Non toll route to Croatia (How to get through/avoid Austria basically!)

[VXman]

Hopefully off in the Croatia direction next week. I will go Belgium/Germany to avoid France toll roads but am struggling with Austria. Don't really want to buy a Go-Box as we are just passing through.

So,

1. Is getting through Austria from Germany to Slovenia doable without going on toll roads?

2. Is there another reasonable route?

 

[Westbarn1]

When we did it, in our 4500 kilo A class, we went via Switzerland, using the app on your phone, was cheaper than a vignette for a car.

 

[VXman]

When we did it, in our 4500 kilo A class, we went via Switzerland, using the app on your phone, was cheaper than a vignette for a car.

Yep, but still a minimum of 25CHF - £22

 

[frwjd]

We drove from Slovenia through Austria, no tolls. It's a very beautiful drive, Klagenfurt to near Salzburg.

 

[Just smiffy]

I just put no tolls on the garmin sat nav and was just fine, think it was a more beautiful enjoyable drive… I’ve never done stickers tolls vignettes crit air all over Europe and haven’t been done yet…

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[nicholsong]

I just put no tolls on the garmin sat nav and was just fine, think it was a more beautiful enjoyable drive… I’ve never done stickers tolls vignettes crit air all over Europe and haven’t been done yet…

Do you think the Blue Badge helps?

 

[Just smiffy]

Do you think the Blue Badge helps?

I never put it on show….

 

[Just smiffy]

Do you think the Blue Badge helps?

I was stopped at a checkpoint in France earlier this year and I asked the cop about the crit air and he just shrugged his shoulders…

 

[royandsharont]

Easy, we’ve done it lots of times. I can’t go through the road numbers but here are some campsites we use and just set sat nav to avoid tolls. Germany to Austria near Fussen crossing via Fern pass, Imst and then head for camping Prutz at Prutz, avoid the motorway and the toll tunnel to cut out the town of Landec, cross the river at the roundabout to miss the high street and come back over river again then into Prutz.

From there straight down to Merano and onto Bolzano using Italian toll roads by whichever way you wish to Camping Aquileia at Aquileia.

Then local roads to cross border into Slovenia near Trieste to Kozina, through the short bit of Slovenia with no tolls along the E61 and cross border into Croatia at Pasjak then head where you want on toll roads or not.

We also do it via Innsbruck and do the old Brenner Road or go via Kostchach & across into Italy at Udine.

Sorry but in France now and not great internet so can’t research more info for you.

 

[WESTY66]

Very possible, we went down past Rosenheim, Kitzbühel, mittersill, Felbertauerntunnel, Lienz down to Faakersee (Camping arneitz is superb) over the Wurzenpass and vrsic pass, through the soća valley then down through Slovenia, ending up at Plitvice lakes then onto Krk, all toll free, no problems

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[VXman]

Very possible, we went down past Rosenheim, Kitzbühel, mittersill, Felbertauerntunnel, Lienz down to Faakersee (Camping arneitz is superb) over the Wurzenpass and vrsic pass, through the soća valley then down through Slovenia, ending up at Plitvice lakes then onto Krk, all toll free, no problems

Just come over Wurzenpass. That was fun! On the way to a stop in Lake Bled.

 

[Barti Ddu]

Just come over Wurzenpass. That was fun! On the way to a stop in Lake Bled.

We must be almost in convoy! We came over the Wurzenpass yesterday. Currently in Kranjska Gora, and will be spending a few days walking around the Soca valley before heading to Bled and Ljubljana, and then on to Croatia.

Trying to avoid a vignette for Slovenia as €32 for 7 days for a 3500kg PVC is a little pricey. To be honest we generally avoid motorways anyway, preferring the scenic back roads.

 

[Brains]

Having done that route recently I'd say "why bother" ?

Yes it is possible to transit Austria without a Vignette, but a single detour, roadworks or missed turning (because you were following the road signs) and you end up on the motorway/dual carriage ways.
Given the low cost it's easy to buy a Vignette on the border.

