Hello, We are planning a trip to Europe next May. We are taking a train from Venice to Innsbruck Austria but are considering renting a car in Innsbruck and driving to Fusson, Germany and then to Munich. Our questions are:
1. Is the drive difficult?
2. Are there cute little towns we would like to stop at along the way?
Or anything we are not considering?
Thank you so much, this forum is so helpful.
where are you returning the car? In a different country usually comes with €€€ extra costs.
An Austrian car will not have the green German Umweltplakette on the windscreen which allows driving near Munich.
I say near because although the Umweltplakette allows driving into Munich my standard advice for Munich is to NOT drive in Munich for several reasons.
With a bit more information about your exact plans we can give better and more comprehensive advice.
By the way - how many is "we"?
To pick up a car in Austria and drop it off in Germany will bring with it a one-way dropoff charge of several hundred euros. And that won’t be worth the 3.5 hours of driving between those 3 places.
What you might consider is picking up the car in Fussen ( www.AutoEurope.com offers rentals in Fussen and you can also drop it off in Munich). and hitting the road from there. Bamberg, Germany— one of the most beautiful cities in Germany— is just a three-hour drive. You also could visit Berchtesgaden National Park and Drive the Romantic Road to see Nordlingen. Dinkelsbuhl and Rothenburg. The three towns are on the way to Bamberg.
We is referring to 4 adults.-2 couples. We would pick up in Innsbruck and drop off in Munich. We are staying a little outside Munich at Parkhotel Obermenzing. i have priced out the car with the return at the airpot, is that a mistake? Should we return it outside of the city center and take the U-Bahn to the airport.
r4
Kenko, I have priced out the car and it is not bad, especially splitting the cost with another couple
Just so you have an idea—during May, there are cars available on AutoEurope from Fussen to Munich for $370 for 5 days.
Kenko, Thank you, that is better then I found. I will go there for sure.
remember that for driving in Austria and Germany that all drivers need both their home in date license and the appropriate German language documentation most easily met with an IDP - in the USA easiest at a branch of AAA, in Canada at CAA, though some branches have closed and other arrangements should be made - depends on where the drivers are coming from. Valid for one year so don't jump too soon if there is any chance of needing it again in the 12 months after issue.
With 4 full sized adults and luggage for all 4 don't skimp on car size. European cars are smaller than American ones, and often do not have a large boot/trunk.
This week I am driving a Nissan Juke SUV and it just has room for my wife's walking aid and NOTHING else - without that you might get one 21 inch bag or two small soft siders in.
Last week I was in a Jeep Compass PHEV larger SUV with just enough more space back there to add the charging cable.
How is the drive? Is it worth it? Interesting places to stop? Ir just as nice, and easier to take the train?
q1 - if you're from Temecula with Palomar just down the road you're probably used to mountain driving. Innsbruck is at the bottom of a valley with steep sides both sides. A couple of mountain passes with switchbacks and relatively steep should not be a problem.
If you change your mind, the train from Innsbruck over the hills and through Mittenwald is scenic and easy with frequent service. The train from Munich to Füssen is equally easy and easy bus to Neuschwanstein from Füssen.
Off peak group regional train tickets in Bavaria include local bus, tram and U-bahn and S-Bahn and are dirt cheap for 4.(32€ for 1, 62€ for 4). Valid to and from Salzburg (but not Innsbruck, but to Mittenwald and a short Austrian ticket from there).
Wies chutch and Linderhof are two places to visit by car, not train
Are there cute little towns we would like to stop at along the way?
I take it you are staying at least overnight in Innsbruck.
The most adorable town I can suggest is just across the border in Germany, a direct train ride from Innsbruck of less than 1 hour: Mittenwald.
https://www.alpenwelt-karwendel.de/en/mittenwald-bavaria
A mountain lift (Karwendelbahn,) river gorges, a violin museum (Mitenwald's commercial claim to fame is violin-making.)
Have you considered Rick Steves' suggestion for staying in Reutte? Reutte is about 1.3 hours by train from Mittenwald on your way to Füssen; Bus #100 gets you from there to Füssen in less than 30 minutes. Reutte is a reasonable place to stay if you also want to visit Ehrenberg Ruins, Highline 179, and to take cable car rides into the mountains. See his book and this page:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g580114-Activities-oa0-Reutte_Tirol_Austrian_Alps.html
If this were my trip, I'd spend a full day/night in Mittenwald, then take the train to Reutte for however many nights you might want there.
Both the Innsbruck > Mittenwald and Mittenwald > Reutte train rides are scenic routes and quite cheap using small-group day passes that you can buy right at the train station.
Below is a rail map showing the Innsbruck > Mittenwald > Reutte i. Tirol train route I've described:
https://www.dbregio-shop.de/uploads/files/RTWerdenfels_Streckenkarte.pdf
The final route to Reutte is a ride that some take just for the sightseeing it provides:
