Austria does not get enough credit in motorcycle conversations. Riders talk about the Alps in general, about Italy's passes and Switzerland's scenery, but Austria sits in the middle of all of it with roads that are genuinely world-class and a fraction of the summer traffic you find further west.
Here is what is worth your time.
Grossglockner High Alpine Road
The obvious one, and obvious for good reason. The Grossglockner is 48 kilometres of engineered perfection – switchbacks, panoramic stops, a surface maintained to a standard that most European roads can only dream about. The famous Edelweissspitze viewpoint at 2571 metres gives you a 360-degree view that justifies the toll on its own.
Best time: June to October. Early morning before the tour buses arrive.
Silvretta High Alpine Road
Less known than the Grossglockner but arguably more satisfying to ride. The Silvretta connects Vorarlberg and Tyrol through 34 kilometres and 34 hairpin bends. The surface is excellent, the scenery is dramatic without being crowded, and the reservoir at the top makes a perfect stop.
Nockalm Road (Nockalmstraße)
If you want to feel genuinely alone on a mountain road, the Nockalm delivers. This is a slower ride – tight, narrow in places, with livestock crossings that remind you this is still a working landscape. But the isolation and the rolling Nockberge scenery make it unlike anything in the Alps proper.
Hahntennjoch
For riders who want technical satisfaction over scenic grandeur, the Hahntennjoch in Tyrol is a cult road. Narrow, demanding, with a surface that punishes inattention. This is not a road for beginners – but for experienced riders, it is one of the most rewarding passes in Austria.
Phyrn-Priel Region
Often overlooked because it sits between the more famous Salzkammergut and Styria, the Phyrn-Priel area offers quieter roads with consistent quality. The Pyhrn Pass itself is straightforward but the surrounding network of secondary roads is worth exploring.
Riding Austria With a Local Guide
The difference between riding a route from a map and riding it with someone who has done it a hundred times is significant. A local guide knows where the road surface changes, where the unexpected gravel appears after rain, which petrol stations are actually open on a Sunday, and where to stop for lunch that is not a tourist trap.
If you are visiting Austria and want to make the most of the riding, booking a local guide for even one day will completely change your experience of the region.
