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The Karawanken Tunnel

Last updated: 26.08.2025 Reading time: 2 Minutes

What is the Karawanks Tunnel?

The Karawanks Tunnel connects the two European countries Austria (in the south) and Slovenia (in the northwest) and is subject to a special toll. The construction of the Karawanks Tunnel took place between 1986 and 1991. The Karawanks Tunnel is a 7,864-meter (around 7.9 kilometers) long tunnel (4,402 meters in Austria, 3,546 meters in Slovenia) and was named after connecting Austria with the Slovenian Karawanks. It connects Austria on the A11 through the Slovenian Karawanks with the Slovenian E61.

To further increase the tunnel's capacity, construction of an additional tube has been underway since 2018, which is scheduled to be completed by mid-2025. The further plan is to close the first, already completed tube after the successful commissioning of the second tube and completely renovate it. From 2027 onwards, both tunnels are scheduled to be open for parallel traffic.

How long does it take to drive through the Karawanks Tunnel?

Thanks to the Karawanks Tunnel, travel time from Villach (the nearest large city northwest of the Karawanks Tunnel on the Austrian side) to Ljubljana (the nearest large city southeast near the Karawanks Tunnel on the Slovenian side) has been reduced by about one hour for around 2,000 vehicles per hour (capacity).

FAQ about the Karawanks Tunnel

Yes, the Karawanks Tunnel is subject to a special toll, meaning that additional fees apply for its use, regardless of the vignette.

Yes, you can pay at the Karawanks Tunnel with a debit card.

The Karawanks Tunnel can be bypassed by taking the 109 southwest of Villach and crossing the Slovenian border via the so-called Wurzen Pass. On the Slovenian side, the route continues via the 201 towards Podkoren.

Since the Wurzen Pass is partly very steep (up to 18%), it is not recommended for longer vehicles such as motorhomes—especially in icy and/or snowy conditions.
Michelle Albrecht
Hello, I'm Michelle, and I absolutely love writing. As a copywriter, I've turned my passion into a career! Of course, I also let my creativity run wild in my own books. Ever since I spent half a year living in Australia, my wanderlust has grown even stronger (and I never thought that was even possible). That’s why I’m all the more excited to share tips with my readers for their future adventures!