Autumn-color road trip: Scenic driving routes from Prague to Austria and Slovenia

Choose your own adventure with these tips for fall-color trips through countryside, cities, and castles.

Julie O'Shea

Written by Julie O'Shea Published on 06.10.2023 14:35:00 (updated on 06.10.2023) Reading time: 4 minutes

Travel
Photo via Pexels by Tomáš Malík
Photo via Pexels by Tomáš Malík
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There is no better way to enjoy the lovely fall colors than on a road trip through Austria and Slovenia which boasts some of the most stunning natural sceneries in Central Europe. 

We’ve plotted an ambitious seven-day itinerary that hits many of these countries’ beloved landmarks – some of which are quite challenging to reach without a car – as well as a few overlooked gems that everyone should have on their bucket list. 

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DAY 1: PRAGUE TO VIENNA VIA KREUZENSTEIN CASTLE (347 KM)

Drive time: 3 hours 43 minutes

  • Stock up on snacks for the long ride to the Austrian capital. We’ll be taking a small detour to the mighty Kreuzenstein Castle, which sits a few kilometers north of Vienna.
  • Pit stop: Tour Kreuzenstein, one of Lower Austria’s most popular tourist stops, before it closes for the season at the end of October. Lunch at the castle tavern is a must.
  • Don’t miss: While Vienna’s highlights are numerous – St. Stephen's Cathedral, Schönbrunn Palace, Mozartkugel – walking around the city’s vast Prater amusement park, once an imperial hunting ground and now home to old-fashioned thrill rides, is always a fun, nostalgic excursion.

DAY 2: VIENNA TO GRAZ VIA BADEN (206 KM)

Austria, Central Europe, Central Vienna. Photo: iStock/CHUNYIP WONG
Austria, Central Europe, Central Vienna. Photo: iStock/CHUNYIP WONG

Drive time: 2 hours 19 minutes

  • We’re off to Graz, whose picturesque Old Town will leave you spellbound. Check out Baden on your way south. This quaint spa town has lovely parks and architecture as well as a penchant for classical music.
  • Pit stop: Ludwig van Beethoven spent many summers rehabilitating in Baden’s mineral baths, reportedly finishing his Symphony No. 9 in the spa town during one of his stays. Visit Beethoven-Haus and see some original artifacts of the great composer.
  • Don’t miss: The Cultural Capital of Europe 2023, Graz is a fitting stop for this fall road trip. Take your time walking around the city’s historic center, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site, where baroque, renaissance, art deco and medieval influences collide.
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DAY 3: GRAZ to LJUBLJANA VIA MARIBOR (195 KM)

Drive time: 2 hours 17 minutes

  • Time to hop the border. We’re heading to Ljubljana, Slovenia’s luminous capital, with a lively university vibe and plenty of popular street cafes. Take a break in Maribor on the way.
  • Pit stop: Located on the banks of the Drava River, Maribor is a noted player on the Slovenian winemaker circuit. Drop by the Old Vine House, where you can learn about the region’s wine production and sample some local specialities.
  • Don’t miss: Ljubljana Castle watches over the city from high on a hill, where it’s stood since the Middle Ages. You can hike or take a funicular up for a tour of this royal landmark, which includes two permanent museum exhibitions.

DAY 4: LJUBLJANA TO BLED VIA VINTGAR GORGE (61 KM)

Drive time: 1 hour 18 minutes

Llubljana, Slovenia. Photo: iStock / Kasto80
Llubljana, Slovenia. Photo: iStock / Kasto80
  • From gorgeous urban landscape to stunning natural wonder, today’s destination is Lake Bled, just a short hop from Ljubljana, where there are plenty of hiking, boating and oohing-and-ahhing opportunities to be had.
  • Pit stop: Just 4 km northwest of Lake Bled is the Vintgar Gorge (“Soteska Vintgar” in Slovenian). Visitors can walk the length of this jaw-dropping 1,600-meter gorge along a series of wooden observation pathways and bridges, ending with the 16-meter high Šum waterfall.
  • Don’t miss: Surrounded by the Julian Alps, Bled is one of Slovenia’s most popular tourist destinations. Take a boat, kayak or (for those more daring) swim to the picturesque island in the middle of Lake Bled, where you can visit the Church of the Mother of God.

DAY 5: BLED TO SALZBURG VIA RÖTHBACH WATERFALL (270 KM)

Drive time: 3 hours 56 minutes

  • Looping northwards, we’ll be doing more border hopping, with a stop at the Röthbach Waterfall on the German-Austrian border before pulling into glorious Salzburg for the night.
  • Pit stop: With a vertical drop of 470 meters, Röthbach Waterfall is Germany’s highest waterfall. To get to the falls, you’ll need to take an electric boat to Salet-Obersee, where you’ll find the trailhead to Röthbach.
  • Don’t miss: “Sound of Music” fans will delight in a visit to the city’s historic Mirabell Palace gardens where key scenes from the 1965 movie were filmed.

DAY 6: SALZBURG TO LINZ VIA BAUMKRONENWEG (169 KM)

Austrian flag over Salzburg via iStock / Teka77
Austrian flag over Salzburg via iStock / Teka77

Drive time: 2 hours 38 minutes

  • Break up the trip to Linz, the capital of Upper Austria, with a look around Baumkronenweg, where you can explore the world from the treetops.
  • Pit stop: Get lost on the forest canopies at Baumkronenweg, which offers a maze of wooden footpaths 15 meters above the ground, giving you a bird’s eye view of the Sauwald. There are more than 30 “adventure stations” along the path.
  • Don’t miss: Ride the old Pöstlingbergbahn railway up Pöstlingberg hill, which offers sweeping panoramas of the city. At the top, you’ll find plenty of cafes and restaurants as well as the striking Basilica of the Seven Sorrows of the Virgin Mary.

DAY 7: LINZ TO PRAGUE VIA ČESKÝ KRUMLOV (243 KM)

Český Krumlov in the South Bohemia region, which is ranked second after Prague in this year’s ranking
Český Krumlov in the South Bohemian region, which is ranked second after Prague in this year’s ranking of Czech regions

Drive time: 3 hours 16 minutes

  • After one last stroll around Linz’s historic center – grabbing a slice of the famous Linzer Torte at for the road – set your GPS to Prague. On the way home, stop for lunch in Český Krumlov.
  • Pit stop: For the best lasagna outside Italy, you can’t beat Papa’s Living Restaurant. Located in the heart of Český Krumlov, recharge your batteries at Papa’s, which offers views of the city’s castle and old town from its terrace.

This article was written in association with ExxonMobil. See our partner content policies here.

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