I will admit that we only buy a 'car' vignette for our 4.1t motorhome, but as it looks exactly the same as the 3.5t model unless you start reading the plates you are not going to know.
(8m plus tag axel MoHo's may need to do the entire Go-Box palaver)

As for Slovenia, which you have to cross to get to Croatia you can get an online vignette here.
they don't do paper stickers any more
They check for compliance by ANPR at the border crossings and on the main roads

It is possible to cross Slovenia without a Vignette, you keep off the A and E roads, which means crossing the mountains will be 'interesting'. It will also add considerably to your time and milage, which will negate any savings you may make by not getting the Vignette.

So bottom line is 'Why Bother ?'
Seems way more effort than it's worth, you certainly will not save time, and you probably will not save money.
.

 

[Barti Ddu]

So bottom line is 'Why Bother ?

Because if you stick to motorways you miss out on roads like this!

This is tomorrow's bit of excitement across the Vrsic Pass in Slovenia's Julian Alps.

 

[Brains]

Because if you stick to motorways you miss out on roads like this!

View attachment 807516

This is tomorrow's bit of excitement across the Vrsic Pass in Slovenia's Julian Alps.

Be aware the A2 in Austria needs a Vignette
To get the Vrsic Pass you will need to cross into Slovenia via the Wurzen Pass

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[Barti Ddu]

Be aware the A2 in Austria needs a Vignette
To get the Vrsic Pass you will need to cross into Slovenia via the Wurzen Pass

Yep. The Wurzen Pass was yesterdays fun!

Very steep (1 in 5 in parts), but disappointingly lacking in hairpins.

 

[WESTY66]

Yep. The Wurzen Pass was yesterdays fun!

Very steep (1 in 5 in parts), but disappointingly lacking in hairpins.

Oh you will love the vrsic pass

Done it many times

 

[Barti Ddu]

Oh you will love the vrsic pass

Done it many times

You're not wrong. Astonishing bit of road. Far more challenging than the Wurzen Pass or the Grossglockner Pass. A real rollercoaster.

The fact that the most of the hairpins are cobbled came as a surprise, as did the flock of sheep blocking the road at the top!

Stopped off to see the Russian Chapel, which is quite humbling.

Now in the Soca valley which is beautiful.

 

[WESTY66]

Ah yes the cobbled hairpins, such a joy to ride on the Harley in the pissing rain…..

NOT

Bit smoother going down the other side into the soća valley, I think we stayed at camping soća last year

 

[Barti Ddu]

Ah yes the cobbled hairpins, such a joy to ride on the Harley in the pissing rain…..

NOT

Bit smoother going down the other side into the soća valley, I think we stayed at camping soća last year

Tried Kamp Sóca but they had reached their "dog quota" (never had that before), so are staying tonight at a site in Bovac a few miles further down the valley.

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[VXman]

We must be almost in convoy! We came over the Wurzenpass yesterday. Currently in Kranjska Gora, and will be spending a few days walking around the Soca valley before heading to Bled and Ljubljana, and then on to Croatia.

Trying to avoid a vignette for Slovenia as €32 for 7 days for a 3500kg PVC is a little pricey. To be honest we generally avoid motorways anyway, preferring the scenic back roads.

Currently in Bled. Will head to Ljubljana on Thursday and then onto Croatia. By the way, I don't know if you have anything booked in Bled but camping abled is fully booked most days and won't let you stay less than 2 nights. River camp Bled is very pleasant though, not far from Bled and the lake, we cycled in and also across to Vintgar Gorge. A plus is that it has a swimming pool. If you get here by 3pm you can pretty much assured of a place.

Where are you staying in Ljubljana?

 

[VXman]

Having done that route recently I'd say "why bother" ?

Yes it is possible to transit Austria without a Vignette, but a single detour, roadworks or missed turning (because you were following the road signs) and you end up on the motorway/dual carriage ways.
Given the low cost it's easy to buy a Vignette on the border.

