a particularly delightful hiking destination is the region’s Alm culture. An Alm is a high alpine pasture where livestock graze freely in the summer months. To learn more about Almen and alpine transhumance, read The Alps in Summer: 10 Things you Need to Know Before Visiting.
In fact, Salzburger Land has the highest density of alpine pastures among the Austrian states. During the hiking season, mountain pasture huts (Almhütten) welcome hikers and make for divinely sinful lunch breaks.
You have a full day to explore Filzmoos. Start your day by driving to Hofalmen. There’s a small toll (5 EUR) to drive to Hofalmen. Here, you’ll find two alpine pasture huts and the trailheads to Hofpürglhütte (mountain hut) and Sulzenalmen (two more alpine pasture huts).
For the most divine, mouth-watering Kaiserschmarrn you’ll ever have, head directly to Sulzenalmen (1-hour hike). You can easily extend this hike into a full-day adventure. Use our Filzmoos guide for more information.
You can also head to Ramsau am Dachstein (15-minute drive), another holiday town facing the Dachstein range for more hiking and walking. We love this scenic 5 huts trail.
Midrange | Hotel Bergglück
Luxury | meiZeit Lodge
Your Austria road trip dramatically crescendos as you drive the awe-inspiring Grossglockner High Alpine Road (Großglockner Hochalpenstraße) today. The road is typically open from early-mid May until the end of October.
Driving Time: 3:30 hours (Filzmoos to Matrei in Osttirol)
Total Kilometers: 182 km
The 48-km Grossglockner High Alpine Road is a paved serpentine road that steers you into the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park and directly to the base of the Grossglockner (3,798 m), Austria’s highest mountain. The alpine road stretches between Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße in Salzburg with Heiligenblut am Großglockner in Carinthia.
The drive from Filzmoos to Fusch an der Großglocknerstraße is about 1 hour. You’ll pay a 37.50 EUR toll (see pricing table) to access the road. Here’s everything you need to know about driving the Großglockner Hochalpenstraße, including where to stop, hike, and eat.
Tomorrow, we recommend hiking the Innergschlöss Glacier Trail. If you want to spend the night at the trailhead, you can stay at Matreier Tauernhaus (where we stayed).
This traditional Austrian guesthouse is located at the entrance of the Gschlösstal valley. This is where you’ll take the shuttle to the small hamlet of Innergschlöss, in order to start the Glacier Trail. If you decide to stay in Matreier Tauernhaus, you’ll have a pretty stress-free day (plus free parking).
Your Austria road trip continues to the stunning Gschlößtal valley in East Tyrol.If you’re staying in Matrei in Osttirol, it’s a 15-minute drive to Gschlößtal valley.
From Gschlöss Valley, you’ll embark on one of Austria’s finest day hiking trails: the Innergschlöss Glacier Loop Trail (Gletscherweg in German).
Budget: Matreier Tauernhaus in Gschlössta
Budget: Zedlacherhof
Midrange: AlpenParks Montana Matrei
Luxury: Natur- und Wanderhotel Outside
After experiencing the hidden splendors of Hohe Tauern National Park, it’s time to journey further West to the town of Mayrhofen in Zillertal Valley. Note: there’s a toll on this route (explained below).
Driving Time: 2 hours
Total Kilometers: 90.4 km
Südportal Felbertauerntunnel – Mautstelle (Toll Station)
After leaving Matreier Tauernhaus, continue driving on 108 (north) in the direction of Südportal Felbertauerntunnel. You have to pay a toll of 11 EUR (private cars) to drive through the tunnel. See current pricing here.
