There are few experiences as thrilling as a motorcycle road trip through the Alps. This route takes you from Prague through some of the most spectacular mountain passes in Europe — a journey combining dramatic scenery, engineering marvels, and the pure joy of riding winding alpine roads. Whether you’re chasing hairpin bends at altitude or cruising through charming Austrian valleys, this trip delivers it all.
Below you’ll find the full route in four variations (ranked from our favourite to alternative options), followed by a stage-by-stage breakdown of each destination with maps and context.
Route Overview
The full loop departs from Prague, Czech Republic and returns to Prague after covering roughly 1,800–2,000 km across four countries (Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and Germany/Switzerland depending on version). Plan for 5–7 days to ride it comfortably and have time to enjoy the passes and towns along the way.
Route versions (click to open in Google Maps):
- 🏍 Version 4 (Recommended — Full loop with Stelvio & Grossglockner)
- 🗺 Version 3 (Alternative)
- 🗺 Version 2 (Alps section only, no Prague start)
- 🗺 Version 1 (Original full loop via Reschenský průsmyk)
Interactive Route Map
The map below shows the full recommended route (Version 4). Use it to explore the roads, zoom into individual passes, and plan your overnight stops.
Stage by Stage
1. Berwang, Austria
Your first overnight stop after leaving Prague, Berwang is a charming alpine village in Tyrol sitting at about 1,340 m altitude. It’s a perfect gateway into the Austrian Alps and a great base before tackling the dramatic passes ahead. The village is known for skiing in winter and gorgeous hiking in summer, with panoramic views of the surrounding Zugspitze massif.
2. Hahntennjoch
One of the best-kept secrets among alpine motorcyclists, the Hahntennjoch (1,894 m) is a narrow, winding mountain pass in Tyrol connecting the Inn Valley with the Lech Valley. Unlike the more famous passes, it sees far less traffic, offering an intimate and thrilling riding experience through rocky gorges and open alpine meadows. The road is entirely unpaved in sections and requires careful navigation — but that’s exactly what makes it special.
📍 View Hahntennjoch on Google Maps
3. Reschenský průsmyk (Reschenpass / Passo di Resia)
The Reschenpass (1,504 m) is as famous for its history as for its roads. The pass straddles the border of Austria and Italy and is instantly recognizable by the haunting sight of a medieval church tower rising from the middle of Lake Reschen (Reschensee) — the remains of the village of Graun, which was flooded in 1950 when the lake was dammed. The pass itself offers smooth, flowing roads with stunning lake views.
📍 View Reschenpass on Google Maps
4. Průsmyk Stelvio (Passo dello Stelvio)
The Stelvio Pass (2,758 m) needs no introduction among motorcyclists — it’s legendary. The second-highest paved alpine pass in the Alps features 48 hairpin bends on the eastern ascent alone, and was famously called „the greatest driving road in the world“ by Top Gear. The views from the top stretch across the Ortler Alps into Switzerland and Austria. Expect traffic at the summit in summer but the ride itself is unmatched. The pass is typically open from late May to October depending on snowfall.
📍 View Stelvio Pass on Google Maps
5. Jaufenpass (Passo di Monte Giovo)
Less crowded than the Stelvio but equally rewarding, the Jaufenpass (2,094 m) connects the Passeier Valley north of Merano with the Wipptal near Sterzing (Vipiteno) in South Tyrol. The road is wide and well-surfaced, with sweeping bends through larch forests and open alpine terrain. It’s a great recovery ride after the intensity of the Stelvio — smooth, flowing, and visually spectacular.
📍 View Jaufenpass on Google Maps
6. Grossglocknerská vysokohorská silnice (Großglockner High Alpine Road)
The Großglockner High Alpine Road is Austria’s most iconic mountain road and one of the greatest alpine drives in Europe. Stretching 48 km from Bruck in Salzburg to Heiligenblut in Carinthia, it reaches 2,504 m at the Edelweißspitze viewpoint. The road passes glacier viewpoints, alpine meadows, marmot colonies, and the massive Pasterze Glacier beneath the 3,798 m Großglockner summit. There is a toll fee to use the road (around €37 for motorcycles in 2024). Worth every cent.
📍 View Großglockner Road on Google Maps
7. Bad Ischl, Austria
Bad Ischl is a beautiful spa town in the Salzkammergut lake district and makes an excellent final overnight stop before heading back to Prague. Famous as the summer residence of Emperor Franz Joseph I, it has a relaxed imperial atmosphere, great food, and is surrounded by lakes and mountains. The Kaiservilla (imperial villa) is open to visitors, and the town sits at the heart of one of Austria’s most beautiful regions. It’s the perfect place to wind down after days of high-altitude riding.
📍 View Bad Ischl on Google Maps
Practical Tips
- Best time to ride: Late June through September. Most high passes open by mid-June and close with the first heavy snowfall in October.
- Fuel: Fill up before tackling remote passes like Hahntennjoch — petrol stations are sparse at altitude.
- Toll roads: The Großglockner High Alpine Road charges a toll. Austria also requires a motorway vignette sticker for highway use.
- GPX files: You can convert Google Maps routes to GPX for your GPS device using GPS Visualizer.
- Weather: Alpine weather changes rapidly. Always carry waterproof gear and check forecasts before riding high passes.
- Tyres: Make sure your tyres are in good condition — mountain roads can be cold and damp even on sunny days.
