Garmisch to Austria scenery by driving?

You will love G-P. We spent a week and could have stayed longer.

Have a look at a map. Honestly all around there, both sides of the border it is jaw-droppingly gorgeously beautiful. You can head in pretty much any direction south, southeast and southwest and it will knock your socks off.

Seefeld in Tirol isn't a million miles away.

Where are you going afterwards?

Do you know that for driving in Austria you require an IDP if not EU citizen, and a Vignette?

Thanks Nigel, we are US citizens. so I guess no driving in Austria. but we will rent a car in Garmisch. We fly in and out of Munich. I was thinking of going straight to Garmisch from the airport by train. Stay there for 3 to 4 days. Come back to Munich and go to Salzburg, spend 2 days in Salzburg and spend our last day in Munich. This is our second time to Munich so the city itself is not a priority. The alpine scenary is what we are after

@Carol, how did you spend your time in your week in Garmisch?

The IDP is just a card you pick up at the AAA

So plan so far is - Day 1 to 3 in Garmisch. Do the german sites of bavaria (castles, nearby towns etc). If we rent a car, it will be in Garmisch and will probably have to be returned in Garmisch. Return the car.
Day 4- check out of garmish hotel with 2 carry-on bags only (we travel light), travel to seefeld, and end up in innsbruck in the evening. Take a train from innsbruck to salzburg in evening.

Day 5 /Day 6 Spend time doing Salzburg and lake district and return to Munich in the evening of day 6
Day 7 Enjoy Munich

We have already seen Munich and Salzburg before, which is why we are focusing more on Bavaria and less on these 2 cities.

Question - can you do the day 4 sightseeing via train? are there lockers on the station where you can leave carry-on bags? Or would it make more sense to hire a private taxi (assuming its affordable) to take us from garmisch to Innsbruck and sightseeing along the way?

Vignette is required for all Austrian autobahn travel and can be picked up at pretty much any gas station in the region for about 10 euros for a week's sticker. IDP is available from your local AAA office- bring a passport size picture along. Both of them are not even a little deal to get and shouldn't ever be a speed bump when it comes to the trip.

are there lockers on the station where you can leave carry-on bags?

There are lockers in Innsbruck but I'm not sure about Seefeld since the station is presently under reconstruction. I'd write to the tourist information: [email protected]

Thanks everyone for the help.

Which is the best luge in the area? I know Rick Steves mentioned that one is higher and faster than thte other - we would like to try that one. But I cant remember the name of it?

Also found some sleddding in Garmisch but the summer version looks a tad bit lame https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bKPbqNp1sjI Putting this here in case it is helpful to anybody reading

Garmisch to Berwang Austria @ one hour drive to the Sonnalmbahn (famous Webcam Winkie Mann; closed on Tuesdays and no driving Vignette needed) with a 1.5 hour greenish walk (no stroller or wheelchair) down from the Sonnalmbahn to Berwang central and then on to the start point. Next stop on to the Heiterwanger See for a 1.5 hour walk around the lake (again no stroller or wheelchair). Check out the Riessersee and Wank Bahn in Garmisch. Less tourists and you will be surprised,

A very scenic drive can be had along the north face of the Alps from Garmish to Bad Tolz, To Lake Chiemsee.