Mayrhofen is a quintessential alpine town in Tyrol. Lively and charming, Mayrhofen is the perfect base for exploring the celebrated Zillertal Alps. There are plenty of restaurants, cafés, outdoor clothing stores, and hotels to keep you busy when you’re not out hiking. Here’s our guide to the best things to do in Mayrhofen in Summer. And, here’s a guide to the popular Olpererhütte day hike. Quick summary of things to do in Mayrhofen in summer and early fall:
1.Eat cake at Konditorei Kostner
2.Grab a Schnitzel Semmel at Butcher Hans Gasser
3.Eat dinner at Hotel Neue Post
4.Hike to Olpererhütte
5.Walk around Speicher Zillergründl to Hohenau Alm
6.Hike from Speicher Zillergründl to Plauener Hütte
7.Visit Stilluptal Valley
Budget | Landhotel Rauchenwalderhof is a cozy and traditional guesthouse in Mayrhofen with an attractive price point. Guests love the location, outdoor swimming pool, and hospitality. Breakfast is included.
Midrange | We stayed in the 4-star Alpenhotel Kramerwirt, a family-run hotel in the center of Mayrhofen. This traditional Austrian hotel exhibits a high standard of hospitality, food, and comfort. We loved the spaciousness, light, bedding, and design of our sunkissed “Superior Room.” In the evening, local bands and ensembles perform on the outdoor patio. Their breakfast buffet is also outstanding. As soon as you finish breakfast, you’ll be excited for the next morning.
Luxury | ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat- Adults only is a luxurious hotel in Mayrhofen featuring beautiful spa facilities, outstanding cuisine, and alpine-modern furnishings. This is the best place to stay in Mayrhofen for a relaxing and rejuvenating getaway.
The fastest way to get to Lech am Arlberg from Mayrhofen is via St. Anton am Arlberg via the A12 (Inntal Autobahn). However, a more scenic route is via the Bschlaber Landesstrasse (L246) and the Hahntennjoch saddle, which cuts through the Lechtal Alps.
The Bschlaber Landesstrasse connects Inntal valley and the Lechtal valley.
When you reach Lechtal, turn right and make a quick detour to LechZeit hotel and restaurant in Elmen for lunch. They serve their full menu between 11:30 am and 2:00 pm and a limited menu between 2:00 pm and 5:30 pm.
Driving Time: 3 hours
Total Kilometers: 195 km
Lech am Arlberg is a famous ski resort town. While everyone associates Lech with winter, we think summer is the best time to visit.
Lech is a particularly enjoyable destination because it’s wedged between the Lechquellen Mountains to the west and the Lechtal Alps to the east. Both ranges are accessible directly from the town via cableways and seasonal buses.
Budget | Lech Hostel is a budget-friendly accommodation in Lech am Arlberg, offering clean and cozy single, double, and triple rooms. Guests have access to a shared kitchen and shared lounge. Bathrooms are shared as well. The room rate is unbeatable.
Midrange | Hotel Garni Schneider is a top-rated, affordable bed and breakfast, situated next to Rüfikopfbahn in the center of Lech. Bedrooms are nicely decorated, spotless, and comfortable. Guests also have access to a wellness area (Finnish sauna, steam bath, Kneipp basins, and relaxation room) and free private parking.
Luxury | Der Berghof is a sophisticated, 4-star superior hotel in the center of Lech. This hotel delivers an unparalleled experience in terms of style, comfort, wellness and cuisine. Bedrooms are designed with premium materials and furnished with extraordinary attention to detail. The wellness area features 5 modern saunas, a cold water basin, and a footpath. The breakfast was extraordinary.
Luxury | Hotel Auenhof is a family-run 4-star hotel, situated along the River Lech, facing Omeshorn. With its dreamy location and extraordinary staff, Hotel Auenhof outshines other Lech accommodations in terms of its hospitality and atmosphere. The highlight of staying here is the gourmet multi-course dinners, which delight with their creative ingredient combinations, flavors, and presentations. Many hotel restaurants strive to be innovative, but none so successfully as Hotel Auenhof. As a guest, you’ll also enjoy the generous, complimentary afternoon snacks and a very nice wellness area.
