Sterzing - Jaufenpass - St. Leonhard - Timmelsjoch - Ötztal (Ötz, Längenfeld, Sölden) - Kühtaisattel - Axams - Innsbruck - Alter Brennerstraße / Brenner - Sterzing
Length of the tour: 230 km
Driving time: approx. 6 hours
This motorcycle tour is a classic "weekend trip" for many South Tyrolean motorcycle fans. From the small town of Sterzing, it goes over the Jaufenpass down to St. Leonhard, through the Passeier Valley to the Timmelsjoch and then through the picturesque Ötztal to Oetz. Passing the Kühtaisattel, the route leads to beautiful Innsbruck, before returning to the starting point via the Alter Brennerstraße and the Brenner.
Sterzing has a lot of sights to offer, including a very special relic from Roman times: Castle Reifenstein. The 900-year-old fortress was never taken and is now one of the most beautiful castles in all of South Tyrol. But a stroll through the pedestrian zone with the famous Zwölferturm and numerous shopping and dining options is also worthwhile. The bike can be parked in the center's parking lot in the meantime...
The connection to the neighboring Sterzing in the Eisack Valley is the Jaufenpass, which is a good alternative to the heavily frequented South Tyrolean federal road SS12. The route leads through alpine pastures and forests, directly below the pass summit is a popular mountain inn and motorcycle meeting point.
The almost 2,500 meters of altitude at the Timmelsjoch require a certain driving experience and skill and are not suitable for novice drivers. Since the Italian side is closed to trucks, buses, and trailers, the route is exclusively for cars and bikers. The road winds up the mountain in long sweeping curves and offers magnificent panoramic views of the surrounding North and South Tyrolean Alps. The road over the Timmelsjoch was officially opened in both directions only in 1968.
On the way to Oetz, one should not miss the toll road Ötztaler Gletscherstraße near Sölden. Here it goes even higher up to 2,800 meters, right in the middle of the glacier ski area around the Rettenbachferner. If you have some time to spare, you can park your motorcycle here at the glacier and go for a beautiful hike. Then it goes through the Rosi Mittermeier Tunnel (the highest tunnel in Europe) to the Tiefenbach Glacier - a breathtaking natural setting!
The road over the Kühtaisattel together with the Hahntennjoch is one of the northernmost alpine crossings. It connects the Ötztal with the Sellraintal in the east. The maximum gradient here is 16%, so the scenic and well-developed route finally offers a bit of relaxation after the high alpine and sometimes challenging sections.
Innsbruck, Tyrol's capital and Austria's fifth-largest city, is a successful blend of modern and historical buildings from the time of Emperor Maximilian I. Because of this fact and the unique location in the middle of the Inn Valley and the Tyrolean mountains, Innsbruck is very popular with tourists from all over the world. The old town alone with the famous "Golden Roof", the cathedral, Helblinghaus, and the Hofburg is worth a visit, in winter the Innsbruck Christmas market and the mountain New Year's Eve also attract visitors.
For over 2,500 years, the Brenner has been used as a crossing over the main Alpine ridge. While in the past it was mainly traders, herders, adventurers, smugglers, and of course tourists, today many car and motorcycle drivers cross the lowest pass in the Alps (1,371 m). It is advisable to refuel on the Austrian side - the money saved can then be invested in souvenirs, for example in the old village of Brenner.
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