Explore Austria by Motorcycle
Austria is where Alpine drama meets imperial elegance. A country of soaring mountain passes, lush green valleys, and some of the most beautifully engineered roads in Europe, it also happens to contain one of the world’s great capital cities, a coffee house culture that’s been perfected over centuries, and a musical and architectural heritage that few nations can match. For motorcyclists, Austria delivers on every level — world-class mountain riding one day, strolling through a UNESCO-listed imperial city the next.
Alpine Passes and the Grossglockner
Austria’s mountains are the main event for touring riders, and the country offers some of the finest pass riding in the entire Alpine region. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is the jewel in the crown — a 48-kilometre route that climbs to over 2,500 metres through glacier country, with 36 hairpin bends and views that rank among the most spectacular of any road in Europe. It’s a ride that justifies an entire trip to Austria on its own.
But the Grossglockner is far from the only option. The Tyrolean Alps in the west are laced with passes that connect Austria with Italy and Switzerland, each with its own character and reward. The Timmelsjoch links the Ötztal Valley with the Italian Passeier Valley across a high, exposed ridge. The Silvretta High Alpine Road winds through the Vorarlberg mountains with lake views and glacier scenery. And the roads through the Salzkammergut lake district east of Salzburg offer a gentler but equally beautiful riding experience — turquoise lakes surrounded by forested mountains, with charming towns at every stop.
The quality of Austrian roads is outstanding. Decades of investment in mountain infrastructure have produced surfaces that are smooth, well-cambered through the hairpins, and properly maintained even at the highest altitudes. The engineering is as impressive as the scenery, and for motorcyclists the result is riding that is both technically satisfying and visually overwhelming.
Vienna and the Danube Corridor
Austria’s cultural dimension sets it apart from countries that offer mountain riding alone. Vienna, the capital, is one of Europe’s grand imperial cities — home to Mozart, Beethoven, and Sigmund Freud, and best known for its magnificent palaces, including Schönbrunn, the Habsburgs’ summer residence. The historic centre is UNESCO-listed, and experiencing it — whether by horse-drawn carriage, on foot through the Ringstrasse, or simply from a marble-topped table in one of the legendary coffee houses — adds a layer of sophistication to any touring itinerary.
The Danube provides a natural riding corridor through northern Austria, connecting Vienna with Bratislava to the east and the German border to the west. The river roads are flowing and scenic, passing through wine-growing regions, medieval towns, and the dramatic Wachau Valley — itself a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s a completely different riding experience from the Alpine passes, and the combination of both within a single country is part of what makes Austria so rewarding.
Salzburg, Mozart’s birthplace, provides another cultural highlight. The baroque Old Town, framed by mountain peaks and dominated by the Hohensalzburg Fortress, is one of the most photogenic cities in Central Europe and a natural stopping point between the Tyrolean Alps and the eastern lake district.
A Natural Hub for Multi-Country Touring
Austria’s central position makes it a crossroads for European motorcycle touring. The Tyrolean Alps connect directly with the Italian Dolomites and the Swiss passes to the west. The Danube corridor links Vienna with Budapest, Bratislava, and Prague to the east. The Bavarian Alps and Garmisch-Partenkirchen lie just across the German border to the north, while Slovenia and the Julian Alps are a short ride south.
This means Austria features on almost every Central European and Alpine touring route, and each approach reveals a different facet of the country. From a Danube-focused cultural tour connecting the great imperial capitals to a dedicated Alpine pass-bagging itinerary through the Tyrol, Austria consistently delivers some of the strongest days on any European motorcycle tour.
What to Expect on the Road
Austrian roads are superbly maintained and among the most enjoyable in Europe. Mountain passes are smooth, well-signposted, and properly engineered for the conditions. The motorway network carries commercial traffic efficiently, leaving the scenic mountain and valley routes pleasantly quiet for motorcyclists. Traffic is generally light outside Vienna and Salzburg, though the most famous passes can attract tourist traffic in peak summer — early starts and midweek riding help enormously.
The terrain ranges from the dramatic high Alps in the west to gentler, rolling countryside in the east. The climate is Alpine in the mountains — warm in the valleys but cool at altitude, with weather that can change quickly — and more continental in the lowlands around Vienna, where summers are warm and dry.
Beyond the Bike
Austrian food is hearty, satisfying, and perfectly calibrated for hungry riders. Wiener Schnitzel, Tyrolean dumplings, Tafelspitz boiled beef, and Kaiserschmarrn shredded pancake are national staples, accompanied by excellent Austrian wine and locally brewed beer. The coffee house tradition — strong espresso, pastries, and the unhurried ritual of sitting and watching the world pass — is a UNESCO-recognised cultural practice and one of the great pleasures of touring here.
The Austrians take hospitality seriously. Accommodation ranges from grand city hotels in Vienna and Salzburg to characterful Alpine gasthöfe and mountain lodges where the welcome is warm, the food is generous, and the views from the terrace are worth the price alone. There’s a pride in quality here that extends from the roads to the restaurants to the smallest details of the accommodation.
Best Time to Ride
Austria’s riding season runs from April to October, with May to September offering the best conditions. The highest Alpine passes typically open in late May or early June and remain rideable into October, weather permitting. June and September are the sweet spot — warm, dry, and less crowded than peak summer. July and August bring the warmest temperatures and longest days but also the most visitors on the famous passes. The Danube corridor and eastern lowlands are rideable earlier and later in the season than the high mountains.
Ride Austria with Motorrad Tours
Our tours through Austria feature on both Alpine and Central European itineraries — from the Grossglockner and the Tyrolean passes to the Danube corridor connecting Vienna, Bratislava, Budapest, and Prague. With world-class mountain riding, imperial cities, and the kind of meticulous hospitality that Austria does better than almost anyone, it’s a country that enhances every tour it appears on. Browse our upcoming departures below.
