We were planning to stay 3 nights in Innsbruck on our way to Germany, and now wonder if this would be too long. Would taking the train to Mayrhofen and or Jenbach be worth staying for? I understand there is a steam train "Zillertal Railway" and Achensee Lake boat ride.....could both be done in one day? We're really into seeing the beauty of this area, I'm getting the feeling from some that Innsbruck isn't the place to stay very long.
Thanks
Posted by
NYC area
2974 posts
Hi Jo,
We happen to love the Innsbruck area, having stayed for 18 nights over the course of 5 trips that included this area. For all our visits, we have stayed in nearby Hall in Tirol at the Gasthof Badl. Absolutely wonderful. While in the area, look at: Insbruck's old town, the Hofkirche, Schloss Ambras and the Hungerburgbahn/Nordkettenbahn trip for starters. Igls is a cute village with terrific scenery. Tratzberg castle is also worth a look while in the area, as is the old walled town of Rattenberg. Just over the Italian border (30 minutes from Innsbruck, 40 minutes from Hall in Tirol) the extremely charming old town of SterIng/Vipiteno is worth a visit. Also worth seeing is the old town of Hall in Tirol. The Zillertal has amazing alpine scenery. At least go as far into the valley as Mayrhofen. The further south in the Zillertal, the more dramatic the scenery.
Hope this helps.
Paul
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5494 posts
I would highly suggest staying in Seefeld or Mittenwald instead of Innsbruck. It is a short (and beautiful) train ride to Innsbruck from Seefeld and there is much more to do up in the mountains. We stayed in Seefeld for a week and didn't run out of anything to do.
Posted by
Vienna, Austria
5494 posts
I just read another one of your posts and realize that you are planning to also stay in Mittenwald. These towns are very close together - do you really want to be moving around so much? Maybe spread out a little.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33766 posts
Another big vote for Seefeld, and another agree for the train ride down the cliff through the woods to Innsbruck. In Seefeld we usually stay at Das Eden, a two minute walk to the Bahnhof and free parking. We usually go for the half-pension. The dinners are always excellent and the upgrade to the demi-pension is very reasonable. Brekkie pretty good to. Great views, decent little indoor outdoor pool, particularly fun in the rain.
Posted by
Firenze
500 posts
My vote is for Igls, that is a district of Innsbruck but much higher in elevation than the city itself. You are in a mountain country setting but in fifteen minutes by frequent bus service you can be in the city if you prefer.
Posted by
Huntsville, AL, USA
8312 posts
When in the area, we usually stay outside of Innsbruck. Most recently, we've been staying north of the Innsbruck Airport in Kranebitten.
Tirol is an area best seen by automobile. We just love rambling from village to village up on the mountain, and it's a very efficient way of seeing this incredibly beautiful region. The roads are well paved and they're easily driven.
Our favorite scenery is a day trip over to Zell-am-See and south through the Grossglockner High Alpine Highway. This area is the second highest in elevation in Europe, and it's a place of incredible mountain beauty. The road ends in Lienz, Austria just north of the Italian border. We'll go west through Cortina to the Motorway which brings up back into Innsbruck.
You can also go northwest into the Fuessen area, and see Neuschwanstein Castle. You're just a short distance to the German border.
Even Salzburg can be a long day trip from the Innsbruck area..