I will admit that we only buy a 'car' vignette for our 4.1t motorhome, but as it looks exactly the same as the 3.5t model unless you start reading the plates you are not going to know.
(8m plus tag axel MoHo's may need to do the entire Go-Box palaver)

As for Slovenia, which you have to cross to get to Croatia you can get an online vignette here.
they don't do paper stickers any more
They check for compliance by ANPR at the border crossings and on the main roads

It is possible to cross Slovenia without a Vignette, you keep off the A and E roads, which means crossing the mountains will be 'interesting'. It will also add considerably to your time and milage, which will negate any savings you may make by not getting the Vignette.

So bottom line is 'Why Bother ?'
Seems way more effort than it's worth, you certainly will not save time, and you probably will not save money.
.

Well, for me all the 'problems' you mention are the fun of travelling. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere. We don't have a plan and nothing is booked. I have lost count of the fantastic places we have accidentally discovered on route. We never use tolls anywhere.

 

[Barti Ddu]

Currently in Bled. Will head to Ljubljana on Thursday and then onto Croatia. By the way, I don't know if you have anything booked in Bled but camping abled is fully booked most days and won't let you stay less than 2 nights. River camp Bled is very pleasant though, not far from Bled and the lake, we cycled in and also across to Vintgar Gorge. A plus is that it has a swimming pool. If you get here by 3pm you can pretty much assured of a place.

Where are you staying in Ljubljana?

Hi. Thanks that's very useful. We had earmarked Camp Bled, so your alternative recommendation of River Camp Bled is really helpful if it's full when we get there.

Currently still in the Sóca valley. Absolute lovely. Planning on moving onto Lake Bled tomorrow.

Haven't planned far enough in advance regarding Ljubljana to have sorted out a site there yet. Be interestedly to hear how you get on.

You never know we might catch up with each other at some point on our way down to Croatia!

 

[Chasnam]

If tou like hairpins do the stelvio pass in Italy it makes that look like a tiddler

Because if you stick to motorways you miss out on roads like this!

View attachment 807516

This is tomorrow's bit of excitement across the Vrsic Pass in Slovenia's Julian Alps.

 

[Barti Ddu]

If tou like hairpins do the stelvio pass in Italy it makes that look like a tiddler

Looks good, although the surface looks as smooth as a baby's bum!

Where's the cobbles, the zero visibility from overhanging trees, and the sheep invasion?!

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[Chasnam]

Looks good, although the surface looks as smooth as a baby's bum!

Where's the cobbles, the zero visibility from overhanging trees, and the sheep invasion?!

It is smooth but the cyclists and guys sking up it on the roller skis make it a challenge

 

[Barti Ddu]

A left field option for traveling across Slovenia without an expensive vignette for the motorways and avoiding mountain passes is to use the motorail service.

Broken Link Removed

We're staying at the aire in Bohinjska Bistrica (free regular buses to Lake Bohinj) and we got talking to a British couple as they loaded their Devon PVC into the train.

Costs €14 for the van and driver (and an extra couple of Euros for the extra passenger) to get them all the way through the mountains and the national park via a long tunnel down to the south east of the country. It probably costs more than that in diesel for the twisty journey by road.

We waved them off, sat in the cab of their van on on open flatback carriage. Handbrake on, in gear, no straps or chocks. They looked slightly nervous!

Service seems regular, seen a few more depart with various cars and vans.

 

[Duncan56]

Very possible, we went down past Rosenheim, Kitzbühel, mittersill, Felbertauerntunnel, Lienz down to Faakersee (Camping arneitz is superb) over the Wurzenpass and vrsic pass, through the soća valley then down through Slovenia, ending up at Plitvice lakes then onto Krk, all toll free, no problems

Fancy this route but is it possible to avoid the Vrsic pass

 

[Debbie7]

We travelled from Austria to Bled today stopping at Vintgar Gorge to stretch our legs. Came via Wurzen Pass. Had several trips over let's say interesting passes over the last few days between Germany Austria and Italy. Used no toll roads or used vignette.

 

[WESTY66]

Fancy this route but is it possible to avoid the Vrsic pass

You could try Debbie7 route above, or the loiblepaß south of Klagenfurt, either way if you are under 3.5t buy the vignette, if over 3.5t you need a Dars box UNLESS you keep off the motorways
We are 5 ton and 7.5m and did the vrsic pass without too much trouble Just have to watch out for the bus’s