The Villacher Alpenstrasse is a toll road climbing from the western edge of the city to the Dobratsch plateau at around 1,700 metres, with the summit area of the mountain reaching 2,166 metres. The road passes through several lookout points offering increasingly dramatic views over the Drau and Gail valleys, with the Karawanken range and the Julian Alps visible in the distance on clear days.
The drive takes about 30 minutes from the city and can be combined with walking trails on the Dobratsch plateau, which is a protected nature reserve with a network of signed paths. In early summer the alpine meadows are thick with wildflowers. The Alpenstrasse is open from May to October; a toll fee applies. Cyclists tackle it regularly, though the climb is sustained and demanding. The top car parks serve several mountain restaurants and the start of longer hiking routes into the Gailtaler Alps.