Timmelsjoch is the highest pass of the Ötztal Alps
Austria, europe
34.6 km
2,479 m
hard
Year-round
# Timmelsjoch Pass: A Thrilling Alpine Adventure
Ready for an epic high-altitude drive? Welcome to Timmelsjoch Pass (aka Passo del Rombo), sitting pretty at 2,479m (8,133ft) right on the Austria-Italy border. It's basically the less famous but equally stunning cousin of the legendary Stelvio Pass.
This beauty connects Austria's Ötztal valley in Tyrol with Italy's Passeier Valley in South Tyrol, winding through the gorgeous Ötztal Alps. What's wild is that this road is one of the highest paved passes in the Alps, and it's been connecting these two regions since the late 1950s—talk about a major engineering feat! The project took just 17 months to complete (May 1955 to November 1959), and it opened to the public on July 7, 1959.
Here's what you're getting into: the Timmelsjoch Hochalpenstrasse is a paved toll road stretching 34.6km (21.49 miles) from Obergurgl in Austria to Moos in Passeier in Italy. Sounds straightforward? Not quite. This road is seriously intense with 60 turns and 30 hairpin bends, plus gradients reaching up to 12.7%. Whether you're cruising in a convertible, tearing it up on a motorcycle, or tackling it by bike, expect an unforgettable ride and absolutely jaw-dropping Alpine scenery.
The pass typically opens daily from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm between early June and late October—this thing gets absolutely hammered by snow (up to 10 meters!) and freezing winds for the rest of the year. Plan on spending about 90-100 minutes driving, though you'll definitely want to stop for those incredible views of glacier landscapes, crystal-clear alpine streams, and dramatic rock faces.
All in all, this is one scenic, adrenaline-pumping mountain road you won't forget anytime soon.
Where is it?
Timmelsjoch is the highest pass of the Ötztal Alps is located in Austria (europe). Coordinates: 47.9030, 13.3197
Road Details
- Country
- Austria
- Continent
- europe
- Length
- 34.6 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,479 m
- Difficulty
- hard
- Coordinates
- 47.9030, 13.3197
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