We are traveling on a Danube River Cruise ending in Passau Germany in May of 2026. I would like to extend our vacation and add about 3 to 4 days and take the train from Passau to Innsbruck then use Innsbruck as a home base to see the Dolomites. I know it's not ideal to not stay closer to the Dolomites but as we will eventually fly to Munich for our departing flight I wanted to be a little closer to Munich. Previous blogs show the use of the train and buses to get from Innsbruck to closer towns and on to some of the highlights. I figured if we get an early start we can make a day of it. One regret for this plan is skipping a visit to Salzburg. I will not be able to convince my husband to stay too many extra days after a week long river cruise and I really think Innsbruck and the Dolomites is more of a priority for me. I am looking for tips, advice and transportation on the Innsbruck/Dolomites plan. Especially anyone that has done the day trips from Innsbruck to the Dolomites. Thank You!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3507 posts
There are companies that do daytrips to the Dolomites in vehicles. And you certainly can take public transit there. However, it takes more than two hours in each direction. Repeating that kind of a roundtrip journey more than once to the same destination is like daytripping repeatedly by train to Venice from Milan. Why not just stay two or three nights in the Dolomites before returning to Innsbruck prior to going to Munich?
Daytripping back and forth just means seeing much of the same scenery over the same route. Whereas staying in a town in the Dolomites makes it possible to
see a variety of the scenery in the Dolomites by cable car and gondolas. Ortisei makes a good base and can be reached from Bolzano in less than one hour by bus.
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1843 posts
Do you want serious hiking opportunities or just a bit more sightseeing? Unless you are driving it won't be that easy. A direct train will take you to Bressanone, on the edge of the Dolomites. From there a bus to Ortisei. Two hours total, I'm guessing, depending on the bus schedule.
The same train mentioned above will take you directly to Bolzano for a day trip. Never been to Bolzano but Bressanone is a lovely spot.
Don't know what else you have in mind for your stay but Schloss Ambras followed by Hall in Tirol makes for a great day out. On the same bus route.
Mittenwald and Garmisch-Partenkirchen can both be reached by Flixbus.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Great responses and input. We don't mind hiking a bit but will not be doing serious hiking. More sightseeing.
Posted by
Boise, ID, USA
2476 posts
Bolzano is not in the Dolomites and it gets very hot there.
Posted by
Niagara, Ontario
1843 posts
Very hot? Not so much in May.
Posted by
Oregon
2876 posts
The recommendation of train to Bolzano, then bus to Ortesei is a good one. From Ortesei, take the gondola up to Seceda for out of this world views. Also from Ortesei, you can take the Seiser Alm gondola up to the Alpe di Siusi for completely different views. And take the bus to Santa Cristina and take the Col Raiser lift, where the mountains are so close. All very different, amazing views.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1967 posts
Innsbruck is deceptively close to Dolomites, but deceptively. The Brenner pass railway is steep and slow (in few years it will be doubled by a very long and flat tunnel). In my repeated experience, Innsbruck to Ortisei by car needs more than one hour, and that is the fastest way to get there (in August you won't find parking in Ortisei, but this is another matter). By public transportation it will be much longer, you will likely have to change trains at Brenner and switch to a bus from Brixen or Ponte Gardena. You must accept the fact that in mountain areas transportation is limited and slow. I suggest that hiking around Innsbruck (Nordkette, Patscherkofel) may be a better way to spend your time. Innsbruck on its own has a few worthy sights (Ambras castle - the hofburg is a reduced version of the Vienna one).
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Great input from @travelforfun and @lachera. I am taking note of all the great input I am receiving. I like the comments of staying put in Innsbruck and seeing the sights. I also appreciate the train and bus information to get to the Dolomites. I am also considering that since I will be there in the end of May from May 25th to the 29th I have read a good deal about not everything may be open for the season yet. I have more research to do for sure. Keep the comments coming....I appreciate all of it.
Posted by
Firenze, Italy
1967 posts
A tip, should you ride trains over the Brenner: there are international trains between Germany/Austria and Italy over the Brenner every two hours; you buy the ticket fro OeBB that runs them even over the Italian section. Usually there is a fairly long stop at Brenner as the crew has to change.
It would be possible to ride a Austrian regional train to Brenner and an Italian regional or IR train past the Brenner, changing trains there. When you come back, remember that Austrian regional trains mostly leave Brenner from stub tracks at the very north end of the station; a friend of mine took a long time to find this trick.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
@ lachera thank you for that valuable tip.
Posted by
NYC area
3066 posts
The Mont Seuc/ Seiser Alm cable car opens mid May. This runs from Ortisei up into the Seiser Alm. Plenty of walking paths and a restaurant at the top.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
Thank you Paul!