
🌎 Austria 🇦🇹
⭐
📍 Pasterze Glacier
✈️ Salzburg Airport (SZG)
🚗 144.6 KM
⏱️ 3 hours, 18 minutes
Pasterze Glacier, Austria's largest glacier located at the foot of the Großglockner, is primarily accessed via the scenic, toll-based Großglockner High Alpine Road, open seasonally from May to October. From the Kaiser Franz Josefs Höhe visitor center, paths and a seasonal funicular offer views and access towards the rapidly retreating glacier snout; while much of this can be explored solo, guided tours with a certified guide are essential for safe exploration on the glacier itself due to crevasses and unstable ice. The main cost is the road toll (approx. €40 for a car), with additional costs for the funicular or guided treks. A typical visit to the glacier site takes 2-4 hours, excluding travel time on the alpine road. Visitors should prepare for changing alpine weather, wear sturdy footwear, and be aware of the glacier's significant retreat, which highlights climate change.