Grand Austria Road Trip: Danube, Alps & Lakes

A grand loop from Vienna through the Danube, Grossglockner, Carinthian Lake District, and Graz

This long-distance road trip starts and ends in Vienna, covering the Danube Valley, the Lake District, Salzburg, the High Tauern mountains, the southern lakes, and Graz. Each drive is kept under half a day, though there are frequent hotel changes. Bypassing western Tyrol allows for a complete Southern Austria experience, making this perfect for return visitors with plenty of time who are comfortable driving on mountain roads. Crossing the Grossglockner High Alpine Road requires clear weather and can be swapped with the day before or after.

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is closed in winter, typically opening from early May to early November.

Day by day

Day 1 · Arrive in Vienna & Explore the Inner City

Vienna（St. Stephen's Cathedral、Hofburg Palace、Vienna State Opera）

Take the airport express train to the city center (approx. 16 mins). Do not pick up your rental car yet; explore the Inner City entirely on foot.

Stay: Wieden & Karlsplatz

Day 2 · Schönbrunn Palace & Museum Day

Vienna（Schönbrunn Palace、Belvedere Palace、Kunsthistorisches Museum）

Take the subway to and from Schönbrunn Palace. In the afternoon, take the tram along the Ringstraße back to the MuseumsQuartier.

Stay: Wieden & Karlsplatz

Day 3 · Pick Up Car, Drive via Wachau to Linz

Vienna（Wachau Valley & Dürnstein、Melk Abbey） → Linz

Drive along the north bank of the Danube to Dürnstein, cross the river to Melk, and take the A1 to Linz (approx. 3.5 hours driving time).

Austrian motorways require a digital toll vignette; confirm it is included when picking up your rental car.

Stay: Hauptplatz and Old Town

Day 4 · Half Day in Linz, Transfer to the Lake District

Linz（Hauptplatz & Trinity Column、Ars Electronica Center、Gmunden & Traunsee） → Salzburg & Hallstatt

Explore Linz in the morning. In the afternoon, drive via Gmunden to Obertraun (approx. 2 hours driving time).

Stay: Obertraun

Day 5 · Hallstatt & Dachstein

Salzburg & Hallstatt（Hallstatt Lakeside、Krippenstein & 5 Fingers Viewing Platform、Dachstein Giant Ice Cave）

Arrive early to park in Hallstatt. Return to Obertraun in the afternoon to take the cable car. Short drives within the Lake District take about 15 minutes.

Hallstatt parking lots tend to fill up around 10:00 AM; try to arrive before 9:00 AM.

Stay: Obertraun

Day 6 · Drive via Bad Ischl & Lake Wolfgang to Salzburg

Salzburg & Hallstatt（Kaiservilla, Bad Ischl、Wolfgangsee、St. Gilgen）

Drive along the B158 via Bad Ischl and St. Gilgen to Salzburg (net driving time approx. 1.5 hours).

Stay: Mirabell and Linzergasse

Day 7 · Salzburg Old Town & Fortress

Salzburg & Hallstatt（Hohensalzburg Fortress、Getreidegasse、Mozart's Birthplace、Mirabell Palace & Gardens）

Park your car at the hotel or a riverside parking lot. Explore on foot and use the fortress funicular all day.

Stay: Mirabell and Linzergasse

Day 8 · Ice Caves & Gorges to Bad Gastein

Salzburg & Hallstatt（Eisriesenwelt Ice Cave、Hohenwerfen Castle） → Zell am See-Kaprun（Liechtenstein Gorge）

Drive the A10 to Werfen (approx. 45 mins), then continue to the gorge and Bad Gastein (approx. 1.5 hours).

The Eisriesenwelt ice cave is only open from May to October. Temperatures inside are near freezing, so bring a jacket.

Stay: Bad Gastein Old Town

Day 9 · Waterfall Town to Kaprun

Bad Gastein（Gastein Waterfall、Stubnerkogel & Suspension Bridge） → Zell am See-Kaprun（Sigmund Thun Gorge）

Explore the town on foot and take the cable car in the morning. Drive to Kaprun in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour).

Stay: Kaprun

Day 10 · Lake Zell & High Alpine Reservoirs

Zell am See-Kaprun（Kaprun High Mountain Reservoirs、Lake Zell、Zell am See Old Town）

Kaprun and Lake Zell are about 15 minutes apart. Accessing the reservoirs requires transferring to a dedicated shuttle bus up the mountain.

The reservoir shuttle buses operate from around June to early October, subject to annual announcements.

Stay: Kaprun

Day 11 · Cross the Grossglockner to the Lake District

Zell am See-Kaprun（Edelweissspitze、Kaiser-Franz-Josefs-Höhe & Pasterze Glacier、Heiligenblut am Großglockner） → Klagenfurt & Wörthersee

The 48 km scenic toll road and sightseeing takes about half a day, followed by a 2.5-hour drive to Velden.

Choose a clear day and start early. The road may close temporarily due to snow or heavy fog.

Stay: Velden

Day 12 · Lake Wörthersee Loop to Klagenfurt

Klagenfurt & Wörthersee（Pyramidenkogel、Maria Wörth、Lindwurm Fountain & Neuer Platz）

Drive along the south bank of the lake to Pyramidenkogel, then continue to Klagenfurt (approx. 1 hour total).

Stay: Klagenfurt Old Town

Day 13 · Castle Visit, Transfer to Graz Old Town

Klagenfurt & Wörthersee（Hochosterwitz Castle） → Graz（Schlossberg、Clock Tower (Uhrturm)、Hauptplatz）

Drive to Hochosterwitz Castle (approx. 30 mins), then take the A2 to Graz (approx. 2 hours).

Stay: Graz Old Town

Day 14 · Eggenberg Palace & Return to Vienna

Graz（Schloss Eggenberg、Kunsthaus Graz）

Take the tram or drive to the palace in the morning. In the afternoon, take the A2 to Vienna Airport (approx. 2.5 hours).