Austria is made for a road trip: from alpine panoramic roads and crystal-clear lakes to historic cities, many highlights are only one to two hours’ drive apart. In this guide, we present three varied road trips (5–10 days), including practical planning tips, recommendations for hiking and ski regions, and a concise toll overview. Make sure to get the right digital vignette for Austria in advance so you can use motorways and expressways with ease.
The ideal itinerary for your road trip through Austria mainly depends on how much time you have and what you want to focus on. Austria offers a wide variety: cities such as Salzburg, Vienna and Innsbruck, Austria’s water wonderland with lakes and waterfalls, diverse hiking areas, ski resorts, as well as regions such as the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve or Schladming-Dachstein. The following rough guide can help with planning:
With our sample routes, you’ll have a solid base for a short or longer adventure. A simple rule of thumb for relaxed road trips is: plan a maximum of 1–3 hours of driving per day and two activities. That way, there’s enough time to enjoy the journey instead of rushing from one highlight to the next.
Also consider the seasons and the weather when planning—especially in the Alps:
If you plan your road trip during school holidays or long weekends, expect increased traffic jams on motorways and around popular holiday destinations.
Your starting point largely depends on where you’re coming from. However, some places are particularly well-suited as a “hub” for a road trip:
If you’ll be using Austrian motorways during your journey to Austria, it’s a good idea to buy a digital vignette before you travel. This keeps you flexible and helps you avoid unnecessary stops at sales points.
This route is ideal if you’re travelling through Austria by car for the first time and want to experience a mix of cities, lakes and high Alps. It takes you from Salzburg through the Salzkammergut and Schladming-Dachstein to Carinthia’s lake landscapes—with plenty of opportunities for hikes, swimming breaks and short detours into Austria’s water wonderland.
Start your road trip at a relaxed pace in Salzburg. The compact old town, with its fortress, Getreidegasse and river promenades, is perfect for settling in first. Stroll through the lanes in the morning, enjoy the view from Hohensalzburg Fortress, and end the evening in one of the many restaurants or along the Salzach river. In our guide you’ll find more tips on getting there, parking options and the ideal length of stay in Salzburg.
The next day, the route takes you into Austria’s water wonderland—specifically to the Salzkammergut. Here you’ll find lakes such as Wolfgangsee, Traunsee or Lake Hallstatt. Depending on your route, you can look forward to a mix of easy hikes, boat trips, swimming breaks and cultural excursions (e.g., Hallstatt). You’ll find detailed information on lakes, waterfalls and recommended routes in our article on Austria’s water wonderland.
From the lakes, continue into the mountain world of the Schladming-Dachstein region. It’s an attractive destination in both summer and winter: in summer, hiking trails, alpine pastures and mountain lakes dominate; in winter, the pistes are part of a network of well-known ski resorts. Depending on your preferences, plan a panoramic hike, a visit to the Dachstein cable car, or a more relaxed day on an alpine pasture. You’ll find an overview of hikes, cable cars and activities in our guide to Schladming-Dachstein as well as in our articles on hiking regions in Austria.
Next, head towards Hohe Tauern National Park and the famous Großglockner High Alpine Road. Here you’ll experience Austria’s high-mountain landscapes up close: hairpin bends, viewpoints, short panoramic trails and visitor centres make the region accessible even for less experienced hikers. Please note that the Großglockner High Alpine Road and certain access routes may be subject to route-specific tolls. You can find relevant information in our overview of special tolls and route tolls.
To finish, consider spending time at one of the Carinthian lakes. They are part of Austria’s water wonderland and combine swimming holidays with mountain views. Whether Wörthersee, Millstätter See or smaller lakes—this is where you can slow the pace of your road trip: swimming, walks along the lakeside promenade and easy excursions into the surrounding landscape. Our article on Austria’s water wonderland offers more inspiration.
The stages on this route usually range between 45 minutes and 2.5 hours of driving time. Many sections run on motorways or expressways, for which a vignette is required. Depending on your chosen route, special toll roads (e.g., Großglockner, certain tunnels and alpine roads) may also apply.
You’ll find all key information on the digital vignette and toll rules in our guide to digital tolls in Austria as well as our overview of route tolls & special tolls.
This road trip is aimed at anyone who wants to combine culture, cuisine and gentle landscapes. Cities such as Vienna and Graz meet wine regions in Burgenland and Styria. Ideal for travellers who don’t want to spend much time in high alpine terrain, but still want to enjoy nature, indulgence and history.
Start your route in Vienna, the country’s cultural hub. Between the Ringstrasse, palace grounds and the Danube Island, you can easily fill two days: museums, coffeehouse culture, Wiener schnitzel and a Danube cruise. In our article on Vienna, you’ll find tips on parking, short-term parking zones and excursions into the surrounding area—ideal for planning arrival and departure as part of your road trip.
