In Austria, it follows the A9 motorway, also called Pyhrnautobahn. In Slovenia it follows the A1 motorway.
The E 57 includes the second-longest tunnel in Austria, the Plabutschtunnel, 10.0 km (6.2 mi) long. It also includes the Gleinalm tunnel, 8.3 km (5.2 mi) long, and the Bosruck tunnel, 5.5 km (3.4 mi) long.