Austria’s compact size, good road network and fabulous landscape are perfect for a self-drive holiday.
We put together some suggestions for a self-drive from Salzburg that gives you a variety of experiences. Visit historic villages and medieval castles, get back to nature on fantastic family-friendly hikes in the Alps, enjoy a relaxing lakeside stay and drive on some truly stunning roads. So let’s hit the road!
Historic Mauterndorf, Lungau
Starting from Salzburg (we’ll get back to the city’s sights at the end of the feature), you head south on the A10 motorway for a 75 km / 47-mile drive before you exit and continue past Radstadt and on to B99. As soon as you have gotten off the motorway, you have more time to enjoy the scenery. Furthermore, the drive over Obertauern and down to the historic village of Mauterndorf gives you the first taste of the Austrian Alps. The medieavel village also has a well-preserved castle with fun for the entire family.
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“Off the beaten track” has over the years become somewhat of a cliché, since there are fewer and fewer such places. In Europe anyway. Mauterndorf, however, is not completely run over by large hordes of tourists as many other places in Austria are. Not because of a lack of things to do or see. There […]
Lovely Lake Millstatt, Carinthia
Your next destination is Lake Millstatt in Carinthia, southern Austria, a true summer paradise. It’s a short drive of only 58 km / 36 miles. Notwithstanding, you can also opt-in for an excursion through the Maltatal valley and pay a visit to the massive Kölbrein Dam. You can have it all when arriving at Lake Millstatt watersports, biking, hiking or simply relaxing seaside. Lush hills and mountains surround the lake. Several small towns and villages offer plenty of accommodation in all price ranges, either by the lake or in the mountains.
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There are plenty of activities to enjoy on and in the area around the lake. Since we had brilliant and warm weather during our stay, we decided to give water activities priority. Well, almost. We went for a short hike in the mountains as well. Mostly for the stunning views of the lake and a […]
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Mesmorizing Mölltal, Carinthia
After chilling out by the lake, the road trip again takes you into the Alps and some stunning scenery. The Mölttal region offers exciting hiking in the Raggaschlucht canyon, easy access via underground funicular and cable car to a hiking area and a ski resort on a glacier. Furthermore, if you make your way to the village of Mallnitz, you will also find family-friendly hiking through a lovely valley rich in natural sights. Next up is a road trip across the Alps when you have enjoyed what nature offers. Any self-drive holiday from Salzburg has to include the astonishing Grossglockner High Alpine Road.
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We were looking for outdoor adventures slightly off the beaten track, and hiking friends recommended Mölltal Carinthia. The tip turned out to be a success, and we got rewarded with fantastic hiking adventures. Moreover, the views of the fantastic landscape were also outstanding. Stunning hikes Mölltal is a small valley in the northwest of Carinthia, […]
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
This 48 km (30 mi) long and winding road is one of Austria’s top attractions. The toll road takes you right through the Alpine divide and passes by the Grossglockner, Austria’s highest mountain. Although the drive itself is fabulous with the highest point at Hochtor 2504 metres / 8215 ft above sea level, the views are simply stunning. Moreover, you have plenty of opportunities to stop along the road and should also take the time to stop at the visitors’ centre at the Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe, with exhibitions and numerous attractions.
7 to 14-day trip
This self-drive holiday from Salzburg is about 400 km (270 miles) long with 5 stops, which you could make in a minimum of 7 days, including stays in Salzburg. Nonetheless, we recommend staying at least 2 days at all the stops, to fully enjoy the sights.
Check out the round trip on Google Maps.
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Although barrier-free travel in Austria is not readily available everywhere, slowly but surely, more and more destinations offer at least some access for guests with restricted mobility or families with small children in strollers. Focus on mobility Whether hiking with a pram, wheelchair, or walker, or with other impairments, if you are looking for comfortable […]
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Austria’s airports are well-connected to major cities and central train stations. Therefore, we have put together a list of excellent ski resorts that are easily reachable by train, including some info on how to get there from the airport. Moreover, many ski resorts offer inexpensive or free transfers to and from the nearest train station […]
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We put together some suggestions for a self-drive from Salzburg that gives you a variety of experiences. Visit historic villages and medieval castles, get back to nature on fantastic family-friendly hikes in the Alps, enjoy a relaxing lakeside stay and drive on some truly stunning roads. So let’s hit the road! Historic Mauterndorf, Lungau Starting […]
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Many old buildings are well preserved, creating a great atmosphere. The historic centre of Hartberg lies within the partially preserved city wall from the Middle Ages (12th and 13th centuries), which once surrounded the entire town. Today, visitors and residents enjoy a place where you can relax and enjoy life – in historic surroundings. The […]
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Carnuntum was a Roman military camp on the Danube in the province of Noricum, located in present-day Austria (in Lower Austria, about 43 km east of Vienna). From the 1st to the 4th century AD Carnuntum was a significant Roman metropolis on the outer border of the Roman Empire. Furthermore, Carnuntum became the capital of […]
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If you are on your way through northwestern Styria, you should take the opportunity to visit the old historic centre of the small town with just over 3,400 inhabitants. Murau is beautifully situated in a valley that stretches in an east-west direction through northern Styria — surrounded by a typical alpine landscape on the south […]