This Austria road trip itinerary continues west to Brandnertal, a valley in the Austrian State of Vorarlberg. Brandnertal is the gateway to the Rätikon, a limestone mountain range that straddles the border between Austria, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
Driving Time: 50 Minutes
Total Kilometers: 50.2 km
Roundtrip Prices (as of Summer 2021): 18.10 EUR for Adults; 17.20 EUR for Seniors; 10.90 EUR for Children.
Operating hours: ascent: every 15 min between 8:00 am and 16:55 pm; descent: every 15 min between 8:10 am and 17:00 pm
Once you ascend to the lake, you have several options.
1.You can walk the easy circuit trail that wraps around the entire lake – 2 hours, 6.1 km (easy)
2.You can hike the circuit trail and then ascend to Gafalljoch ridge (2239 m) – 3 hours, 8.7 km (moderate).
3.Or, if you’re looking for a challenge, you can hike to Schesaplana (2964 m) – 7 hours, 11.2 km – the highest peak in the Rätikon Alps (difficult).
There’s a mountain hut located at the Lünerseebahn top station called Douglashütte. The food is excellent and the service is swift. On the other side of the lake, there’ a small alpine pasture hut called Lünersee Alpe. Their menu is very limited, so if you’re hungry, definitely eat at Douglashütte. And, then grab a mid-walk beer or beverage at the Alm.
We suggest basing yourself in the town of Brand in Brandnertal, or on the high alpine plateau Tschengla, which overlooks Brandnertal
Budget | Hotel Lün is a top-rated modern alpine hotel in Brand, offering double rooms as well as apartments with fully equipped kitchenettes and dining areas. Highlights of staying here are the spa area, the breakfast buffet, the fresh and cheerful design.
Midrange | Pension Bergkristall is an apartment-style accommodation in Brand, next to the Dorfbahn Cable Car Station. If you’re planning to base yourself in Brandnertal for a few days, or even a week, you’ll feel very comfortable here. Breakfast is available upon request.
Luxury | Aktiv-Hotel Sarotla is a stylish and modern hotel with excellent spa facilities, spacious rooms with balconies, and a fabulous hotel restaurant and bar. Guests can participate in guided hiking and cycling tours free of charge.
Luxury | The 4-star Schillerkopf Alpine Resort is an exceptional place to stay when you’re ready to take a vacation from your vacation. Positioned on the Tschengla Plateau, high above Brandertal, you’ll be treated to mountain and valley views whether you’re in your bedroom, in the dining room, or in the garden.
Staying in Schillerkopf is also a culinary experience. Each day, guests are pampered with a 4 chapter Gaumenpoesie (“poetry of the palate”) package. In a nutshell that means that your stay includes a bountiful breakfast (7:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.), followed by a lunch buffet (12:00 p.m.), followed by a late afternoon dessert buffet (3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.), followed by a 6-course dinner accompanied by live music. So, basically, you don’t want to leave.
The 4 chapter concept pays homage to the literary genius Friedrich Schiller. Like reading a novel, you progress through the day, one culinary chapter at a time.
Driving Time: 2 hour
Total Kilometers: 146 km
If you want to end your Austria road trip on the highest of notes, we recommend detouring to Ötztal Valley to visit the Aqua Dome Therme. You can visit for a few hours, or spend the night in the thermal spa hotel. Read Next:
Innsbruck is the capital of Tirol. Framed by the Karwendel Mountains and the Tux Alps, Innsbruck is a stunner. Spend a few hours walking around the Altstadt (Old Town), and you’ll be completely mesmerized.
It’s about a 6-hour drive from Innsbruck to Austria.
We recommend breaking up your trip in Salzburg City or somewhere in the Salzkammergut Region.
We didn’t include Salzburg in our itinerary, because we’re not fans. It feels like a bloated tourist bus stop. That’s just our opinion, though. If you’ve always wanted to see Mozart’s birthplace and Sound of Music filming locations, by all means, go.