The Grossglockner closes for winter. Here's the plan

Austria's highest road closes for winter in early November. Here's the plan 🏔️ If you only drive one road in the Alps, make it this one, and go in the morning. 📍 The Grossglockner High Alpine Road: 48 km and 36 hairpins, up to 2,571 m at the Edelweißspitze 📍 Zell am See: about 1h20 from Salzburg, the place to sleep before the drive 📍 Hallstatt: about 1h15 from Salzburg, for when the road has shut The rule that ends the day: from 27 October the gates open 08:00 to 17:00, and last entry is 16:15. Arrive after that and you're turned back at the gate. The good news: the car toll is €36.50 from 15 October until the winter closure, down from €46.50. The operator only says early November for the closing date, and the road reopens late April to early May. Austrian motorways need a vignette: €12.80 for 10 days in 2026. In winter, Hallstatt's salt mine runs 2 November to 6 January, last tour 15:00, closed 24 and 31 December. 👉 Swipe for the gate times and what to do when it shuts. Save this for your trip and send it to who you'd go with. Would you drive it now or wait for summer? 👇 📷 Lukas Marek, Katharina Polman, Dimitris Kiriakakis / Unsplash