Stelvio vs Grossglockner
The two most famous driving roads in the Alps, weighed against each other. Which one, and why, and whether you can have both.
The Stelvio is the higher and harder of the two, a free public road with 48 tightly-stacked hairpins reaching 2,757 m, opening in late May. The Grossglockner is lower at 2,504 m, a smoother purpose-built toll road (€46.50 per car) that is gated, orderly and opens weeks earlier. Choose the Stelvio for the challenge and the icon; the Grossglockner for the engineered drive, the earlier season and the glacier views.
Ask a group of drivers to name the great alpine roads and these two come up first. They are often mentioned in the same breath, which slightly misses the point: they are almost opposites, and the choice between them is really a choice about what kind of drive you want.
Side by side
| Stelvio Pass | Grossglockner | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Italy | Austria |
| Summit | 2,757 m | 2,504 m (Hochtor) |
| Toll | Free | €46.50 car · €36.50 bike |
| Character | 48 tight hairpins, a public road | Wide, smooth, purpose-built |
| Opens | Late May | Late April (gated hours) |
| Best for | The challenge and the icon | The scenic drive and early season |
When to choose the Stelvio
Choose the Stelvio if the road itself is the point. Nothing else in the Alps concentrates so much driving into so little distance, and the 48 numbered hairpins are a genuine test that rewards an early start and full attention. It is free, it is the greater name, and it sits at the doorstep of the Dolomites. See our full Stelvio Pass guide.
When to choose the Grossglockner
Choose the Grossglockner if you want the drive without the fight. The surface is immaculate, the gradients are engineered, and the whole road is arranged around its viewpoints and the Pasterze glacier. It opens weeks earlier than the natural passes, which makes it the first great drive of the year, and being gated it is calmer and more orderly. It costs €46.50 and is worth it. See our full Grossglockner guide.
And if you cannot choose: they are a few hours apart at opposite ends of the Eastern Alps, and a well-planned trip takes in both.
Common questions
Which is higher, the Stelvio or the Grossglockner?
The Stelvio is higher, at 2,757 m against the Grossglockner's 2,504 m at the Hochtor. The Stelvio is the second-highest paved pass in the Alps; the Grossglockner is a purpose-built scenic toll road rather than a through pass.
Which is harder to drive, the Stelvio or the Grossglockner?
The Stelvio, without much doubt. Its 48 tightly-stacked hairpins are narrower, busier and more relentless. The Grossglockner is wider, smoother and engineered, so it is the more relaxing drive of the two even though it is a toll road.
Is the Stelvio or the Grossglockner better for a first alpine trip?
The Grossglockner is the gentler introduction: better surface, engineered gradients, gated and orderly, and it opens weeks earlier in the year. The Stelvio is the greater icon and the bigger challenge, and best driven early in the day once you have your alpine legs.
Can you drive both the Stelvio and the Grossglockner in one trip?
Yes, comfortably. They sit at opposite ends of the Eastern Alps, a few hours' drive apart, and a well-planned Eastern Alps tour can take in both along with the Dolomites.
Drive both, on one trip
Our Eastern Alps trips can take in the Stelvio, the Grossglockner and the Dolomites in a single week, planned and run from the UK.
See the trips