From Vienna, travelling via Styria is a great option. Depending on your interests, combine a stop in Graz with detours into the wine and rolling-hill landscapes of southern Styria or to hiking regions in the north. Styria blends urban centres with nature experiences, thermal spas and culinary specialities. You’ll find more inspiration and regional tips in our guide to Schladming-Dachstein as well as our articles on hiking regions and ski resorts. You definitely should not miss these highlights during your roadtrip.
Burgenland is shaped by wide plains, vineyards and Lake Neusiedl. It’s ideal for cycling, leisurely walks and wine tastings. The elevation profile is significantly gentler here, making this section perfect for quieter days in between. In our article on Austria’s water wonderland, you’ll find suggestions for well-known lakes you shouldn’t miss on your way to Burgenland.
To round things off, consider a stay in Graz—a city that combines tradition and modernity. The Schlossberg, the Murinsel and the old town lanes offer a varied programme. From Graz, you can plan your return journey flexibly: back via Styria to Vienna, or west towards Salzburg or Innsbruck.
Because this road trip relies more heavily on motorways and expressways, a digital vignette is especially important. Driving times between stages are usually between 1 and 3 hours. Special toll routes play a smaller role on this itinerary than in the high Alps, but may be added depending on your individual route choice.
You’ll find an overview of all relevant toll regulations in our article on tolls in Austria.
The third road trip is for nature lovers who want to explore western Austria in more depth. With Tyrol, Vorarlberg, lakes such as Achensee or Plansee, the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve and well-known ski resorts that are also attractive hiking regions in summer, this road trip is sure to impress.
Innsbruck combines urban infrastructure with direct access to the mountains. The old town, the Nordkette cable car, Bergisel and proximity to numerous hiking and ski areas make the city a perfect starting point. You’ll find more tips on the city, parking options and excursions in our guide to Innsbruck.
Achensee is often called the “Tyrolean fjord” and is part of Austria’s water wonderland. Here you can swim, try stand-up paddling, enjoy easy lakeside paths or explore the area on a panoramic boat trip. There are also numerous easy to moderately difficult hiking trails around the lake. More lakes and waterfalls in Tyrol and Vorarlberg are presented in our article on Austria’s water wonderland.
Plansee in Tyrol offers an equally impressive setting and is ideal for a stopover night. The drive there follows winding roads with plenty of photo stops. You can easily combine a day of short hikes, a swim and a scenic drive along the lakeside roads.
A special section of this road trip is the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve in Vorarlberg. As a protected area, it focuses on sustainable tourism, gentle mobility and nature-based experiences. It’s less about spectacular staging and more about tranquillity, wide views and hiking areas suitable for a broad range of fitness levels. You can find more detailed information in our guide to the Großes Walsertal Biosphere Reserve.
To finish, consider staying in one of the well-known ski resorts that function as hiking regions in summer (e.g., Tyrolean Oberland, Montafon or the Arlberg area). Many cable cars operate in the warm season as well, providing easy access to panoramic viewpoints. You’ll find more information in our article on ski resorts and hiking regions in Austria.
Driving times are usually between 45 minutes and 2 hours, with many stages on rural and mountain roads. Motorways are mainly used for arrival and departure. The vignette requirement applies to vehicles up to 3.5 t permissible gross weight. Depending on your chosen route, special toll routes such as certain tunnels or alpine roads may be added.
Not sure whether a vignette is enough for your route or whether an additional route toll applies? In Austria, three terms are key: vignette, distance-based toll and special toll (route toll). You’ll find a comprehensive overview in our guide to tolls in Austria.
Please note that the digital vignette for Austria is valid in Austria only. Neighbouring countries may also have a toll obligation in the form of a vignette or distance-based toll. If your road trip crosses the border, you will need the appropriate vignette there as well. With DMC Digitale Maut Consulting GmbH, you can also obtain vignettes for the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Switzerland and Slovakia, among others. This makes us ideal for combined European road trips by car.
DMC Digitale Maut Consulting GmbH makes driving through Austria especially easy: the digital vignette can be ordered online in just a few minutes, is linked to your licence plate, and—if you wish—comes with an individual start date. Since 2019, we have offered digital vignettes for several European countries, ideal for transit journeys and road trips. Our email support in 15 languages helps you with questions about tolls, vehicle classes and special toll routes. Optional cancellation protection provides extra peace of mind if your travel plans change at short notice.
To make sure your road trip through Austria goes smoothly, you should keep a few practical points in mind:
With these three road trips, you’ll experience Austria in all its variety: from alpine panoramas and lake landscapes to hiking regions and culturally rich cities such as Salzburg, Vienna or Innsbruck. Secure the right digital vignette with your preferred start date in advance, and enjoy short driving times, big panoramas and the special combination of nature, culture and cuisine. We wish you a safe journey and an unforgettable travel adventure. If you have any questions, you can contact us via email.
