Last updated: 05.12.2024
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What is the Karawank Tunnel?
The Karawank Tunnel connects the two European countries Austria (in the south) and Slovenia (in the northwest).
When was the Karawank Tunnel built?
The Karawank Tunnel was constructed between 1986 and 1991.
How long is the Karawank Tunnel?
The Karawank Tunnel is a 7,864-meter (about 7.9 km) long tunnel (4,402 meters in Austria, 3,546 meters in Slovenia), which connects Austria (via the Karawanken mountains, hence the name) with Slovenia on the A11, depending on the direction of travel, and links to Slovenia’s E61.
How long does it take to drive through the Karawank Tunnel?
Thanks to the Karawank Tunnel, the travel time from Villach (the nearest largest city northwest of the Karawank Tunnel in Austria) to Ljubljana (the nearest largest city southeast of the Karawank Tunnel in Slovenia) for approximately 2,000 vehicles per hour (capacity) has been shortened by about one hour.
Will the Karawank Tunnel be further expanded?
To further increase the tunnel's capacity, construction on an additional tube has been underway since 2018, and it is scheduled to be completed by mid-2025.
The plan is to close the first, already completed tube after the successful commissioning of the second tube and carry out a complete renovation during this process.
From 2027 onwards, both tunnels are expected to be open for parallel traffic as planned.
What does it cost to drive through the Karawank Tunnel?
For vehicles of class R1, which includes all vehicles with a total weight of up to 3.5 tons, the section toll is €12.50. If purchased through us, the digital section toll is immediately valid.
Where do I pay the toll for the Karawank Tunnel?
The (digital) section toll for the Karawank Tunnel can be purchased and paid for directly in our shop.
Note
The section toll on the Slovenian side, which is collected by the Slovenian highway company DARS, can only be paid at the toll station in Slovenia.
FAQ about the Karawank Tunnel
Yes, you can easily and conveniently pay the section toll for the Karawank Tunnel in our online shop.
Yes, you can pay with an EC card at the Karawank Tunnel.
You can easily pay the section toll for the Karawank Tunnel here on our website before your trip, without having to wait on-site in Austria.
The section toll can be paid in Slovenia in cash, with an EC or credit card, DARS Card, Transporter, or ABC tag. The additional section toll for the Karawank Tunnel (from Austria) can be purchased here.
The Karawank Tunnel can be bypassed by taking the 109 road southwest of Villach and crossing the Slovenian border through the Wurzen Pass. On the Slovenian side, you then continue on the 201 road towards Podkoren.
Since the Wurzen Pass is quite steep in places (up to 18%), it is not recommended for longer vehicles such as motorhomes—especially in icy conditions and/or bad weather.
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