Innsbruck vs. Courmayeur?

Posted by Mrs. T for Travel on 04/04/23 02:36 PM

My husband and I are planning a week-and-a-half long to Europe along with our 9-year-old son in late September. We have our "home base" location whittled down to two choices: Innsbruck or Courmayeur, Italy. Which one would you choose and why? We want to see the most beautiful mountain possible and we love doing day hikes. We also love to really enjoy the local food when we travel. We'll see a museum or two, but won't visit them extensively. We've watched many youtube videos and we are having a hard time deciding between the two.

From most of the posts on Innsbruck on this site, it seems that most people pass through for a day or two but don't stay. Just an observation. However, I'm leaning toward Innsbruck because it would allow me to visit three countries I've never been to before- Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein. We've briefly visited Italy in the past but didn't get to fully experience the Aosta Valley.

Posted by wmt1

04/04/23 03:42 PM

2274 posts

I would vote for Innsbruck as a base; going in any direction from there you will find attractions, a marvelous landscape, places for hiking.

Two suggestions besides the usual sights (Nordkette cable car, Alpenzoo, Berg Isel, Schloss Ambras, etc.):

Seefeld in Tirol is a nice old, albeit somewhat touristic town, but it is the center for hiking, having 100+ different hiking trails of about 400 miles length.
https://www.seefeld.com/en/hiking.html

From Innsbruck you go by train (36 minutes) to Seefeld, which is about 2000 ft above on a mountain plain.
(The route is a technical masterpiece of 1912, the first fully electrified railway in Austria which set eventually the standards for electrification in Europe. Most spectacluar is the crossing of the Martinswand where the track is "leaning" against a near vertical mountain cliff.)

For entertainment, but you will either love it, or you will hate it: Swarovski Crystal Worlds
https://kristallwelten.swarovski.com/Content.Node/wattens/index.en.html
Very often already discussed in this forum, stating both opinions.

Posted by Marc

Southwest Florida

04/05/23 07:29 AM

905 posts

Second vote for Innsbruck. Easy day trip to Zugspitze, Jenbach, Fulpmes.

There is nothing to see in Liechtenstein to make it worth a journey other than to say you have been there. If you are determined to head west, visit St Anton am Arlberg.

Posted by Paul

NYC area

04/05/23 12:37 PM

3003 posts

The Zillertal is within an hour from Innsbruck.

Posted by Connie

Everett, WA

04/05/23 10:18 PM

1300 posts

The Stubai area is just south of Innsbruck- very close. It has lots of hiking. (Fulpmes is a town in the valley).

https://www.stubai.at/en/activities/hiking/

If you do head up towards the zugspitz, Grainau has a great hike:

https://www.theoutbound.com/germany/hiking/hike-hollentalanger-to-hollentalangerhutte

You hike up to the entrance to a gorge that is beautiful to walk through. You can continue to hut, go farther and take a lift back, or turn around at the end of the gorge.

We have also hiked the Zillertal. If you give us an idea of what kind of hikes you like (distance, elevation gain, etc) I could recommend more hikes in these areas.

For an easy hike, you could drive up to Hinterholm alm and walk to Walderalm- an easy 20 minute walk and it is beautiful. That hike is in the RS book for this area.

We visited Aosta area (stayed in Cogne) last fall. It was quite a drive to get there and seems more limited as a home base. You don't say how you will travel, but Innsbruck has many places close by for day trips. It was beautiful.

Posted by mchpp

Oberpfalz, Germany

04/06/23 04:31 PM

1400 posts

I have never been to Courmayeur. I want to see Mont Blanc. Looks to be a good 9-hour drive for me from the Oberpfalz, whereas Innsbruck is 4. Courmayeur seems to be predominantly a ski village. Not sure the local language? The highest peak in the Alps.