In June I will be picking my first overseas delivery car, an Audi A3 Cabriolet. I'm very excited and would like to do some scenic/touring drives. I would like to tour the Bavarian/Austrian Alps with scenery and driving in mind during the 10 days or so that we (my son and I) have before we go on a Rhine river cruise starting on the 17th in Basel. We are on a bit of a budget, so I would like to use bed and breakfasts and pensions if possible. I would prefer to town hop, with hiking and sightseeing (funiculars and ski resorts included) as a secondary focus. I've heard of the Stelvia Pass, but where else should I go? Where are some good places to spend the night?
Thank you,
Jeff
Posted by
Oberpfalz, Germany
1303 posts
I will suggest the Deutsche Alpenstraße http://www.deutsche-alpenstrasse.de/en/home
The Prospecs are free and include recommended sites and hotels. You could check the route and search for smaller Gasthaus in the same towns for a sort of B&B experience.
http://www.deutsche-alpenstrasse.de/de/service/prospektshop
I like the area near Achensee, AT and then towards Reit im Winkel DE. (Wilden Kaiser area), then towards Berchtesgaden. Not the highest mountains but nice.
I've got a 2015 A3 Cabrio and love it.
Posted by
Green Bay
20254 posts
Paso Stelvio should be open by June 1, but stay informed about pass opening dates. It was a very light snow year in the Italian Alps, at least through the end of January (I was there), but don't know what has transpired since then.
I see that Audi Overseas Delivery has a drop off location in Zurich, and Basel is just an hour away on the train, so that is probably where you want to end up. Nonstop express trains go every half hour, and there are trains with stops running between those times.
So here is my fantasy itinerary:
Day 1: After pick up in Ingolstadt, drive the Autobahn to test out the new toy. End up in Fuessen.
Day 2: Check out Neuschwanstein, there is a law that says every visitor to Germany has to go there. Then take the Alpenstrasse to Garmisch. If it is a nice day, take the cog train to the top and back. Inclement? Push on.
Day 3: Drive to Berchtesgaden, end of the Alpenstrasse.
Day 4: Into Austria (don't forget to buy a vignette!) and the Grossglockner Hwy to Lienz. Push on into Italy to Dobbacio.
Day 5: Into the Dolomites to Cortina, then over the Paso Lagazuoi then around the Sella Massif and end up in Ortisei.
Day 6: Hiking on the Alpe di Siusi.
Day 7: Drive to Bolzano then Merano end in Sponding.
Day 8: Paso Stelvio, then on to the west shore of Lake Como at Gravedina or Dongo.
Day 9: Drive to Lugano (again, buy a Swiss vignette at the border), then up the mountains. Then the Furkapass immediately followed by Grimselpass. Highway to Zurich.
Day 10: Turn in the car and then train to Basel.
I don't know if all of that is really doable. Like I say, its a fantasy. If you fall behind at any point, you can just peel off and head to Zurich.
Posted by
Lakewood, Colorado
19113 posts
The part of the Alpenstrasse near Reit im Winkl is scenic, but not much of a challenge for your car.
One part of the Alpenstrasse I would suggest is the trip over the ridge from Oberaudorf, on the Inn River, to Bayrischzell, at the foot of the Wendelstein. There are some switchbacks around Tatzlwurm and near Bayrischzell.
The other part, more switchbacks, is the climb up the mountain-side coming out of Bad Hindelang toward Oberjoch.
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
BTW, if you want to test the car's speed, though, you'll have to head north. The only German Autobahn routes (parts of the German road network without speed limits, in places) that run near the Alps are the eastern stretch of A8 and the southern end of A7. I believe most of A8 between Munich and Salzburg has a speed limit, and even if it didn't, traffic is usually too heavy to drive much faster than 100 km/hr anyway. A7 will give you a better opportunity to test the motor. Once you get out of the Ingolstadt area, A9 heading north should allow you to drive pretty fast too. Head south towards Munich, though, and the Staus begin.
One warning about fast driving- if the road has a speed limit, don't excede it! Unlike in the US, where traffic police have the discretion to pull over only the worst offenders, radar cameras enforce the speed limit in most of Europe. They will flag EVERYONE exceding the limit, not just the fastest drivers. You'll get a nice souvenir photo of yourself in the mail, along with an invoice to pay the fine.
Posted by
NYC area
2914 posts
Ok. Here are scenic Alpine passes we love:
The Grossglockner Hochalpenstrasse. Take this into the amazing Dolomites. Drive the Giau, and Gardena Passes. Then head towards the Stelvio. But, you can detour and take the Timmelsjoch Pass into Austria and then over to Landeck and then to the Stelvio. With all these, the Stelvio may not be needed.
If you can get to the passes in Austria (1.5 hours from Munich) and Dolomites, skip the entire German Alpine Road.
It will pale in comparison to any of these. Head right to the best drives.
Paul
Posted by
Westland, MI
416 posts
Following this thread! We will most likely have a car for a portion of our trip and this sounds great.
Posted by
NYC area
2914 posts
Hey Judy,
Glad to hear you'll have a car for some of your journey. It's the best way to see the Bavarian and Austrian countryside and to experience driving a few alpine roads and passes. A lot of fun.
Posted by
Westland, MI
416 posts
@ Paul.... I am looking forward to it, and I like the link you posted. I would love to get a bike and do some riding. We do a lot of it here at home.
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thanks for all the replies! That site has so much to explore. Keep them coming!
Posted by
Ohio
171 posts
A tip about the Stelvio Pass - do not start your trip up the Stelvio Pass at noon on a Sunday. Every cyclist, motor cyclist, tour bus and car from a thousand miles away will be joining you on the pass. Further, don't bother driving it if it's rainy or foggy - you miss half the fun because there will be no scenery to enjoy. And don't think that if it's rainy or foggy you will have the pass to yourself - you will not. How do I know? That's what I did. It was so miserable I didn't even pull out my camera. Pick a nice day and start the pass at dawn.
I really enjoyed the Alpenstrasse. It is the perfect road for the break-in of a new car - lots of speed variations, gentle braking and corners. I picked up European Delivery cars on two separate occasions and enjoyed touring the Alpenstrasse with both. It is very scenic. Many pretty little towns and lakes and, of course, the Alps are always in view. A couple of cautionary notes - if the weather is miserable you will still have an interesting road to drive but the scenery may be shrouded. The 'strasse connects Berchtesgaden with Lindau. IMO the section from Fussen to Lindau is a bit Ho Hum while the section from Berchtesgaden to Fussen is spectacular.
If you want a B&B between Berchtesgaden and Salzburg you might consider the Kugelmuhle in Marktschellenberg:
http://www.gasthaus-kugelmuehle.de/
It is reasonably priced. Has excellent parking for your new A3. We stayed there twice and really enjoyed it. Ask for a room with a mountain view.